The Rescuers

This movie is about two brave mice that rescue a little orphan girl, Penny. Penny was kidnapped by the horrible Madam Medusa and her cohort, Snoops. They forced Penny to go down into a small cave to search for the Devil's Eye, the world's largest diamond. Bernard and Bianca (the mice) help penny find the diamond and escape from the villains. The diamond is given to the Smithsonian and Penny is adopted by a loving family. The movie closes with Bernard and Bianca leaving on their next adventure to help another child.

The Rescuers is no great work of art, but i like it. It's a cute movie for the kids, and there are some intiresting pieces that adults will notice and enjoy as well.

The Brave Little Toaster To The Rescue

This is a cute little story following the adventures of a group of household appliances and their animal friends. When their 'master', Rob, loses his thesis to a computer virus, the friends (who includes a toaster, vacuum, lamp, electric blanket and radio) set off the find out what happened to the lost paper. In the process they discover a plot to steel their animal friends to a research lab. The friends meet a computer who helps them send a message to Rob, who is able to save the animals. The computer is also able to find Rob's missing thesis. The movie ends with all the animals in their new homes and Rob driving away to his new life with his appliances and his new fiancee.


It's a cute story, but it's biggest draw for me is that i watched it when i was younger. It's sentimental to the kids who grew up with the Brave Little Toaster movies, but it's no great piece of film.

Seven Desires Of Every Heart

The Seven Desires Of Every Heart

This book talks about the seven desires all of us have, how often they go unfulfilled and how to work through the pain caused by that and find ways to fulfill those desires yourself
 

The Seven Desires:
1. To be heard and understood
2. To be affirmed
3. To be blessed
4. To be safe
5. To be touched
6. To be chosen
7. To be included


All of us have these desires, and we need them to be fulfilled to lead healthy, normal lives. Unfortunately, most of us don't have all of these needs met often enough to be completely healthy. A lot of people go through life 'coping' with little or none of these needs filled. Coping is dangerous and hurtful; some ways of coping are working too much, sleeping excessively, watching TV for hours on end, overeating, and generally withdrawing from other people.
 

This book talks about ways to identify coping behaviors and understand the reasons behind them. It gives suggestions for letting God, others and yourself fulfill those needs in healthy ways.
 

For me this book helped me to understand why some things mean so much to me, why some seemingly small things are a big deal, and to identify why certain things hurt me and not others, or hurt me worse. This book also talks about how ultimately only God can fill these needs completely all the time, even though they are meant to be filled by both other people and yourself as well. It helped me to understand myself better, and to identify ways that my 'coping' could be hurting other people. It also talks about setting achievable expectations of other people, and not expecting one or two people to completely fill all of these desires all the time.

Ridgeview Christian Church

I have visited Ridgeview Christian Church several times and so far i like it. The first Sunday i visited i only went to the morning service, and not Sunday school. The second and third times i was able to visit the college class as well. The people in general are a little distant, but the leaders of the college class, J.D. and Tammy Smith, are pretty cool! Both of them were very welcoming to me and expressed interest in me and my life. I like the college class, it's engaging and informative, with a very casual atmosphere that is open to questions, comments and general wanderings. I enjoyed the worship, and i like the children's message time on Sunday morning. I don't like that they have communion every week, but this is a doctrinal difference that i will just have to get over should i choose to keep attending this particular church. I haven't heard anything taught that i disagree with, and i enjoy the pastor's sermons. i like this church, but they could work on welcoming visitor's a bit more, but they're decent at it for now. I like this church. I don't know if it will be the one i choose, but i do enjoy it. i'm looking for a church with a solid college age class, and this church has that. i plan on attending this church at least for another few weeks, and we'll see what it think after that.

