Why Do I Read?

I keep getting asked this question. And maybe it's because I seem to consume an abnormal amount of books [46 done in 75 book challenge for 2012!]. Or maybe it's because I'm always talking about some book I just read [and it's probably odd]. But maybe it's because a lot of my generation doesn't read any more.

Don't get me wrong, the Internet is awesome. Blogs, well, rock. But have they effected our appetite for reading? Ask a teenager what was the last book they read for fun, or what was the last website they read for fun. Hopefully, with the recent [5+ years] outpouring of great books aimed at young adults [Hunger Games!] there are more youth reading actual books. But even my post-college generation has given up the past time as well.

So why do I read? Simple. I love it. I love being transported to new places, learning new things, and letting my imagination run wild. Just in the month of August I've finished books that have taken me through centuries of history of New York & England, uncovered theology of a surviving church in during Nazi Germany, walked alongside a child soldier from the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, discovered the inspiration for one of the most successful charities in the world right now, been wrecked in my faith journey, battled giant rats alongside of cockroaches & spiders in underworld New York, and solved crimes from Missouri to Norway. There's a rich and exciting world to be found in the pages [or electronic pages] of a book, that TV & movies just cannot capture. And I love some good TV & movies as well.

Another reason I read is because it makes me smarter. I learn new words, I discover new places and I consume information that I may not have known before. And I get smarter. Maybe it's a selfish reason, but hey, I like getting smarter!

And as an aspiring one-day hopeful writer, reading will only make me a better writer.

So close your laptops and switch of the Xbox and go read something! You won't regret it.

Need recommendations, check out GoodReads. Continue reading →

Wrecked

Have you been wrecked? Encountered a person, situation, injustice or experience that just leaves you ruined? The first I was wrecked was in 2005 in a sleepy costal village of India. I had signed up for a 10 day trip to help rebuild houses that were devastated by the tsunami that hit in December of 2004. Millions were left homeless, and I wanted to go be the hands and feet to someone who needed help. And I was forever changed. Seeing the faces of those who had nothing and everything stolen from them. Hearing the cries of the still homeless. Feeling their desperation. Wondering what good I could actually do. But I carried thousands of bricks, ground cement, laughed with families and carried children around. And that was something. I did something. And my life was forever altered. 

As my journey led me to missions, I discovered an organization called Adventures in Missions where I eventually became staff for a time. While on staff there, I worked with a trip called the World Race, doing everything from interviewing applicants, booking airfare, posting blogs, and doing graphic design. It was during my time there that I met a fellow missionary, named Jeff Goins. Jeff was a big part of training the Racers on how to blog and how to share their stories. He was passionate for writing & story telling. Jeff's passion, several years down the road, led him to writing a book called "Wrecked:When a Broken World Slams into Your Comfortable Life" in which he captures this moment of wrecking…and what to with it. One of my favorite statements he wrote is, "If we are to follow the Jesus who suffered with us and bled for us, we too must suffer. We must hold the dying in our arms. We must shed tears for hungry stomachs, trafficked children, and wandering souls. This is what He wants for us." By getting wrecked by these sufferings, we are living and loving as Jesus did. Jeff challenges our generation to live for something more than what we see. "Instead of raising families or creating culture, we are sitting in our living rooms with our eyes glued to the television, simulating life." And he doesn't just challenge us to experience that wrecking moment, but to live a lifestyle that has been wrecked. When I left India, I couldn't go back to life as normal. I knew I'd do more mission trips, and I knew I'd be a missionary. From that moment I just knew. It took 5 more years to actually get to be a "full time missionary", and I took several detours, but I'm here. Living a totally wrecked life, and loving it. 

I challenge you to read this book and see where it takes you. Your journey will look different than mine, and rightly so. Only you can be the solution to the problem God calls you to. Get Wrecked!!

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Summer Reading

This is second year of my personal reading challenge of 50 books. Since graduating high school and college, my required reading assignments ceased, so it was on me to continue to challenge myself as a reader. These 50 books a year challenges, usually done with a friend like Becca, are perfect to inspire me to branch out in my reading and attain new goals! Using an app called GoodReads also helps keep us on track and discovering new reads! So here's the books I've been reading [and loving] this summer!


 Insurgent by Veronica Roth. This action packed sequel is the followup to the bestseller, Divergent. It's a young adult dystopian novel [think, Hunger Games] that really grips you from page one. I flew through book 1 and was eagerly awaiting this release. I highly recommend this series for fans of the genre!




 Forgotten God by Francis Chan. I loved this book regarding the power of the Holy Spirit. It was exactly what I needed to read at the time. Francis Chan really tackled the topic of the Holy Spirit in our churches and in our lives today. I was personally uncomfortable, challenged, and inspired while reading this. He helped put some Scriptures in new context for me, and even backed up some things I'd already been thinking. If you struggle with accepting the presence and filling of the Holy Spirit, read this book! If you are confident in the Spirit, read this book! It's fab.


 A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Consider it London prep. After becoming hopelessly addicted to the BBC series, Sherlock, I went back to where it all started, when Sherlock meets Watson and together they solve their first case in A Study in Scarlet. It's timeless, witty, and easily a classic.




