inspirational

This album is a fantastic treat, the true definition of a "hidden gem." I'm not entirely sure why I first purchased this album on its release. Maybe because I was so into Ben Folds at the time and this album is produced by Folds. I had heard William Shatner's previous attempts at "singing" so I was not expecting much besides something to laugh at and listen to every once in awhile. However, Has Been became an album that I have listened to regularly for the last decade. Folds did a wonderful job pulling great emotion from Shatner and focusing more on a spoken-word vibe for the album instead of

Sarah battles a crazy disease, the kind of mysterious disease with no definitive end. It’s a disease that requires a central line (a catheter placed into a large vein in the neck), the kind of disease that attacks nerves and turns the body into a battleground.

And while all these things are very critical in this memoir, the most important element is how the disease is presented to the reader. This book may be comprised of poems threaded with angst, humor and despair or it could be a teetering castle of prose blocks. Or perhaps it’s one long essay ravaged by the disease itself. The way this

In 1746 Scotland, Elizabeth Kerr and her mother-in-law, Marjory Kerr, are labeled traitors to the crown.  They’ve lost everything—their husbands and sons, their estate, titles, and fortunes.  All that is left to them is to beg mercy and refuge from Marjory’s distant cousin, a woman who has lived her entire life with only the barest of resources.  They must do what they can to survive and avoid being noticed by those who would turn them in to the authorities.  Elizabeth chances employment as a dressmaker for the staff of Lord Jack Buchanan, a retired admiral of his majesty’s navy.  He hears of

My Dog is a sweet exploration of the relationship between man and dog.  You will be delighted to see a spunky Isaac Mizrahi rave about his pooches, listen to Richard Gere’s brief philosophical tidbits about his dog and get a peek into the beautiful connections between dogs and their humans. 

I really appreciated how the film gracefully skips from one interview to the next, constructing an exciting collage of poignant moments and revelations and giving ample opportunities to see my favorite people and their dogs.

Daniel Shire, a boy with autism, created a bridge between his world and his

I am by no means a religious person. But I do appreciate spirituality and love people who actively live their proclaimed faith. Having read a spiritual memoir or two that didn’t quite deliver, I approached Mercy in the City somewhat tentatively. It turned out to be as surprisingly wonderful as I was skeptical.

“In a city with twenty-four-hour stores, eight million people, and infinite possibilities…” Weber chooses, in addition to giving up alcohol and sweets, to complete all the Corporal Works of Mercy for Lent.  Yes, in the heart of New York City a young practicing Catholic chooses mercy

"Why are we here? What is love? Is there a Loch Ness monster? Does God send text messages?" These four lines, and "Jessie's Girl," were about all I had to go on before cracking open Rick Springfield's debut fiction novel. It follows an early thirties, recently divorced, recovering slacker as he ponders his existence. It leads him on a quest that ends up with a 1-800 hotline to God, a recently "freed" nun, and a date with the Loch Ness monster. While it does take a little time to pick up, and it can be somewhat shocking at points, it was a thoroughly enjoyable read, and once I got hooked, I

The Merriam Webster dictionary defines vagabond as

1:  moving from place to place without a fixed home :  wandering

2a :  of, relating to, or characteristic of a wanderer

  b :  leading an unsettled, irresponsible, or disreputable life

But to Rolf Potts vagabonding is 1: the act of leaving behind the orderly world to travel independently for an extended period of time; 2: a privately meaningful manner of travel that emphasizes creativity, adventure, awareness, simplicity, discovery, independence, realism, self-reliance, and the growth of the spirit; 3: a deliberate way of living that makes

Philip Gulley's Home to Harmony is the first book in the Harmony series in which Sam Gardner, Quaker Minister, has returned to his hometown of Harmony, Indiana to assume the pulpit. Gulley uses a folksy writing style to share the joys, frustrations, humor, and outrageous predicaments encountered in a small community church. The story of Sam and his parishioners is told through a collection of vignettes, each which can stand on its own; but all are woven together expertly by Gulley to paint a pleasant, funny, and poignant picture of the dilemmas and rewards of pastoring a small congregation

Zack Dylan has a voice like Tim McGraw and a dream for fame.  He tries out for a popular star search show, Fifteen Minutes.  There is more at stake than fame, however.  Zack’s family farm in Kentucky is nearing the auction block, and this might be his last chance to save it.  Zack’s chances are good for making the Big Time, and he is committed.  He promises his college sweetheart Rene that being famous won’t change his beliefs. 

