BOOKS AND HOW I CHOOSE THEM

 

Antique classic books and book ends from my parent's collection.  Photo by Chris.

Many years ago Grandma Isabel saved issues of the PTA Magazine.  In a 1948 edition a list of good children's books was published.  I thought this was a wonderful way to help parents when they were purchasing or checking children's books out of the library.  

When my children were growing up in the 70's I could trust Dr. Seuss, Caldecott, or Newberry Award books to provide enjoyable literature.  But in the 90's I noticed that children's books were taking up themes of cannibalism, adult themes of sexuality, and using foul language. 

What is a parent to do? Book reviews help to weed out bad books and to find good books.  But what parent has time to read a review of every book your child is interested in reading? Well, one could stick to Dr. Seuss, Caldecott Award books or even find bloggers who review books. (Newberry Award books are no longer reliable choices.) I read one blog by a pastor, author and book  reviewer -- Tim Challies-- which is helpful.  There are probably many others. My prayer is that Friends of the Library Parents would start a Facebook page or website where parents could check out what others are saying about the books.  On Breakpoint this week Maria Baer was concerned about a book her daughter had checked out at the library.  She was so alarmed she threw it away.  She will reimburse the library for the book of course.  But in this day and age it is difficult to discern good books. ( A podcast from "The World and Everything in It" was posted today.  Click here to listen to what parents are doing to remove dangerous books from the school library.)

Personally I have been reading all the Christy Award books as I know they will have good themes and no bad language.  

“The love of learning, the sequestered nooks,
And all the sweet serenity of books”
― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

BUILDING

 

Four Lakes Church

Grandma Grace Belle and Grandpa Roy preferred to attend St. Paul's Methodist Church in Spokane. Sometimes it was just too far to travel from the farm.  Instead we would attend the Four Lakes church.  If we were staying with Grandma Isabel and Grandpa Claude we would attend the Westminster Congregational church.  If we were visiting Aunt Jeanne and Uncle Hollie, we would attend Manito Presbyterian.  

Today I read a blog about how each Christian is given a Spiritual Gift to be used to build up the Body of Christ, in other words--  build The Church.  Instead of complaining -- use your gift to build up the congregation.  My gift is being a good listener.  Here's the blog from https://www.challies.com/ :

"Teaching Others to Sing Sweetly The story is told of a musician—a particularly skillful musician with a highly-developed ear for pitch, tone, and harmony—who visited a new church for the first time. He arrived a little late and entered the sanctuary just as the congregation was beginning to sing the opening song. To his chagrin, the singing was badly out of tune. It pained him to hear the people attempt to sing one of the great hymns of the Christian faith without the least bit of success. But as he walked to a pew and took his place, he began to hear one voice that stood apart. Amidst all the dissonance, one woman sang clearly, calmly, and perfectly in tune, her sweet voice rising just above the din around her. She was undistracted by the flat notes and grating tones, undistracted by all the unskilled singers that surrounded her. As that musician stood and listened, he noticed with fascination that first one voice and then another was drawn to this woman’s. Soon those immediately around her began to follow her lead, to match her melody, to hit the same notes. Then those a little farther away picked up on it as well. Before long the whole congregation was singing the hymn just as its composer had intended. Soon the whole congregation was making a truly joyful, truly lovely, truly beautiful noise to the Lord. We sometimes wonder what difference one person can make to a church. The man with a heart for evangelism can be discouraged when he observes that the members of his church seem apathetic. The woman who loves to extend hospitality can find it difficult when she sees that so many other people in the church neglect it. The teen with a heart for Bible study can be tempted to move on when the other young folk seem unconcerned with these basic disciplines. Yet as this woman displayed that morning long ago, one person truly can make all the difference. That woman did not need to stop the congregation and formally instruct them. She did not need to interrupt them to bring a stern reprimand. She did not need to grumble or complain. She simply had to use her gift until one person and then another and finally the whole church had heard her voice, had matched her tone, and had fallen into perfect melody. For “as each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” I Peter 4:10

I SAW A MOUSE

 

Sinbad, Chris, Daddy Bert, Teddy Bear, Dana 1950.  Photo by Rita.

Wayne, 11 or 12,  and Davy 15 or 16, with Tiger. 

Grandma Grace Belle and Grandpa Roy always had "barn cats" to keep the mice away from the farm. The cats were always kept outside and the dogs inside. Mitzie, the overweight black cocker spaniel, would lounge in front of the wood cook stove.  Grandma would use her foot to slide Mitzie away from the stove so she could get near enough to do some cooking.  I don't recall ever seeing any mice on the farm.

My brother Jay had pet white mice.  They were kept in a cage in the basement of our Virginia home.  Suddenly the cage was overwhelmed with baby mice.  Somehow the cage and mice disappeared.  I heard a rumor that they were sold to a research lab.

 I've never favored mice.  When I saw a gray one race from one side of the grocery isle, and scurry under the nearest cooler, as I was shopping,  I reacted with an ugh and a shudder!  I was in a hurry and kept retrieving needed items.  Can't let a mouse or even an earthquake interfere with my schedule!

Later that day I thought about that mouse and decided to e-mail Fred Meyer.  I received several replies from at least 3 different people.  They thanked me.  The last person instructed me to report any such sightings in person to the store manager.  I hope there will not be a next time. 

So the learned lesson is --"See something; say something."

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;

    fools despise wisdom and instruction.

KEEP US IN OUR SENSES

 

Nan and Heather 1971. Photo either by Chris or Ralph.

1993 or 1994 -- Nan and Heather. Photo by Chris.

I was shocked.  My "after visit summary" from my new doctor reported that I appeared my stated age!  That is old!  Maybe it is the gray in my hair or the fact that I've gained 20 lbs in the last 20 years.  But that is the least of my worries. A college classmate has a wife who has been diagnosed with Alzheimers. I am concerned about this disease.

Me with my gorgeous birthday cake by granddaughter Samantha. Photo by Heather.

So now I'm praying, like my friend Nan prayed every day, that God would "Keep us in our senses."  Nan was the wife of my dad's closest friend, Ralph, and Heather's godmother.  She became my closest friend and prayer partner in her later years.  Years ago her aunt had a stroke and ended up not being able to function normally.  Nan said she would rather bleed out from blood thinners, so she wouldn't have a stroke, then to end up like her aunt. God answered that prayer.  

I last spoke to Nan when she was on her way to hospice care in a hospice facility.  I could tell she was in a lot of pain but, as usual, she was glad to hear from me.  My cousin, Janet's husband, Alf, as soon as he found out that she was in hospice care, went to visit her.  She was already in a coma.  He sat with her and remembered her love and care for all of us.  She had given him Ralph's Bible previously.  

My mom had some form of dementia.  Her thinking was irrational.  Arguing with her did no good.  Later I learned from a Facebook post that one should not argue with people who have dementia.  The only statement I could make to her that would bring her to her senses was--  "That isn't making disciples or spreading the gospel."  Also, if I wrote out prayers for her this would calm her down.  Some people are helped by listening to their favorite music.

So Nan finished the race well and I daily pray that we shall also.

II Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.