The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor. A new twist on the Alice in Wonderful story that we all know and love. In this re-imagination, Alyss Hart is the princess of Wonderland, and through a series of events caused by her evil aunt Queen Redd, she escapes into 1890's London where she finds a world unlike the one she left. When someone offers to tell her story, she is hopefully, but finds out this Lewis Carroll got it all wrong. Alyss' kingdom is at war, and she must get back to save her people and reclaim her throne. But how?


 The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence. This short read was a collection of letters by Brother Lawrence that read almost like a New Testament gospel. Full of encouragement, admonition and solid teaching, Brother Lawrence consistently conveys the benefits and importance of intimacy with God. It's rich and deep, causing me often to put down the book and reflect on my own relationship with Christ. Aren't those the best kinds of books?


 New York: The Novel by Edward Rutherfurd. This is my second Rutherfurd read. I first discovered him while researching London, when I read his 1100 page historical fiction narrative of the history of the great city. It was epic. And so when I saw he had written one on New York as well, I had to read it. I'm actually still in the middle of this one, and it's excellent. From the Dutch settling the colony of New Amsterdam in the 1600's, to the struggle for independence from Britain in the 1700's, to the rise of Wall Street and the financial district in the early 1900's, it's full of history, but told in a way that doesn't feel like a history book. Rutherfurd follows 6 families through their lineage in New York City. As the times evolve, so do these families. By the end, you feel as you know them better then your own family history. Now, will I read his series on Russia? Not sure yet....

So that's what I've been reading, and I have a few more great ones lined up that I can't wait to start like Gone Girl, the current best selling thriller, and Start Something That Matters, the journey of Blake Mycoksie, founder of TOMS shoes, and finally Never Fall Down which is a young adult fictional account of a child soldier in Cambodia.

Got any books you've read recently that you recommend? Let me know! I love a good book swap :) Continue reading →

Life Lessons from The Lorax

On the flight home from London, while browsing the endless movie selections, I decided to watch Dr. Seuss' The Lorax. I'm a Dr. Seuss fan, and had missed this one when it was out. And I knew I wouldn't have to think too hard to watch it [because I was up at 4am and the last thing I wanted was a heavy drama!]. But I was surprised by how this movie did make me think.

The story is clearly aimed at environmental protection issues, as the main character lives in a town of all plastic, where all the trees have been destroyed and fresh air is bottled & sold. The boy, Ted, hears about a real tree, and sets off to bring one back for the girl of his dreams. Along the way, he mets the Once-lor, who tells him how through greed & materialism the trees & the air were destroyed.

Now I'm sure by this point, many people were rolling their eyes at heavy-handed agenda pushing in a children's film. But I wasn't. The character, The Lorax, the One Who Speaks for the Trees, had some pretty wise statements in the film that didn't remind me of tree hugging, but in fact, this fight against human trafficking. He says, "Which way does a tree fall? Whichever way it leans. Be careful which way you lean." I don't think people just fall into bad decisions overnight, nor does slavery & oppression appear overnight. But it comes from a lifetime of leaning. Which am I leaning? I aim to lean towards freedom, justice & truth, with the hopes that that is where I will fall. 

As Ted was complaining about not being able to change the situation in the town with the trees, the Once-lor tells him, "Unless someone like you cares a whole lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.". Everyone has a voice, and every single person can be part of demanding a better world. I'm not saying everyone has to pick up the fight against trafficking, because God has broken each of our hearts differently. For some of my friends it's hunger & clean water issues around the world, for others its the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and for others it's the orphan crisis. Whatever it is, don't be silent. Care about something. Talk about something. Change something.

As Ted announced before planting the last remaining tree seed, "My name is Ted, and I speak for the trees!", I challenge you to speak for something. "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, ensuring justice for those who are perishing. Yes, speak up for the poor & helpless and see that they get justice." - Proverbs 31:8-9.

So, "My name is Joy and I speak for the enslaved!"

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Surely Sherlock

In the effort of immersing myself in British culture to prepare for outreach, I've had a recent obsession with Sherlock Holmes. No, not Robert Downey Jr's Sherlock Holmes, but Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes and the BBC hit, Sherlock. Both winners in my book. The BBC show [now on Netflix] is what really got me hooked. It's a modern-day retelling of Sherlock Holmes & Dr. Watson. Brilliantly edited, incredibly written, well acted and just plan fun. Here's a season one teaser that you MUST see:

So I've watched both seasons of this show, and have then proceeded to download the original novels and short stories on my Kindle [because they are pretty much free!] and have been devouring those as well. One of my favorite things in entertainment is a well developed character. And Sherlock is just that. Enigmatic, witty, clever, arrogant, and charming....all in one! How can you not just love him?

So needless to say, I'll be visiting 221B Baker Street soon, and maybe uncover a mystery of my own... Continue reading →

Timesuckers

I spend a great deal of my time online. Most often, it's for work. Reading, editing, posting, designing, emailing, researching...you get the picture. So why is it that in my free time, I turn to the Internet as well. Surely there must be entertainment beyond the glow of my Macbook screen. But daily I fall victim to the lure of endless entertainment at my fingertips. These are my top 3 timesuckers, as I like to call them.

