Category Archives: Faith

Book Review: Something Other Than God

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Jen of Conversion Diary is running all manner of contests regarding her new book, Something Other Than God so I thought I’d join the fun and give you my thoughts on it.

First, I should probably let those who aren’t my regular readers know that I’m a convert to Christianity — the bare bones story of it is here.

I was looking forward to reading Jen’s story because I enjoy spiritual autobiographies and I figured that I might be able to relate to it. I was right. I had experiences like Jen did at camp where I had people trying to “win” my soul and they definitely turned me off to organized religion for a long time. I also have a father who encouraged my natural skepticism.

I think the chapter at which I couldn’t put it down was chapter three when she was digging the fossils and started having existential questions. It was so nice to know that I wasn’t the only kid to have those thoughts or to think that way.

Like Jen, I pretty much read and researched my way to the faith. I think I own a good chunk of the faith/religion aisle at the Crown Books that we used to go to in San Jose. I didn’t read Mere Christianity until college but it did impact my faith enough that I give the book as a gift to my confirmation students.

Like Jen, I also endured a conversion from being pro-choice to being pretty exclusively pro-life. Part of it has to do with having Daniel and him being a preemie but part of it also has to do with knowing women who have had abortions and live in deep regret about having them. I hadn’t read the details of the Carhart case before the Supreme Court before I read this book but having a 29.5 weeker, I can feel Jen’s revulsion because it’s also my revulsion.

This is likely the book I’d hand my father to explain why I converted as I think he still expects me to snap out of it 19 years later. Sorry, Dad.

I think what I most resonated with was the feeling that my world shattered when I realized that God was real. It’s a point that is really hard to explain unless you’ve been there. It’s like you thinking that the puzzle of your life fits together nicely… only to have someone tip out all the pieces and have the pieces suddenly morph into a completely different puzzle. That different puzzle has been my life for the last 19 years and I got the sense that Jen experienced the same thing.

You can buy the book on Amazon.Com (here) or at Barnes & Noble (here).

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: May 12, 2014

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY May 12, 2014

Outside my window… dark. It has gotten warm lately and it’s supposed to be 95F tomorrow. I am not amused.

I am thinking… that my Netflix membership is paying for itself in the seasons of Leverage that I’m going through right now.

I am thankful… that Daniel hasn’t come out to curl up with me — I might get some quiet prayer time tonight without having to think about getting the bear child back to bed.

In the kitchen… dishes to do. Wheeeeeeee!!!

I am wearing… purple Old Navy shirt and black sweats from Target.

I am praying for… a special intention, for Daniel to keep developing speech, for peace in my life, and for Mairama Y., one of the young women in Nigeria who was kidnapped by Boko Haram.

I am going… to enjoy my mani/pedi tomorrow.

I am wondering… what Ann Coulter was thinking this weekend. I think the best one was “I am a miserable person who peddles hate to make money off of dumb Republicans.” Just sayin’.

I am reading… Girl At the End of the World by Elizabeth Esther. I finished Something Other Than God by Jennifer Fulwiler yesterday and it was AWESOME.

I am hoping… getting my calluses removed with a Dremel tool tomorrow isn’t too painful. They’re pretty bad.

I am looking forward to… seeing my evil twin and his wife this weekend for the communal birthday celebration. I haven’t seen my sister-in-law since Thanksgiving and I haven’t seen the evil twin since March.

I am hearing the clock belonging to Jon’s great-grandfather.

Around the house… quiet right now. I’m thankful for it.

I am pondering… so many things internally. Introvert, yo!

A favorite quote for today… “Some people feel guilty about their anxieties and regard them as a defect of faith. I don’t agree at all. They are afflictions, not sins. Like all afflictions, they are, if we can so take them, our share in the Passion of Christ.” — C.S. Lewis, Letters to Malcom, Chiefly on Prayer

One of my favorite things… silly house panthers who are claiming abuse and neglect. (Can you tell Edda is being a pest?)

A few plans for the rest of the week: mani/pedi tomorrow morning, ABA therapy for Daniel every afternoon this week, hair cut on Thursday, meeting and errands in Elk Grove on Friday, and spending Saturday with my parents.

A peek into my day… “Come and I Will Sing You” by Great Big Sea. Lyrics and meanings are here. It’s one that gets stuck in my head.

