BOOK REVIEW

the curious incident of the dog in the night-time by mark haddon: This is a novel about Christopher Boone, who is autistic and a math genius. Christopher finds his neighbor's dog after it had been killed with a gardening fork. At first, Christopher is blamed. He goes about solving the mystery of who killed the dog, and in doing so, inadvertently solves another mystery that has greatly impacted his life. As we follow him in his investigation, we catch a glimpse of what it is like for someone with autism to navigate his world and relationships.

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Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I was immediately caught up in the story line. So much so, that there was a very interesting and deliberate math twist in the writing of this book that I completely missed because I was engrossed in the characters. I knew there was a problem and flipped through the chapters noticing that something very odd was going on. There were HUGE clues. And, when it all was revealed a few chapters into the book, I had to laugh at myself for not getting it on my own. (Gosh, I am trying to be so careful and not give anything away!!) You will totally fall for Christopher. You will care about him and you will want him to succeed in his investigation. You will find him very brave and perhaps more insightful than others might give him credit for.

Haddon does a great job of portraying the autistic mind and thought process. I did see a lot of similarities with so-called "normal" minds though they might not be as pronounced in the average person. The need for structure for example--I listen to the radio on the way IN to work in the mornings and a CD on the way HOME from the office. Relationships--don't we all set definite boundaries in our relationships and aren't we protective of maintaining those boundaries? Don't we get upset when those boundaries have been crossed? Coping skills--we all have defaults in a crisis or stressful situation. We all have thresholds for socialization and feel the need to escape when we go over our limit.

I was disappointed that Haddon portrayed Christopher without any faith. I know that by making his main character a math genius with a very scientific and logical mind, Haddon may have felt that belief in God would have taken the story off track or made it unbelievable. I would have loved to have seen how Christopher would interact with God. Also, I found myself wishing that Christopher could talk to God about all the things he wondered and worried about, but more so, that he could have discussed the wonder of mathematics with the Creator of math. My mind is very simple, but I imagined that it would have been exhilarating for Christopher to ponder mathematical puzzles with God.

This book made me remember a boy I grew up with as a child. The son of a family friend, Peter was mildly autistic. But, I never knew until I was an adult. We interacted with him as if all was normal because no one told us differently. Peter was just Peter and my brothers and I just accepted that.

This is a good read, can be read in a day. I recommend it!

A TREASURE HUNT

God took me on a treasure hunt this morning. First, we started here. Those questions just seemed to jump out at me, even though the rest of the psalm talks about who.

As I was mulling this over, God took me here. Earlier in this chapter, Micah restores 1,100 pieces of silver to his mother. She was so happy, she decides to dedicate 200 pieces of the silver to the Lord by having Micah get the silversmith to make a carved and a metal image. This went into the family shrine, and Micah ordained one of his sons to be his priest. He was pretty set with this arrangement until he met this young Levite from Bethlehem. He convinces the Levite to become his priest. As I left that chapter, I thought it appeared that Micah was pretty darn satisfied with himself for getting himself this priest and procuring the good graces of Almighty God. I could envision him puffing out his chest and patting himself on the back.

I wanted to keep reading about Micah, but God urged me forward again. And in the last place we visited, I found my Treasure!

X marks the spot!

10 DISCONNECTED THOUGHTS

1. I saw Robert this week. He is doing well. Walking pretty good actually. I watched him cross Michigan Avenue and check the coin slot at the pay phone in the 7-11 parking lot. That made me smile for some reason. I now carry a box of large garbage bags in my car in case Robert has too many bottles for the smaller bags.

2. Speaking of my 7-11, my Hindu friends have just celebrated their New Year. I wished the owner Happy New Year earlier in the week, and now he always smiles and says hello to me. He always did say hello, but he didn't smile.

3. My daughter is learning a new piece of music. Aria in D Minor by JS Bach. The subtitle is: Enlightening Thoughts of a Tobacco Smoker. Isn't that a strange subtitle? I will have to have her play it so I can see what kind of picture this music paints for me. Maybe of some very old men with long white whiskers, sitting around an outdoor cafe, smoking cigars and pipes-pontificating? I will let you know! (One funny side note she pointed out...the last 3 notes were D-A-D. Her dad is quite a tobacco smoker so that is kind of humorous.)