1. Pinterest. It started with wedding planning...and went down hill from there. I have boards for creative things I want to try to make and yummy things I want to try to bake. I have boards for the places I've gone, am going, and have yet to go. House decorating tips and style ideas, yup got those too! It's practically become my Google. If it's not on Pinterest, does it even exist? Discuss.

2. Goodreads. The lure of a new book. There's not much more exciting than that! With Goodreads, I can actually catalog the books I've read, track progress on books I'm currently reading, and even make lists of books I've yet to read. Maybe it sounds daunting to you, but it's inspiring to me. Anytime a website offers an "Explore" option....I'm hooked. Other readers have gone before me and cataloged books into compelling lists like "Big Fat Books Worth the Effort" or "1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die". And to take the cake, Goodreads offers a Reading Challenge. I may not be one for an athletic challenge, but if it's a reading challenge....let me at 'em. This year's challenge, 50 Books in a Year. And according to my graph, I'm 17% ahead of schedule on this challenge. Sweet. 

3. Spotify. Unlimited streaming music at my fingertips. All day, every day, it's  Spotify. Whether I'm in the mood to enjoy a favorite, or venture out to discover something new, I go to Spotify. It's like Pandora on-demand. And ok, if you have the freebie version there are regular ads and it doesn't work on your phone, but whatevs. It's a great product. When I'm really stuck for a tune, I can browse through my friend's playlists and enjoy some of their style as well. Win win.

So there you have it. These are things that suck my time. I'm sure one of these days I'll have to learn something like time management, or I'll become a parent and look back on this post long for the "good ol' days". But for now, I am who I am. Lover of the creative, the written word and the musical verse. And I have the websites to support those addictions Continue reading →

Guardian of Orphans

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." - James 1:27


I just finished reading a biography of George Muller, probably the most recognized orphan care worker of all time. He was an evangelist, a teacher, and in his lifetime cared for over 10,000 orphans. A remarkable man to say the least!


But in reading the biography, George Muller: The Guardian of Bristol's Orphans, I was challenged by not just his care of orphans, but his extraordinary faith even more so. 


I've heard stories of how Muller never once asked someone for finances or physical needs, but now being a missionary, and living off of financial support myself, his lifestyle was even more inspiring. He prayed about every detail of running the orphanage, from the children they accepted to the finances to the food. And God met every single one of their needs! Muller kept a prayer journal, listing each request he made to God, and when and how it was then answered. Muller noted "The Lord not only gives as much as absolutely necessary for His work, but He gives abundantly." There is such peace and truth in these words. I can't begin to tell you how time after time I've wondered how I'd pay a bill or if I would have what I needed, and then there's God's provision. He's so good. Muller often had to trust God for large amounts of money as well, especially when he was building new orphanages. But even the large sums didn't shake his faith. "The greatness of the sum required affords me a kind of secret joy, for the greater the difficulty to be overcome, the more will be seen to the glory of God how much can be done by prayer and faith."


Creagon and I are currently trusting God for a large sum of money as well. We have a London outreach planned for this summer, and are needing Him to provide the finances and supplies needed for this trip. We know He is faithful, and will not just provide the finances, but the people that will be praying for us as we go. 


That's one of the beautiful parts of support raising. The more people I share our financial needs with, the more people that hear about the calling and vision God has placed on our lives. And the more people that get to make it possible. And the more glory that God gets. 


Reading about George Muller's ministry and faith took my faith to a new level. I believe that God will answer my prayers, like He answered Muller's. And I can't wait to give Him the glory as He does!


"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1 Continue reading →

Ringing in the Spring

Some people measure their lives in school years, semesters, vacation days or weeks. But here at YWAM Orlando, my life is measured in quarters. Every 3 months, students are arriving and being trained and leaving for an outreach. So this week was the beginning of yet another quarter [Spring]. Students that I got to know and love last quarter [Winter], have just left the country to share the light of Christ in some of the darkest places of Asia. And brand new students have just arrived to begin their journey with God at YWAM Orlando. Here's a video I put together of their first day with us!

Spring 2012 New Student Extravaganza! from YWAM Orlando on Vimeo.

It's not only transition for students, but us as staff as well. Sometimes we are changing jobs or roles, moving dorms, or starting new projects. For me, the Spring quarter is a big one. I am taking a leadership training course [called the Basic Leadership School, or BLS]. I'm really excited about this course. I feel like God has been preparing me for more and more leadership lately, and I'm looking forward to getting a real Biblical and practical foundation for this leadership. So parts of my day will be spent in the classroom yet again, soaking up wisdom and principles from not just great leaders at our base, but the international YWAM community as well. Pretty awesome!

I'll also be continuing to ramp up the YWAM Orlando social media. I've loved opportunities to make videos, post photos and share stories of what God is doing on our campus and through our staff & students. And I get to creatively share these things in many different outlets. And I get to work alongside of Creagon in this role, who strengthens and encourages everything I do. What a blessing to have him by my side!

