Indelible Grace Concert

Last night, Matthew Smith and Indelible Grace had a free concert at our church, Clifton Baptist. What a source of Christian encouragement! In case you're not familiar with IG, they take old hymns that are beginning to be forgotten and write new melodies to them. The words of their songs are so rich! I really admire their dedication to these old songs, and the desire not to let them fall by the wayside, but to sing them on to another generation. Some songs have been changed around quite a bit, but others, like "Nothing but the Blood" and "Come Thou Fount" are totally unchanged. You can hear samples on their website.

Here's what it looks like when a row of Seminarians show up an hour early for good seats. That's Josh and our friends Kevin, Micah and Carrie.

Here's me and my friend Canaan. Can you believe we forgot books? We didn't show as early as the others, so we just chatted it up for a half hour or so. What I loved about this concert was how "church-family" it was. How gracious of IG to make the concert totally free so that everyone can come, even with their kids and babies!

Because He Loves Me: How God's Love Transforms Our Identity and Life

I'm here with the facts about the Elyse Fitzpatrick conference! Wow! I had no idea it was actually going to be compatible with my work schedule. . . I am going to do everything I can to make it!

In case you are interested in coming, here are the details:

When: March 6, 2008 5:00pm-8:00pm
Cost: $10 (includes dinner)
Where: The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary of course! (which means you get to stay with Gretchen).
Contact: Lilly Park lpark@sbts.edu (502)897-4608
Deadline: March 1st (or else you get no dinner)

Please stay until the next day when you can get your books signed by Elyse at the bookstore where I work.

Now, who wants to come?

By the way, I'm still taking names and books for the March Reading Challenge. You can enter all the way until March. And I seriously am cooking up some sort of prizes!

Who's In?

I found this vintage poster which gave me a great idea to promote in March. If you can narrow it down, choose one or two books that you've always meant to read. I think I'm going to go for my books about books: How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler and A Gentle Madness by Nicholas A. Basbanes.

If you need a suggestion, how about reading the Puritans? Timmy Brister, blogger extraordinare, and one of the best customers at my bookstore (after Dr. Mohler, of course) has developed a Puritan Reading Challenge. Complete with prizes and discussion, you read one Puritan Paperback a month. I'm a little late in the game to post about it, but I'm sure you can still hop on the moving train. I'll ask him next time he comes in for an enormous stack of books. Building that theological library.

Whether you decide to take up my March reading challenge -- to read something you've been meaning to read -- or to take up the Puritan reading challenge, please give me a halla back to let me know you are in on it!

Now let me see if I can cook up some sort of prize. . .

Nearest Book

Steph tagged me to write 3 sentences from page 123 of the nearest book to me. I think Shepherding a Child's Heart is about 3 inches closer than Josh's Greek New Testament, so I will go with that (not to mention, I'd be hard pressed to figure out sentences in that guy). Page 123 just happens to be the last page I read in this book, earlier today! Crazy!

Well here it is. Kind of a strange set of sentences. "These methods must be woven together in your practice. Your children need to be known and understood. Thus, rich communication is necessary."

I will tag Karen, Grace and my cousin Rebecca to do this next if they are interested.

Speaking of reading, I am working at that list of suggestions that you all gave me. My class reading and the books that I am reading with friends have slowed my personal time reading down quite a bit, but I did polish off The Fisherman's Lady by George MacDonald today (waiting to post a review until after I read the sequel -- The Marquis Secret.) Most of the others are either on their way or sitting on my BookMooch wishlist. I will do some real blogging in a few days.

Book signing!

*** EDIT: I was confused. Thanks, Heather, for pointing out that the 9th is a Sunday. The signing will be March 7th.

I am so excited! I am running a book signing with Elyse Fitzpatrick on March 9th at the bookstore! She has written several great counseling books as well as the very popular book Idols of the Heart and Love to Eat, Hate to Eat.

Let me know if you want a book signed that day. I'd be happy to add it to my stack!

The Beauty of Adoption

Today I joined a throng of people waiting to welcome the Murray Family home from Vietnam, where they have been for the past 2 weeks, adopting two precious baby boys. The Murrays are an amazing family here at Clifton, our beloved church. They have 4 bright, adorable daughters who are mature, respectful and full of character. I just love how the Murrays saw that there was more room and love to give to more children, and embarked on this exciting adventure. It was an amazing moment when they walked toward the crowd, and their 3 youngest daughters ran to meet them (their eldest, Caitlyn, who is in our Jr. High SS class went on the trip with them). Everyone cheered, and I am sure I'm not the only one who shed a few tears. It was beautiful.

Why is adoption so beautiful? I think it is because our hearts are so drawn to the beauty of redemption -- our adoption in Christ. We, like these 2 little boys, were adopted by the Father from a world of darkness, sin, and spiritual poverty into the marvelous family of God -- made joint-heirs with Christ. What could be more beautiful?

