Book Review: 100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know By Heart - Highly Recommend

Although I haven't made as much conscious effort to memorize Scripture as I should, I probably do have a large number of verses memorized (well over 100, given all the choruses I learned as a child and the constant repetitions of verses heard from my father's pulpit). Still, I know I can and should do better (especially at memorizing the locations of the verses). I fully believe that the time will come when I will need to have Bible verses at the ready to steel against religious persecution and hardship. Moreover, I need to prepare my children for possible eventualities. Even if they never face persecution, they will surely come across difficulties in life where the application of Scripture could mean all the difference.

100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know By Heart, by Robert J. Morgan, provides not only a list of 100 key verses to carry as ammunition in the battle against spiritual oppression, but it also gives a powerful argument for the importance of Scripture memorization and potent tips for how to incorporate it into your life. This is a book I would happily purchase because the author weaves in stories among the introduction to each verse and it would be best consumed on a daily basis over the space of a few months, rather than in one fell swoop (as I attempted to tackle it, since it was a library book and the due date was set in stone - how encouraging that there is a hold list for this book). Indeed, it would make a highly effective devotional to devote a third or quarter of a year to the daily digestion and memorization of the Scriptures outlined in this book.

Like all habits, Scripture memorization demands repeated practice and review. But I think the payoff is sufficient to make it a far more important habit than even the habits of making one's bed or brushing one's teeth. I made a list of verses from this book and introduced the idea to Trevor along with an incentive (I feel it is worth $1 per verse for a boy who is always eager to make money, while my husband's opinion is more that the memorization is something the boy should do without incentive). Not surprisingly, Trevor began with the two easiest verses to memorize: 1 Thessalonians 5:16 and 17 - 16) "Rejoice always!" and 17) "Pray constantly." Hopefully, he will not grow weary of it when the verses demand more diligent effort.

I appreciated the extra text surrounding each verse. At one point, discussing the verse about Christ being "the way, the truth, and the life," the author quoted Thomas a Kempis who said, "Without the way, there is no going; without the truth, there is no knowing; without the life, there is no living." For the verse about "casting all your care upon Him," he provided a simple acronym to memorize, as well: C - Commit your situation, A - Ask for wisdom, S - Surrender to His will, and T - Trust Him. For the "cheerful giver" verse, he quoted Charles H. Spurgeon: "Earn all you can, save all you can, and then give all you can. Never try to save out of God's cause; such money will canker the rest. Giving to God is no loss; it is putting your substance into the best bank."

I highly recommend this book to any Christian who wants to fortify themselves with Scripture. Obviously, there are far more than 100 verses in the Bible that are worthy of memorization, but this book highlights some of the greats and allows you to add your own favorites and make your own list at the end. With over 31,000 Bible verses at our disposal, surely there are plenty that warrant the commitment to memory. As Morgan argues: "Scripture memory is a way of digging into the soul and planting the truth a little deeper in order to achieve a richer harvest. Yes, it's a lost habit among most people; but losing it is like an explorer losing his map or a nation losing her constitution."

Book Review: The German Girl

Armando Lucas Correa's The German Girl is a book my sister recommended and sent along as part of my birthday present. I'm at a disadvantage because I read the book at camp and am writing the review a full week after completing it. Although it was a good book, it isn't resonating as solidly as if I had written about it earlier.

The German Girl is a novel based on the true story of a group of Jews who left Berlin on a ship bound for Havana, Cuba in May 1939. Correa weaves a story of two family members of similar ages at different time periods. Eleven-year-old Hannah cannot understand why others call her "unclean," when she comes from a highly respectable family. Her mother is a German heiress and an opera singer. Her father is an esteemed university professor. Even Hannah is mistaken for a pure-blooded German girl after her photo graces the cover of a propaganda magazine called "The German Girl." But the "Ogres" want to get rid of Hannah's family and her father is determined to find a way out.

Present-day Anna lives with her mother in New York. Her Cuban-immigrant father died, just before to her birth, in the 9-11 tragedy. When she receives a mysterious package from a distant relative, she embarks on a journey to Cuba to learn about her father's family and their sad story. As Hannah approaches her eighty-seventh birthday, she is eager to meet Anna and share the truth of her heritage and her home.