And for those of you checking in with my goals of 2012, I haven't forgotten them! Totally finished reading the Old Testament this month [although, not chronologically like I originally planned] with the help of The Bible Experience audio Bible. Listening to it alongside reading it really helped the Scriptures come to life! Loved it! As for healthy eating, we've definitely made strides in this area as well! Creagon is wonderful at helping me keep up with this one! And the photo blogging is going great as well! Love updating it every day. If you haven't found our Photo Journey yet, check it out here! And I've been reading more and more too! Read a great young adult fictional account of sex trafficking in Nepal [Sold by Patricia McCormick], which followed up the true-story of one man's journey to restore survivors of sex trafficking in Nepal quite nicely [Little Princes by Conor Grennan]. That country is so heavy on my heart! Can't wait to finally step foot there one day… Another great read has been a historical fiction account of London [London by Edward Rutherford]. It's been a long read, but such a fascinating one! I also have some leadership books on my plate for my training as well! First up, the Leadership Paradox [by Danny Gunderson]. All these books can be found & purchased on Amazon. If you happen to purchase through the links on this page, it supports us too!

Continue reading →

Books, Nepal and Dreams

I just finished reading the wonderful book, Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal by Conor Grennan. I was immediately drawn to this book because Nepal is sell so heavy on my heart. Last spring, a few of us tried to put together an outreach there to focus on human trafficking prevention ministry, and we really just felt God close the doors over and over again on the timing. It was hard, because my heart was broken for this nation and it's people. But I knew it was just timing, and that I would go there one day.

So when I saw this book, I knew I wanted to read it. And I'm so glad I did. Conor tells his story of Nepal, the first stop on his around the world journey. He shamelessly admits that the sole reason he went to Nepal to work with orphans was to justify to the other 9 months of the year spent traveling & partying 'with a devastating comeback ready, like: "Well frankly Mom, I didn't peg you for somebody who hates orphans," and I would make sure to say the word orphans really loudly so everybody within earshot knew how selfless I was.' It's terribly honest, or maybe just terrible, but I appreciated his candor. He didn't set out to change the world. But did it ever change him. The Little Princes was an orphanage that cared for displaced children of a trafficking ring. These kids had been taken from the parents by false promises, then abandoned. The Little Princes Children's Home cared for them when no one else would. The longer Conor stayed, the more Nepal and these kids stole his heart. He leaves after 3 months, and sees so much more of the world, but Nepal and their faces burned into his memory. A year later, he returns. He discovers that some of these children still have parents alive, and that are looking for their missing kids. It inspires Conor. He moves back to America and starts a NGO [non-government organization] called Next Generation Nepal to reconnect these trafficked children to their families. It was ambition, and maybe some say naive, but it worked. He hiked through jungles and villages, and one by one he found families. And slowly, they came for their children and these kids discovered home & belonging again. One of the most influential characters in Conor's story was Liz, an American girl who would later became his wife. She was his source of encouragement and spiritual guide. Her faith in Christ was big enough for the two of them, until Conor found one of his one.

I loved this story because it shows how many different roles there are in preventing human trafficking. And because it happens in Nepal. I long to be one of those who can restore what was stolen in this nation. And maybe one day I can.

Continue reading →

Preparing for London Culture

This summer, we're going to London! I'll be co-leading a team to jolly ol' England with the focus of raising awareness and preventing human trafficking before the 2012 Olympics [see video below]. I'm stoked. I've never been to Europe, and I just adore British culture. While I'm beyond pumped for this ministry opportunity, as it's a trip I've been dreaming of taking for almost a year now, I'm also looking forward to exploring a city and a new country. Especially with my new husband. It will be our first outreach together. But anyways, I thought I'd spend the next few months preparing myself culturally for the trip. Here's how I'm preparing...

Reading: London by Edward Rutherford

Listening to: Coldplay, Mumford & Sons, Oasis

Watching: Downton Abbey

Collecting: London artwork via Pinterest [LONDON CALLING!]

Do you have any other suggestions? Anything British that I must experience before arriving?

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Checking In

It's a few days into February, and I thought I'd check back in with the progress on my January goals!

-As for Bible reading, Creagon and I have adopted a daily reading plan, but it's not always chronological. May go back to the one I originally started though!

-It's been much harder to start and keep to sustainable healthy eating. We got a new blender with the hopes of making some veggie & fruit filled smoothies...but then our freezer went out and ice & frozen fruits were not possible. Trying to eat more salads, and whatnot, but its a slow process, but I'm still committed too.

-Photo blogging. This I've done quite well with! I've managed to take a post a photo everyday on our new blog: Muldoon Photo Year. I enjoy looking for moments to capture each day, and fun ways to edit them. I can only hope to one day be her....

-I've definitely been reading more as well! I have finished 7 books already this year, and in the middle of 2 others. I love reading so much, and I love finding the time to keep up with it.

So that's how I've been doing with my 2012 goals! Life has been really good so far this year, enjoying my new home with my husband. We are decorating and "nesting" more and more. I love making this place look more like us.