4. My daughter is pretty grown up. But I still kiss her cheek and pray for her in the morning before I leave for work. Most of the time she sleeps right through it. Sometimes she says through her dreams, "Love you, Mom." I hope I live to be 100 and still can kiss my girl's cheek and pray for her in the mornings. I wonder if her husband will say, "Can't you keep your crazy mother out of our bedroom?" Hmmm, I hope I live to be 100 and am still mindful to pray for my daughter (and her husband) each morning from my own house...lol.

5. My friend, Mandy, told me about her friend Tom who has great faith. You will want to read his post from October 23rd.

6. I am doing a Bible study with a group of friends. In preparation, we were to study First Corinthians 13:4-8. We were supposed to study each characteristic to determine how it could be applied in our lives. I recalled a tradition in the Roman Catholic church that I must have learned when I was little...of taking your right fist and lightly beating it against your chest 3 times as you repeated a prayer of contrition...I can't remember it exactly, and I might have this all wrong...but it went something like, "I have sinned in my heart, in my mind, and in my deeds." But that is what I felt like after reading the passage. Because I am not that. The Word led me to repentance.

7. I love autumn. It is my favorite time of year. I was an October bride. This year, I didn't even think of my wedding anniversary, until almost two weeks went by. Perhaps I am moving past surviving divorce to recovery. That is what my blog title was about. The Other Side of....Divorce. There are alot of "other sides" in life. I wonder what "other side" I will be focused on next?

8. I have made my list of books that you all recommended and am going to start reading from that list. I will let you know how I like them. Right now I have borrowed Confessions of a Reformission Rev by Mark Driscoll. I borrowed it from my pastor. This book is so good. I can't put it down. I like his honesty, insight, and vulnerability. I think it is a difficult thing to shepherd people. I have several pastors as close friends. This makes me want to pray for them all the more.

9. I have a headache. Sometimes I AM a headache. ;-)

10. Thanks for letting me ramble!

A BEAUTIFUL SOUND

The heart of a proud man breaking
The cry of a sinner seeking truth
The beat that your heart is making
The moment that true love crashes through
It's a beautiful sound

It's a beautiful sound
When the walls comes crashing down
And the chains fall to the ground
And the song we sing
Is the song of the redeemed
Of the lost who now are found
It's a beautiful sound

The hope that a dreamer whispers
The life in the laughter of a child
The silence that awe inspires
In the shadow of love that's strong and wild
It's a beautiful sound

It's a beautiful sound
When the walls come crashing down
And the chains fall to the ground
And the sond we sing
Is the song of the redeemed
Of the lost who now are found
It's a beautiful sound

*Written by Geoff Morre & Joel Hanson

INCREDIBLY, AWESOMELY EMPTY!!

I googled "empty" because that was how I was feeling....empty. And look what I found....in the middle of my emptiness, there YOU were. And now I am undone, because of You, Jesus...You have rescued me once again. And I know You will rescue me the next time I need rescuing...and the next....and the next. And now I am full...of gratitude for the rescue, of praise for Your excellent greatness, of strength to do what it is that You would have me to do, of love for You because of Your love for me. You are risen...just as You said, just as You said!

MISSION COMPLETED?

Hey all! First, thank you so much for praying for our team and our families. It is always a humbling thing to know that people are taking the time to pray for you, isn't it?

The Bootcamp was held at Terra Nova and was incredible! There was so much that I learned, that pierced my heart, that motivated me, that inspired me.....I don't think I can even do it justice to try to recount everything. So, I won't. But...I understand that you should be able to hear the same workshops at the Acts 29 website in a couple of weeks.

A couple of impressions though....I saw so much unity across denominations...just a bunch of servants...people who weren't paid to speak (and even paid their own expenses) who were so happy for the privilege of speaking into the lives of those who exploring the call of church planting. They set the bar high...excellence was modeled in individual lives and in the Network. And, it was all about Jesus. Loving Him, serving Him, and lifting His name up to and in the world that He has created and is redeeming.

