Seven school days now since Chance has been with us and still no school bus option.
“Hrumph” (or whatever Grumpy from Snow White would say in this situation…)
It is not that it is so bad – except the delivery of said 14 year old to school each day by 8 am seriously cuts into the meandering time…. especially since said 14 year old loves to chat at night when it is usually my reading alone time. I sound like a spoiled blogger…. LOL
So this morning I am whipping out a quick message and even Coffee Cup is a bit annoyed with me as I hurry to get ready for my day – drop Chance at School, get to the office, work on payroll, hair appointment at 1:30, pick up Chance at 3:15 and Group Power at 4:15. Depends on the weather if I will get to bike tonight with the Brainerd Group or not. Probably depends a bit on me working on the ‘tude as well. 🙂
Anyway – I have a review coming up late today – possibly two if I can finish the wonderful book I am reading, The Sister Pact.
I am currently in Cache Valley, Utah with Savannah Campton and Dective Ryan. We have just left the hospital after visiting Savannah’s sister Allison who is still in a coma from the fall that may – or may not have been an accident. I can feel Ryans tension as we are driving back to Allison’s home…. is Savannah involved? Did she harm her sister and if she did…. why? And wouldnt this whole scenario be easier if Ryan wasn’t so attracted to Savannah in the first place?
It is the first day of fall and I finally have a chance to get on line…. it has been a busy morning and now in my office I can crank out a little bit of “Sheilaism.” Coffee Cup and I have not made it to any blog stops this morning and that is a bit annoying as I love to start my mornings with visits.
However – never fear…. I do have something to chat about this morning so fill up your cup and pull up a chair.
So today I want to mention the books that is currently making its way through the blogesphere – Oprah’s latest book club pick, Say You’re One Of Them by Uwen Akpan.
On Friday, September 18, 2009, Oprah revealed the 63rd Oprah’s Book Club pick Say You’re One of Them by author Uwem Akpan. Her selection of Akpan’s debut collection marks the first time Winfrey has ever chosen a book of short stories. She said, “These stories left me stunned and profoundly moved.”
Told in five separate stories, each from the perspective of an African child protagonist, Say You’re One of Them vividly captures the resilience of children in the face of unimaginable devastation. Published in 2008, this compelling unforgettable work depicts Africa in its glory and grace as well as its horror and pain.
Author Uwem Akpan was born in Ikot Akpan Eda in southern Nigeria. After studying philosophy and English at Creighton and Gonzaga universities, he studied theology for three years at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa.
He was ordained as a Jesuit priest in 2003 and received his MFA in creative writing from the University of Michigan in 2006. “My Parents’ Bedroom,” a story from his short story collection, Say You’re One of Them, was one of five short stories by African writers chosen as finalists for The Caine Prize for African Writing 2007.
Say You’re One of Them won the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best First Book (Africa Region) 2009 and PEN/Beyond Margins Award 2009 and was finalist for the Los Angeles Times Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction. In 2007, Akpan taught at a Jesuit college in Harare, Zimbabwe. Now he serves at Christ the King Church, Ilasamaja-Lagos, Nigeria.
I am not one who follows what Oprah picks, but this book caught my attention and has held on. I think for me this is a read I will have to pursue… and coffee cup and I are on our way to do that right now.
Have you seen any books lately that are calling you?
I am excited to be able to share with my readers a chance to win a set of these five wonderful books – that’s right the winner(s) will receive a copy of each of these great reads! (Thank you to Valerie and Hachette Book Group)
1 entry for leaving a comment about a book, or author you have read from another culture than your own – please mention the title and or author
earn a 2nd entry by blogging or tweeting about this giveaway (please let me know on a separate post)
earn a 3rd entry bu commenting on any non giveaway post and letting me know on a separate comment
I will give away up to 5 sets of these books – 1 set per every 10 comments left here. If we have 50 comments by the time the contest ends we will be able to give away all 5 sets.
Contest will be open to USA and Canada residents only (no po boxes)
I have been meaning to draw these winners all weekend but it just didnt happen! So today I am finally able to do a bit of catching up and am thrilled to announce our last three BBAW Winners.
The winner of the prize package from a random drawing from comments on this blog between Sept 14 and Sept 18 goes to:
Congratulations J Kaye!!! How about that? You are a top commentor on my blog!
I am emailing you the gift card here shortly
Thank you to everyone who left comments here during BBAW! That was a lot of fun! I love my regular visitors and so enjoyed meeting new people and I am still actively seeking out the blogs of those who took the time to comment here.
I think I will start having a monthly contest for Amazon Gift Cards starting in October (they are so easy to do – just email to the winner!)
Reading this book – I ask myself, how many miracles sent my way do I miss? How many opportunities have I missed when I felt a need to say something and didn’t? ‘You Were Born For This’ was a great reminder. ~ Sheila
Summary
His New York Times phenomenon The Prayer of Jabez changed how millions pray. Now Bruce Wilkinson wants to change what they do next.