Looking forward to the rest February, our first Valentine's Day together and much more to come!

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A New Day, A New Year

First day of 2012 is bright and shiny here in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico! So happy to be sharing with my new husband and new family. As I sit here on my back porch and think about the year ahead, I can't help but make lists and goals. So I thought I'd share a few!

-Read the Bible chronologically. I've already started reading the Old Testament, but I'd love to carry it through into the New as well. Reading the events in the order they happened has really brought new light & life in the Scriptures for me. Should be a pretty attainable goal.

-Sustainable healthy eating. I have a love/hate relationship with food. I love the unhealthy stuff and hate the healthy. But as 30 looms ahead in 2012, it's time to eat like a grownup...and that means the green stuff too! Thankfully, I have a husband who is creative in the kitchen and supportive of healthy eating. We will conquer, together!

-Photo blogging. I love love love taking photos of anything and everything. And since I became smart phone savvy in 2011, it's even easier to share these photos with the world. So I decided to take up the "Photo A Day" challenge, post them on a new blog for all to enjoy! Follow my [our] visual photo journey here: http://muldoonphotoyear.tumblr.com/ Here's a taste with today's photo that I already posted!

-Read more. I adore reading. And I also just got a new Kindle touch [thank you wedding gifts!]. Which means the wide world of literature is at my fingertips. In 2012, I plan to not just read more...but read better. To read books that challenge my mind, heart and spirit. Not to read to pass the time, but to read for a purpose. First up are biographies on C.S. Lewis & George Muller, a travel narrative on child trafficking in Nepal, and a mind-bending geography tidbits from a Jeopardy champ. So far, so good!

I'm sure there is more I want to do, and there will be more I actually do, but for now, this enough. I hope in 2012 I can discover how to be a godly wife, a better friend, a dedicated servant, a just advocate, an inspiring communicator, and a creative encourager. Those are my resolutions.

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i Know What I Know

It's taken me a few extra days to get a blog posted recapping last week's lecture. Maybe its because I had a weekend full of other things, or maybe because I'm still processing all that Al McBryan had to teach us. Al is one of the smartest people I have ever met, and sometimes sitting in his class is like doing mental gymnastics. He asks questions that I never thought of asking and discussing topics that have never crossed my mind. But I knew this going into the week, so I'll say I was somewhat prepared.

Al McBrayn, getting comfortable for class time!

Our topic was "Essentials of the Gospel". Basically, we talked about the gospel, and what were the essentials someone has to know to be saved. Basically, we started with how do we know God exists, and if He exists is there a reason to believe His is there to be known. We had some great discussion on proving the existence of God. We then moved into who is God, and what is He like, and a discussion on the nature and character of God. From there we talked about about How and why must everyone come to know God, and it was here that we really delved into the process of salvation. Finally, we discussed why is Jesus the only way back to God. There were so many big theological ideas thrown about. Some I wholeheartedly agreed with and some I'd never considered before, and it challenged me to go back to Scripture and gain perspective. I've also been reading Rob Bell's new book, Love Wins, which has itself become quite controversial among many Christian circles. So last week I was really feeling challenged to KNOW that i KNOW where I stand on these issues. I mean, think there's always going to be the mystery of faith, and some things will ever be able to be explained with human logic. And that's OK. Faith is essential to the gospel. In Hebrews 11:6 it says "It's impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him." This current week's teaching is completely different than last week's, and I'm grateful for the change of pace, but I'm definitely still wrestling with some of these points and questions we discussed. But I guess that all just part of this Christian journey....the believing, the doubting, the grasping, the revelations, the understanding, the experiencing and the sharing. What a beautiful process. Continue reading →

Light Reading

For those of you still caring and/or keeping track, I'm at 39 books completed in my great read 50 challenge! Still a ways to go, but the end is in sight. I believe I'll make it. Here's a recap of some of the books I've read since starting DTS.


Is That Really You, God? By Loren Cunningham
So this book was required reading for my YWAM training school, so this wasn’t necessarily a “choice” read, but a “required” read. But after I read the first chapter, it became all I could read! I loved reading Loren’s journey of faith to launch YWAM, this network of missionaries I am now a part of. I was inspired and challenged by his faith in God, and his ability to consistently seek and hear God. One of the fundamental elements of our journeys as Christians is hearing God. This book gave personal experience, Biblical teaching, and wise counsel on the topic. I recommend it to anyone wishing to grow in this area of their faith.







Radical by David Platt
Someone gave me Radical before I left home for my 6 month training as a missionary. The tagline of this book is “Taking back your faith from the American Dream”. I really wasn’t sure what to expect, because I hadn’t heard of this author, and sometimes book covers are just flat our misleading. But this book was amazing. David Platt is a pastor of a mega-church in Alabama. But what I love about his ministry is his heart for the world. As I am currently in this intensive missionary training school, it was a comfort and encouragement to read something outside of my school readings that further confirmed the path I ‘m going down. It’s like, hey God, thanks, I needed that. Platt talks about how we are not called to share the gospel with the world, but commanded to. He calls out the American church on their watered down, comfort motivated version of church, and gives examples of what church looks like overseas. He ends the book with a year long challenge, involving prayer, reading Scripture, giving sacrificially, serving outside of your city, and experiencing community. The whole time I read this book I was nodding and underlining and agreeing. I hope more believers are able to get their hands on this book and really understand some radical Christianity.