I think I am left with two feelings...first, that of standing before something very beautiful and just breathing in that beauty. Second, the conviction that The Journey has indeed been ordained by God to bring the Gospel of good news to our community. Our mission is just beginning!

p.s. Almost done catching up on all your blogs. Missed your humor, your insight, your care and kindness, hearing about your lives - your concerns, and most of all, missed your friendship.

BOOT CAMP

Several of us from Journey will be attending an Acts 29 church planters Boot Camp next week. Please be praying for us to have a safe trip, for our pastor and his wife as they are assessed as church planters, for our children and those who will watch over them for us, and for God to pour out His Spirit on our minds and hearts so that we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Rescuer, Jesus Christ!

See you in a week!!

A BEAUTIFUL COLLISION

I love this song...A Beautiful Collision by David Crowder.

I want to tell you a story about one very beautiful collision. My sister-friend, Vicki Sue went to Mississippi with a group from our church to do some Hurricane Katrina relief work. She developed an instant connection with a couple, EJ and Lindsay. It was so strong, and so God-filled, that they decided that EJ should actually be her new brother, making Lindsay her new sister-in-law.

As their friendship grew, they began to discover some very interesting things. For example, one day Vicki Sue was talking about EJ's work and I said...."What company does he work for?" She told me. Then I said, "What is his last name?" She told me. Something jogged in my memory and I looked through my desk drawer. I pulled out a business card....EJ's business card! Several years before, when I had been in sales, I had gotten his card. I have no memory of meeting him or of having been to his company. Also, I passed all my leads on when I switched out of sales....so why would I have kept his card? And how odd that I would suddenly remember it after not having looked at it in over two years! How incredible is it that two people who had adopted Vicki Sue as "family" had collided, couldn't remember it, and had never known at the time that they would intersect again through their individually significant relationships with her.

Vicki Sue recently told me that Lindsay asked her where her old house was. It turns out that the guy who bought Vicki Sue's house about 5 years ago, had been engaged to Lindsay at one time.

We have been amazed by the number of incidents like these, in which God had been intersecting Vicki Sue's life with EJ and Lindsay's. The whole time, they all remained unaware that God had plans for them to remain connected and serve Him together in a new church plant, Journey.

This makes me wonder who God might be intersecting my life with, or yours, for some future time and place and purpose known only to Him. Or who I might be passing each day on my way to work, or in the grocery store, or even through blogging, whose heart has yet to collide with Jesus, their Rescuer. What a beautiful collision that will be!

The breaking makes a sound

I never knew could be

So beautiful and loud

Fury filled and we collide

So courageous until now

Fumbling and scared

So afraid You'll find me out,

Alone here with my doubt

Here it comes, a beautiful collision

Is happening now.

There seems no end to where You begin and there I am now

You and I collide

Something circling inside,

Spaciously you fly

Infinite and wide,

Like the moon and sky

Collide

Here it comes, a beautiful collision

Is happening now.

There seems no end to where you begin and there I am now

You and I, collide

Yeah Yeah Yeah

Here it comes, Here it comes, Here it comes now

Here it comes, Here it comes, Here it comes now

Here it comes, Here it comes, Here it comes now

CollideHere it comes, Here it comes now (You and I)

Here it comes, Here it comes now (You and I)

Here it comes, Here it comes, Here it comes now

Feel it coming on, Feel it coming on now,

Here it comes nowHere it comes, Here it comes, Here it comes now

ROBERT IN THE RAIN

I spoke with Robert this morning. It was raining really hard when I got up, so I was hoping that he would be making his rounds a little later than usual. He was just leaving the parking lot when I pulled into the 7-11. He had to turn around and come back.

Besides bottles, I had an envelope for Robert that I had been carrying around for over a week, maybe two. My boss, who I also consider my brother, heard about Robert from Vicki Sue, so he brought in two huge garbage bags of bottles for him. I didn't see Robert for several days, so I decided to cash in the bottles for Robert. I told Robert about how the envelope came to be and reminded him that he had all kinds of people praying for him. He said that God indeed was good!

