James 2 ramblings

James 2

Favoritism Forbidden

1 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”[a] you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”[b] also said, “You shall not murder.”[c] If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

This is what I came across in my devotional time with the Lord today. How sad and true that this still occurs in a "Christian" society. Well, that is why God inspired Paul to write it down and record it for the generations, because we fall into this a lot.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

Normal!

My blog is back to normal!

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

Weird

Wow. That's all I can say.

Ruth 3

New Living Translation (NLT)

Ruth 3
Ruth at the Threshing Floor
1 One day Naomi said to Ruth, “My daughter, it’s time that I found a permanent home for you, so that you will be provided for. 2 Boaz is a close relative of ours, and he’s been very kind by letting you gather grain with his young women. Tonight he will be winnowing barley at the threshing floor. 3 Now do as I tell you—take a bath and put on perfume and dress in your nicest clothes. Then go to the threshing floor, but don’t let Boaz see you until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 Be sure to notice where he lies down; then go and uncover his feet and lie down there. He will tell you what to do.”

5 “I will do everything you say,” Ruth replied. 6 So she went down to the threshing floor that night and followed the instructions of her mother-in-law.

7 After Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he lay down at the far end of the pile of grain and went to sleep. Then Ruth came quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. 8 Around midnight Boaz suddenly woke up and turned over. He was surprised to find a woman lying at his feet! 9 “Who are you?” he asked.

“I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my family redeemer.”

10 “The Lord bless you, my daughter!” Boaz exclaimed. “You are showing even more family loyalty now than you did before, for you have not gone after a younger man, whether rich or poor. 11 Now don’t worry about a thing, my daughter. I will do what is necessary, for everyone in town knows you are a virtuous woman. 12 But while it’s true that I am one of your family redeemers, there is another man who is more closely related to you than I am. 13 Stay here tonight, and in the morning I will talk to him. If he is willing to redeem you, very well. Let him marry you. But if he is not willing, then as surely as the Lord lives, I will redeem you myself! Now lie down here until morning.”

14 So Ruth lay at Boaz’s feet until the morning, but she got up before it was light enough for people to recognize each other. For Boaz had said, “No one must know that a woman was here at the threshing floor.” 15 Then Boaz said to her, “Bring your cloak and spread it out.” He measured six scoops[a] of barley into the cloak and placed it on her back. Then he[b] returned to the town.

16 When Ruth went back to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “What happened, my daughter?”

Ruth told Naomi everything Boaz had done for her, 17 and she added, “He gave me these six scoops of barley and said, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”

18 Then Naomi said to her, “Just be patient, my daughter, until we hear what happens. The man won’t rest until he has settled things today.”

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

Terra Nova!

A hundred and ten years in the future. I can't wait for Terra Nova to start. I love dinosaurs! And it looks intriguing, like the idea of "Among the Hidden" series, including the population control and the fact people are only allowed two children. Except it's because the world is overpopulated, as opposed to there isn't enough food for everyone (which turns out to be a lie...) And of course the planet is dying. When isn't it dying?

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

Author Heather Harris recently came to speak. It was a great presentation. Since it was Saturday, it was a small crowd, but her words were poignant and needed. She spoke on her battle with mental illness and winning with the help of the Lord.

She had a few tips.
1) You can say no.
2) All you can do is try.
3) You are not perfect and no one should expect you to be.
4) You can relax.
5) It doesn't matter what people say.
6) People aren't thinking about you, all the time. They aren't paying attention to you, so just do it.
7) Speak with confidence.

Her website is www.http://heatherstewartharris.com/. I also bought her book to read.

We know her sister, Megan, and that was our connection to Heather Harris. I think that we should bring her back next fall if Mandy and DICE lets us.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

Tyndale Reading Blogger Program Winner

I was one of the top three bloggers in the Tyndale Summer Reading Program. I'm so excited!! I chose a $50 Amazon gift card. Criminal Minds? I think so. 

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

Darien's Rise

In a new and exciting series called "Passages" by Paul McCusker, Kyle and Anna, a brother and sister travel to Marus, a fantasy land, and experience unusual adventures. Belief in God in this world takes the believer on amazing trips and expeditions. History repeats itself - with the siblings in it! They also find that they have mysterious new powers.

The theme of the story is God's call on your life, and parallels that of David and Saul.

The stories were great and faith-grounded, and there was nothing too dark in them. They help show that the Bible is the living, breathing Word of God, and that the stories of real Biblical people are never too out of date. And the Bible CAN relate to our lives, if we allow it to.

A beautiful story that is also engaging!

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

Springtime of the Spirit

I enjoyed the latest book in the Great War series. Annaliese Duray and Christophe Brecht are a sweet couple. He is a war weary soldier, she is a fiery Socialist. They knew each other when they were younger, and they are surprised by the differences the years can bring.

The Great War has ended by 1918. Christophe Brecht has returned to his hometown from the Great War (called World War I by us). The Durays, who he knows, ask him to bring back their runaway daughter, Annaliese. He agrees, and goes to Munich, where he discovers she is caught up in the German Socialist movement, though she isn't aware that they want to create a communist government. He tries to take her home, but she refuses, and he stays near her to make sure she is safe. When an army from Berlin threatens their blossoming love, the two must make difficult choices.

A great read, and not too romantically over-the-top. The book balanced historical fiction with romance. I like that they used to know each other, and then realized that they had each changed. But Annaliese had always loved him, and now she had a chance to get him, but she really does love her country. I just wish many women didn't have to choose between their careers and marriage. Why can't women have both? I know plenty of women who can do both, and being a humanitarian is also a great aspiration! I'm glad Annaliese cared about her country, even if she didn't know everything about the people she was representing; that happens a lot!

An 8 on a 10-point scale. 