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7 Quick Takes: Catching Up on News

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

#BringBackOurGirls There have been people posting the names of the girls that were kidnapped in Nigeria. Some have decried that, saying that it could put the girls in more danger and also stigmatize them if they are found and the Boko Haram have raped them. Here is a link that has the names and a call to pick a name and pray. In the name of keeping the girls safe but also picking a name to pray for, I’ve chosen Mairama Y. as the girl for whom I’ll be praying.

— 2 —

Mixed marriage. It’s baseball season which means that there’s a friendly rivalry in our house between my boys and Jon’s team. Currently, my boys are at the top of their division. Wait… what’s that, Jon? Your team is 2.5 games behind. *slaps forehead* I had no idea!

— 3 —

OMG Big Bang Theory!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How can I avoid posting a spoiler alert regarding what happened on the Big Bang Theory tonight? I know! I’ll use Pig Latin. eonard-Lay oposed-pray o-tay enny-Pay and-ay e-shay aid-say “es-Yay”.

— 4 —

Special intention. For those who have been praying for our special intention, thank you. Please keep praying for it.

— 5 —

Blankies. Daniel already has a blankie my mother-in-law made for him out of Dodgers fleece so I tied one with Giants fleece last week. He is currently wrapped in it… next to Jon. I may or may not be snickering over here.

— 6 —

Orphans. Do you see this darling boy?

Brett

Brett needs a mama. Are you his mama? Click on his picture for more information.

— 7 —

Jen Fulwiler’s book. I’m in the middle of Something Other Than God and it is A-freaking-MAZING. I’m a convert from atheism to Christianity and I’m having some “OMG-her-too?????” moments.

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: May 5, 2014

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY May 5, 2014

Outside my window… dark. It’s 11:00 p.m. and I’m blogging to clear out my brain before I sleep.

I am thinking… about everything going on tomorrow morning and how to get it all done.

I am thankful… for my talk being over and for it going so well.

In the kitchen… pesto quinoa salad with Kalimata olives and feta cheese.

I am wearing… CPC t-shirt and black running shorts.

I am praying for… for the crud in my upper respiratory to go away, for wisdom in how to parent Daniel, and for a few special intentions.

I am going… to be focusing on housework tomorrow morning.

I am wondering… what the future has in store for me after June 15th.

I am reading… Something Other Than God by Jennifer Fulwiler. It’s resonating with me as a convert from atheism/agnosticism to Christianity.

I am hoping… my eye appointment on Wednesday goes well.

I am looking forward to… my massage on Thursday.

I am hearing the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles on iTunes. They are on a playlist with all of my Bach and some of my other classical, chant, and Taizé music.

Around the house… going to be focusing on the kitchen tomorrow.

I am pondering… various things internally.

A favorite quote for today… “If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.” — C.S. Lewis (I know I share this at least every quarter but it’s one that accurately reflects where I stand on things.)

One of my favorite things… quiet time late at night for prayer.

A few plans for the rest of the week: parent training tomorrow, eye appointment on Wednesday, massage on Thursday morning, counseling appointment on Friday, ABA therapy on every weekday afternoon, and whatever else pops up. I may or may not go to Ladies’ Night Out on Wednesday night depending on how I feel.

A peek into my day… Daniel with my father’s hat at the Promise Walk for Preeclampsia in San Jose on Saturday. Dad kept sticking it on his head and Mom got a picture of it before Daniel removed it.

Daniel with Dad's hat

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The Simple Woman’s Daybook: April 29, 2014

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY April 29, 2014

Outside my window… dark. It’s 4 a.m. and I’m having fibro pain in my legs as well as insomnia.

I am thinking… about what I’m going to be facing in a matter of hours in terms of my day.

I am thankful… for those who have donated to my participant page for the Promise Walk.

In the kitchen… need to cook the last of the quinoa.

I am wearing… green t-shirt and black capri sweats.

I am praying for… sleep (failing there), various people, the ability to forgive, and a couple special intentions.

I am going… to hope that they can fix our bathroom fan tomorrow.

I am wondering… why I’m getting hit with insomnia and fibro pain tonight/today.