The German Girl reveals the tragic tale of the St. Louis. This trans-atlantic ocean liner promised Jews a safe passage to Cuba and a stopping point on their path to greater freedom in the United States. Unfortunately, despite the extravagant price of passage, the 900-plus passengers who arrived at Havana's harbor learned they could not dock unless the Cuban secretary of state and labor issued their landing permits. With insufficient documents and funds, most of the passengers ended up returning to Germany.

I thought the first sentence was stunning: "I was almost twelve years old when I decided to kill my parents." Now that's an intriguing line! It sucked me into the story and held me fast. The book was well-written and well-translated. However, I was disappointed that the characters didn't display more resilience in the face of hardship and tragedy. I think plenty of World War II stories emphasize the power of the human spirit to endure and triumph despite tragedy.

I also had a hard time differentiating the two separate stories at the beginning. Perhaps this was because there were too many striking similarities between their tales, almost to the point of stretching my "willful suspension of disbelief." Hannah and Anna both strike up a steadfast friendship with a boy. Hannah's best friend, Leo, promises they will one day marry. Anna becomes friends with a spunky boy during her visit to Cuba and receives her first kiss. Both girls carry many responsibilities despite their young age because their mothers cannot face their grief. The stories continue to parallel one another as the different political climates play out.

Even still, I would say it was a worthwhile and enjoyable read. I had never heard of the St. Louis crossing or of Cuba's failure to offer sanctuary. What tragic conditions people have faced because of political ideologies and unrest! And are we any better off now? Or will history repeat itself in a myriad of ways?

First Water to Wine, Now Blood to Bone - Miraculous!

Yesterday, Trevor went to his one-week follow-up appointment with the orthopedic specialist at Riley Children's Hospital, one week and a day after fracturing his tibia (during the first football game of the season) due to a bone cyst in his leg. His dad took him while I stayed home, in case the appointment ran late and we didn't return in time for Sean's arrival home from school. This was the best plan because he's much more capable of handling the physical aspects of transporting the wheelchair and I'm never very good at processing and retaining information during doctor appointments (somehow the stress always cancels out my ability to remember what was said). So, even though I wish I had been able to hear the prognosis first-hand, it was good to have John's clarity of mind.

The first good news? A decision to cut the cast down. What relief! The cast had been biting into the flesh of his leg. They cut about four inches off the top of the cast, bringing it down to mid-thigh. It isn't really any lighter to lift because they covered over the split cast (which allowed for swelling) with another layer of fiberglass dressing, but it is still easier for Trevor to maneuver:

They took an x-ray and said the bone is healing nicely. Good news! But the best news of all centers on the miraculous ability of the body to heal. We had all kinds of questions about the bone cyst that led to the fracture. Would they need to go in and remove the cyst? Would the presence of the cyst limit Trevor's ability to ever return to his beloved sport? Could the benign cyst transform into a malignant one (too much information is available online to lead an individual into further worry and concern)?

Apparently, the orthopedist said that right now the cyst is filled with blood but, miracle-of-miracles, it will turn into bone. They don't know how this happens, but that's what generally occurs. When Trevor returns in three weeks for another follow-up, they will take further x-rays. If the cyst has not filled in with bone, they might have to eventually go in and fill it (with what, I'm not sure), but he should be able to recover and heal sufficiently enough to return to football.

We've been praying for both his healing and his future abilities. God is still in the business of doing miracles! If He can turn water to wine, surely He can turn the blood in Trevor's cyst into bone. And so we say, "Go God! Do Your thing!"

We're hoping they will cut the cast down to above the knee when he returns for this three-week follow-up appointment. Perhaps that will make the cast light enough for him to lift more easily while using the crutches (for now, he still slides it along the floor). It was clear he would never gain enough mobility on the crutches to make it through the grueling demands of school, so we rented a wheelchair for a month. This morning, he returned to school all smiles. He said it was wonderful to get out of the house and back to his friends. We are praising God for the miraculous ability of the body to heal and re-grow bone where there once was none. Moreover, we're thanking God for Trevor's ability to keep his spirits up and press through the obstacles.