These boys have been "rescued" from a world that was unloving, cruel, dirty and poor and welcomed into a family that will heap buckets of love on them -- those guys have absolutely NO idea. For one thing, they went from having no mother to having 5 mommies! Watching the process that the Murrays went through has deepened my appreciation for my own adoption in Christ. We cannot begin to imagine all that it will mean to us!

Coffee Talk

I am so thankful for a blessing this season of life affords me: coffee dates with the girls I know and love. I have been especially blessed with a plethora of those lately -- and the sweet, encouraging, rich times they have been.

My friend Annie Meade has been a model to me of making coffee dates with the girls in her life. She willingly gets up at any hour, or stays up until all hours, to meet with the girls who want to talk over a steamy hot latte. Annie's flexibility is probably why she is so marketable in the coffee-date business -- she'll meet me early before work (thus forcing her to be up and ready for work much earlier), or late at night at the end of a long, exhausting week to lend a sympathetic ear to a single girl from small group. She has regular meetings with other girls, where they discuss books they are reading together. One thing I loved about Annie the minute I met her was how she "buys up" all the best bargains for this season of life. Since she and her husband John don't have kids yet, she knows this is the season of life she can be so flexible to meet girls wherever -- and whenever -- they're at!

I've started making coffee dates of my own -- frequently. In fact, the idea of "going to coffee" has come to symbolize to me the very act of sharing in female Christian encouragement (similar to going to lunch, which is a close second). The Lord has been gracious to give me wonderful coffee dates with girls who are ready to share, or open up, or who are so kind to listen to me explain what I learned from a book or my sin of discontentment, and then patiently encourage one another, pointing to Christ and the Gospel. What a beautiful picture of living out the "One Anothers" of Scripture!

I don't say all this to brag. I know there are many things in life that are more easily enjoyed in different seasons. If you are a stay-at-home mom, getting coffee with another girl might pose some challenges right now. You savor that girl time when you can get it! Or, if you are low on cash, you may not be able to afford a whole bunch of trips to Starbucks, so you have to be creative. Regardless of your current season of life, let me challenge you to make the most of it -- don't waste it shooting the breeze, discussing television shows or analyzing the minutiae of your child's everyday life. Instead, engage your girlfriends with deep questions, share time in prayer, confess sin to one another and then build one another up by reminding each other of the gospel and the glory of sin forgiven! Imagine if that were our template for spending time with our Christian sisters! Is this not true fellowship?

That said, who wants a coffee date? I'll put you in my planner.

Thanks guys, I love you, too!

Look at this fun apron I got from the kids at Calvary (my old church). It says "We Love you, Ms. Gretchen" and all the kids signed it. I love it!

Johanna, Miss Janice, I know you guys are behind this! You are too kind. I miss you guys so much. :)

Benzing Drama

The large, widespread Benzing family has known a number of successes on the stage. I guess you could say most of us share a bit of flare for the dramatic. From my dad in his frequently repeating "narrator" roles, to my uncle Matt as Harold Hill back in the day, to the current generation of Benzing actors and actresses (myself just a blip on the screen among them), we must have something in our genes that makes us unafraid to don those costumes and take on the role with abandon (side story -- the speech teacher at my college once used me as an example of someone who had "abandon" in her drama class. I was not in this class. I'm pretty sure it was a compliment.)

None of us have the experience that my cousin Elise Benzing has. She has been in "countless" shows from age 4 to 20, including Annie in Annie, Louisa in the Sound of Music, and her favorite, Alice in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Elise auditioned to be a part of the theatre program at the University of Central Florida when she was 18, and was one of only 12 students accepted. But after 3 semesters and several challenges to her faith, she decided to walk away. It was, as she said, a "Very hard time in life while considering that maybe God didn't want me in the secular theatre world (it is, I've come to realize, a sinful sinful sinful world. Surely not what God intended for it... and God, who used so many parables, must have had wonderful plans for 'storytelling' (theatre)... but it would take a stronger person than me to live for the Lord in that sector of the world). All things work together for good though and this was no exception."

These days, Elise lives with her mom and younger siblings -- playing a great role as an outstanding big sis! She is hoping and saving to go back to school, perhaps to BJU and study in a different field. I just love Elise's transparency and openness! She has a vibrant walk with Christ that is a huge encouragement to me. When I asked her to tell me unique ways God has blessed her, she answered "He has sought me: Luke 15: 4-7. Over and over again, I rebelled against God but he never stopped burdening my heart. I am so thankful that he asks us to know him and believe on him by faith. I am so glad he strengthens us in our afflictions. I am so awed by his mercy and his promises."

