The Savior

The Savior. A brief book review. Drucker, Eugene. New York, New York. Simon & Schuster Paperbacks. 2007; 206 pages. ISBN: 9781416543305
The seed of this novel is from a real story. Its about a violinist who is ordered by the Nazi SS to play for prisoners in a camp. Unbeknown to him he is used in an experiment to prove that the ordinary, every day German is quite content to act as though they are not aware of what is happening to others. Its an adult novel that presents two perspectives; first that we often willingly ignore the evil that is happening around us, second, there is also a young German soldier who has rationalized how he can kill human beings one moment and the next moment wish that he were not there .... this comes about by mostly placing the blame for his own actions on those giving him orders. It truly is a novel that makes one think about how we today are reacting to the world around us .... sticking our heads in the sand or rationalizing away our responsibility to make a difference. Amazon.com has 17 reviews. I believe that the author has done a marvelous job in holding our attention through the whole novel, and the tension between music and human atrocities is great; but I think an opportunity to relate the depth of feelings that Bach displayed in his music, in the midst of his own adversities, to the present circumstances in which Gottfried was playing was missed by the author. In a small way it reminds me of the novel 'The Cellist of Sarajevo,' but definitely minus the willingness to sacrific self by the Cellist. ENJOY.

Family Camp

WOW! Last week was family camp ... and it was spiritually renewing. We were reminded of how much God really loves each of us; and the lengths that he will go to to pursue us. Passing through this chaotic world it is life changing, life enriching, a living hope to know that the one constant in my life is a God who forever loves me, even though he too is daily bringing change into my life. Here are some one-liners from camp:
*God is RELENTLESS in his pursuit of us
*Holiness is DIMINISHED when we define, and/or limit it to our actions
*God is calling us out of a CASUAL relationship
*How long since you DANCED with God?
*When God calls us to something, he OBLIGATES himself to enable us.
*You are only as free as your deepest secrets.
*The journey of holiness is not about me finding a place to call home; but letting God find a home in me.

Sarah's Key

'Sarah's Key' .. A brief book review. DeRosnay, Tatiana. New York, New York. St. Martins Griffin Press., 2007 ISBN:9780312370848; 320 pages. Review questions at end of book.
This is a fantastic history novel. Its a good companion with Anne Frank's diary and the Book Thief. Its another one of those novels that deals with the horrors that children faced in the nazi holocaust; and how those that survived had to deal with unnecessary guilt issues that prohibited some of them from having mature, fruitful adult lives. This is a novel that illustrates the effects of one generation's war on generations to come, and how even those terrible memories can give us a sense of compassion for our families and fellow man. Needless to probably add, I immensely enjoyed this novel. There are some good reviews on Amazon.com.

New Gramps

This past Wednesday @1:30AM I became the proud Gramps of our 13th Grandchild!!! [7lbs.11oz. and 19 1/2 inches from tip of his head to his toes] A vote of everyone in the hospital was taken, [didn't miss anyone, we're talking thousands of people here] and everyone agreed my grandson was the sweetest, most handsome, gorgeous baby in the whole hospital complex ... or least I think that's how it went! Now get this, my grandson in the deep south found out his new cousins name on facebook before we got the call from my son [from the hospital] that they had finally decided what it was, then you should have heard that conversation, as the name kept getting garbled over the cell and gram was really giving our grandson strange names until they got it straightened out.
gramps eutychus

Little activity the next two weeks

From tomorrow [Sunday 12th] through Thursday [23rd] I will be at Indian Lake for Family Camp and District Assembly, so there will be little, if any activity on this blogspot. Have a great two weeks. See ya later.

Where the River Ends

Where the River Ends, [a brief book review]; by Charles Martin. New York, New York. Random House Publishing. 2008; ISBN: 0767926994; 380pgs
I bought this book at a bookstore in Grand Rapids that I've never been to, and must put in a plug for it - SchulerBooks. Its really a great bookstore. I bought this book yesterday morning[Thursday] and read it last evening. The book comes with a sign on the front cover: Warning, This book will break your heart!
This to say the least, is a fascinating book. Amazon.com has 76 reviews of this novel, and/or you can go to my shelfari and get a preview there. Charles Martin is a southern writer so all of you, like Sage, who are in the Summer Southern Reading Challenge this is a book for you! If you like river life this author is very familiar with the southern river of St. Mary's that runs between Florida and Georgia; he is also extremely familiar with human society along the edge of the river, familiar with the fauna and the wildlife that lives in and off the river. The author is also well versed in the effects of climate and tides on the river , and the effects of flood stages ... an outdoor extravaganza for any wildlife enthusiasts. On a personal note the author reminds us that true love goes beyond the visual, beyond the physical and into the heart. My favorite line is when Abbie Grace, in a letter to her father, tells him, 'I have a gift for you, it is stored in my husbands chest - my heart.' One more clue: Early in their journey on the river they meet a human evil, which symbolizes the cancerous evil that challenges them, and keeps reappearing.
ENJOY

Tuesday afternoon

Went fishing yesterday .... and it was fun! I caught a 10" and 13" crappie, plus a good number of blue gill. [we also put back in a number of nursery catches] My buddies let me keep most the catch, and Tom took about a half dozen. I immediately, upon getting home, got them all filleted and put in the refrigerator and Thursday night I will cook 'em for the wife and I. I'm searching Bobby Flay's website for a new fish breading. The 13" crappie dwarfed everything else caught, I'd like to have about a dozen of those, especially since crappies are my favorite pan fish. I really wanted to place the 13" on a plaque, but why waste the good eatin.'

p.s. Last night [Wednesday] Ernie brought me in 25 nice size blue gill ..... and I filleted them, and they are ready to be fried tonight. I will first put them in a batter of eggs and milk, then into a simple breading of original Ritz crackers ......um! um! um! can't wait for supper tonight.

pp.ss. now those were some good eats!! [Friday am]

Fireworks from 4th!

As I sat and watched a fantastic display of fireworks this past Friday night, I noted that my two little grandkids, after a few minutes, seemed to be bored .... they missed the excitement and thrill of that final display of red, white and blue explosions. Then a small voice said, 'that's just like gramp's when he gets too distracted and misses out on what God is trying to show him, or when he loses the wonder and grandier of the normal. Thanks grandkids for teaching gramps a needed lesson.

p.s. This was also my grandson's first viewing of fireworks! I probably shouldn't have bought him the cheap glowstick because he preferred to play with that rather than watch the fireworks. Gramps is a slow learner.

Bragging Rights!

This ole grandpa wants to brag on one of his granddaughters .... a granddaughter who went to Orlando, Florida to the International Church of the Nazarene's World's Kid Quizzing Contest ... and among a thousand other kids from around the world, my granddaughter took home the gold along with some others!! Way to go granddaughter!

Great food with great friend!

Tonight we tried a new salmon recipe with a good friend, who was willing to be a guinea pig along with us. The recipe turned out fairly good, although I would trya few more spices the next time. I'll share the recipe on the food links. Tomorrow morning we head for the big 'D' to see the grand kids and enjoy the fire works with them tomorrow evening!

too expensive birds

The birds are getting too expensive ...we're now the proud owners of three bird feeders! The feed is getting too expensive, all we get for our return is gorgeous red-headed cardinals; beautiful yellow finches, royal blue tufted bluejays, the occasional oriole plus an assortment of other birds I don't know the names of, and the rare biblical sparrow. An occasional hummingbird has been seen trying to figure out why all the birds - then taken off to feast on their own feeder - hey that makes 4 bird feeders! I'm open to knowing where cheap bird seed can be found?