Smack-Dab in this Review.

I received a copy of Brennan Manning and John Blase's book for children titled Smack-Dab in the Middle of God's Love from Thomas Nelson's BookSneeze blogger review program.

Upon first glance, it's nothing special, just what you'd expect from your average children's book, lots of pictures and a few words.

I like the point that Manning and Blase try to make for the kids, but I'm not sure it's suitable for all ages. What I mean is, my daughter's are 4-years-old, and while they were very excited to have a new book and asked me to read it to them over and over again at first, I'm not sure they really understood the point.

I know they enjoyed the story, and of course they liked looking through the pictures. I just don't think it spoke to them yet at this age, and that could be because it's a bit vague for the average 4-year-old.

All that being said, I think this is a pretty fair effort in trying to convey the message of God's love in a way that slightly older children, I'm thinking maybe even 6 or 7, can appreciate. However, if your children are younger than 5, or you have a problem with an evangelistic message, this book is not for you.

Whew...too long!!

Wow, I don't know what happened here. I've been so sidetracked by life that I forgot to blog. Is that a blessing or what.

Well, let's see, my birthday kicked ass all the way through. We found out the next week that we're having twins!! Blessing!!! I went up to the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness with 6 other guys over Memorial Day weekend, and while I know my wife missed me, I also know she's glad that I had a good time. Blessing!! A friend of mine who went with, him and I got to do some witnessing for Christ and we even watched one in our group surrender his heart to Christ.

My dad and I really connected on this trip somewhere around the way too. I don't really know how, or why, but we really did connect. It was just cool since we've always had more of an understood type of relationship than a displayed one, but he gave me a big ol' hug in front of all 4 of those other guys and he didn't even blush, and there's the coolest part, he gave me a hug, usually goes the other way.

Well, life is grand, this is probably full of typos and yadda yadda, but oh well, today I don't care, and neither should you, go find whatever's waiting on ya!

That which changes us...

So that's what my kid looks like, wow, that's just gross and wrong isn't it? No wonder God doesn't let 'em come out looking that way, none of them would leave the hospitals.

John Welwood said "The most powerful agent of growth and transformation is something much more basic than any technique: a change of heart. "

Let me just say to all those macho types out there, this will change your heart. My kid is only in his fifth week of developing into a human and I've already experienced changes within myself that anyone who knows me would tell you are a big deal.

Just this past weekend alone I cooked like three times, and I actually vacuumed, did the dishes and cleaned up the laundry room. And guess what? I still had time to do some manly stuff like burn myself with a soldering iron while I was trying to fix a guitar tuner. Isn't that awesome (my finger still stings, damn those things get hot).

I don't know, I'm just in a different place with my perspective, I care even more about what my wife thinks of certain plan and ideas that I have and I really want her input more than ever before. I mean, I always valued her opinion, but now it's like I need it before I can proceed.

It's great, the well wishes and everything. Everyone makes it sound so exciting.

And then there's that part of you that's worried that you won't have a clue what to do with this little person once they actually exist. I mean I know what I'll name her once she's here. But that seems to be all I know beyond the obvious functions that every human must perform.

Thankfully I have found an awesome book that was written by a guy who has my wonderful sense of humor. Through that I've been able to learn a few good things, hopefully more will come before I am finished reading.

I never thought that I would feel so completely up in the air about anything in my life, but then again "It is a bad plan that admits of no modification." Or at least, that's what Publilius Syrus said back in the first century B.C. Good thing my plan with my wife did admit modification, in case you're wondering, that means, "allow change."

change gives us branches ~Pauline R. Kezer

I am excited and nervous in a hundred different ways right now, but that's okay, I shouldn't know everything. I've never done this from start to adulthood before. In fact, I've only had limited practice in a few stages that come right in the middle of the start and adulthood. So here's hopin' I don't screw this kid up too bad, leave him with some good morals, and teach her how to get by without having to constantly scrounge and borrow. If I can do that much, I think I can feel pretty good about it, but hopefully I will do better than just that.


Till next time then...and wish me luck...