Trevor's coach came into the front hallway of the school when I was delivering Trevor this morning. He shared a story of Trevor's sense of humor and resilience in the face of this difficulty. He said when players complain of an ache or pain in an arm or leg, he always tells them, "it's okay, just use the other one." Apparently, the night of the injury, Trevor looked up at the coach and said, "It's okay, Coach, I'll just use the other one!"

Book Review: Beauty in the Broken Places

My favorite thing about reading memoirs is that they give you a chance to walk a mile in someone else's shoes without having to fully experience what they have faced and (most often) triumphed over. It is kind of like living someone else's life for a day or two and fully familiarizing yourself with their reality. And what a reality Allison Pataki endured!

Alison and her husband were headed for a last vacation prior to the birth of their first child. As they boarded the plane, they had no idea their lives were about to change dramatically. Dave, a thirty-year-old, physically-fit, surgical resident, turned to Alison to ask if his eye looked strange because he couldn't see out of it. It was indeed widely dilated and a moment later, he lost consciousness and suffered a rare, life-threatening stroke.

Alison's story, Beauty in the Broken Places, tells not only of how they met and fell in love, but also how that love endured through the aftermath of his traumatic brain injury. She manages to find the blessings in the midst of tragedy. Statistically, the odds were against them in many ways, but love, faith, and resilience brought them through deep waters. In the end, Alison is able to reflect once again on how lucky they were to have found one another and to have weathered the storms of life together.

The book will also appeal to anyone interested in the remarkable plasticity of the brain. It is truly amazing how the body can heal itself. Through the power of prayer and the awe-inspiring resiliency of the body (a mark of God's great craftsmanship), Dave's brain is working towards a full recovery. I appreciated the epilogue providing Dave's perspective. He is expected to return to his career as a surgeon. Moreover, he will certainly live a life of deeper gratitude after walking through his harrowing experience.

With Boys Come Broken Limbs, Yet Again

Boys are an active, rough-and-tumble breed! They play hard and when they break, they break hard. I wrote a similar post back in October of 2012 when Sean broke his arm while playing on the playground equipment at his school. His break was serious enough to require surgery and the placement of a pin. But, his break was a walk in the park, looking back on it now from today's perspective.

On Tuesday of this week, during the drive to school, I realized I had failed to pack a small snack for Trevor to consume after school before departing on the bus for the football team's first game of the season (an away game). I drove over to the school at 3:30 with a sandwich, mandarin oranges, and a bottle of water. He stood dressed in a new jersey and I am wishing now that I had snapped a photo because he looked so sharp all dressed out in his football uniform (thankfully, they had just taken team photos, so I will get a fridge magnet to commemorate the day).

Although the away game was near enough, John decided against attending (something we now regret) and I had to take Sean to his 6th grade team football practice. While sitting in the car waiting for the practice to end, I received the phone call no mother wants to get. John called to say that Trevor had been injured at his game and he needed to head to that school to rush Trevor to the emergency room. At the time, I didn't know the extent of the injury and I was filled with dread. I snatched Sean from his practice, hoping to race to the emergency room whenever John called again to give a location. Sadly, when he did call, he explained that they felt they couldn't wait for John to arrive and an ambulance had taken Trevor to Riley Children's Hospital (a hospital closer to the away game location). Since John was already there and Sean needed a shower, dinner, and someone to stay with him, we decided I would stay put (also frustrating, because with John's phone almost dead, the last word I heard was that they were still waiting to be taken to x-ray).

They finally arrived home at 7:30 the following morning, having been up all night in the process (and bored out of their minds because neither of them had functioning phones with them). Trevor was on crutches and sporting an ankle-to-groin cast. The first obstacle: the steps leading from the garage into the guest room. He couldn't seem to navigate them on the crutches, so we eventually got under each arm and lifted him up into the house. They were both sleep-deprived and in quite a frazzled state (Trevor upset because he felt Dad hadn't been patient enough with him; John upset because Trevor had snapped at those trying to help him every step of the way, due to the pain). Thankfully, I was able to get Sean to school and retrieve Trevor's belongings (including his phone - ha) while they both attempted to make up for some of the lost sleep.

