tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068422580699739392024-02-06T18:38:13.377-08:00Beyond the ChurchyardSecond Generation ChristiansHilareyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531342403713332331noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506842258069973939.post-87635115408308049802012-06-04T08:18:00.000-07:002012-06-04T08:18:09.131-07:00New Blog and Website<a href="http://hilarey.com/blog/">My blog has moved!</a> It took awhile, because apparently you have to have all your passwords EXACT on wordpress. But I have incorporated my website and blog together.<br />
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So, I will be deleting posts from blogspot as I update--everything has been moved here: <a href="http://hilarey.com/">Hilarey.com</a>Hilareyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531342403713332331noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506842258069973939.post-38695082516037136382011-04-05T16:05:00.000-07:002011-04-08T07:09:23.366-07:00Imagine waiting 35 years for the gospelThirty-five years. Isn't that hard to grasp in a society where people tap their foot after the third telephone ring? (And slam the phone down if voicemail hasn't engaged by the fifth.)<br /><br />"Our Witchdoctors Are Too Weak," is a biography written by Davey and Marie Jank. The book describes a fearful tribe from the Amazon who wanted "God's Talk" for twenty-five years before missionaries ever arrived.<br /><br />Once Davey Jank reached the Wilo people, it took him (and his team) ten years to learn the language, create a written form, and study the culture before they could present the gospel.<br /><br />As guests in the village, with limited ability to communicate, Jank describes his desire to break the bondage of fear before it was possible. His humble perspective on several cross-cultural situations was very thought provoking.<br /><br />I thoroughly enjoyed the humorous writing style, wit, and sensitivity of the authors. The short chapters made it a great book for reading aloud with my kids. Sometimes I read aloud just because they wanted to know why I was giggling.<br /><br />I received this book for free, in exchange for my honest opinion. It is an entertaining, satisfying read and I found myself invested in the Wilo people's lives even before I reached the conclusion of "Our Witchdoctors Are Too Weak."Hilareyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531342403713332331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506842258069973939.post-85189476209890094282011-02-28T08:06:00.000-08:002011-04-06T07:46:11.463-07:00Out of my comfort zone"Do Hard Things," written by twin brothers, Alex and Brett Harris, pushes a counter-culture rebellion.<br /><br />The culture is that all youth stuck between childhood and responsibility should rebel, screw-off and satisfy self. Of course, we have a new phenomena of teenagers that never outgrow this and well into their thirties they still wonder what they should do with themselves. Relationally, vocationally, spiritually...<br /><br />My 16 year old son eyed me one day while reading "Do Hard Things," and asked "Isn't that book for teenagers?"<br /><br />But think about it: who places menial demands on the youth? Parents, teachers, coaches.<br /><br />Children usually rise to expectations placed on them, why would it be any different for teenagers? While reading, I began to realize the expectations I put on myself as well as my children.<br /><br />I have always admired people who pushed themselves, but it has never been a conscious effort of my own. I believed I was brave and adventurous enough to enjoy life. However, the concept of stepping out of my comfort zone, on purpose, to grow...scared me. And I realized that I have let my little circle shrink since I was a teenager.<br /><br />I won't be surprised if the authors write a middle aged sequel when they hit their thirties and forties. In the meantime, I think everyone involved in a teenager's life should read this book. I received it for free as part of my participation in <a href="http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/">Multnomah's Blogging for Books</a>.Hilareyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531342403713332331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506842258069973939.post-29093847680473521932011-02-17T10:50:00.000-08:002011-02-17T12:49:24.297-08:00The Promises She Keeps<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://booksneeze.com/art/_80_140_Book.324.cover.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 80px; height: 121px;" src="http://booksneeze.com/art/_80_140_Book.324.cover.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The Promises She Keeps, by Erin Healy is a story about the impact you leave in life.<br /><br />I struggled a little with the first few chapters. I wasn't immediately swept up into the story. But I am glad I continued because it is a worthwhile read. It isn't the typical fiction story where you are dropped into the middle of the action and feel like you are just along for the ride. The experience of this book is more about the trip than the destination.