A Definite Don't-Read

I just read The Lighting Thief by Rick Riordan. Don't let your kids read it. It's a wanna-be Harry Potter book, but far more dangerous. For example, the main character gives burnt sacrifices to Greek gods and prays to Poseidon as "Father" (supposedly because Poseidon is his biological father, but still not good). The writing is just fine and the author is imaginative, but the storyline is dangerous for kids who are not emotionally and spiritually mature enough yet.

A Definite Must-Read

This term, I'm taking a class called "Books, Children and God." I get to read a lot of children's classics in chapter books, picture books, fairy tales, and poetry. Then, I also get to read some books that I have never heard of. Since they are children's books, I easily breeze through most of them with little thought (except when having to write about or discuss them). But, today, I read one that really struck me.

This short chapter book is called What Child Is This? by Caroline B. Cooney. It has been a long time since I've read a book that caused me to have an emotional pit in my stomach. It has been a long time since I've read a book that made me cry. It has been a long time since I've read a book that caused a paradigm shift in my perspective on life and people. But this book did all those things. I highly recommend it. It's a great book to read aloud or quietly... for children and for adults. For a little preview, here is what's on the back cover:

Katie, a foster child, wants only one thing for Christmas: a family. Who can bring such an immense gift? There are no wise men coming from the East. There are no shepherds watching in the fields. But there is Matt Morden, age sixteen, who believes he is doing a good deed. There is Liz Kitchell, also sixteen, whose family decorates and celebrates but leaves Liz wondering where the meaning of the holiday has gone. There are Mr. Knight and his son, Tack, who run an inn and put up a tree on which children's wishes will hang, waiting to be granted.

It's the season of joy, hope, and miracles. Is the Christmas spirit strong enough to bring about the impossible?

Here are some things I pondered while reading the book. (If or when you read this book, please let me know other things you pondered.)

• I have so much. How can I give more?
• Maybe it's okay that kids in the Angel Tree Project have asked for expensive things after all.
• How does my church impact the community... the world?
• What does it truly mean to know God? How should this be reflected in my life?
  
• Maybe that odd guy in high school has more to his story... maybe I should have taken the time and energy to find out.

I don't know if this book in available at your typical Borders or Chapters. I had to specially order it from Vancouver Kidsbooks.

Occasional Updates

Please note that I occasionally update my blog posts below the original entries. Therefore, if you want to, you can scroll back and sometimes find updates.

Value in Fiction

Last week at church, the speaker told a heart-wrenching 9/11 story. Some of the college students in the congregation looked up the story on the internet and found out it was actually an urban legend. Today, our pastor used this example to emphasize the importance of distinguishing truth and lies.

As he preached today, I thought about the story. It was indeed a moving story, but the "facts" were not facts at all. However, the lesson behind the story did not lose its value because the story was fiction. After all, don't we read fables, fairy tales and parables? Although they are works of fiction, they have true lessons to be applied in our real lives.

Therefore, I think it would be unwise for us to throw the baby out with the bath water anytime we realize that someone has told us something false (whether intentionally or unintentionally). Instead, we should determine whether or not there is any lesson we can learn from it. Then, we can discard the untruth, but we can still learn.

In no way am I condoning lies or the intentional retelling of urban legends, but I believe that if we completely throw away the morals/lessons along with the untruths we hear, we lose out on the opportunity God gives us to become better people.

Vote for the Cutest Baby!

This is a plea for everyone to vote for my friend's baby as Calgary's Cutest Baby. Please!!!!! I can't reveal his name (for privacy purposes), but he is soooo cute.

1. Go on this site: http://vibemorningshow.com/gallery.html?page=36#thumb
2. Vote for #1815. He is the baby with Curious George, the monkey next to him. (Please note that the number might change, though.)
   
3. You can vote once per day on each IP Address until November 20th.

Thanks!

Updated on November 23, 2008: He didn't win.

What are the Chances?!?!

Back in May 2007, I wrote an entry entitled What are the Chances?!?! It was a story about a weird coincidence. I think I will call these "WATCh" stories. You've already read WATCh #1. Here are #2 and #3.


WATCh #2

A few weeks ago I went to a local dollar store by my home to buy toothpicks for baking. I hate walking into dollar stores when I'm specifically looking for one thing. The aisles are narrow and and cluttered with loads of knick-knacks. It's hard to find anything because of all the sensory overload. It's not uncommon to walk out buying a load of things, but not what you went there to buy in the first place.

Anyway, I mentally prepared myself this time. I just kept repeating "toothpicks, toothpicks, toothpicks" in my head. When I started heading down the aisle of kitchen stuff, there was a girl standing there holding a load of things—everything from gift bags to an ice cream scooper. She looked like she had been in the store for at least an hour. So, my theory was that if she had been in there long enough to pick out so many items, she may have come across the toothpicks at some point in time.

So, I kindly asked her if she had seen the toothpicks by any chance. She started laughing and said that she had walked into the store intending to buy toothpicks too, but ended up picking up all this other stuff, and that she had not seen the toothpicks at all. (She evidently did not mentally prepare herself like I did.) We both then started looking for the toothpicks. What are the chances that we would both be looking for toothpicks?!?!

Lo, and behold, she found the toothpicks!

Unfortunately, though, there was only one container. I thought to myself, "What are the chances that there would only be one container of toothpicks when there are two of us looking for them?!?!" But then, I realized that she must not need all 200 toothpicks that were in the container, so I asked to buy just 10 of them from her. She kindly refused my money and gave me some of the toothpicks. She gave me 27 of them.


WATCh #3

I had a research paper due at noon today. The professor wanted the paper emailed to him. I woke up very early this morning to work on it. At 11:45AM, I finally conceded and decided to email it to him. I logged online and upload the document onto Gmail.

Just as I was about click on "Send," the electricity went out. What are the chances?!?! Since I use the wi-fi from my landlords, no electricity equals no internet access. Unlike most Vancouver days, there was no rain or storm outside, so I thought the electricity would be back on at anytime. I waited patiently.

Finally at 11:55AM, I realized that I could wait no longer. I quickly threw on some street clothes (which is no easy task in a dark basement). I practically ran to the nearest coffee shop, but there was no electricity there either. By this time, it was well past noon. Since I was out of the house and my paper was already late, I decided to just head to school and send it there. As I was waiting for the bus, I realized that the bakery by the bus stop had free wi-fi and it was actually working.

So, I finally emailed my paper in at 12:52PM. Now, it's just a waiting game to see if my professor deducts any point for my tardiness. I explained why it was late in an email, but if I were him, I'm not sure I would believe it. What are the chances?!?!

Added on Monday, November 18, 2008: No penalty! Praise God.

Rights, Privileges, Religion, Morality

See this article... it really struck me. As an event planner, am I allowed to refuse services for same-sex celebrations?

Gay Rights, Religious Liberties: A Three-Act Story