The Shunning by Beverly Lewis

Mhm, love me some feelgood fiction. Enjoyed the book. LOVED the movie.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I saw the movie first, and was disappointed. I longed for resolution, and knew that it would come only from reading the book. I wondered, "What was the point of that?" It was a captivating story, yes, lots of action-- great. But the main theme of the movie seemed to be that there are situations where it is right to do what's wrong. I didn't want to believe that so many millions of people were embracing this thought... there had to be more to it!

Well, one of the first things I realized when reading the book was another theme that probably should have been obvious-- themes of the effects of violence, inequality, and poverty on the young.

One of the dilemmas this book has raised for me is the conflict between actions and intentions. One, the book reveals motivations behind many of the actions I saw in the movie, from Peeta throwing Katniss the bread, to Katniss' inconsistent behavior during training. The exploration of thoughts, feelings, and motivations ends up creating a completely different picture, also a more engrossing one (SO YAY BOOKS!) The other part of that, however, is: the book seems to yet again suggest that as long as one has good intentions, it is okay to do the wrong thing. In an ideal world, we would all do the right thing for the right reason. (I learned that lesson a long time ago.) In what circumstances should we compromise that?? What if you can't have both??

At first exposure, in the situation Collins presents, we don't even question Katniss taking for granted that she would kill. I imagine that, if it were me, I would too. Then, I wonder is that right? I know this sounds crazy, but I'd like to apply 1 Corinthians 10:13 to this situation...... in everything, I want to trust God for a way of escape. (Easier said than done!)

So, back to comparing the book to the movie:
The book was better! I couldn't put it down! Hearing things from Katniss' perspective makes you understand why she did what she felt she had to do in her relationships. It also points out (thankgoodness) how despicable the idea of "hunger games" truly is. Furthermore, it made me want to read the next book....... aaaand halfway through "Catching Fire," I decided to read an online summary. I found out out that the ending doesn't conclude as neatly as I would like. I also find that darker books that focus on how messed up the world is without offering hope kind of bum me out. So I'm stopping there... but now I read it and I know what all the fuss is about :)

Quiet: the power of introverts in a world that can't stop talking by Susan Cain

I loved this book. I was intrigued when I heard Susan Cain speak in this video. Then I read her book and BAM, my thinking was transformed. I gained a better understanding of myself, my culture, and especially my husband (even more introverted than me :)

At times, it felt Cain was proposing that introverts are better than other people, but now I think that really, her perspective is just so counter-cultural, it sounds off-putting at first . I was hardly aware of "the extrovert ideal" in our culture until I read this, but I definitely agree it's there. From viewing shyness in children as a problem to be fixed, to granting promotions on the basis of gregariousness, our culture prefers extroverts-- even though introverts are often the deepest thinkers, and often make great leaders.

I found her discussions on the strengths of introverts very affirming: preferring quiet isn't a flaw. I appreciate her emphasizing that forcing individuals to go against their personality isn't harmful only to him/her, but also our whole society. Equally, I appreciate her acknowledgement that there are situations where one must go outside the realm of what comes naturally for the sake of "core personal projects." For example, it can be hard for extroverts to sit and study, or hard for an introvert to talk to a crowd of people, but for something one believes is important, it is worth it.

I was particularly intrigued by her (brief) observations about the evangelical church's preference for extroverts, and how this influences its introverts. I can't wait to read the book she recommended, Introverts in the Church.

Also, I noticed this and thought... maybe a reflection of our culture's preference for extroversion?? How google defines introverts:

Noun:

A shy, reticent, and typically self-centered person. A person predominantly concerned with their own thoughts and feelings rather than with external things.

VS what I think of as introverted- how Myers-Briggs defines it:

Introversion (I)
I like getting my energy from dealing with the ideas, pictures, memories, and reactions that are inside my head, in my inner world. I often prefer doing things alone or with one or two people I feel comfortable with. I take time to reflect so that I have a clear idea of what I’ll be doing when I decide to act. Ideas are almost solid things for me. Sometimes I like the idea of something better than the real thing.
The following statements generally apply to me:

• I am seen as “reflective” or “reserved.”
• I feel comfortable being alone and like things I can do on my own.
• I prefer to know just a few people well.
• I sometimes spend too much time reflecting and don’t move into action quickly enough.
• I sometimes forget to check with the outside world to see if my ideas really fit the experience.

Hmm.

Fresh Movie

Enjoyed this documentary about food. I'm glad that there is such a movement toward caring about where our food comes from, and about how our choices impact our health and so much more. Of course, after these bursts of education, I wonder, what do I do now?

One back-to-basics farmer is portrayed in sharp contrast to the meat-factory and says:

“Where we’re standing got grazed 2 or 3 times in the Spring then we made hay on it; the next time it got grazed, ran the hen-mobile behind it; then we ran a big batch of turkeys through here….and then graze it again at wintertime; the point being that when you add all of those things up, suddenly you’re not getting not only the multi-speciatian, and the different kinds of manures, but you’re getting all these complimentary income streams, so that unlike the neighbor who just brought in beef cows getting $150/acre, we’re getting over $3000/acre/year, and we haven’t bought a seed, or bought an ounce of fertilizer in 50 years. That’s what I say, wow.”