Elise also frankly and openly shared with me about her struggle with eating disorders. Her fight has come through counting the words of Scripture as true, dependence on God's grace and attacking the sin (she was pointed in telling me that it was not a sickness!). I think Elise is a beautiful girl who has an amazing story to tell, and will continue to bless those in her path her whole life long. She will make an amazing wife for some lucky guy, as well as a mentor for girls who are walking the same path she has walked.

Don't you love my gorgeous cousin?? My life is richer because of her!

He's BAAAAaaaaaaaaack!

Check out what the Fullers sent me in the mail! Now I have a lovely new water bottle AND I get to live close to Paul and Audrea! WOW. Sounds like a great deal to me! Check out their most recent post to hear about their plans to pack it up in Minnesota and come to the sunny warm climate of Louisville (yeah, right! It's freezing here, too!).

I guess the other one is for Josh. Not sure how he feels about that. :)

Thoughts on Getting Married

Several of you indicated that I'd piqued your interest in this book I just finished by Candice Watters -- Get Married, What Women Can Do to Help It Happen. I thought it only just to come right back and post about it now that I have finished it off (and before I hand it off to my single friends for their reviews).

I must say, I have to appreciate the counter-cultural message that Watters daringly proposes. She lays the groundwork in her book by removing misconceptions about marriage, and replacing those misconceptions with biblical thinking. These were misconceptions that she herself held as a single woman, working on Capitol Hill to stand up for the rights of families in the country. Deep down, she wanted to be married, but she was repressing that desire, and praying faithlessly about it. Watters points out how the church has adopted society's view of single women, and no longer is a safe zone for single women to talk freely about their hopes and dreams. She pointed out some typical quips that married people use to "comfort" single women, such as pointing out the flaws of marriage (as if that is some sort of comfort), joking about freedom, etc. Her point is clear -- there is absolutely nothing wrong with a godly desire to be married. Furthermore, those desires should be honored by the church, by providing a community in which such a desire might be freely spoken of. Watters challenges single women to talk about their desire to be married without shame! Certainly, it is easier to say nothing and never fail in the eyes of others, right?

Watters provides some practical helps to women who wish to be married. She asks them to take stock of their lives to see if they are living as if they were intending to marry (I got a little tripped up on this one, but I think I got it now). I reflected on her point here, and applied it to my situation -- wishing to be a mother someday. It's true I wish it, but I really don't live like I'm planning on it. In preparation for marriage, Watters recommends digging into a multi-age community in a church, practicing good stewardship with your time and resources, refraining from sexual activity as "good seed" to sow. Watters says "Many women sow bad seed, then pray for good fruit. It's like spending time with friends instead of studying for a test and then asking God to help you pass."

I also liked her honesty about challenging commonly-held over-romanticized ideas of marriage. She dispels the "soul mate" myth (made popular by Kip and LeFawnda, no doubt), and points to false expectations we might dream up by reading too much Christian fiction! I had to laugh when she said "Living up to your wildest romantic fantasies, being your lifelong soul mate, anticipating all your deepest longings and desires, and feeling with you as deeply as Oprah does, well, that's a tall order for someone designed by God to be a husband." Watters presses single women to think about their expectations for a man through the lens of scripture -- what does scripture call men to be? Certainly don't lower our standards, but realign them.

I do commend this book both to single women who hope to be married someday, as well as those married women who have single friends, or work in a singles ministry. I think Watters does a great job instructing the reader to be content, patient, godly and wise, while at the same time bringing this message of hope to those who have been told for so long that their hope is foolish.

On Marriage

I'm reading this hot-off-the-press new book. I grabbed it from the freebie box that came for our academic buyer because the title astonished me, and he told me I could have it. It's called Get Married: What Women Can Do to Help It Happen.

I was appalled. I still haven't quite recovered. And I am not alone in feeling so. Every girl who has seen this book lying on our desk at home has been like "What in the world is THAT book?". Now that I am halfway through the book, I see that this was the author's intention. Shock us into curiosity. She is not stupid.

At this point, I am withholding my final judgment on its contents, but I am quite provoked in my thoughts about marriage. I am seeing how I have viewed marriage incorrectly, and in my encouragement to my single girlfriends, I have held up a somewhat distorted or incomplete view of marriage. If nothing else, this book is causing me to take a step back and think about what I say to my single friends, how I talk about my marriage and how I talk about their singleness!

In the garden, Adam was in perfect harmony in his relationship with the Creator, yet God said it was not good for him to be alone. Wow. That means statements like "Marriage won't fulfill your loneliness, only God can do that" are sort of stupid. No kidding. No relationship is as fulfilling as your relationship with God -- but does that mean we chuck them?? Obviously not! We don't need friends, parents, siblings, churches, pastors because we have God? NO! God gives those good relationships to us. And he gives spouses to us, too.