Robert looked good, better than he has in a long time...better than he did the first day I saw him hunting for bottles, although he did look a bit tired. Today, when I said good-bye, I reached out my hand to shake Robert's hand. He has a firm grip. Representing each of you who has come to care about Robert and representing our King, I said, "God bless you today, friend!" and then we both turned and went on our way.

READ ANY GOOD BOOKS LATELY?

I need some suggestions for my reading list. I like books. I normally have 2 to 3 books that I am reading at once. The last three books I read were Desiring God by John Piper and Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller and Luther's Commentary on Romans. Here is what I like:

Spiritual: You already saw a sample of this. Like stuff that makes you think. Or makes me cry. Or makes me stop and worship.

Romance: Not really for me unless it is from the classics....I have read all the works of Jane Austen. Loved Jane Eyre. Not that into French classic romance...too dark for me.

Historical Novels: Like these alot if the story line is not too corny.

Autobiographies and Biographies: Yes!

Futuristic: Nope.

Fantasy: Depends. Lord of the Rings...yes. Chronicles of Narnia....yes. Not my
favorite though.

Fiction & Mystery: I did enjoy the Da Vinci Code except the end...he lost me at the end. Like
most of John Grisham's works. Still love Mark Twain.

Horror: Uhhh...no...never...ever!

Series Books: Only recommend if the entire series is finished. Hate to wait for the next book to
come out!

History: Yes!

Political: ummmmmmm.....once in a while.

Can't wait for your suggestions!

OCTOBER-PASTOR APPRECIATION MONTH

Just a reminder--

October is Pastor Appreciation Month!

Let's set aside some extra time

to pray for our

pastors, their wives, and kids!

CZECH LANGUAGE LESSON 101

Our dear friend, Peta, laid down the challange for us to learn her language, seeing that she always has to use ours. So, here is the first installment of our lessons. Let's see who can put some sentences together!

láska [lu:s-ka] love
Bůh [boo:-h] God
ahoj [u-hoy] hello / hi
jak se máš? [yuk ce maa:-sh] how are you
já [yaa:] I,
mety [pronouce shortly "tea"] you
on [aun] he
jídlo [yee-dlo] food
pití [pe-tee] drink(s)

By the way, my grandmother immigrated to the U.S.A. from Krakow, Poland, so I definately should have known "Jak se mas?" I took 2 semesters of Polish in college, and 3 years of Spanish in high school but sadly, I don't recall much from either. Shame on me!

Thanks, Peta...for helping me to become a student again. I hope to make my teacher proud!

Here is my first sentence:

Ja laska Buh!

WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?

"...Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!" Psalm 150:2

And Jesus asks, "Who do you say I am?"

Jesus, I still don't know...fully, completely.

Tho' I long to know You more fully and more completely.

You are the Christ.

You are the Savior of the world.

You are the Rescuer...no one can take Your place or stand in Your place.

You are the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.

You are Most Holy.

You are Righteous.

You are God.

You are worthy of ALL praise.

You are the King of all Kings...ever.

You are a Consuming Fire.

You are Life.

You are Truth.

You are The Way.

And my soul must worship You.

Not because I can.

Not because I choose to.

But because You are Jesus.

And I worship YOU

Jesus Christ

Jesus the Christ

Jesus

Most High and Holy God.

I love You.

Amen

and

Amen

LAUGHING AT....ME!

Two conversations I had recently that just made me laugh at myself!

1) I went to the copier to...well, to make some copies. A newer employee, who happens to drive a straight truck for our company came up while I was making my copies.

Driver: Have we met? My name is Carl. (puts hand out to shake hands)
Me: (shakes hand.) Hi Carl. I am Kathy. I think we met, perhaps during your training. What's your number?
Driver:......(hesitation, with amused look on his face.)
Me:......(quizzical look & then light bulb goes on)....ummmmm, your DRIVER number!
(Now, every driver has a number...like I would be 550 Kathy. Since we already have a Carl, I wanted to know this Carl's DRIVER number so that I would be able to distinguish between the two, over the radio or nextel, in the future. I WAS NOT asking him for his phone number!)
Driver & Me: (small talk while I try to keep a straight face and finish my copies.)
Me: (back in office w/ door shut.)HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2) Talking to my daughter. For some reason that I cannot remember, I asked her about an incident that had happened when she was much, much younger in which MY mom, HER grandmother had assumed she didn't know the meaning of a word. I couldn't remember the word but knew it had something to do with animals and maybe winter. I asked what the word was, was it a bear? a penguin? a buffalo? This only confused her until.....