I am reading… Jesus: A Pilgrimage by James Martin, S.J. — I’m reading it one chapter at a time so that I’m not having to remember too many details when I have to put the book down.

I am hoping… I can get my fabric trimmed tomorrow and primed to cut the strips for tying.

I am looking forward to… the Promise Walk on Saturday.

I am hearing Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me on iTunes.

Around the house… lots of cleaning to do in the dining area part of the kitchen.

A favorite quote for today… “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilisations—these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit—immortal horrors or everlasting splendours. This does not mean that we are to be perpetually solemn: We must play. But our merriment must be of that kind (and it is, in fact, the merriest kind) which exists between people who have, from the outset, taken each other seriously—no flippancy, no superiority, no presumption. And our charity must be a real and costly love, with deep feeling for the sins in spite of which we love the sinner—no mere tolerance, or indulgence which parodies love as flippancy parodies merriment. Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbour is the holiest object presented to your senses. If he is your Christian neighbour, he is holy in almost the same way, for in him also Christ vere latitat—the glorifier and the glorified, Glory Himself, is truly hidden.” — C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

One of my favorite things… Trader Joe’s Organic Tea – Lemonade.

A few plans for the rest of the week: ABA therapy for Daniel on weekday afternoons, mani-pedi on Friday, counseling appointment on Friday, and the Promise Walk on Saturday.

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7 Quick Takes: Ways You Can Pray for Me

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7 Quick Takes

OK… I’m seriously standing in the need of prayer. Here are seven prayer requests that I have.

— 1 —

That my depression lifts. I seriously feel like a horde of Dementors from the Harry Potter books has been sent after me.

— 2 —

For my anxiety to calm down. I’ve got a lot of changes coming up and it’s getting hard to trust that God is going to fix all of it.

— 3 —

For me to be able to discipline Daniel effectively. He has learned how to be defiant and that tends to seriously push my buttons which causes me to start yelling. A LOT.

— 4 —

For our church situation. I can’t give details — just pray for it.

— 5 —

For my marriage. Jon and I are getting a lot of things thrown at us and it would be good if our marriage could be held up in prayer as we’re dealing with what comes.

— 6 —

For Daniel to have success at potty-training. This has been the bane of my existence since December.

— 7 —

For me to be able to finish my copy-editing project. I’ve been working on it for two years and am just now seeing the finish line.

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: April 22, 2014

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY April 22, 2014

Outside my window… dark. I’m blogging after midnight as usual. It was actually pretty nice yesterday.

I am thinking… about how I’ll make it through tomorrow. Daniel doesn’t go back to school until Wednesday and I think he’s getting cabin fever

I am thankful… that Holy Week is over and for a lovely Easter afternoon and evening with my parents on Sunday.

In the kitchen… dishes. Always dishes.

I am wearing… blue t-shirt from Old Navy and black sweats from Target.

I am praying for… discernment, a special intention, for Daniel to get the hang of potty-training, and for my family to come to know Christ. (I’m a convert.)

I am going… to probably take Daniel with me to get some chai tomorrow morning as an excuse to get out of the house.

I am wondering… if we’re going to be getting rain up here. My dad was saying that they were supposed to get some in San Jose today.

I am reading… Jesus: A Pilgrimage by James Martin, S.J. — finally getting back to it after a brief break to get through the murder mysteries that arrived from the library for me over a very short period of time.

I am hoping… Daniel catches on to potty-training soon. I want this behind me.

I am looking forward to… Picnic on the Green at Daniel’s preschool on Friday. Parents bring lunch for their kids and we have a picnic on the lawn with them.

I am hearing YouTube hymns from my blog — listening to music I’ve linked in the past.

Around the house… dishes to do (my kingdom for a dishwasher!), laundry to fold, and a kitchen to clean.

I am pondering… life after June 15th.

A favorite quote for today… “If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.” – C.S. Lewis

I actually brought this quote up in Bible study last week!

One of my favorite things… a quiet house.

A few plans for the rest of the week: ABA therapy for Daniel every afternoon this week, returning my flats to Payless on Wednesday or Thursday, counseling on Friday morning, Picnic on the Green afterwards, and taking stuff to be shredded on Saturday.

A peek into my day… Madeline Kahn and Grover singing the “Echo Song”. I sing it to Daniel frequently.

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