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

Look to the East Book Review

Look to the East is the first book in the Great War series by Maureen Lang, a Christian writer, an introduction to the series that makes me feel upbeat about the rest of the series. 

The background setting is France in World War I, better known as the Great War. Julitte Toussaint lives in a village (Briecourt) that is isolated from the battles but not from family feuds, but soon the war comes to her back door. Charles Lassone, a wealthy Belgian-American, is hiding from the Germans in the church for now, but if they find him her entire village may be destroyed...

A sweet account of two people in the midst of, in my opinion, an overshadowed war (thanks to World War II). Julitte's family is in the midst of a feud with the de Colvilles but even that is not the worst thing that can happen to the village. Charles being Belgian was an interesting decision, because Belgium was even more overlooked. It also touches on adoption, as Julitte's parents adopted her. Julitte also experiences isolation and rejection because she is a bit different from her friends and neighbors, something that so many readers can relate to and one that I myself related to.

The book emphasizes the sexual purity of Charles and Julitte, a fact that I was pleasantly surprised about, and quite happy with the author's decision. It's nice to see just sweet love between two people without sexual sin every once in awhile, although it is hinted about with other characters.   

I would say that this book is an 8 out of 10. 

Praying you have faith, hope and love,

Rachel 

Julitte was a very perfect character. 

My Foolish Heart Review

My Foolish Heart by Susan May Warren takes place in Deep Haven and is book one in a series. It explores the relationship between a wounded Iraq war vet and a woman who's secretly a radio talk show host for Foolish Heart. It shows how they fall in love, slowly, over the air.

It's a lovely story.

Deep Haven is also a haven and a place to hide for the characters, who seek refuge and isolation.

I love the fact that Isadora gives love advice, when she's never had a date. Although not having had a date doesn't mean you don't know stuff, it would help. That's like me. I feel like an expert on relationships, even though I've only been on one date that I really don't count as a date (it didn't go anywhere, although it was fun) because we weren't boyfriend-girlfriend.

I also feel Caleb's (I love that name) pain. I know someone who is disabled and he also struggles with overcoming it. It hurts to watch him struggle - and then to give up and expect to be carried around.

I like the mystery of them not knowing each other, and yet they are next-door neighbors. It seems ironic, yet anything can happen, especially in a small town. The world is a very small place.

I would recommend this book, and even though I haven't read any of the others, I am sure they are just as great and wonderful as this one.

A nine out of 10.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

Voyage with the Vikings

In the first of the Imagination Station series by Focus on the Family, we meet cousins Beth and Patrick, who end up traveling back in time to the age of the Vikings on a mysterious quest to save one of Mr. Whittaker's ancestors. The quest involves gathering different things from different time periods. They meet Erik the Red.

I'm a history buss, and I think it's interesting. The Viking time period is not a period that seems to get much attention, and I'm glad they decided to place Beth and Patrick there.

The books are simple, but seem realistic (other than the fact that time travel is impossible). Beth and Patrick wear costumes so they fit in semi-well, and they never seem to be able to change the past. They always find what they're looking for. The books also emphasize God more, although it seems to be everyone except the two children who refer to Him.

The characters are not always fleshed out, but given that it is for younger readers, that could be overlooked.

The content is interesting and gives information about a historical event often overlooked by writers and researchers.

I would say an 8 on a 10 point scale.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

The Imagination Station: Peril in the Palace

Peril in the Palace is the third book in the time-traveling adventure series The Imagination Station, part of the continuing saga of Adventures in Odyssey. Beth and Patrick travel through time to meet Kublai Khan while seeking yet another treasure to help save Mr. Whittaker's ancestor Albert from the mysterious Lord Blackthorn who has imprisoned him. They also meet Marco Polo, who saves their lives from vicious Mongol warriors.

The book is engaging, but has simplistic language. The history aspect is interesting, introducing various historical figures and facts but placed against the backdrop of modern children learning it. Beth and Patrick are very honest and courageous, and are not afraid to stand up for what they believe in.

The book is probably the least well-written, but children would still be hanging on the edge of it. With a good message and good principles, it's also a great learning tool for children!

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

The Constantine Codex

The Constantine Codex by Paul Maier is an exciting and riveting tale of Jonathan Weber, a Harvard professor who discovers the lost ending of Mark and an additional book of the Bible; if proved authentic, it would forever change how people view God's Holy Word. Then it is stolen. It appears that powerful forces don't want it published...

This was the first book by Maier that I read, and I did not know what to expect. I am leery of any mention of "lost books" of the Bible, truthfully. I know that there was so much examination of the books that could have fit originally that it seems almost impossible that one would have been passed over. But who really knows? And this book examines that possibility, and just how far people will go to keep things - unknown, which is quite alarming.

Maier's book is a fascinating and exciting read. Harvard professors are pretty intelligent, and this one is most definitely right up there.

I would say this book is an 8 on a 10 point scale.


Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

"The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven" Review

They always say that once you go to heaven you wouldn't want to come back to Earth, but sometimes God lets it happen. Lazarus - we assume - went to Heaven. And two months after a devastating accident, six-year-old Alex did too - and he came back, just like Lazarus did. And Kevin Malarkey wrote "The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven."

Alex had quite a story.

In a touching and eye-opening story, Alex tells of music, meeting Jesus and seeing angels, among other marvels that can only happen when you see heaven. And it sounded eerily like what characters in the Bible saw...

Now, I have never seen heaven, but look forward to it. However, I want that to be many years in the future (I'm only 21). But if God let me visit for a little bit - I'd definitely be ok with that. But not the way that Alex did. Although he now has an extraordinary story to tell, he was also hurt quite badly.

A beautiful book, at least a 9 on a 10-point scale.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always, Rachel