Stuff That Matters in Life

Katy’s Weblog

Spoiler alert!

Read another Hamish Macbeth mystery – a mindless diversion.

The build up in these books are always good, but the resolution is disappointing. The murderer killed 3 people leaving no trail and for months the police had no leads. Then all of a sudden, she stabs someone in the lobby of a hotel and gives herself away.  I think the author just wanted to end it.

I pretty much give the same review of every Hamish Macbeth book. But it’s easy to read, and I like light-hearted mysteries with no blood and gore.

Read this on Family Life that I think is insightful:

As Easter approaches, don’t you often wonder why Christmas gets all the good press, while Easter is treated more like a very distant second cousin? After all, it’s a commemoration of the greatest news ever proclaimed in history: Christ is alive and we are forgiven! Easter arrives with so little fanfare, we almost forget it’s coming.

Read more of “Easter is not popular”

Lent

Filed under Spiritual lifeby Joyful

For the past couple of years, I’ve observed something like Lent during the Lent season – 40 days before the passion week of Christ. The idea is to prepare your heart to truly celebrate what Jesus did for us at Easter. By committing yourself to abstain from something or to do something positive, something that requires some effort that you wouldn’t normally make, it reminds you of how Jesus suffered.

I am a week behind this year, but I am observing Lent by committing to praying everyday for certain matters. It is challenging me to not just “say a prayer” but to pray deeply, to ask God continually, to unveil my motives and what I really truly am asking God to do. And then to look for answers.

It’s not too late for you to observe Lent. Give up something, or do something positive, for Jesus. It’s our reasonable act of worship (Romans 12).

Inbox

Filed under Generalby Joyful

Thanks for the guest post by Jo Levy

What would we do without the internet? It just amazes me the way you can get information these days. By the click of a button you can look at anything in the world. You can find out the answer to any question that you could possibly think…

Read more of “Inbox”

I saw this book at the library with one of Thomas Kindade’s pictures on the cover with Thomas Kinkade as the author. Kinkade writes too?

I found out he can’t. I’m sorry, but I quit a third of the way into the book because it was so boring. I know it’s suppose to be a small town family type of book, but the writing and dialogue just put me to sleep. Here’s a sample of the kind of dialogue throughout the book: “Hello, Professor Ferguson. How are you today?” “I’m fine. Please, call me Jacob. Max and I are going to grab some lunch before he hits the books today. Would you like to join us? “Thanks, I’d like that. Would you like to walk in to town? This weather is a real treat after all the cold and snow.” “Fine with me. I like to walk whenever I’m able – ” “It’s better for your health and for the planet”….and it goes on and on….I really don’t need to hear your daily conversation that contributes little or no significant value to the plot or character of the story.

The cover said New York Times Bestselling Authors. Really? While I’m glad that people like clean fiction about a pastor of a church, but this level of writing is not what I would consider bestselling material.

I will continue to enjoy Thomas Kinkade paintings, but not his books.

Tired

Filed under Thoughts on lifeby Joyful

Lately I’ve been hearing of hospitalizations and health problems of elderly parents. Just today a friend’s mother passed away. Another friend’s mother is in a coma.

When I hear such news, I get tired. Tired of the burdens of life, tired of the difficulties. And I have not even experienced even half of what some others go through, particularly those in other countries with much less than what I have. Even with what is considered a privileged life, it is apparent that this world offers little hope.

For me to live is Christ, to die is gain…indeed it is gain!

I was in the ladies bathroom at church today and politely asked the elderly woman there the perfunctory, “How are you?”

She replied, “I’m good, praise the Lord.”

I like that. Praise God indeed. Even if we are not well, we know God is sovereign. Praise the Lord.

Warning: Spoiler Alert

With a stack of church ministry books to read, I decided to take a break and read my favorite genre. A whodunnit mystery is one of my favorite ways to relax.

In this Hamish Macbeth mystery, a lot of people die. Anyone who comes in contact with the murderer dies. And it seems to me that when the author doesn’t know how to wrap it up, an unlucky break kills one of the bad guys: gets eaten by a shark, seriously. I do enjoy the characters though, I like Hamish.

The story is entertaining though the writing style is plain. Beaton is a good story teller, not a stylish writer, in my opinion.

We can function and live a decent life, even active in the church, “serving God”, and even do a good job in vocational ministry, yet have no real fellowship with God.

But I find that if I go weeks without focused prayer (merely surviving on quick prayers and public prayers that are usually impersonal), holes begin to show.

I act out of my own view of what is best, rather than seeking God’s best. I go with the pragmatic rather than what glorifies God. I choose ministries based on personal satisfaction rather than for the sake of the gospel. I lack true compassion and don’t see people as God sees them.

It really helps me when I see other people genuine in their faith and radiating a life of intimacy with God. I don’t know how to explain it, but some people are “spiritual” without sounding spiritual. They exude a life of faith without being forced somehow.

I don’t know how I appear to other people, I hope I inspire others. But often I find myself short, because I am lacking in my intimate times with God. And once again I go to the Cross, and ask to be filled with the mind of Christ.