<br /><br />I wouldn't recommend it for readers who are sensitive to reading about a character who is a witch. However, Healy handles it very well and does not delve into dark rituals, merely alludes to them. The good and evil are obvious.<br /><br />This is not an overtly Christian story to me because there is not a "conversion" scene. As a Christian, I saw beautiful images that an unbeliever might find benign. I think that this book would be enjoyable for both Christians and non Christians--anyone who hopes for immortality. I will read it again.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Disclaimer: I am not required to give a good review since I received this book for free from <a href="http://booksneeze.com/">BookSneeze.com</a>, however I do personally recommend this book. </span>Hilareyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531342403713332331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506842258069973939.post-9584762688719248012011-02-03T21:25:00.000-08:002011-03-03T08:13:47.636-08:00Lady in Waiting<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuBNIUfhWiVJqcggnjhDJ-C93PQP6hkbG0MAcyjgM8gL6aF1gU-BkKyDaQthMwqvxmJ8ZOv5B12b8TBWjDjc5LFvYo2lxA0o1UNUopfwZ3MrizVuQQPWnxaA3XRzKO9SbykG_0EG5klY/s1600/www.randomhouse.com.gif"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 135px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuBNIUfhWiVJqcggnjhDJ-C93PQP6hkbG0MAcyjgM8gL6aF1gU-BkKyDaQthMwqvxmJ8ZOv5B12b8TBWjDjc5LFvYo2lxA0o1UNUopfwZ3MrizVuQQPWnxaA3XRzKO9SbykG_0EG5klY/s200/www.randomhouse.com.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579887601564671010" border="0" /></a><br />Lady in Waiting by Susan Meissner by follows the stories of two woman separated by hundreds of years but connected by a name, a similarity in what seems like helplessness in their circumstances, and a ring.<br /><br />Normally, I don't care for stories that follow two plots at the same time, and you flash back and forth. It can feel like I am barely starting to connect when I'm jolted to the parallel story that doesn't interest me as much.<br /><br />Susan Meissner does a good job building both plots to stand on their own and yet connect in a way that allowed me to see a bigger picture in the theme.<br /><br />I liked the new twist, it wasn't just someone reading an ancestor's journal.<br /><br />There is a realistic element--not everyone's story ends perfectly, but there is enough tender hope to make it a pleasant and satisfying read.<br /><br />I received this book for free, so I am not required to give a favorable review. But I would wholeheartedly recommend it to fans of Woman's fiction and historical fiction.Hilareyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531342403713332331noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506842258069973939.post-23676500439515418492010-10-17T21:48:00.000-07:002010-10-17T22:26:07.475-07:00Same Kind of Different as MeRecently I finished "Same Kind of Different As Me" by By Ron Hall and Denver Moore. I enjoy memoirs, but especially when they read like fiction.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzA7eZrAWh1g4xyswnZcuh8XHfpOD3XbZ0FSYg-6_K9OkWuBXGdKmIUcfioZFgDbW8RdvzZA0Rwhul6utbF8S9iwXFfNeBWyVKE-COea_rAURK50jNvfFJl-ZZl4rUE6GAKL7DvTBN-4/s1600/_80_140_Book.28.cover.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 80px; height: 120px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzA7eZrAWh1g4xyswnZcuh8XHfpOD3XbZ0FSYg-6_K9OkWuBXGdKmIUcfioZFgDbW8RdvzZA0Rwhul6utbF8S9iwXFfNeBWyVKE-COea_rAURK50jNvfFJl-ZZl4rUE6GAKL7DvTBN-4/s200/_80_140_Book.28.cover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529253077668380098" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The story is about the lives of a homeless man and a wealthy art dealer, colliding for God's purpose. I chose this book simply because I was curious about the homeless. I didn't choose this book so I could loose myself from worldly trappings...or feel such conviction that I wanted to sell all my possessions. Fortunately, that isn't the book's motive.<br /><br />The most enjoyable thing was the sincerity of their story. Ron Hall's approach was not pretentious or stereotypical. He expressed things that someone might really feel, but be reluctant to admit. For instance, he was wondered about disease at the homeless shelter. Denver Moore was equally transparent about his impressions and experiences.<br /><br />That kind of honesty made me vulnerable to seeing both sides of homelessness. And that did challenge some of my assumptions. Mostly, that not everyone is where they are because of choices they made.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I received Same Kind of Different as Me for free from Booksneeze.com but I am not obligated to approve of or promote this book. </span>Hilareyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531342403713332331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506842258069973939.post-4273267214072144132010-04-01T15:29:00.000-07:002010-04-05T11:43:53.912-07:00What's in a Word<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://booksneeze.com/art/_140_245_Book.160.cover.