Florence Nightingale

Florence Nightingale

Florence Nightingale was a Christian woman dedicated to God and fulfilling His calling in her life. She felt God calling her to serve people when she was a young adult and followed that calling around the world and back. Florence spent many years trying to get the training she needed to help care for and heal soldiers; she was blocked by her parents and society’s standards for a single woman but she didn’t let that pull her down for very long. She looked for and found good Christian people willing to help her succeed in her mission of bettering hospital conditions. Florence left her family several times to go find the education she needed, and finally to work at a hospital for wounded soldiers in the Crimea. While she was there she visited many other ARMY hospitals and helped them improve their conditions for the patients. After the war, Florence went back to England and worked at bringing those same improvements to the civilian hospitals in her own country. Florence petitioned many political leaders to change the conditions in the local hospitals, and was met with both resistance and approval. She helped to improve the hospitals, and then worked to start a nursing school. She hoped to give nursing a better reputation as well as instructing and training up very well-equipped nurses to work in the new, better hospital settings. Florence lived all of her life following God’s calling, and doing His work no matter how difficult it was. She is primarily responsible for bringing cleanliness, personal care, and good food to hospitals as well as giving nursing higher standards and a greatly improved reputation.

First We Have Coffee...

First We Have Coffee...


This book is a collection of stories about a Norwegian minister and his wife written by their eldest daughter. It tells of their crossing to America in the late 1800s, their early life together, their children and the many different places they ministered in their long life together. There are funny stories, touching poems, and traditional Norwegian songs. The daughter tells of their family’s life together, the hard times that brought them closer together as well as the prosperous times when they just enjoyed life as a godly family. God was central to their life, He was at every meal, every lesson, with them when they did their chores and when they played. God was not a “Sunday thing” He was in every part of their life. All six children had a deep understanding of God’s love and grace.
Ella, their mother, had a special relationship with her Savior. She had many different parts of the Bible memorized, so she had a verse for every thought, action or attitude. When her life was the hardest, her child dying or her husband missing, she brought to mind those verses and called to God to give her the peace she needed. She was a true servant of God and lived her life to fulfill His plans.

Louis Pasture

I just finished a biography about a man named Louis Pasture.

Louis Pasture was a great French scientist of the 19th century. He was responsible for discovering or widely expanding the knowledge of things like pasteurization, the germ theory of diseases, and contagious diseases. He was also instrumental in developing the theory of vaccines. Because of his work today we have things like rabies and smallpox vaccines, as well as the ability to process dairy products to make them safe and able to store longer.
Louis was driven by both his passion to help people, and a desire to serve his God to the best of his abilities. In his last public appearance he gave a speech that included this: “The most important thing, when one approaches the end, is to be able to say ‘I have done what I could.” Louis certainly lived up to this statement. His family and friends have written about his deep faith, and how it was the thing that brought him through all the hardships in his life. Louis Pasteur was a man dedicated to his God, his family, his country, and human kind.

Hadassah

Hadassah is a fictionalized story of Esther, the Jewish girl who became the Queen of Persia. It was a very fascination story, I finished it in about two days. It’s the same story that’s in the Bible, but with a lot more details and information about the characters.
I liked the author’s perception of Esther’s spiritual life, that she wasn’t any closer to God at first than most people, and through growing closer to God she came to know what her purpose in the Palace was. Esther accomplished some pretty incredible things, because she let God use her where he put her. She didn’t know or understand why she was there, and didn’t want to be there but God turned it all for good.
I really liked this book cause I feel like if Esther didn’t have it all together in the beginning, and it still turned out so well, then maybe there’s hope for me too. She intentionally went looking for God, and she found Him all around her. She trusted God with everything, even her life, and He protected her and her people. That’s just really cool!

Vineyard

I've visited Vineyard Church in Rolla several times, there are some things i really like about it, and some things i dislike. I like pastor Matt, he's very engaging and his sermons are both applicable and interesting. He does something in their service that i've never seen before but i really like it. Every Sunday the pastor takes time to pray for another local church, no matter what the denomination. I appreciate this, because it shows unity and a willingness to interact with believers of different denominations. I also like the way they observe communion. They have all the bead and wine on table at the front of the church and everyone has to walk up and get their own, i like it better this way for a lit of reasons that deserve their own post so i'll do that later :p I enjoy the worship, and i like the type of songs they do.

The things i don't like are that they don't have a college age class on Sunday. It's really important to me to have a group i can meet with on Sunday, cause my evenings are so busy with camp stuff. The people in general aren't as friendly and welcoming as i would like them to be. i know a lot of people there from camp, and they always say hi or are willing to talk a bit afterwards, but i've never had someone from that church that i don't know greet me or try to engage in a conversation with me. i think for a church this size this is kind of sad.

i like this church overall, and if they had a college age group i could meet with i would keep attending there, but since they don't i'm off to find a church that does.