I know this is not for everybody. I do believe I have met people who truly have been called to be single. But that can be a sort of cop-out for people who don't want to admit they want to get married, in case they fail (ooooh, I'm treading on rocky ground here, I know!). I know this because I was one of those people! I pretty much put up a wall and said "I'll be single, I don't want to be married" when what I wanted was a guy who liked ME and wasn't scared of ME.

I'll be back with a conclusion of the matter after I polish this book off. In the mean time, I want to really open my mind to biblical thinking on marriage. I am so thankful for my marriage! In a world where jokes about sex, divorce, stupid husbands, etc., abound, I want to say, in all sincerity, that my husband has been the largest gift of grace to me after my salvation. God gave me someone who wasn't intimidated by my strong personality, but didn't want to stamp it out, either. Josh has been my spiritual guidance in many areas, and my teammate in many others. I am so glad God matched me with him!

Here's a little Shakespeare to conclude with:

"God, the best maker of all marriages,
combine your hearts in one".
~Henry V

A Quote for the Day

"A little library, growing every year, is an honorable part of a man's history. It is a man's duty to have books. A library is not a luxury, but one of the necessaries of life. Be certain that your house is adequately and properly furnished -- with books rather than with furniture. Both if you can, but books at any rate."

~Henry Ward Beecher

Where's Water Bottle?

In response to your gracious and kind consolation over the loss of my dear Water Bottle, I have prepared a bit of a photo montage. I was amazed at how many pictures he managed to sneak into. Ha ha! So please play, if you can -- "Where's Water Bottle"?

Water Bottle, R.I.P.

Two years ago, at Camp OUTT '06, Marcie Wright donated a large number of huge water bottles to a group of hot, thirsty campers and grown-ups. Christen Taylor and I each snagged one for our own use, since the bottles held more than the daily water needed by a person. Christen would fill hers up at the end of the day and leave it in the freezer at Camp OUTT over night so it would be ice cold all day the next day. I was unwilling to part with mine for so long. Some days I would easily drink 2 bottle's worth. Even after Camp OUTT ended, Water Bottle has been my faithful friend. Much like "Mary's Little Lamb", everywhere I went, the Water Bottle was sure to go.

To work, to church (at least for the ride in the car), on every shopping venture, of course. I lugged him along with me. And lugged was precisely the word for it. This bottle held 76 oz. of good old H2O. Water Bottle made his way to Word of Life camp in New York, to the Night of Magic in Danville, and of course, to live with us in Louisville. (See below holding down the corner of the blanket in Downtown Danville)

Somewhere along the line, though, things began to go wrong with Water Bottle. Perhaps because I dropped him so many times (he got slippery when condensation formed), or because he'd endured the elements so much, Water Bottle got a teeny-tiny crack in one corner. If he was only half full, it made no difference whatsoever, but most of the time he was dripping, dripping, forming a slow circle of water around him, soaking the carpet, the chair, the floor of the car. I wished it wouldn't happen, but most of the time it was still okay. It just meant I had to stow him under my desk where the carpet could take a bit of a soaking, rather than my desktop where he tended to drench my important paperwork.

Josh had something against Water Bottle. It was like a married couple who does not agree on the treatment of a pet (like Anna and Bob with Rogue). He didn't see why Water Bottle needed to go everywhere with us ("I get thirsty" -- the obvious reply. I'm a drinker. I love beverages). Josh disliked Water Bottle's loud breathing (he tended to let out a huge sigh of air when I finished drinking a long drink) and slow whine (when air was squeaking out of the nozzle). He really disliked Water Bottle rolling around the backseat of the car (he was much too big to just hold on your lap). Josh consistently pointed out the slow demise of Water Bottle, which made me more aware that his days were numbered.

And then I did it. I left Water Bottle at my in-laws at Christmas. Yep. That means I have been without him for all these weeks, just drinking from cups. I actually bought a couple of Desanis at work the other day because I couldn't take it.

I think this means Water Bottle's life is over. I am saying goodbye. Here are some things I will really miss:

1. Constant jokes about Water Bottle. I heard some pretty good ones. One time I was at a picnic and a person thought my bottle was the jug for everyone and began pouring out of the mouthpiece into a cup. I was laughing so hard I couldn't stop them (it was a stranger)! Mrs. Schreiner used to say "Gretchen brought the water for everyone!" When Stuart (at work) used to refill the water cooler, he would walk around with the empty jug and say "I just wanted a water bottle like Gretchen's."

2. Complements about Water Bottle. Sometimes these were tied to jokes, and often came from women. At my fitness class, women would gaze admiringly and say "Wow! Do you drink a whole one of those every day?"