Once expert says:

“It is true that local and organic food costs more. It’s worth more too. When this dozen eggs costs $4 or $5, because these animals have been on pasture, and it’s full of Omega-3 and it’s full of Vitamin A, those are not the same as those 79 cent battery-cage eggs. Yeah they’re a white sphere, but it’s not the same product. As we’ve industrialized our food we’ve made it cheaper, but we’ve also diminished it nutritionally. According to the USDA’s own numbers, if you look at fresh produce grown in 1950 and compare nutritionally with fresh produce grown today, you will find that the amount of key nutrients-- minerals, vitamins-- has diminished by 40%.”

“The more you process food, the less nutritious it is. Cheap food is an illusion. There is no such thing as cheap food. The real cost of the food is paid somewhere. And if it isn’t paid at the cash register, it’s charged to the environment, it’s charged to the public person in the form of subsidies, and it’s charged to your health. You do get what you pay for, with food as with anything else. There are people, however, who can’t afford it. And we need to basically level the playing field. Right now we’re heavily subsidizing every calorie of high-fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oil, which are the building blocks of processed food, the least healthy food we’re eating, and we’re not doing anything to subsidize or support the growing of fresh produce. Millions of Americans live in food deserts, where you can’t find fresh produce; you can only find processed food. You can find Ramen noodles, but you can’t find an apple. People do want to eat this food, they just don’t have access to it.”

Freakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner

Thoroughly interesting... does make you ask a lot of questions!

Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo

I appreciate the simplicity and humility with which the story is told. I'm glad they decided to write this book, and that I heard about it, because to me, it is a reminder of what I claim to believe-- that heaven is for real! I was particularly touched by the little boy saying that he came back because Jesus was answering his dad's prayer. Oh, if I could remember every minute that heaven is real and that it is the home of a real God who really does answer prayers... and this story nudged me that direction.

Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam Junior

Yeah, the book was way better than the movie:)
Very interesting to me that they called the movie October Sky because market research showed woman under 30 wouldn't be interested in a movie called "Rocket Boys." So, they re-arranged the letters to create October Sky!
Aside from the part where it seemed like he was bragging about having sex as a teen, it was thoroughly enjoyable and inspiring story!

Reshaping It All by Candace Cameron Bure

I could focus on the fact that at many points while reading this book, it seemed like a repeat of cliche's I've heard over and over again. "Give it to God." "Be self-controlled and don't give up!" "Make good goals and a plan; follow through."

That's what a lot of it was. I haven't read any diet books before, or any Christian books particularly relating to weight-loss, but I've heard all those things before. And I've always shrugged them off. "I'm not overweight," I would think. "God is more concerned with my heart anyway; I need to worry about that first, and not be so superficial."

So even though I've heard many of the ideas of this book before, THIS FEELS DIFFERENT because I am now poised and ready to make a change. It's not because I'm overweight or superficial, but I'm making a New Year's Resolution for weight loss for the first time ever as a direct result of this book.

Some quotes... "I do my best to honor my body by giving it the best option I can." [And she encourages others to] "stop looking at dining out as an entitlement to pamper your passion" (173). Ouch.

"I knew that abusing my body with food was a bad habit for me, but since I wasn't hurting anyone else, I hadn't seen it as sin. I finally understood. He created me. My body is a temple to be used by Him and for Him. He desires that we seek a spiritual transformation, not merely a moral one" (182-183).

"Life takes time, and we need to remember that--it takes time" (194).

"If I have learned anything from my experience with trials, it's this: I need to take that step of patience now--not tonight, not tomorrow--right now. Push the food to the side today. Why? Because it's not going to comfort me the way that I think it will. And guess what? That food will still be there tomorrow.
"Some might say, 'It's just food. Get real!' But no, it's not just food any more than gold is just gold. When your life molds or shapes it into something you idolize, or use to tranquilize, it becomes your golden calf" (195).

Candace's wise words have helped me see things in a whole new light. Here are the two main changes:
1) She helped me realize that I look to food for fulfillment. In the past I've justified my view of food by saying I'm just enjoying a gift from God, but in my heart I know the truth: I think about, long for, and crave food too much. It is an idol. I love sweets, eating out, eating good cooking, and if I'm honest I usually enjoy them more than the company of those at the table, I don't have a thought --least of all of gratitude-- toward God, and as soon as it's over, I'm thinking about what will come next. I have a pattern of over-eating, trying to get that full feeling, to find fulfillment. It is kind of shocking to realize this... am I not to be filled with the Spirit?? Shouldn't that be enough? Years ago, I practiced fasting from time to time. Now I think I need to daily (hourly) re-focus myself as to what I need for energy, fuel, and what will truly satisfy.
2) She helped me realize that over-eating, not exercising, not taking care of this temple--ie, not being self-controlled is truly a SIN. We tend in our culture to rank sins. So many Christians seem to think that homosexuality and abortion are the only ones that "count." In my circles, it seems that not having daily devotions is THE WORST. So many of us (me included) tend to think of certain kinds of things as "optional," though the Bible would say otherwise. It's not a choice to be COMPLETELY SURRENDERED to my God and find all fulfillment in him, to not think one thought anything short of love, to not "beat my body and make it a slave." I have many reasons to try to be healthier and lose weight-- I feel better (happier, more energetic), to look good for my husband, I am able to do more (hike with friends, etc). The thing stopping me is laziness and lack of conviction. And that cannot be.

My desire in this endeavor is to fulfill Elisabeth Elliot's words, "Discipline begets discipline." I mean that if I can be disciplined in this area of life, I know it will spread to others.