A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers
I thought I would take a break from some required reading and read something fun in my 50 books challenge. I’ve read a few books by Francine Rivers, my favorite being Redeeming Love. I will always give this author a chance because of how much I LOVE that book. I’ve heard remarkable things about this series, called the Mark of the Lion series. A Voice in the Wind is the first in this series. It follows the story of Hadassah, a young Judean Christian living during the worst persecution of Christians, after the destruction of Jerusalem. Her timid, yet bold, faith immediately draw you in. When she’s sold as a slave to the Valerians family, they become her mission field, their names always on her heart. The daughter, Julia, is sinful and selfish, but really begins to value Hadassah’s quiet way of service. The son, Marcus, is arrogant and ambitious, but sees another side of Hadassah…her inner and outer beauty and falls for her. Hadassah is constantly tested by the family, their influences, and the culture around her. She truly believes Jesus is Lord, and lives out that belief every day. The end of the book is a cliffhanger that makes you want to run out and start book two, An Echo in the Darkness, almost immediately. I love good character development, and Rivers doesn’t lack in that department! It’s amazing how far back this story is set, yet how modern the immorality seems. Rivers also writes relationships and passion in a way that is not vulgar, but authentic and felt. I can’t wait to finish book two!

Echo in the Darkness by Francine Rivers
Spoiler Alert! The follow up to River’s Voice in the Wind picked up not long after the first book ended. Marcus, wrecked with grief over Hadassah’s apparent death, begins searching for answers. When Rome and Ephesus offer no solace, he ventures to Judea, to Hadassah’s hometown, in search of this God she died for. Hadassah, miraculously surviving her showdown in the arena, begins working with the doctor who helped her. She soon realizes that not all ailments are physical, and begins offering spiritual healing to the hurting. It’s this calling that brings her back to the home of the Valerians. First Pheobe, then Julia, and finally Marcus. I almost enjoyed this book more than the first one, because I felt like there was resolution. I really connected with Marcus’ passionate search for God, and was challenged by Hadassah’s quiet servant-like faith. Great follow-up and even better conclusion for the characters I came to know and love.



Making Jesus Lord by Loren Cunningham
My second required book of my Discipleship Training School with YWAM. Loren’s second book was about laying down our rights to serve Jesus. It’s a principle that has been taught and expounded upon here in DTS, but even reading the words in this book gave me a fresh perspective. I loved the quote “I want to be noticed in Heaven and feared in Hell.” It sums up the impact I want my life to be here on earth. And someone doesn’t get there, I can’t get there, without total abandoned surrender to Jesus Christ. It’s much easier said than done, but I’m just taking it day by day. Great book though! Continue reading →

Starting Point.

Today kicked off our first official week of Discipleship Training School or DTS at YWAM Orlando. The past few days have been an adjustment to life in community, new rules, new faces, and expectations. But now, DTS life is in full swing.

We start each morning with a personal quiet time, from 7am – 7:45am. I groaned inwardly when my alarm went off, but I climbed down from my top bunk. I tried to keep a positive attitude as I made my bagel and coffee and shuffled to the couch. I kept thinking, how would I fill 45 minutes with God when I can’t even keep my eyes open or form a coherent thought this early? I turned on my iPod to my handy worship playlist, and just began to pray, asking God to keep me alert for this time with Him. We have several books we are required to read for our school, and I started the first one this morning. It’s written by the founder of YWAM, Loren Cunningham, called “Is That Really You, God? Hearing the Voice of God”. And surprisingly, I’m enjoying it so far! This whole week is focused on hearing the voice of God, so I was happy to have a book to make it a little more personal.

We have nine weeks total for lectures here in Orlando. Each week has a different topic and a different teacher. This week we are learning to Hear the Voice of God, but upcoming weeks include teachings on Biblical Restoration, Lordship, The Seven Mighty Nations, Nature & Character of God, Intimacy with God, Relationships, Evangelism, Maturing in Christ, Spiritual Warfare and Inductive Bible Study. If today’s lecture was any indicator of the teachings to come, I’m in for a great nine weeks here.

Other aspects of training include a time of worship & warfare, in which we sing and praise and have a time of intercession for our team, our outreach countries, and the upcoming ministry opportunity. We also have what’s called CR, or Community Responsibilities. This could be anything from meal prep, to mowing lawns, to answering phones to stacking chairs. These 10 hours each week are to continue to grow us in ministry opportunities and increase our servant’s hearts. Every Wednesday afternoon, the entire staff & students of YWAM Orlando drive out to the new 198-acre property that has just been purchased for the west campus. This base will allow YWAM Orlando to be in one spot, from staff to students, instead of spread out through the city, like we are now. So we have the opportunity to make this abandoned church camp facility beautiful and usable again.