Hope Rising

Hope Rising /Kim Meeder


Hope Rising is a collection of stories from Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch in central Oregon. CPYR rescues abused or neglected horses, and ministers to hurting kids and youth by pairing them with a horse and a leader.


i really liked this book cause there are so many stories about God working through the horses to help the kids. A lot of the kids don't know or believe in God, but he shows them his love through the horses. He allows the horses to connect with the kids in ways the adults in their lives sometimes can't.


There's a story about a girl who is hurting and won't speak to anyone, except her horse. She'll sit and talk to the horse in the rain, and share everything with her. These kids learn to trust and love, and they begin to open up to people again.

It's really cool how God can teach the kids about himself without a church, a pastor, Christian parents, or even the bible. God shows himself in the world around them, and lets them choose to discover more on their own.

What was really interesting to me was this idea of God being all around me, and showing himself in the everyday things that happen, or in the people i see, or the animals i play with.

i tend to keep God in a "church" box, and i need to see him in the world around me, in everyday interactions.

The Five Love Languages

I really enjoyed this book, I think the concept of different love languages is fascinating.

I’m not sure which is my primary love language, I can identify with all five of them. I like to show others love by giving them compliments, or encouraging them. I don’t often feel “loved” when given compliments they don’t mean much to me, I just kinda brush them off as not true. I also like to give people things, whether it’s something I made or something I bought, I put a lot of thought into it, and it’s important that it be something meaningful. A lot of the time the gift will have more significance to me than to the other person. I also lie showing love thru helping or serving someone. Even if it’s something really simple like clearing the table or washing the dishes, that’s a way for me to show someone that I care about them.

The way I feel loved is through spending time with someone. I like spending time with someone I care about, it could be talking on the phone for an hour, or spending an afternoon hanging out, or just living life together. I also feel loved when a guy hugs me. Having a guy wrap his arms around me makes me feel completely safe and loved. I have some theories about why this is only happens with guys, but that’s a whole other topic ;)


What I learned most from this book is how to recognize how others feel love, and understanding why they feel that way, and how to respond to each of them.


I think the best way to apply what I learned from this book is to put in to practice how to love others in a way they really understand.

Red Riding Hood

i just finished watching Red Riding Hood. It was pretty much what i expected, which is what you say? Well.... Ok i didn't know much about this movie, which is weird for me. Usually i don't watch a movie unless i know the general story line. Anyway, i had only seen one preview for this movie, but i decided to watch it anyways. From that one preview i guessed that the story would be very much a fairy tale, a romanticised version of the little red riding hood story. Lots of fantasy, lots of dramatic camera shots. Very cool costumes. And that was pretty much what this movie was like. i enjoyed it, don't get me wrong, it's a very interesting twist on a rather boring tale. i just wasn't in the mood for a romantic, dramatic movie. Plus it was too romantic. People don't actually go after love like that. People settle for far less than true love, they don't endure as much as Valerie and Peter do. In real life Valerie would have married Henry and Peter wouldn't have tried as hard to stop it. Sorry, this is a person pet peeve of mine. i really hate movies that display love in this way, because it's so inaccurate. Sorry, back to the review. It's a well-made movie, and a pretty captivating story. i especially liked how they showed that the desire for money is what caused so many deaths. i thought that was an appropriate touch. i recommend it. (Unless you're like me and really hate movies that show love this way)

The Rainmaker

A friend recently told me about an author he really liked, John Grisham. i've heard about him, of course. He's had a lot books on the New York Times Bestseller list. His books are refered to as legal thrillers, and in the case of The Rainmaker, the first Grisham book i've read, that is certainly true. i don't know or understand much about the different kinds of law, or poltics, but i didn't have any trouble understanding or enjoying this book. i learned so much, but i didn't even realize i was learning till after i finished the story. It's a great plot line, the only thing i didn't like was the ending. It was so unexpected, and in my opinion, didn't really fit, but that's ok. It was still a very facinating story and i really enjoyed it! You should totally read it!