3. The really great little flippy cap that covered up the mouthpiece. I cannot believe I never lost it in the time and travels I spent with Water Bottle. Christen's did not have that little cap, so I knew mine was very special. It was so great for keeping the mouthpiece clean! Kids were constantly touching the little cap of the water bottle and saying "Miss Gretchen, your water is so big!" and I was thinking all the time how glad I was that their little fingers were only on the cap!

It is the end of a chapter in my life. Farewell, Water Bottle. I shall never forget you. In fact, I will now be on the outlook for your successor.

Will you raise a glass of H2O to my dear departed friend?

What You Told Me to Read

I was quite happy with the response I got from you all -- telling me what to read. I have been snapping up some of these left and right, and am still on the hunt for others (Julie, you may be getting another order). I thought I'd publish the suggested list here, in case you are like me, and have gone back to check and recheck what had been recommended. Here they are in the order they were given to me:

1. My cousin Rebecca: The Negotiator by Dee Henderson

2. Sarah Caucutt: Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets Them Free by Nancy Lee DeMoss

3. Beth Bloom: The Marquis' Secret by George MacDonald (I am very excited about this one, but I have to read The Fisherman's Lady first -- I have it mooched off BookMooch!)

4. Rachel Amunrud: The Robe by Lloyd Douglas -- I was in this play in college! Can I borrow yours, Rach?

5. My sister, Emily: "The Darling" by Anton Chekov -- a short story I found in this collection (Em, you probably don't remember, but we read "The New England Nun" way back in Social Studies Club!

6. Brittany Powell: Four Perfect Pebbles by Lila Perl -- I've got this one on the way from BookMooch, too.

7. Bookpress: The Means of Escape by Penelope Fitzgerald (by the way,
thanks for the D.C. offer -- we just may have to take you up on that!)

8. My Cousin Elise: Doing Things Right in Matters of the Heart by John Ensor (Mega Dittos! This is a good one!) and also Emily Ever After by May Vanderbilt and Anne Dayton (breaking the rules on suggesting 2, but oh well.)

9. Donette Winterland: Body Piercing Saved My Life: Inside the Phenomenon of Christian Rock by Andrew Beaujon

10. My Cousin Paul: The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence

11. Rachel (Todd, I believe? My cousin?): Be a People Person by John Maxwell

12. Morning Rose: Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham

13. Rachel Wind: The Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson

14. Andrea C.: Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

15. Jen Murray: The Miracle of Christmas by John MacArthur -- um, Jen, did you know you were recommending the world's hardest book to find? Apparently your little copy is rather valuable!

16. G-Knee Wetzel: The Fruit of Her Hands by Nancy Wilson

17. My Cousin Corrie: The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom -- Major dittos to you! Another one of my favorites!

Thanks for all the contributions, guys! I will be curling up with a book all weekend -- just where I want to be!

New Blog!

Dear friends and fellow readers,

I am so excited to introduce a new blog to which I am contributing -- "The Blue Kangaroo". I set this blog up for my former boss, Julie, who is the owner of the world's cutest bookstore, Blue Kangaroo Books. If you live anywhere near Danville, Illinois, or even travel through those parts from time to time, then you will want to discover this gem! Julie and her staff are friendly, bubbly, and ready to bend over backwards to give you excellent customer service. Jules loves to read, so I thought this blog would be a great outlet for her to write about her own favorite books, as well as trumpet exciting events at the store, advertise sales, interview club members, post pictures, and poll readers.

Right now, we are planning to post every couple days or so. Please stop by the new blog and tell Julie "hi". And if you're in town -- stop by the store to meet Julie in person!

Tell Me What to Read

It's your turn! I'm always telling all of you what I've read and what you simply must read . . . and now I'm turning the tables. You tell me!

I'm making out a list of what I want to read this year. Nothing is set in stone, obviously, but I still have plenty of room for recommendations. No matter the genre, what do you recommend? Here are the rules:

1. You have to already have read it.

2. You can only recommend one book. Clearly, it doesn't have to be the best book of all time, but give me something you really enjoyed, and want me to try.

3. If I pick yours, and write a review of it, I'll give you the credit.

Leave me a comment and tell me what to read!

A Word on Reading Goals

Last Year, 2006, I completed an exciting reading goal -- 100 new books. This year, I accomplished a different reading goal -- something I've never done before -- I read through the Bible in a year. I have read through the whole Bible before, but never consecutively, and all in one year's time. My fear was that I would read as quickly as I could so that I could just check it off my list, which of course, is a temptation. But I found my time sitting at Jesus' feet quite precious, and often I would slowly read the passages, and take time to meditate on them, and record my reflections in my journal.

For 2008, I am going to read through the Bible again, this time using the M'Cheyne Bible Reading Chart and use For the Love of God by D.A. Carson as a companion for the daily readings. Each calendar date is assigned 4 Old and New Testament passages to read, as well as a devotional that corresponds with one of the passages. I am excited about a new adventure in God's Word! Reading through the whole Bible has helped me to see the whole council of God, and to better understand the big picture.