There’s so much going on here every minute of the day, that its all I can do to stop and take it all in. I’m growing closer and closer to new friends each day, and am super excited to watch these bonds continue. I am so blessed and humbled to be a part of this ministry, and pray daily that God makes me worthy of the call He has placed on my life. Continue reading →

Reading Challenge of 2010: July

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
For this month’s book club discussion, we read The Red Tent by Anita Diamant, a historical novel set in Biblical times. While I recognized many of the characters, the story I did not know. It begins with Jacob, forefather of the Jewish race, and his wives. Jacob took four wives and had 12 sons through the women. These sons became the 12 tribes of Israel. Jacob also had one daughter, Dinah, and The Red Tent is her story. The family of Jacob lived a nomadic life, and the red tent was a place for women to deliver the babies and have their monthly cycles. In this tent, traditions about womanhood and family is shared. Dinah, the only daughter of the family patriarch, was privy to her families stories early on, and also grew in the skills of a midwife. She longed for the day when she would have family stories of her own. She married a prince of the neighboring kingdom, and Dinah believed her fairytale was coming true. Until blind rage and pride left bloodshed and heartbreak in the kingdom. Dinah was widowed and pregnant and no longer welcome to return to the land of her mothers. She was to live as a foreigner in Egypt. Dinah’s struggles are painful, and her joy is fleeting. The Red Tent is beautifully written. It created such a different story than the one told in Scripture. I went back to Genesis and read the story of Jacob and his wives, his sons and Dinah. She’s usually missed between Jacob’s wrestle with God and Joseph’s dreams, and has most likely been forgotten. But her pain is forever captured there as well. I was glad to have read a book that opens my eyes to parts of the Bible I had missed.

The Passage by Justin Cronin
This beast of a book was our next book club selection. At 766 pages, it’s definitely the longest one I’ve attempted to read in quite awhile! So needless to say, I was thankful to be sucked in immediately and finished it in under 2 weeks. The Passage is a vampire thriller, but not with the misunderstood, emotional, brooding lovesick vampires we've seen in pop culture lately. These vamps are out for blood. What started as a science experiment gone wrong, ends as a worldwide epidemic leaving millions in its wake. The fate of survival rests on one girl, The Girl Who Came From Nowhere. Will the vampires prevail? Or will human life win out? Cronin beautifully sets up each character and gives so much rich background information, so the reader really has sense of the story being crafted. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book that I enjoyed so thoroughly, and that even when I put it down, I kept thinking about what was going to happen next. All 766 pages are worth the read.




The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Ever since I re-discovered the young adult genre, people have been recommending The Hunger Games series to me. I had put it off and put it off, but just this week, I picked it up at the bookstore I work at. And then I didn’t put it down. What a compelling story! In a futuristic society, North America as we know it no longer exists, and in its place are Districts. Each District has its purpose, and each purpose determines the District’s status. District 12 is the poorest of the poor, where the majority of the citizens are miners and almost all are starving. Katniss, the 16-year-old heroine, has been fending for her family through illegal hunting and black market bartering since her father’s death five years earlier. And her world is rocked as she is to compete in this year’s Hunger Games. This competition will not only test her survival skills, but her character as well. As I flew through the chapters, I found myself rooting for Katniss’ survival, and cheering on her budding relationship with co-competitor, Peeta. But would it all be for nothing? Would they make it through? Because there could only be one winner of The Hunger Games. This is great action-adventure-romance is a fantastic book for readers of all ages. Can’t wait to start the sequel! Continue reading →

Reading Challenge of 2010: June

Halfway through the year and I'm halfway through my Reading Challenge of 2010! So is my book buddy Becca. We are doing pretty awesome. Here are my reads from June.


The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Steig Larrson
The much anticipated third installment of Larrson’s Lisbeth Salander series arrived at the end of May. Buying it on my Kindle was the first thing I did that day. I already read and loved the previous two Salander novels and couldn’t wait for Hornet’s Nest to release. And I was not disappointed. Larrson with his gifted dedication to the details and the craft of a scene, put together another splendid tale of corruption, lies, deceit, espionage, vindication, and truth. Salander, on the heels of a life-threatening injury at the end of The Girl Who Played with Fire, spent the majority of the novel in the secure lockdown of a hospital, with her murderous father just a few feet away. The story was primarily carried by Mickael Blomkvist, and his journalistic endeavors. While trying to prove Salander’s innocence, without her help, he unknowingly uncovers a conspiracy buried so deep in the Swedish government that his own safety is now at risk. While some of the background drags a bit, the plot itself does not. And once Salander is back where she belongs, behind a computer screen, the story flies. With Larsson’s unfortunate and unexpected death, this may be the last installment in the Salander world, but I hope it is not. As she has become one of my all-time favorite literary characters.