It has been rough going, so far. He is fine as long as he is lying in bed, or sitting in his desk chair with his leg propped up, but the minute he tries to get vertical, he complains that it feels like the bone is popping all over again and pulling apart. His toes turn purple and he winces in pain every time he attempts to lift the leg. The doctor has assured us that this is all within the range of normal and that he needs to take the pain medicine prescribed (we hadn't filled it because John was concerned about the constipating nature of the medicine, but pain relief is more important than the digestive system function). I took this photo in the hallway, however it doesn't really show the extent of the cast or the fact that he is barely able to remain upright:

Apparently, and somehow I had forgotten this, Trevor had a pre-existing bone cyst on his right tibia. A few years back (8/2014), we had x-rays done because of ankle pain and the doctor noted the cyst, but said it was benign. I don't remember them counseling us to avoid contact sports. I don't recall any warning that he would be more susceptible to fractures in that spot. After looking up information on bone cysts, I'm wondering why they didn't perform a biopsy (didn't realize benign tumors could transform into malignant ones, either). When I called our primary physician's office, they stated that we were told to follow up after the x-rays with an orthopedic specialist if the pain persisted (it must have abated because we never pursued the follow up).

Now, we're at a crossroads of sorts. I'm anxious to hear what the orthopedic specialist will tell us when Trevor returns to Riley for his one-week follow-up appointment. Will we be told that he should no longer participate in football or any other contact sport? Will they decide to remove the bone tumor? Is he susceptible to further fractures as a result of this one? Ruling out high school football will not only devastate Trevor, but several other people, as well (Bryce is already reeling from the news and the coaches will not be happy either). He has the build and the ability to be a real asset to a team. Moreover, he receives vital affirmation, essential inclusion, and critical kinship from his participation. I really believe Trevor might become a different person if his involvement is curtailed at this point.

But, all of that speculation is putting the cart before the horse because we haven't even tackled the first week of post-injury. We purchased a special bag to aid in keeping the cast dry during showers (something he will eventually have to attempt, although we've been making do with spit baths - perhaps not sufficient given his sweaty state after playing the game). I battled scalp oil with dry shampoo until I finally managed a hair wash in the sink this morning. He's supposed to have the cast for at least six weeks, so it should be quite interesting and challenging. But then again, when you have boys, broken limbs seem to come with the territory!

How about you? Ever had a full leg cast? What tips can you provide to make the adjustment easier? Moreover, if it were your son, would you pull him from contact sports for good or risk another external injury in order to glean the extensive internal benefits of participation? I'd love to hear your take in the comments.

Book Review: The Aging Brain

Dr. Timothy Jennings is a new author to me, but he hooked me with the subtitle of this book: The Aging Brain: Proven Steps to Prevent Dementia and Sharpen Your Mind. If I had flipped the book over, I would have recognized the publisher's Christian affiliation (Baker Books) and read about two of the author's other books, The God-Shaped Brain and The God-Shaped Heart. But I didn't, so I was pleasantly surprised when the author began talking about "design law" and arguing against evolutionary theories (He writes: "Evolutionary theory states that systems become more ordered, more organized, and more advanced simply by means of random chance causing mutations and natural selection.... But any scientist can ... recognize quite quickly that without intelligent input of energy, systems decay." Truly, things naturally lead to decline and deterioration.) Moreover, I was thrilled to read his assertion that our belief systems impact our health and risk of dementia. However, despite loads of really great information about delaying or preventing mental decline, I couldn't get behind the author's perspectives about belief systems entirely.

The Aging Brain is a highly practical book for enhancing your health and well-being. Jennings examines how genetics, stress, and lifestyle all influence our level of health. To have a healthy brain, you must nurture a healthy body. Even simple things like regular care of your teeth will reduce your dementia risk. Jennings states that in order to make healthy life choices you must appreciate the importance of "design law," the "parameters, protocols, and principles on which life is constructed to operate." He emphatically asserts: "It is not possible to be healthy outside the laws of health."

I eagerly devoured Chapter 3, "Epigenetics and Aging: The Impact from Our Ancestors." What your parents and grandparents experienced will often alter your genes. Jennings discusses how famine, low-calorie diets, smoking, alcohol consumption, stress, and early childhood learning environments all impact our genetic leanings. He writes: "If a mother is highly stressed while pregnant, which may be no fault of her own, then her child will be born with a brain more vulnerable to anxiety and depression." We need not despair, however, because every day offers a new start to rewiring our circuitry through better health choices.