May I encourage you to have a reading goal? I loathe to call it a "New Year's Resolution" -- aren't those made just to be broken? And even if they are kept, isn't it likely that we are the ones who get the credit ("I kept a resolution -- aren't I good at bettering myself!?)? But it is wise to take account of your days, to look down the year, and to make a plan. Here are some tips on making a reading goal -- a Bible reading goal or otherwise:

1. Don't aim low just so you know you can attain it. I just cringe when I see things like this, which just seems to communicate "I'm doing the absolute least I can". Why not aim high? Even if you fall a bit short, you will likely read quite a bit more than if you had not aimed at all.

2. Look through the books you know you want to read, and plot them out for the year. I make lists in a notebook. That way, if there is something I really want to read, but I know I won't have time quite yet, I plan to read it next month, or two months from now. I enjoy reading seasonally (for instance, about the Passover near Easter), so I plan to read that in March or April. I know I'd forget about many books if I did not keep my lists!

3. Do take recommendations. Sometimes I feel like "I can't take any more recommendations! I have too much to read already!" You can always add those recommendations to your list, and try them later.

4. Stay balanced with variety. Sometimes I get on kicks with certain authors or subjects, but I try to have a mix of fiction and non-fiction, books that will encourage my Christian growth, and books for fun, long books and shorter ones. It's good to plan this out, as well.

Happy reading!

BookMooch

It's that time of year for cleaning out the shelves and cupboards to make room for new Christmas items. If you're like me, the somewhat topsy-turvy condition of the house makes you go nuts after just a couple days, perhaps you'll be thrilled with this option for cleaning out your bookshelves -- BookMooch.

I did a little test run on this site so that I could give a good report on how it works, and I've been pretty happy, overall. Once you join, you create an inventory of the titles you are willing to give away (prepare yourself for a great relief -- getting rid of stuff!). Making an inventory is super fast, just type in the ISBN and it will pull up all the info for you, including an image of the cover. You get 1 point for every 10 books you list. The night I made my inventory, I instantly had 3 or so points to spend (every book costs one point). Before the day was over, another 12 points had been added to my total, because I had so many people mooch my books. Now, I had to send out all those books to whoever mooched them from me, but using media mail, the cost was not too much, and since the books are free, you don't need to worry about fancy packing material. I used quite a few of my points to mooch books I wanted from other people (it's super easy to search -- by title, author, ISBN). I've gotten books from the United Kingdom, Finland, all over! (Check out the Finnish newspaper that was wrapped around my book!)

Some of you undoubtedly do E-Bay or Amazon, and that's cool, but I've been burned by both of those before. BookMooch is nice because it's free, so the pressure is off, somewhat. And you feel like you are actually getting your books into the hands of people who really want them (for instance, I've sent out Josh's old textbooks, and academic books neither of us will ever read). In return you get the exact books you want right now -- and when you're reading them, they somehow doesn't seem to take up as much room on the shelf.

Christmas with the Neislers

A cozy Christmas in the new living room furniture

This is how many times Kari won at Bingo . . .

This is how many times I won at Bingo (I shared my prizes with Josh)

At church with Laura, Max and Kari


Baby Santa (Max) was awfully tired after delivering gifts all night.

Christmas with the Benzings

Smithers in her cute footy pajamas!

All my sisters, sister-in-law and neice!

Merry Christmas from Josh and Gret

May the richness of Christ be your greatest joy!
Merry Christmas!

Scenes of the Season

We've been enjoying our Christmas here in Louisville. It is a cozy Christmas in our little apartment here on campus. I wasn't able to pull out all the stops with decorating like I have in the past (my sister Anna has huge totes full of Christmas decorations in her basement that I didn't use), but a bit of candles here and some lovely music there have been making us feel quite festive in Fuller 2__. I set up this table to be my wrapping station and then enjoyed an evening wrapping and enjoying this gift from the GirlTalk gang. Let me encourage you to do the same! May your joy be full as you contemplate the incarnation.