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 110px; height: 169px;" src="http://booksneeze.com/art/_140_245_Book.160.cover.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Everyday we use colloquialisms. Sometimes the elements of the phrase are obvious, sometimes we only assume they are obvious.<br /><br />For example, I always thought mad as a hatter came from "Alice in Wonderland," but it actually had to do with the fact that hatters used Mercuric nitrate to make felt.<br /><br />I learned this from the most delightful book, "What's in a Word" which I received from Book Sneeze,* Thomas Nelson Publishers.<br /><br />With this book, you don't have to become an etymologist to learn the quirky details of word and phrase origins. You don't even need to be interested in word origins and history to be amused by this book. Each word or phrase has a quick paragraph summarizing the original language and if possible, a bit of history about the word. It was easy to read and easy to go back and find specific words when I wanted to share a specific detail.<br /><br />It is a perfect book to keep with you and read whenever you need to kill a few minutes (or more.) Although I read it cover to cover, it is separated into chapters such as Fine Arts and Religion, Household, Growing Things, etc.<br /><br />Even chapters which covered subjects that don't interest me had intriguing stories. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">*I am not required to write a positive review for my free book.</span>Hilareyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531342403713332331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506842258069973939.post-36696599551354207822010-02-14T20:16:00.000-08:002010-02-18T14:33:58.413-08:00The Long Road Home by Andrew KlavanThe Long Road Home is book two in The Homelanders Series. Y<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://booksneeze.com/art/_80_140_Book.126.cover.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 80px; height: 122px;" src="http://booksneeze.com/art/_80_140_Book.126.cover.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>ou hold your breath from the first sentence and the rest of this young adult novel does not disappoint.<br />The Long Road Home is a little like the thrill of emerging from the teen years into adulthood. And like an actual near-adult, the hero, Charlie, wrestles with his identity in a world that believes the worst about him.<br />Charlie can’t remember the previous year and he doesn’t know who to trust. He runs for his life, chased by the question “who are the bad guys?” Nowhere to turn, he is forced to find refuge in a place that once brought terror.<br />Both young adult girls and boys would enjoy this fun and fast-paced series.Hilareyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531342403713332331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506842258069973939.post-16603549525833748522009-12-09T12:20:00.000-08:002010-10-25T10:35:40.615-07:00Rick and Bubba's Guide to the Almost Nearly Perfect Marriage<span style="font-family:georgia;">Rick and Bubba’s Guide to the Almost Nearly Perfect Marriage delivers what it advertises: laughter and wisdom from the Bible. It is not, however, a guide for a marriage in trouble. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">All 228 pages are an easy read, lighthearted and more akin to listening to a couple of guys jaw about their wives’ quirks. They mention their own faults plenty and enjoy highlighting the differences in men and women’s motivations, thought processes and rationalizations. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I picked up the book because the idea of reading about marriage from a man’s perspective intrigued me. I found a few opinions to be from the aforementioned skewed perspective, but many were delightful. The greatest asset I gained was Rick and Bubbu’s acknowledgment of the unpredictability of women. For instance, if a wife says you don’t have to buy her a gift, she is lying. There are some things a husband just needs to be told. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I didn’t agree with all of the translations of women’s thoughts or the examples of underlying issues during arguments, but it was all in good fun. And the point, that there usually are underlying issues during arguments, is true. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Even non-hunting couples will find this book a great reminder that the little irritations of learning to live with another imperfect human are worth the joys. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">If you can laugh at yourself and like the idea of being privy to other marriages’ idiosyncrasies, reading Rick and Bubba’s guide will be like sitting on the porch with a chatty friend. </span>Hilareyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531342403713332331noreply@blogger.com0