Anyone can do a good deed, but some good works can only happen by a direct intervention from God. Around the world these acts are called miracles—not that even religious people expect to see one any time soon. But what would happen if millions of ordinary people walked out each morning expecting God to deliver a miracle through them to a person in need? You Were Born for This starts with the dramatic premise that everyone at all times is in need of a miracle, and that God is ready to meet those needs supernaturally through ordinary people who are willing to learn the “protocol of heaven.”
In the straightforward, story-driven, highly motivating style for which he is known, Wilkinson describes how anyone can be a “Delivery Guy” from heaven in such universally significant arenas of life as finances, practical help, relationships, purpose, and spiritual growth.
Author Bios:
One of the world’s foremost Christian teachers, Bruce Wilkinson is best known as the author of the New York Times #1 bestseller The Prayer of Jabez. He is also the author of numerous other bestsellers, including A Life God Rewards, Secrets of the Vine, and The Dream Giver. Over the past three decades, Wilkinson has founded several global initiatives, including organizations that recruited and trained thousands of Americans to address hunger, AIDS, and poverty in Africa. Bruce and his wife, Darlene, have three children and six grandchildren. They live outside Atlanta.
David Kopp has collaborated with Bruce Wilkinson on over a dozen bestselling books, including The Prayer of Jabez. He is an editor and writer living in Colorado.
My Thoughts:
Many years ago I had read The Prayer of Jabez and really liked how Wilkinson put things into perspective. Now here I
Blog Tour
am again with another amazing book by Wilkinson sitting next to me as I type. While what Bruce is saying is to me – common sense… apparently it needs to be said as I for one tend to forget that we are to be constantly looking for ways to serve Him… ways to do His work here on earth and yet days go by where I dont go the extra few steps to talk to that neighbor out watering her flowers or the person I know is going to want to talk and talk and I just do not have (or take) the time to listen. *OUCH!*
There are topics in this book that I can and will use for my team training I am currently doing for our Fall Honduras Mission. I love the term “Intentional Miracle Workers.” This book really was a great read for me and a definite keeper for the book shelves. This is one I can refer to time and again.
And YES! Thank you to Staci for also sending me an extra copy to giveaway! To enter this giveaway:
One entry for answering this question: What can you do to be more open to miracles that are around us everyday?
receive a second entry by becoming a follow of this blog (two entries if you already are a follower but you need to tell me)
earn another entry by blogging or tweeting this giveaway.
That’s it. Giveaway will close October 17
This book was sent to me for review by Staci Carmichael from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group
This week I am planning to do a bit of “Blog Housekeeping.”
I want to dust off the awards that run along my sidebar and put them under a header tab along the top part of my blog. This way they will be neater and I can actually list the people who were so wonderful to send them my way. Much more organized… that’s the plan. 🙂
I also have a little sidebar updating to do. I am trying to figure out a cool way to keep my current reads on the side bar that is going to be easy for me to remember to update. Currently I tend to forget and then see something I have read a month ago listed as my current read. “Doh”! So not cool.
I am working on cleaning up my book related emails. I have them just hanging out all over the in box – book review requests, ones I have accepted, communications with authors/publishers. It is like a tornado hit and I need to call in a Cleaning crew to come and assist.
I am also a bit behind on my giveaways so need to do some random pics pretty quick here and get them moving so I can add new giveaways that are waiting patiently.
AND last but not least my Challenges need a little updating as well. I have books completed for the challenges that I have not acknowledged and I need to just get a grip on this.
So – as you look over my blog which is always open to upgrades, do you have any suggestions?
What started as an uncertain read for me turned into a powerful look into a future that kept the pages turning long into the night! ~ Sheila
The unthinkable has happened. Tactical nuclear weapons have fallen into the hands of terrorists, and both the United States and Israel have been targeted. The Biblical prophecies are TRUE and the march toward the apocalypse us unstoppable.
Moshe Eldan is a “Lightning Driver”, the self-described vernacular of an elite group of
Israeli F-16 fighter pilots. It is his job to protect and defend his beleaguered country on a daily basis, but not even Moshe sees what is coming. Attacks along the Lebanese border, by Hizbollah fighters, is on the increase, but it’s only a diversion from the greater danger. Iran has nuclear weapons, and they plan to use them. Join Moshe as he desperately attempts to stop the most deadly terrorist attack in history. His only hope is found in beginning a new mission, one that will take him straight toward an encounter with the Truth.
Tyler Dempsey is a suburban Kansas City pastor, just trying to work through the grief of losing his little brother to the war in Iraq. His world is jolted by new revelations of old, Bible prophecies. But when he takes it to his apathatic congregation, trouble meets him head on in the form of a brewing church conflict. Unknown to them all, the United States, and specifically Kansas City, are in the sights of vicious killers bent on nothing less than bringing the greatest nation on the planet to its knees. Ty can see it coming. Can you?