Sunday night, Josh and I spent a lovely evening caroling in a large group of 40 adults and children around the Crescent Hill neighborhood. My friend Tara Beth, whose husband is an elder at our church, had been wanting to host a caroling party like this, because they used to do that when they were at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington D.C. Following that format, 5 small groups from Clifton joined together and tramped about belting out the gospel in song and leaving a letter with a "For Your Joy" tract at each house. It truly was some of the greatest fun I've had in a good long time. It was chilly, but so truly fun to make merry with one's brothers and sisters in Christ. Forever in my mind is the memory of the children and grown-ups singing with mouths wide open, noses red, hearts full of cheer. Afterward, we went back to the Townsends and feasted and chatted. It was a noisy, clamoring mix of old and young, lots of hot drinks and good snacks. I know it was a bit of effort on Tara Beth's part (side note: I arrived an hour early to help her get ready and found the house in darkness. Taking naps perhaps? No, no. Power out. Trays of cold pigs-in-a-blanket sat on the countertop waiting to be baked. Poor Townsends! Nothing could dampen their spirits, however, and we cheerfully pressed on by candlelight, hopes high that the power would return. It did, of course, with plenty of time to spare before the party.), but I trust that the Lord used our merriment to further His kingdom in our neighborhood.

(Sidenote #2 -- this is a very cute child at our church that I LOVE). I talked to it all night as much as I could.

The Night of the Giver

My cousin Elizabeth and her husband Paul have an original and intriguing tradition they've observed for the past 11 Christmases, which I asked if I could share here as a part of my series on the Benzing family. I also thought it would be a timely post for parents who might be concerned about the greed they see in their children at Christmas (it's there all year, right? Just more obvious now!). They came up with The Night of the Giver for 2 reasons: "First, we wanted to exalt Christ and give him the spotlight on Christmas morning. Second, we wanted our children to learn the joy of giving and to practically experience the joy of giving."

The Dziadul family has 5 children, so they celebrate for 7 nights -- each family member getting their own night to be "the giver". When it is your night to be the giver, you plan and pay for the activities for your family and give your gifts, while receiving nothing yourself except the joy of giving. Sometimes they go out to eat, to a movie, ice skating, caroling to shut-ins -- whatever the giver plans on his or her night.

Paul and Elizabeth give out their gifts on their nights as well, and Christmas morning is the time to consider Christ's great gift to us. They "sit around the tree, read the Advent account in scripture, sing carols & thank God for his indescribable gift in Christ."

How does that strike you? Perhaps this idea could be adapted and embraced with your family!

Benzing Art

My first feature on the Benzing family is my cousin Geoff Benzing. He's an artist, a very good one, I might add, whose art you can view, and even buy here. I'm not an artist, but I love art! I was so thrilled when Geoff's sister Corrie (who I saw this week at Grandma's funeral) told me about BenzingArt where I could look at Geoff's works. I'm a big fan. I especially love his watercolor works like this one on the right, and his acrylics and oils, like the owl at the bottom (I love owls!). His site has contact information if you are interested in purchasing his work.

When we were little, Geoff had cancer. In fact, most of my childhood included praying for Geoff every time we prayed. My uncle Gene, Geoff's dad, died of cancer when I was a little girl, so praying for Geoff was very important to us. Uncle Gene was my dad's younger brother and best friend. I remember him as a funny uncle who used to pretend my ponytails were motorcycle handlebars (a game I've often played since with little girls).

Geoff has been in remission for 17 years, which is amazing. As a child, I often thought of his healing when I heard people speak about God answering prayers. I don't know that there is anyone else I've more consistently prayed for for healing! Maybe as you look at Geoff's artwork, you will consider praying for someone in your life that you feel like you've been praying for a long time.

ETS Sale

Let me take a pause here and put on my bookstore sales-girl hat and announce a surprise sale at the bookstore where I work:

Today we got in 2 pallets of books leftover from the Evangelical Theological Society which met in San Diego last month. The books are all at least 50% off, and all from Crossway or Banner of Truth, mainly academic books, commentaries, Puritan works, but also a load of ESV Bibles and John Piper books.

Just in time for Christmas! If you live around here, the sale starts tomorrow (as soon as we unpack everything -- which we will probably still be doing as we open). If not, I'd be happy to take phone orders from faraway friends like I did for the Jesus Storybook Bible. You can find the bookstore's phone # on the SBTS website.

I wish I could give you a list of the inventory but it would be ridiculously long. I will point out a couple things of note that you might like -- but quantities are very limited, so let me know ASAP if you want me to pull something for you! Then you can call the store at your convenience!

1. The Gospel and Personal Evangelism by Mark Dever only $4.97

2. ESV Journaling Bibles -- prices vary, but about 50% off each (this plum one is pretty, I think)

3. Several Audio Books like this one starting at $5.97 (This one is only $16.97 )

4. The newest book from Desiring God conference

5. The Children's ESV Bible for $11.97

6. This wonderful book by Susannah Spurgeon which I got last year at the ETS sale (not sure the price, but it is a little paperback -- probably around $5)

Merry Christmas!

