The Post About Literature

I am mixing a Beth Moore conference and reading for a nice cocktail of a weekend.

Here is a top ten of books I love and recommend: (in no particular order)
1. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold: A 14 year old girl is killed. We meet her as she is exploring heaven and witnessing the current lives of her family and friends.
2. Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller: His best book (even better than Blue Like Jazz). We are all looking for redemption and it can only be found in one place.
3. The Road by Cormac McCarthy: A story of a father and his son after the apocalypse. Won the Pulitizer Prize and made my list. Mr. McCarthy should be proud of both.
4. Amazing Grace by Jonathan Kozol: Poverty is crushing. This shaped my perspective of government and my responsibility as a citizen.
5. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers: Retelling of the Biblical story of Hosea. Crazy great.
6. Mary Poppins series by P.L. Travers: #7 Cherry Tree Lane is one of my favorite places to visit. She is a heroine to be respected (unlike the skanky Ariel)
7. Emma by Jane Austen: Austen writes detailed and in-depth characters. Mr. Knightly is the fairest of them all.
8. Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis: I think this is Lewis' best. A senior demon mentoring his demon nephew in the ways of temptation - ways used against me on a daily basis.
9. Developing the Leader Within You by John Maxwell: Leadership is all about influence. This book outlines how to use that power for good.
10. America: A Citizen's Guide to Democracy's Inaction by Jon Stewart: Funniest. Book. Ever. My Mom bought it for me even though the Supreme Court Justices are naked. I love her.

The Post About Marital Bliss

I have been in 9 weddings. I think I am done. My closest single friend is not akin to things like unity candles and padded books for guests to sign. My best friend has been married almost 10 years. It is hard to believe. I mean it is isn't that hard to believe - they both put God first, then each other, then my adorable godsons. Which is different. You often see couples strap their toddler to a pedestal and he doesn't come down until he posts myspace pictures of himself smoking a doobie which he bought with money he stole from his Mom's purse. I would argue that then it might be too late to reprioritize.

The longevity of their marriage is only hard to believe because she is married to Joseph. And he is really hairy.

The Post About One Pound

It's time for a snack before heading to the gym. I have a drawer at work full of healthier snacks infused with dried fruit, nuts, and fiber. However, this is my choice.

Is there a better snack? Baked cheese and hydrogenated soybean oil with TBHQ for freshness. Note that the picture says "one pound." FYI - eating one pound of cheez-its will cause you to gain more than one pound - I am not saying I know that for sure.

But you will be happy - that I may know for sure.

The Post About Caryann

As I mentioned yesterday, Caryann is moving. It’s not like I was surprised by her announcement a few weeks ago… I had been privileged in praying for her and the doors God was opening and closing. So when she got the official word – I was over the moon. How great to be able to know with confidence that you are exactly where you should be in life, right?

Caryann is many things. She tends to run behind. She is frugal to the point of obsessive. She is a bit of a hoarder. However, that is just a snapshot. She is funny – in person, by text, through email, over the phone, in myspace comments – pretty much funny all the time. She is uber laid back and doesn’t let hardly anything stress her. She loves Lost and House and workplay and food and traveling and politics. She is willing to mock all things mockable.

Best of all, she is a friend indeed. Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” I am kinder, funnier, wiser, more loving, and definitely more committed in my relationship with God because of our friendship. I am grateful to Him and to her.

Bonus? Christmas in California.