Well – happy New Year, friends! I believe I have not posted at all this year…terrible behaviour, yes, yes. Anyhow I felt I should write a few words. Firstly, I was much surprised to find out upon walking outside today that…it is cold again. 46 degrees this morning, which is rather nice for Houston! Very pleasantly surprised. Now of course – inside and enjoying hot coffee and warm hands. Also enjoying a warm soul for…as much as this week hasn’t been notable or exciting or even very fun (that is many work weeks, is it not?), I’m attempting to renew my focus on the Lord and remind myself of how much I have to be thankful for. I am far too blessed and I must needs remember that, because when I do not remind myself of who I am and what I have been given…I tend to wallow in my own self-absorbed introspection and bathe in my own self-pity. No one needs any of that nonsense!
And now I suppose I should log a few of my latest reads. First ones of the new year! I at some point will do a write-up on my reading habits of 2018, but not today. I am a tad bit disappointed that I did not hit 50 books in 2018. Alas. But for 2019…
1. Knowing God by J.I. Packer. This book took me far longer than it should have, but I will confess the first half (two thirds possibly?) of the book did not really draw me in. I will blame that more on myself than the book, but regardless I did finally finish a few days ago, as I sat on the porch of EQ. And I will most certainly say that the last few chapters (especially the final one!) were well worth the price of admission. Packer writes clearly and forcefully and uncompromisingly and it is beautiful. He writes many truths about God that many people (both nowadays and in the past) hesitate to talk about. Wrath of God? Severity of God? Jealousy of God? He touches on all of those. And yes, he also writes about the love and mercy of God. A lot of these topics, I went into thinking “Yes, yes, I know all that.” Possibly to my detriment. But I will say that being reminded and encouraged anew of who God is…this is not a poor use of time. I would say this is a fantastic book for a younger Christian especially – because it does talk about many aspects of God that are not much talked about and introduces the character and glories of God in such a clear, vivid and unapologetic way. And the last chapter – simply glorious. It is almost a mini-treatise on Romans (which is not at all a bad thing!) and especially dives into the beauty and wonder of Romans 8. This chapter, entitled “The Adequacy of God”, really hits home. Do we, as Christians, really live in the truths of knowing who God is? Do we let our fears and doubts consume us? We shouldn’t, and if we believe the truths of the Word and live as such, our fears and doubts will seem as nothing. No matter what else is in this world, what trials or troubles or disappointments or fears beguile us…we are the children of God. There is therefore no condemnation for us who are in Christ Jesus. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. Hold onto those truths. Stare into them. Remember Who we belong to and remember what we have been given. Lovingly grasp the feet of Christ as we think on the fact that we are the beloved of the Father. I most certainly will keep this book on my shelf, just for the opportunity to read the last few chapters when occasion arises.
2. The Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan. Very possibly my favourite Wheel of Time book. And there are 14 of them, so this is quite a claim! But, I do love this book. So many thrilling and heart-pounding moments. Rand’s foray into the Aiel Waste and his forging of bonds with the aforesaid Aiel. The walking through the columns at Rhuidean and seeing the history of the Aiel (even going back to the Age of Legends!! Truly, these two chapters are some of the best chapters of the whole series. A lot of times, a “flashback” or historical sequence can be dry and uninteresting or something that the reader really doesn’t care about. But this one…four books in, our appetite is whetted for these historical vignettes and the writing is simply stunning. Seeing the morphing of the Aiel from who they are to who they were…servants of all indeed. And so many delicious tidbits of history. Four books in, the reader is craving this and Jordan delivers). I did discover my least favourite parts were definitely the Elayne/Nynaeve bits in Tanchico. Every time I came to one of their chapters, I groaned inside. They were still good chapters but…I wanted to get back to Rand. Or Perrin!! And oh yes Perrin. His chapters were by far my favourite. His travails in the Two Rivers…his quest for justice and the defense of his people. Maybe my favourite plot line in the whole series. And of course, Faile. They get married in this book! Their relationship can sometimes be messy, but I love them so. And seeing their fierce love and devotion for each other…beautiful. The wolf and the falcon indeed. Perrin is most likely my favourite character of the series and he stumbles and falls as any of us do…but his unwavering dedication of himself to others is heartening and inspiring. He is introspective and not always the leader he should be. But he stands in the gap. So you may have noticed I used the word “favourite” a lot in this little review. I guess I can’t deny the fact that this is my favourite Wheel of Time book then, eh? What a book. Not sure yet if I’ll go straight to the next book or not (may need a little break from fantasy…) but I am looking forward to it when I do read it. (Even though I’m aware that Perrin is not even in the next book! Tragedy)
Far too many words…but what can I say – that’s my normal is it not? Be at peace this day, dear friends. Peace and love.
An addendum. My mix CD today is a nostalgic blast (and really weird). Early 2011 or so…it starts with Postal Service and proceeds to Snow Patrol to Blindside to Nightwish to Rhapsody to Jars of Clay(!!) to Bourne soundtrack to Lecrae to Keith Green (!!) to Needtobreathe to Ingrid Michaelson to Muse…and that’s where I’m currently at. That mix. Wow. Who even makes a mix like that??? (Apparently 2011-era me) I am an odd soul.