Up the Sunbeam to the Sun

Yesterday at Grandma's funeral, I was thinking:

I am so blessed. This is true. So blessed to be surrounded by believing family, joining together in song, scripture and worship -- the tie that binds us being Christ, not just Grandma. So blessed to know where Grandma is, and that Grandpa is well taken care of (by his family, and His heavenly Father). So blessed to talk with fascinating people who are related to me: even though I hardly know them, I can love them easily. *

And that is just one moment -- one day. Heap upon that days and days of blessing, provision, good gifts, kind words, precious people, plentiful food, friends, fun. We are so blessed. A warm cup of tea and a good book ought to be enough to keep you singing all day long, and that just a tiny drop of water in the ocean.

How do I respond to all these blessings? Consider this from C.S. Lewis:

“Pleasures are shafts of glory as it strikes our sensibility….I have tried…to make every pleasure into a channel of adoration. I don’t mean simply by giving thanks for it. One must of course give thanks, but I meant something different…Gratitude exclaims, very properly, ‘How good of God to give me this.’ Adoration says, ‘What must be the quality of that Being whose far-off and momentary coruscations are like this!’ One’s mind runs back up the sunbeam to the sun….If this is Hedonism, it is also a somewhat arduous discipline. But it is worth some labour.” (as quoted in, When I Don’t Desire God, by John Piper).

Chew on that this Christmas season. More than just gratitude. And while you're chewing, check out these outstanding and practical suggestions for focusing on Christ at Christmas.


*In light of "rediscovering" some of my family members, I decided to do a series of posts in which I'll focus on or interview a member of the large, wide-spread Benzing family.

In Grandma's Honor

Thank you all for your kind and encouraging words concerning my Grandma's passing. Josh and I are taking off for her funeral in Cincinnati tomorrow. Please pray that God will be our portion, and Christ will continue to be more sweet and precious than ever. I am looking forward to seeing an assembly of the large Benzing family -- please pray that we will be a great source of encouragement. It is amazing how much more dear Christ has been to me this week. Any thought of Him -- His incarnation, atonement, resurrection, etc. -- has nearly brought me to tears. In a way, as sad as I have been, it has been a sort of holy week for me, meditating on the goodness of God.

Here are a few links and words in honor of my grandma:

• Her Obituary

• Josh's post

• My Cousin Rebecca's post

• My Cousin Elizabeth's post

• My Cousin Elise's fine words: "I am always in awe to be part of this family. God is so merciful, so gracious, and has blessed so abundantly. ... it thrills me to sit and think of my Grandmother in Heaven, even as I cry and recognize how time has passed and everyone - my own parents, myself - has gotten older. But to think! Heaven!"

• The incredible words of C.S. Lewis at the conclusion of The Last Battle:

"Have you not guessed?" said Aslan.

Their hearts leaped and a wild hope rose within them.

"There was a real railway accident," said Aslan softly. "Your father and mother and all of you are -- as you used to call it in the Shadowlands -- dead. The term is over: the holidays have begun. The dream is ended: this is the morning."

And as he spoke, He no longer looked to them like a lion; but the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us this is the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. Al their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on forever: in which every chapter is better than the one before."

Anna Mae

My grandma, Anna Mae Benzing, passed away this evening. I had been waiting several days to hear it was so, as she had been suffering from poor health for quite some time, and just recently she was worse. I know I am so blessed to live 29 1/2 years with all 4 grandparents still living in their own homes quite the same as they had all during my childhood.

Grandma is my dad's mom, and he is the middle of 9 children. The Benzing family is huge. All my aunts and uncles have children, and some of them quite a lot of children, some of which have children as well (understandably, there are several cousins named Anna, including my sister). The last time I saw the majority of these family members was at my cousin Sarah's wedding in 2004 which coincided with my grandparent's 65th wedding anniversary. It was amazing to see all these people, some of whom I knew dearly while others were perfect strangers -- strangers that looked alike and amazingly had a great deal in common. This is my grandma's legacy. True, life was not easy for her and my grandfather with their 9 children, but the Biblical instruction that they invested in those children has multiplied a great deal more than 9-fold. The overwhelming majority of people in the extended Benzing family are believers. What a common bond! We share Christ! How blessed we are!

These past days I've been rather sad, thinking and remembering my grandma. I always remember how glamorous she was, usually decked out with sequins or sparkles when the family gathered for Christmas eve. She was such a fun and funny grandma, whose sense of humor could rival any gathered there (which is saying a great deal, if you've ever been in the presence of my dad/cousins/aunts and uncles). I remember talking to her as a young adult and her telling me how proud she was of me, and encouraging me to serve Christ.

My dad told me that she passed peacefully, like falling asleep and not waking up. That is a comforting thought, of course. But even more comforting is the thrill in my soul when I think of her as I Corinthians 13 tells us "face to face" . . . with Christ. There is hope in the gospel, my dear, big wild and crazy Benzing family! There is precious hope! The hope of someday and eternity, "being an ingredient in the Divine Happiness" and receiving the crushing "weight of glory" from Christ Himself!