DrmWithinADrm1: a bear?
DrmWithinADrm1: a penguin?
DrmWithinADrm1: buffalo?
DrmWithinADrm1: uuhh hybernation?
DrmWithinADrm1: oh yea that was it
kaymac550: lol
kaymac550: i have to blog on that tomorrow
DrmWithinADrm1: seriously though
DrmWithinADrm1: a bear is understandable
DrmWithinADrm1: its pretty close
DrmWithinADrm1: but penguin and buffalo?
DrmWithinADrm1: where did you pull that out of?
kaymac550: i have noo clue
kaymac550: that is just how my mind works
kaymac550: just like a steel trap
kaymac550: sharp
kaymac550: bright
kaymac550: strong
kaymac550: i am just an intellectual
kaymac550: lol

FLY ON THE WALL

If I could, I would love to be a fly on the wall, listening to my blogger friends discussing a subject, even something as simple as the weather!
http://www.partofthestory.com/ Mike
http://embracinggrace.blogspot.com/ Tina
http://beautifulgentlemind.blogspot.com/ Maximo
http://letterstolife.blogspot.com/ Angela

They are all extremely intelligent and often have an interesting take that makes me stop and think, and you just can't beat their senses of humor.

P.S. Angela, as you can see...I still cannot do that link thing that you have been trying to teach me.

UNCLE BUCK GROWS UP

My brother Mike, the youngest of 4 kids, was a skinny red-headed imp with a King Kong sized imagination. By the time he hit high school, he developed muscles and played varsity football starting his sophmore year. He went from scrawny to GQ. He had it all...brains, looks, personality, and a sense of humor. I thought of the four us, he would be the one who be the star, the success, the president of some company with a wife and 2.5 kids and the house with the white picket fence.

Early in his college career, I knew something wasn't adding up. I found out years later when he confided in me, that a very private and devestating tragedy had derailed my brother. He went through the pain of this crisis alone. None of us knew why Mike the Superstar, was unfocused and seemingly unmotivated. Many in my family looked down on him for wasting his life. I just wish I had known earlier to have helped shoulder his burden, just as he has always helped to shoulder mine.

When the movie "Uncle Buck" came out, I had to laugh. Uncle Buck was my brother! Unfocused, meandering through life, uncommitted....but also caring, and kind, and totally, outrageously fun! He was the favorite uncle, who could be counted on for the most unusual and captivating gifts or outings.

Mike eventually met a woman whom he married. He became step-father to 2 adolescent boys and a cute little girl with curly red-hair who looked just like Little Orphan Annie. Blending families is a tough thing and there have been times that I have had to tell Mike I thought he was being too rigid and demanding with the kids. Or that his teasing was over the top. But Mike has also been there for every parent/teacher conference, every birthday, every graduation and most of the in-between, day-to-day stuff. I know it hurts him when the kids seem to prioritize their biological dad over him. I also know that he knows that if any of the kids are in trouble, he is who they turn to first.

Last night, Mike made sure that his youngest, his daughter Katie, had a wonderful party for her 21st birthday. When she opened her presents, his gift was last. He made a little speech about how special this occassion was and how he had wanted to get her something for her 21st birthday that she would have for always. He gave her a long box which we all knew could only hold jewelry. Katie opened it to find the most gaudy and hideous pink and silver bracelet that was ever made. She hid her disappointment and politely thanked him. In true Uncle Buck fashion, he told her the first was a joke, and gave her a 2nd box. Inside was a delicate and beautiful diamond necklace...the kind of necklace she will cherish and hand down to a future daughter or daughter-in-law.

I was proud of my brother last night. I am proud of my brother and the man he has become. And I love it that Uncle Mike still has a bit of the Uncle Buck left that he shares with us from time to time.