EZ Guy

So i just found out that a friend of mine has a MySpace Music page... And that he's an amazing singer! So ya'll have to check it out! i'm particularly partial to Super Human cause we sang it at a party at Camp David during staff training week. Anyway, he's really good so ya'll should go listen to his music! http://www.myspace.com/565756135

Grace For You

Grace For You by John MacArthur

This is a short little book, but it's pretty good. It's a look at the story of the Prodigal son, and also at his brother. Most people assume the whole story is about the younger, rebellious son, but it's about both sons. It's a fresh look at a familiar story, but this book isn't weighed down by theological terms or concepts. It's very understandable, and it only took about 2 hours to read. It was good, but it left me wanting to know more... Which is fine cause John MacArthur wrote a whole other, longer, more in depth book on the story of the prodigal son. (A Tale Of Two Sons) i can't wait to read that one! Grace For You is a good, light look at this story.

L.A. Candy

i just finished reading L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad. It's a teen-girl trash novel. Very predictable, stereotypical characters, and an overused storyline. Basically, it's the 2 girls that come to L.A. and get put on a reality tv show. The characters are predictable, there's the hot, bad ass girl, the girl next door, the flake, and the super-rich bitch. There's the usual boy problems: player boyfriend in one corner and clueless best friend in the other. Even the small characters, like the tv producer, or magazine editor are pretty easy to figure out. Not a lot of substance. The only interesting part of the book was the character D, predictably gay, but really funny.

In my opinion, it was fairly boring. i don't recommend this book.

J40 Favorite Book

"What is your favorite book and why?"

I love books, so this one is really hard for me, but my fave is prolly Murder With Peacocks by Donna Andrews. I really like the Meg Langslow series and this is my favorite book in that series. Plus my dad bought the copy I have for me. It was “just because” present, and it’s kinda special cause he got book I really love. I also like this book cause it’s one of the books I read when I’m stressed. Rereading certain books helps me deal with stress, and this is my fave of those books =)

What is your favorite book?

Prince Caspian

Prince Caspian

i read Prince Caspian for about the 17th time recently. i didn't have any particular reason for reading it, i just really love this book! Prince Caspian is the fourth book in the Chronicles of Narnia, written by C.S. Lewis. In this book, the four Pevensie children are called back to Narnia, after being away for about a year. They soon find that, due to the time difference between Narnia an their own world, hundreds, maybe a thousand years have passed since their reign. Once the children arrive at Cair Paravel they encounter Trumpkin the Dwarf. He tells them all that has been happening in Narnia the last few years. The children learn Narnia is in disarray, the Telmarines have invaded and silenced all the old Narnians. Prince Caspian is the leader of the old Narnians and, though a Telmarine, he is a follower of Aslan. After Trumpkin finishes his story, the children discuss the quickest way to get to Aslan's How, the ancient mound where Caspian's army is stationed. Once they finally agree on a route, they have to prove to Trumpkin that they are not merly children but, in fact, the High Kings and Queens of Narnia. After they have out shot, and beaten Trumkin in swordplay, he finally believes them. They all decide to stay at Cair Paravel that night, and start for the camp in the morning.

They have several adventures on their way to Caspian's camp, the most notable of which is when Aslan guides them across a gorge. With Aslan's help, they soon arrive and the boys are sent inside the mound. There they encounter, and battle with, a werewolf and a hag, as well as the treacherous dwarf Nikabrik. After a short fight, all of their enemies are dead, and High King peter, King Edmund, and Prince Caspian have been properly introduced. They soon decide that the best plan of action is to challenge king Miraz, Caspian's wicked uncle, to single combat. High King Peter is victorious over king Miraz, and all the Telmarines surrender. Prince Caspian is crowned King Caspian under Aslan's authority. Aslan brings all the Telmarines, and the children, to a place in the forest where he opened a door into the children's world. Aslan tells Peter and Susan that they are too old to get back to Narnia, and then they are sent through the door back to London, and home.


This book impacted my life in an interesting way. i have been in a Christian setting all my life, but i have had a hard time understanding, and loving Christ. i always saw him as a Judge, never as a loving, caring Deliverer. That was where i was until i started reading, and studying these books. The Chronicles of Narnia are a supposal of the Bible, so if Aslan is a supposal of Christ, i can't help but love him. Aslan is everything i have ever wanted Christ to be, and so many people agree that Aslan is an excellent vision of Christ. So, these books, and this one in particular, have helped to strengthen my faith, and shown me what Christ is truly like. That is why this is my favorite book.