Fever Dream by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Fever Dream is the latest saga into the world of the enigmatic Special Agent Pendergast. Preston and Child have released nine others, which I have read and loved, so I was very much looking forward to the latest which released in May as well. Preston & Child have several books with several reoccurring characters, but the ones with Pendergast at the forefront are by far my favorite. He has such a unique way in following leads, finding information and pursuing justice. Fever Dream gave us a glimpse into Pendergast’s past, and the tragic loss of his wife in a hunting accident. Pendergast learns 12 years later that her death was no accident, but was in fact, murder. Pendergast sets off to solve the crime, and partners up with another Preston & Child favorite character, Lt. D’Agosta from the NYPD. The two of them make an unlikely pair as they hunt leads from Africa to New Orleans to Siesta Key and the bayous of Louisiana. For a book with a slow start, it sure had a jam-packed middle and ending. The mystery twisted and turns in ways I didn’t see coming, and ended with a satisfying, and intriguing, conclusion. As always, Pendergast the man, is a mystery himself, and I very much enjoy just discovering him.


1984 by George Orwell
This is another of those classics that everyone reads during high school, and yet I never had to. So I picked it up now! I can see why its such a classic. When Orwell wrote his classic political commentary in 1949, he depicted the future [which is now the past] of 1984. And what a future it was. Instead of our 7 continents there 3 are superstates. And they are always at war. Big Brother is the leader of Oceania, and he is always watching. Departments that control the government are the Ministry of Love, the Ministry of Peace, the Ministry of Plenty and the Ministry of Truth. Our main character, Winston Smith, is a faithful employee at the Ministry of Truth. Smith gets ready for work each day in front of his telescreen, which allows Big Brother to watch every single person in Oceania at once. He works hard as a historical revisionist. His job is to go back and make sure that printed and recorded history lines up with what is happening today. He participates in Hate Week and the daily 2 Minute Hate, the only expression of emotion citizens have. On the outside, Winston appears to the model citizen, but on the inside he’s committing one of the most dangerous crimes of all, thoughtcrime. Smith becomes enamored with the past and tries to find out more about it at any cost. Eventually his crime and illicit love affair are discovered and Smith is imprisoned and tortured. The torture ends and Winston is reintegrated to society, brainwashed to accept the Party's doctrine and to love Big Brother. It’s such a creative story, and for the most part was totally captivating. It was entertaining to read about the government operated and recognize we employed some similar techniques. I can see why Orwell and this book are held in such high regard. Continue reading →

Victim of Emotional Pornography

I recently ran across an article in Relevant Magazine called The Dangers of Emotional Pornography. I just stopped and had to read it. The title just grabbed me, and its probably why you clicked on my blog. Pornography we can define, but what is emotional pornography?

Cole NeSmith, who wrote the Relevant article, had this to say. “There’s certainly a war against the prevalence of visual pornography in many corners of our society—especially in the Christian culture. There is an attempt to expose pornography for its promotion of unrealistic sexual expectations and exploitation of human sexuality. And that attempt is a very necessary one. But what about the unhealthy emotional and relational expectations portrayed in so much of our media? Is there really much of a difference in the hyperbolized sexual imagery of typical pornography and the hyperbolized momentary emotional high felt in a romance film or romantic comedy that sends us looking for a “love” that doesn’t exist?”

And it completely made sense. Over and over again, I see my girlfriends get sucked into a TV show, a movie, or a book series because they are just so invested in the character’s relationships. I think the whole world witnessed this as the Twilight series has taken over the world. My first exposure to Twilight wasn’t from people telling me how great the books were, but from Facebook posts from people who wished a) Edward Cullen was real b) their boyfriend/husband was more like Edward Cullen or c) they could become a vampire to be with Edward Cullen. And I was seriously like who is this guy?! A fictional [stalker-ish] vampire!?! [BTW, I'm not judging these fans, because I, myself, am a fan. Just wanted to throw that out there.] But hundreds of thousands of women were invested in this series for the relationship between Edward and Bella. Women, by nature, are emotional creatures.

I share this my students in the classroom regularly. We compare men to microwaves and women to crockpots. We talk about how men are visually stimulated, and it really doesn’t even take that long for a man to be visually stimulated. A woman can walk by in a revealing outfit, or they can see a pop ad on a computer and be sexually stimulated. I challenge the girls in the class to think about modesty, how they dress and what effect it can have on guys. We are able to talk about some of the dangers of pornography and some its lasting effects. And then we talk about women, and how we are crockpots. This is because women are stimulated by the emotional or caring parts of a relationship. It’s why we fantasize not about what the perfect guy looks like [OK, probably a little bit], but how romantic he will be, or how he will treat us. I then get to encourage the guys in the classroom to be careful with their words and how they talk to girls, because girls are emotional and look for connections in those words. It’s a great activity that brings about some great conversation.

But I never saw it in my own life. Am I a victim of emotional pornography? Absolutely. Whether it’s fantasizing over fictional male leads in romantic comedies or imagining myself as the heroine of a romantic story, I’ve been there. And I have to remind myself to be careful.

Philippians 4:8 says “Finally, brothers [and sisters], whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” These are the things I need to be focusing on. Not unrealistic emotional standards that no real-life man will measure up to. And not the fact that I’m in my late twenties and still single. I need the constant reminder on where and on who to focus my thoughts. Because the temptation to indulge on emotional pornography is everywhere. But I don’t have to be a victim anymore. Continue reading →