For the most part, the book is a clarion call for making daily choices that lead to health. It is all the standard stuff we've heard and read before: eat a healthy plant-based diet, exercise regularly, avoid substances that increase inflammation, seek mental stimulation, and get 7-8 hours of sleep each night. What Jennings adds is the importance of a sound belief system. Apparently, his book, The God-Shaped Brain goes into further detail about the impact of religious views on the brain. He writes: "God-concepts that promote love, forgiveness, compassion, beneficence, reasoning, thinking, and the pursuit of truth and evidence while respecting the freedom of conscience are healing to the brain. God-concepts that incite fear; promote hostility, intolerance, conflict, and resentment; shut down thinking; undermine reasoning; minimize truth and evidence; and lead to the coercion of others are damaging to the brain."

And here is where I began to feel a creeping doubt about the author's perspectives. While God is a benevolent God, all-loving, desiring our very best, and His laws are set in place to keep the world in harmony and peace, He is also just and whether we want to admit it or not, there is such a thing as sin in the world. If we do not recognize our need for a Savior (as Jennings clearly disputes the need of Christ's act on the cross in order to atone for sin), then God becomes some hippy-dippy, free-wheeling entity who has no power to change our lives for the better. For Jennings, the key is simply to believe in God's love and leave it at that.

Indeed, he goes so far as to say that a loving God would not require His son to atone for sins on a man-made cross: "If the God concept one holds is of a deity from whom we need to be protected (perhaps by offering him sacrifices - even offering the sinless blood of his son), then it is impossible to trust the future to such a being." In my opinion, that is a heretical thought. The God I believe in and trust can fully be trusted because His love extended to that very important act of the death of Christ on the cross to cancel out the sins I am beset with. I don't fear Him or worry about His righteous judgment. I don't believe that my brain is suffering because I believe in a God who has a clear standard of right and wrong and who, while relentlessly pursuing us to atone for the chasm between us, also will be just if that free gift is rejected. You cannot force someone to seek reconciliation in any relationship, let alone one with the almighty God. But Jennings sets people on a path to believing there is no need for reconciliation, only the good vibes of God's endless love. He presents a God who is only interested in our happiness and well-being, not in our holiness and redemption.

If you ask me, Jennings is creating a God he feels comfortable with, one in his own image. In our adult Bible study at CBLI, the leader talked about "would-be Jesus." Would-be Jesus is a Jesus who agrees with your belief system, who likes what you like and hates what you hate, who accepts what you accept and rejects what you reject. But that is no different than fashioning an idol out of wood or stone. We don't get to call the shots. Indeed, I wouldn't want to because I recognize how fallible I am. I'm not God and I don't want to fashion God in my image.

So, while the book holds a great deal of value for the prescriptive advice about enriching health, I think I cannot recommend the book fully without caution about his spiritual foundation. It is a foundation of sinking sand, not the solid rock of Christ's atonement. And if I am destined for dementia because I believe in the God of the Bible, the God who Jennings wants to call a "punishing dictator God," but who is really the only supreme being capable of reconciling sinful man to his holy maker, then bring it on. God can carry me through that, as well.

Book Review: The Business of Being a Writer

I'm your typical disorganized, creative, right-brain-focused individual. While I might have scientific interests (how the brain functions; the rudiments of psychology), I certainly don't revel in mathematical exercises. I try to avoid topics of economics and such. Thus, Jane Friedman's The Business of Being a Writer was a bit of a stretch for me. I much prefer to read books that emphasize the creative aspects of writing. But, there is a time and place for thinking about the business side and Friedman does a decent job of outlining how the business side of writing works.

It was a tad dry - but then, the topic is business-related, so I expected as much. Moreover, I already knew quite a bit of the content (the steps you must take to get published). Still, if you are considering quitting your job and devoting your life to the goal of a lucrative writing career, Friedman will certainly open your eyes to the difficulties you might encounter. Plus, if you are just starting out as a writer, she will walk you through the process. For me, the most beneficial gain was a small section on author platform that emphasized creating a newsletter mailing list. This is something I've been thinking about for a while. I took a few notes and jotted down some on-line resources for help in that area. It's not a book I will return to again, but it was worth the time invested.