Giving by Leaps & Bounds

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So much of our lives is caught up in the development and maintenance of security and control.  I know min
e is all about feeling safe.  That is best compliment I ever give my Dear Hubby.  That with him I know I am always safe.  But as Helen Keller observed, "Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."  And when our only experience of Christianity is safe and controlled, we miss the simple fact that faith involves risk.  Sometimes we have to have the faith to know when we jump out there to do our good deeds that we will not fail.  I know that in those moments I have made the leap.  Most people do not know of my 'revolving door' on my home.  As long as I have a place for one to lay their head, I have had someone living with us as they get back up on their feet.  These are people that most would never consider.  I loved meeting and becoming friends with a hara krishna couple that was traveling through the area.  They were looking for a farm and where low on their funds.  We were able to give them a bed, meals, ability to clean up and they gave me laughter and a joy of dancing with me.  We still keep in touch by email.  I have had homeless and those who are out on the streets suddenly without a clue as to where to find help.  Families with children, beautiful ladies and yes even currently our Gentleman who is fighting cancer.  I know that in all of these relationships I had to take a Leap of Faith or more so the Faith to leap!

In The Faith of Leap, Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch challenge you to leave the idol of security behind and courageously live the adventure that is inherent in our God and in our calling. Their corrective to the dull, adventureless, risk-free phenomenon that describes so much of contemporary Christianity explores the nature of adventure, risk, and courage and the implications for church, discipleship, spirituality, and leadership.  What would be the leap for you?  Where are your security nets at?  How can you challenge yourself to set out to do for others?  Would you like a lil help?  I have a copy of The Faith of Leap to giveaway.  Yeah, you should have known.  Just enter with the rafflecopter below.

Written by Alan Hirsch and Michael Frost.  Alan is founding director of Forge Mission Training Network and cofounder of Shapevine.com, an international forum for engaging with world-transforming ideas. Currently he leads an innovative learning program called Future Travelers which helps megachurches become missional movements. He is the author of numerous books, including The Forgotten Ways, and coauthor of Untamed and Right Here, Right Now. Hirsch lives in the Los Angeles area.  Michael Frost is vice principal of Morling College; founding director of the Tinsley Institute at Morling college in Sydney, Australia; and a Baptist minister. He is the author of Jesus the Fool, Seeing God in the Ordinary, and Exiles, and the coauthor of The Shaping of Things to Come. He lives in Australia.

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Letting Your Light Shine

I told you that my mom's birthday was this week. That was a wonderful time to reflect on all that she means to me. And in doing so I also sat down to read My Life I Make-Revisited by Lauris Faith.

Now why would I do that when I am thinking of my own mom and the life she made? Well, I find that we all have similar reflections. I love the way Lauris Faith has connected her spiritual reflections with lyrics from Reggae music. And in this book Lauris shares how she and her son have connected through Reggae music.

Lauris I hope you do not mind me sharing some of your book here. On page 6 she has "Let us learn to live and let that light shine brighter." from Circumstances by Buju Banton. This one spoke to me. I love light. I have to have light, lovely natural sunlight. Thank God I live in Texas. God said "Let there be light." Natural sunlight helps provide serotonin which helps us stay balanced in our emotions. We are also light for others. And when we shine our own natural light we can help others stay balanced. Whether it is in providing a helping hand, an open heart or just a listening ear. Sharing with others helps both participants stay more balanced. So make sure you let your own light shine too. My own mother taught me that was my purpose in life. And I too have shared that same lesson to my own College Girl. So as I sit now soaking up the warm sunlight streaming in through the front windows, I reflect on how my mother is also my source of light too.

Lauris, thank you so for sharing your lovely book with me. I am enjoying it so much! I wanted to share my own copy but so far I have not been willing to let it out of my own hands. In time I am sure I can share it as you have done with me.

Berenstain Bears Living Lights

The Berenstain Bears use to be a staple in my daughter's book collection. And now I am adding them to my collection for my grand children. But better still, there is a new series of Berenstain Bears. It is the Living Lights titles that I am showing here. Now that loveable family of bears can also show how they have grown into this supportive moral family. From 'Giving Thanks' to 'Christmas Tree', this is a pack that I want to use during the holiday season.

The first Berenstain Bear book was published in 1962 (a year before I was born) under the oversight of Dr. Seuss. Now that is a great mentor to have. Parents Stan and Jan started this series and now their son Michael has joined the team. Michael grew up watching his parents create their magazine cartoons and later the Berenstain Bears books.




Michael Berenstain is now working with his mother bringing this classic series to a new generation and with a new spin. When Berenstain found Christ, he also found his mission: to reveal the much-loved bear family’s faith in an original series. Zonderkidz has released the following titles in the series thus far, many of which are already becoming classics:

(1) The Berenstain Bears' Christmas Tree,
(2) The Berenstain Bears^® and the Golden Rule,
(3) The Berenstain Bears^®: Faithful Friends,
(4) The Berenstain Bears^® Give Thanks,
(5) The Berenstain Bears^® Go to Sunday School,
(6) The Berenstain Bears^® God Loves You!,
(7) The Berenstain Bears^® Love Their Neighbors,
(8) The Berenstain Bears^® Play a Good Game,
(9) The Berenstain Bears^® Say Their Prayers.