Strap in tight as Moshe and Ty are strangely connected in this first book of the “Lightning Chronicles Trilogy.” You will never forget what the Bible says is about to happen!
Blog Tour
My Thoughts: This one was a bit of a stretch for me… I am not a nuclear, blow up the world, terrorist threat, type of reader. Yet, when I was offered this book to review…. I couldn’t think of a good reason to pass. There were elements of the book that spoke to me:
Biblical Prophesies (I have a friend who wrote a book along these lines a few years back and I loved it!)
A Pastor dealing with grief ( it is a good story line – I always like to read how Pastors react when tragedy hits their own home… I think fictional or otherwise – it does show a Pastors true character)
This book surprised me and once again I got a good lesson in judging books by their covers. I was wrong to think I would not enjoy this read. I actually did. The characters were well developed and the relationship that develops between Pastor Ty Dempsey and Moshe Elden (fighter pilot) is an interesting way to put together this book. I found myself quickly reading through the pages in an intensity that matched the plot… I had to know what would happen next. This book kept me reading late into the night.
A book about Terrorists, Nuclear devices, and a Grieving Pastor? Oh my! I can not wait to get my hands on book two in the Lightning Chronicle Series!
Jimmy Root Jr., has served as an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God since 1982, including service in Nebraska, Missouri, and a seven year term as a missionary in Colombia, South America. Jimmy is the lead Pastor of Family Worship Center of Smithville, a growing suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. Married to his wife Jean for twenty-nine years, the Roots have three grown children.
Root is a 1981 alumnus of Central Bible College of Springfield, Missouri where he majored in Biblical Studies and Pastoral Theology. He is also an alumnus of Southeastern University, Lakeland Florida, where he majored in Intercultural Studies.
A lifetime student of Biblical prophecy, Jimmy is also the Professor of Eschatology, The Study of End Times, for Berean University through the Northern Missouri District School of Ministry. He is a featured speaker at Churches and other venues, and is the host of “The Bible Uncensored” radio broadcast heard on radio stations around the country.
I received this book from Dorothy with Pump up Your Book Promotions
Oh! It is Monday isn’t it? I would love to share with you what is true of last weeks reads, what is currently being read in the DeChantal household, as well as what I am hopeful to attack yet this week! Thank you to J. Kaye who created this wonderful meme so we can talk books!
The Sister Pact by Cami Checketts (I am so enjoying this book! It is a Christian fiction read but it is different from any I have read before and I am really excited to review it! I should be done yet tonight!)
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (yeah… I stated this one a month ago and sat it down to read something else and have yet to pick it back up. It is not from lack of interest by any mean… I really have liked what I have read so far. I hope to wrap this one up this week.)
and now for the ones I plan to get going on this week…
Abbeville by Jack Fuller: This one could very well be the book I had written the song for earlier this week. LOL. Patiently waiting on the shelf, this morning as I was choosing the next in line – I grabbed this one.
The Carpet Boy’s Gift by Shea/Morin: A beautifully illustrated childrens read that I can not bring myself to even put on the TBR shelf. It must be read. It must be read now.
I also started (or am working on the start of…) an online book club called Word Shakers. Check it out and sign theMr. Linky if you want to be kepy updated on the reads and participate if you can!
Up and prepped to take Chance to school (our Kinship Partner who is staying with us for awhile). He is 14 and I signed him up for the bus last week and they said it takes 5 days to make that happen. I don’t get that…. bus drives by my our house ever day…. Oh well – I guess it gets me up and actually motivated a little more than when I usually am doing morning meanderings…
I have been sitting here with Coffee Cup this morning hopping around and stopped in to visit Zia at My Life In Not So Many Words. I love her blog! I am reading this morning about what she is reading which I think is funny that I enjoy reading about what others are reading…. but I do. Sometimes it is a fellowship of “wow – we are reading the same book!” and other times it is “That books looks soooooo good I need to add that to the ever growing list of books to read!”
This morning that is exactly what I was doing when I read the post right below her current one and seen she was announcing a winner of The House of Power…. and….
it was me! (I even ran my cursor over the top of my name to make sure it linked to me!)
That was kind of exciting! Zia has probably already contacted me for info but I use a separate email for all my book related stuff and haven’t opened that email yet today!
So thats my morning news! I am starting out with a good Monday (I do so love winning books!). I have much to post this week, a few reviews, BBAW giveaway winners, back to my regular memes… AND I have some visiting to catch up on too. 🙂
Stay tuned… I will be active with my postings all week! Oh and thanks for stopping this morning! Its a bit cool in Minnesota this morning and having coffee and talking books with all of you is just the thing to do……
Book Journey 