America falls in love with Zack, and he becomes a rising star.  It’s his dream come true. Yet in all the excitement amid the cameras and the media, the show’s

There are times when I hesitate giving any work (an album, movie, or book) "5 stars." In fact, I try really hard not to do it. The idea that a work is "Perfect" and therefore deserving an entire constellation seems somewhat counter-productive to critical thinking and writing about whatever work a person has experienced: Does the White Album REALLY need all of those songs? Did Han Solo REALLY have to live? Objective correlative, indeed!

That being said, it's pretty difficult to NOT award The Punk Singer five stars and some kind of glowing effusive praise. The troubling thing is, I'm not sure

"It can be too sad here.  We often lose our way."  Anne Lamott's latest musing on faith focuses on the thorny parts of life and love—grief, anger, pain—and how to keep living throughout it all.  Stitching together the ripped shreds of ourselves, she says, is the answer.  Community, faith, music, even something as mundane as replacing smelly, stained floorboards—all of these help us sew our lives together and move on, stronger for the scar tissue that has knitted us whole again.   Like many of Lamott's works on faith, Stitches blends deep and insightful theological musings with personal (and

I recently missed a carpool, and instead, drove alone. But I never felt alone. Plan B included listening to Anne Lamott's Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith. And she is an excellent traveling companion. Lamott, full of faith and humor hooked me in with her crazy, grace-filled life and I couldn't stop listening. It's a bummer that I missed socializing with my group. But, driving with Anne Lamott narrating Plan B made the trip worthwhile.

Lamott is at her best when she weaves witty stories of her progressive Christian faith with her family dysfunction. Especially the stories focusing on the

This book is a combination of short stories of Niequist's life with a focus on difficulties having children. She is a woman of faith and relates her stories to spiritual lessons which she realized after each individual experience. Almost every chapter is tied to a specific dish which she cooked for a particular experience and she includes recipes at the end of the chapters. I thought that this book was interesting because it was an intimate portrait of a woman's struggle with being thankful for what she had while wanting a larger family. Her stories were well-written and provides readers with

“And now go, and make interesting amazing glorious fantastic mistakes. Break rules. Leave the world more interesting for your being here. Make good art.” How can you not feel a little inspired and empowered after hearing that? These are the compelling closing lines of Neil Gaiman’s May 2012 commencement speech delivered to the graduates of Philadelphia’s University of the Arts. In Make Good Art, his words are creatively set to page by graphic designer Chip Kidd. Gaiman’s message is applicable to anyone, not just artists or graduates. I may have even tacked one or two of his lines to my wall

This nifty book has colorful pictures, which are heartwarming and uplifting. The inspirational read is for mothers or anyone to enjoy. A great book to flip through when you are in line waiting or on break.

In A Garden In Paris, Mary Kathleen Davis was once a vibrant young woman with hopes and dreams for a beautiful future.  Now, 26 years later, she is a widow, emotionally separated from her only daughter Elizabeth, and trying desperately to find some sense of who she is and where she’s going.  Her thoughts turn to a time in Paris many years ago and a man who loved her desperately.  She too had been in love yet walked away to marry the security she felt she needed in her life.  If only she’d known the cost of that security would be her very soul.  Mary wonders what has happened to the man she

Classed as a Mystery Thriller at the local bookstore and as Fiction at JCL, The Expected One follows protagonist journalist Maureen Pascal as she does research for her new novel. In the process, she discovers ancient mysteries involving the Cathar peoples of southwest France and uncovers legends including Mary Magdalene and a gospel that she wrote describing her life as Jesus’ wife and his teachings. Great artistic masters and scientific minds are involved including Sandro Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Isaac Newton. Also involved are John the Baptist, Judas, and Salome. McGowan views her

Mibby Garrett is holding on the best she can without her beloved husband Scott, but it isn’t easy being a widow with a teenage boy determined to act his age. Her garden design business is their only means of support, and the continuous skyrocketing temperatures and drought are threatening to deal it a final blow. If not for her friends and neighbors Mibby would not have the moral support she needs, nor would she have their numerous attempts at matchmaking. She admits a little romance would be welcome in her life, but none of them are Scott, and she’s convinced that none of them are up to

Ubuntu is a philosophy and principle of ethics rooted in African culture, similar to our Golden Rule. This book describes the story of an African student who introduced this concept to an American businessman. After explaining the history and the main principles of Ubuntu, the book focuses mainly on its application and benefits in a work environment and on personal reflection. Fundamentally, the philosophy focuses on people's allegiances and relations with each other and their sense of belonging to a greater whole. It is similar to the “Fish!” workplace management system, from a different