Something to Celebrate

There is a great post from FRC about Texas cutting off the flow of money to Planned Parenthood and how clinics are closing left and right.  I think this is in part because prayer in TX has increased against abortion especially via 40 Days for Life.  Despite the bleakness out there, there are still things to celebrate and praise God for!

The Captive Heart by Dale Cramer

I received the book The Captive Heart by Dale Cramer from Bethany House for review.  I really enjoyed the first book in this series (The daughters of Caleb Bender) and was super excited to get to review this second book.  It is a series based on true events in which an Amish community moves to Mexico (Paradise Valley) so that their children will not be forced to attend an "English" school.

The Captive Heart picks up right where Paradise Valley  leaves off.  It is just as well written and gives intriguing insight into the lives of the Amish and the Mexicans living around them.  The love stories seem honest and realistic.  The story is thrilling at times and the historical facts seem well researched.

Yet I couldn't love this book as much as the first one.  The whole complete pacifist nature of the Amish tradition began to grate on my nerves after a while.  I don't fault them for standing up for what they believe.  They are a testament of faith even when they are the only ones going in that direction.  I just don't see their point of view in the Bible so it is hard for me to read it without getting annoyed.  Somehow this was not such a major factor in the first book so I didn't mind so much.  And let's face it, self-defending Amish would have been out of place.  I think Mr. Cramer did a good job sticking with the Amish values.  It is just tiring to me to read.

In the end, I give the book 4 stars and still look forward to reading the third one.

Kuwaiti Prince Publically Converts to Christianity

HT to Godfather Politics

One of the Kuwaiti princes has converted to Christianity according to Iranian TV.  The source is an audio recording of the man saying that he approves of its distribution and knows that he will likely face death but believes that he will then see Jesus.  Of course, another Kuwaiti prince denies that the man named is really a prince.  I tend to believe the Iranians.  Let's all pray for this prince and his bold actions.

Complete Lunacy of the EPA

Godfather Politics has an interesting article about the EPA.    It is worth reading the whole thing.  Here is a little quote from it.

With no real supply of cellulosic biofuel to be had, the fuel companies were unable to comply with the EISA requirements, the Environmental Protection Agency is moving forward with their plans to impose fines on the fuel companies for failing to meet the guidelines.  And if the fuel companies are unable to get their hands on 8.65 million gallons of cellulosic biofuel this year to meet the requirements, they’ll face even stiffer fines.

I suppose the EPA would be glad if "Big Oil" just stopped selling their non-compliant fuel.  Of course, those of us that rely on fuel to get to our jobs would be SOL.  But the planet would be "safe".  (Insert eye roll here.)  The whole thing is so ludicrous that I can't even put it into words.

Help Stop Trafficking from Nepal to India

I recently discovered a mother and family (homeschooling with 6 kids) who has taken the grief of losing a little one (Tiggy aged 22 months) and turned it into sharing Jesus with some of the world's most vulnerable.  They are raising money to build a home for Nepalese girls (average age 14, but some as young as 6) who are vulnerable to or victims of the Indian sex trade.  Please visit their site to learn more about this terrible problem and to help out by praying and/or donating.


http://www.tiggyshouse.com/

The Moth and the Lamp

I found this quote on the bottom of a mug.


"The moth bathes in the false glory of the street lamp, and nobody bothers to tell her that she hasn't found God."

It really reminded me of how important it is to warn people before it is eternally too late and help them turn toward the glory of the father.

I also made a collection around it.

Thomas Sowell on Committees

When an organization has more of its decisions made by committees, that gives more influence to those who have more time available to attend committee meetings and to drag out each meeting longer. In other words, it reduces the influence of those who have work to do, and are doing it, while making those who are less productive more influential.

From his recent random thoughts article.  There are many more good things in it.  Go check it out.