I often file away interesting tidbits that I come across while meandering (um, wasting time) on the internet. However, life has been incredibly busy as of late, so I’ve not had a chance to post in quite a while. It’s good to be back – Here are a few things I’ve come across lately, that I’ve found interesting or helpful.
The Great American Read
This past Tuesday, PBS started a series that will run throughout the summer, titled “The Great American Read”…and I’m already a huge fan! Each week, the show will focus on a list of 100 novels, and watchers are invited to “vote” for their very books….both online and through social media. In the fall, during the shows finale, the winner of “America’s Best-Loved Novel” will be announced.
Some of my absolute favorites are on the list – Gilead by Marilynne Robinson….The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis….Crime and Punishment, by Dostoevsky…and so many others.
Watch the Launch Special below, and then check the series out here – and VOTE for your favorites! Great American Read
More Airplane Space
I’m a window seat kinda girl when I travel….but maybe you are more of an aisle seat type. If so….here’s a little trick to give you more space in your aisle seat: Give Me Room, People
Amazon Prime Power – 1100 Million Subscribers
I bought into the Amazon Prime craze early – for one thing, I’m typically an early adopter. For another….I had already found Amazon to be reasonably priced and very convenient for my busy life as a single mom.
These days – I struggle with the concept of Amazon, as I see more and more local businesses close up shop, unable to compete. Most notably, we are seeing large and small bookstores going out of business, which definitely makes me sad, and has been causing me to put a bit more thought and effort into frequenting local stores for my consumer needs. But in the same breath…..I continue to go back to Amazon time and time again, making me feel like a hypocrite.
And I imagine I am not the only one.
I found Slate’s recent article about the power that Amazon has with their 100+ Million subscribers….it is just so hard to even fathom that number: That’s a Lot of Power
Using a Printed Bible
A couple of months ago, we took my youngest daughter to freshman orientation at the College at Southeastern Seminary, in Wake Forest. We were thoroughly impressed with the entire weekend..but the highlight was a sermon & a challenge to the incoming students, by their Dean of Student Life.
In his sermon, he urged these young men and women to not rely on electronic forms of scripture, in their smart phones and tablets, but to hold printed scripture in their hands. He then went on to explain that he is very aware that some day his children will hold his..their dad’s…Bible in their hands after he has died, and he wants to leave them with a tangible example of the importance that scripture was to their dad…through the worn cover, the written notes, and the dog-eared pages.
A week or so later, I came across this fantastic article by Tim Challies, who argued nearly the exact same thing….after he had the opportunity to hold and read from Bibles belonging to some incredible men and women of faith – George Muller….Amy Carmichael….William Carey. What an honor, privilege, and moving experience for Mr. Challies, and what a motivator to me, to cherish my printed Bible and look towards the day that it will be in my children’s hands: The Best Argument for Using a Printed Bible
