Books
I’ve read a bunch of books this month; these ones were my favorites:
Rob has been a very important person in my life, so I loved the idea of this book, and it didn’t disappoint. Fascinating look at his life, and his impact on the church. Rob Bell and a New American Christianity I think my favorite section was on something that I always wished he would have talked more about – his time living in the inner-city in Grand Rapids. When that happened, I loved that he was willing to put feet to words, and when it didn’t work out, it would have been great to listen to why and how we’re all called to different forms of living and sacrifice.
“The gospel of denial can begin to affect you in profound ways, like when you are endlessly cutting yourself off…it becomes harder to announce a grace, which is generous and bountiful….God’s love is a lavish over the top gift. And you actually have this conflict with Jesus and his disciples, because that money could be used for the poor, or it could be a demonstration of a God who lavishes us with love. And I think I’ve been at different places at different times in my life. Possessions can be a vehicle for your experiences of the divine; they can also be a barrier.”
I would have loved a sermon series on that.
The Burning Word: A Christian Encounter with Jewish Midrash
Movies
For Greater Glory – this movie was beautiful, and told so accurately. It raised questions about how far do you go to defend your faith. It also revealed, yet again, that America has a pattern of being on the side of the oppressor. That was so disheartening to see. I was also sad to realize that the main player involved, Dwight Morrow, was Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s father, and it was during this time that she met Charles, in Mexico, as they were both there during all of this. I know that she’s not responsible for her father, and that she herself was obviously flawed, but it still kind of tarnished my image of her.
Safety Not Guaranteed – this movie is a perfect indie movie! It is quirky, beautiful, fun, and the ending is freaking awesome.
The Homecoming – this is my favorite Christmas movie. It used to be on tv every year when I was little. The movie was a hit, and so tv people created a series based around this family. You might have heard of it – it was called The Waltons. (Which I’ve never actually seen.) It’s on DVD now, which is nice. When I was growing up, after it was done being on tv, we had to watch a taped-off tv version, and there was about 10 seconds where they had taped over it with a Sandy Patti concert….because they were talking about bosoms, haha.
Princess and the Popstar – All of my kids love the Barbie movies. And I have to say – the music on this one is awesome.
Music
Silent Night by Red Mountain Music
Sufjan Stevens Songs for Christmas
Favorite Christmas Songs
Steven Curtis Chapman – This Baby – I got the cassette of this album when I was probably 11 or 12 and it was one of my favorite albums. I love this song.
Clint Black – Looking for Christmas
Sara Groves – It’s True
Sufjan Stevens – O Come O Come Emmanuel – my absolutely favorite Christmas Hymn – this Patapan version by Mindy Gledhill is gorgeous too.
Rosie Thomas – Christmas Don’t Be Late
MercyMe – Joseph’s Lullaby
Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson – Winter Song
Miscellaneous Neat Things
This looks like a really cool, free design magazine: MOYO
Girl Meets World – yessssssss!!!!!
These are so cool – Periodic Table Building Blocks
Goldieblox – freaking awesome
This has to smell so good. Probably not $50 good, but still. What a cool candle.
My friend has started an organization to fight human trafficking and they really need blog subscribers and Facebook likes to try and get funding. You can win a Kindle! The Canvas Story
This video going around Facebook is amazing.
A volunteer foster family organization – way less red tape and bureaucracy. Incredible!!
Posts I liked enough to share on my personal FB wall
Why Everyone {Except Me} Should Have at Least Four Kids
In Which I Break Up With Martha Stewart
In which I tell you the truth about telling the truth
Top 10 Things Every INFJ Wants You to Know
Advent
I’m really looking forward to Advent this year. I’ve never done Advent before. I’m even going to attend a liturgical church, which is literally in my backyard, so I can go to their service and then go to my regular church. I’m really wanting to form my life and the kids lives more around rituals and practicing seeing God everyday. I think the built in ritualism of Advent will help with that. Hopefully. So here are a few things I’ve found so far.
Everyday Liturgy Advent Guide – lots of ideas
Advent of Advent – I just downloaded this book last night.
Wonder – A Christmas Series of posts
The Whole Point of Ordinary Time – I love this chart showing the seasons of the church
Watch for the Light – this is an amazing book. My favorite Advent resource.
God is in the Manger – I just bought this but haven’t read it yet. It looks good.
Touching Wonder – I just downloaded this book, and it looks fantastic.
Free Jesus Calling Advent devotionals – for adults and kids
Jesus Storybook Advent Reading Plan
Christmas Countdown Scriptures
about the Advent wreath
Advent wreaths to buy – oh my goodness, there are some gorgeous ones. If I was going to have a Christmas collection of anything, it would be this.
Kid advent wreath craft
This is a pretty, simple wreath idea.
My Christmas List
Since gifts are my love language, I love to give and receive at Christmas. This is some of what is sitting on my list, waiting patiently for family members to buy one of these years:
The Genesis Trilogy – Madeline L’Engle
The Crowd, The Critic And The Muse
The Artist’s Rule: Nurturing Your Creative Soul with Monastic Wisdom
Poetic Theology: God and the Poetics of Everyday Life
The Jewish Annotated New Testament
Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection
One Line a Day: A Five-Year Memory Book
This gorgeous scarf, which is out of stock now, darn it.
Sauces: Classical and Contemporary Sauce Making
Around the Well – Iron and Wine
I’m linking up with HopefulLeigh who always has such a fun month in review post. Go check out all of the other posts for this month!!
And now I’m listening through to all of your Christmas song links! 😉
This is a GREAT list of resources. Also, I so didn’t know about that biography of Rob Bell. I totally want it. I know he’s become really controversial over the past couple of years, but in my own Dark Time when I couldn’t hear anyone else, it was his words on faith that brought me to the other side. Also, stole a couple of books from your Christmas list for my own. Mwa ha ha.
I hadn’t heard about the book on Rob Bell before- sounds fascinating! Adding it to my To Read list.
If Sleeping at Last does a Christmas show near you, you simply must go. I went a few years back and get goosebumps just thinking about Ryan O’Neal singing O Holy Night. Over the Rhine is another must-see in terms of Christmas shows (and in general.) What a great list of Advent resources! SO awesome!
Also, I love that you included your Christmas list. Hope your family pays attention! Thanks for linking up with me.
It was such a cool look into what his life is like…and b/c I’ve been listening to him for so long, whenever they would reference sermon series, I was all, I remember that, haha. I just realized I never posted where I was linking up at…duh. Edited and fixed!
yeah…I’m kind of bummed that he’s so controversial now and that LW was so many people’s first taste of him. I want to give everyone Velvet Elvis and tell them that is so good. But maybe they’d have the same reaction to that one too. He’s the person that showed me what a beautiful picture Jesus really is, so I’m just completely a RB groupie. I have all of his dvd’s on my christmas list, too. They’ve been on there for a couple of years tho. One of these times I’ll just have to break down and buy them on my own 😛
I thought the article on Rob Bell in the New Yorker was pretty random…now with the biography coming out it makes a bit more sense. I think I might have to pick the bio up!
Caris,
what an exhaustive list – wow! I tried the Burning Word and put it down, just couldn’t get into it. Maybe it was me and the season I was in – should I give it another try? I also wanted that Jewish Annotated Bible! And you’ll enjoy the Genesis Trilogy… if you don’t get it for Christmas let me know and I can send you mine. (They are aged, but they are available for sharing!)
Great resources you’ve put together here, Caris. I might have to dive into those Advent links. 😉 I also love “Thus Baby” by SCC and “Joseph’s Lullaby” is another favorite.
So, looking over your Christmas list…you clearly have great taste 🙂
And I can’t believe I didn’t know about that biography of Rob Bell! Off to check it out, along with the link about the INFJs. I’m a sucker for personality posts!
I’m excited about the new Girls Meets World because of the original cast return. Any other way I would have screamed about them ruining my childhood.
I really like that five year memory journal! neat idea.
Oh I know. It would have been terrible without the real Cory and Topenga! I had that 5 year book on my list last year, and I wish I would have bought it after Christmas to start with. I think so much in status updates now, that being able to write one down each day for a year would have been really neat to have at this point. I’m going to buy it if I don’t get it. I think that’s a neat way of keeping a diary without having to ramble on about random things from my life.
it’s easier to have good taste when I want people to buy it for me, haha. My realistic taste is whatever I can find at garage sales and goodwill. Although I do tend to splurge on books during the year. That $25 for free shipping is way too convenient lol. I know, I adore personality stuff. I have a post churning in my head about all the different personalities and learning styles, so why would we expect that there is only one right way to express faith?
thanks!
ooh I will so take you up on that offer. I have her Glimpses of Grace devotional and those books are constantly referenced. I can’t wait to actually read them in context. That’s interesting about Burning Word. I didn’t find it too hard to read. I was really craving a way to make the Bible new and fresh again, though, so maybe it is a season thing. I made copies of all of her personal practice ideas, to try in this upcoming year. Margaret Feinberg had mentioned the book in one of her books, as something her and her husband do together…mine loves to play devil’s advocate, so it sounded like this might be a good way to do that together, haha.
yeah, I did too. I went and read it at the library and thought it was a good article. I’m really bummed that he is really done with being a preacher. I kept harboring a secret hope he would come back to MH after California.
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Great list, and now I’m obsessed with that Rosie Thomas song!
You amaze me, that’s all 😉
when you move up here, I’ll let it rub off on you, haha.
isn’t it great? Someone else had it listed on their blog that they loved it.