Book Blurb... Love Does

Hello Lovely Readers,

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Have you ever read a book that you loved so much and halfway through you knew you wanted to give it to everyone you know (yeah Christmas coming up) but yet when you sit down to describe it you can't put it into words?

Yeah that is how I feel about Bob Goff's Love Does.  My friend recommended it to me in the Spring (I believe) and told me how much she loved it and underlined a lot of passages in it... I quickly ordered it on Amazon and awaited for its arrival. It came and I added it to my stack of "to be read books." It is not that I didn't want to read it, it is just I had other books I wanted to read as well and so it kind of got buried.If you have been following my blog or my life you know I have gone through a stage of feeling stuck and kind of wondering what God's purpose for my life is. I told myself I couldn't keep reading novels and escaping realities, so pulled out Love Does. I will admit I wasn't really reading my Bible (as much as I know I should it wasn't appealing to me)* so I started reading this book in my quiet time.

Bob Goff has lead what I would say a pretty amazing full of adventure life. He is the founder of Restoration International, a non-profit injustices committed against children in Uganda and India. He calls himself a part time lawyer and he is also an Honorary Consul for the Republic of Uganda to the United States. I am not listing his credentials because they are impressive (even though they are) it helps put his story into focus.

The book is full of stories from his college days, to stories about his kids, and all the in between.  Many times his story state "we jumped on a plane to (insert foreign county)" as if it was a spare moment decision. Sometimes it is hard to believe all the adventures one person can take but that was kind of the point of the book...


One reviewer wrote-
'Every once in a while someone like Bob Goff shows up to remind us that some things matter a lot more than others.  Love Does has a kind of 'north star' effect that will push you to refocus your life and energy on what is most significant. It doesn't just invite you to respond with your God-given potential, it invites you to become a part of what God can do beyond your potential.' (Amazon)

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The Love, Goff's book is about is the Love of Jesus and how it doesn't just ask us to sit by and let moments pass. "Love Does" allows us to jump into having adventurous, whimsy, engaging, and honest relationship with God. There were so many stories in the book but they all started off with saying "yes" to life. I don't want that to sound too "new age-y" because it wasn't like that at all. It was just saying "yes" to Jesus and God even without knowing all the details but just embracing what God wants you to do in life. Overall: I found the book really motivating and after I finished it I prayed and thanked God for people like Bob Goff who dedicate their lives to following Him. It made me think "Does my life reflect following Jesus?"

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I feel like I haven't done justice to this amazing book... basically if you are walking through a store and see this book, buy it, read it and pass it on to others.
 

*- Since starting and finishing this book I have gone to reading the Bible, read the book of Esther,which is another good book to read if you don't know what the purpose of your life to be.

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"Innocently Optimistic"

Hello lovely readers,

I had a blog post all ready for today but with the actions happening in Paris, Beirut and really around the world it felt hard to act like nothing had happened. I know changing my Facebook profile picture will not change the world and I know that even writing this post will not change the world. But something has to right?

I have always considered myself a positive person, some people might call me "innocently optimistic" and I am okay with that... I rather be that than thinking the world is a dark and scary place. But sadly sometimes the world sends messages that it is a dark and scary place. Sometimes the world feels like it won't ever make sense. And as I sit here in the comfort of my desk still enjoying the warmth from my cup of coffee I have to believe there is still good and there is still hope in this world.

On Sunday my pastor, gave a really hard message about putting on the "Armor of God". We have been going through the book of Ephesians and for the first four chapters it is all about diversity and unity, then Paul gets into some hard things like "submission" and "obeying our masters" and sometimes we rather not talk about or read about that stuff. This message on putting on the "Armor of God" I have always felt is not about looking for a fight or going out to fight just because you can. But knowing that this world and this life is hard. We are going to fight, argue, hurt each other and destruct other people's lives... its what happens because we live in a world of sin.

The passage we discussed:

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; ¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, ¹⁹ and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:10-19 (ESV)

And I will admit this is a hard passage to understand because we are called to be peace makers and we are called to submit to one another... so how can we be peace makers and still be in the armor of God? I don't have an answer and I might never have one. 

But I know this world is not what God intended. In his sermon my pastor pointed back to Genesis and the story of creation and how in those passage when it says "God saw that it was good" the word "good" means Shalom- peace, rightness, and completeness . And here "peace" is not the absence of conflict but they way the world should be with a fullness in God. I think rather you are a Christian or not that you can look around and see that this world is not peaceful, right, or complete. If it were we wouldn't hold grudges, we wouldn't kill innocent people, we wouldn't have starving children, or tears of pain, and the feeling of hopelessness. This world is not complete. 

I am not a Lord of the Rings fan but I liked when my pastor pointed out this line:

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I think that makes sense. I do not think we should go out fighting with guns, swords or bow and arrows but I do believe there is good in this world and we have to protect it. We have to hold on to it and defend it. To me the only way to do this is to have your focus on God and the salvation, love, and hope we have in His son Jesus Christ. 

I will be the first to admit that I am still figuring all this out and I don't have all the answers but I there is one who does and depend on His control, His peace, His righteousness, and love.

Frivolous Friday... More Historical Drama

Hello Lovely Readers,

Okay I have another guilty pleasure to share... well its not really a guilty pleasure more of an obscure reference that I keep my thoughts about it quiet, but I am here to finally introduce you all to it.

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 I highly recommend it if you like historical drama especially from the Edwardian time period, a mystery that keeps you guessing, and you want to brush up on your Spanish. Yep that's right... it is a Spanish (set in Spain) basically prime-time soap opera mystery. It is on Netflix that provides subtitles or else I would have no idea what was happening. I watched a few episodes over the summer and was intrigued with it but because it was in Spanish I knew I would have to fully pay attention to it.

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The series starts off in 1905 with Julio coming to the Gran Hotel to visit his sister only to learn his sister has mysteriously disappeared so he pretends to be a waiter to investigate his sister's disappearance. We also meet Alicia the daughter of the owner of the hotel. Her father has recently passed away her mother and Diego (manager) are running the show and covering up some intriguing plot points along the way. The romantic tension between Julio and Alicia is clear from the first episode even though she is supposed to be engaged to Diego. The tension and the mystery keep this show going.

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There is also a great supporting cast like Andres who is an awesome and loyal friend to Julio. There is also Javier (Alicia's brother) who I can't decide if I want to slap him or go out for a drink with him. Javier is basically a womanizing, drunk, who makes a 1,001 mistakes (which is why I want to slap him) but yet his one liners are great and he actually is very loyal to Alicia (which is why I would want to have a drink with him). Heads up: There are some sex scenes that might make some people uncomfortable.

Javier, Julio, Alicia. Diego

I am in the 2nd of 3 seasons and I can't wait to see how it all works out. (Spoiler Alert) At the end of the first season Alicia marries Diego... which is crushing because it is clear she and Julio love each other but their class separation divides them. And when she returns from her honey moon it is clear she will not cheat on her husband (which I am happy about) but I want Julio and Alicia to end up together. So is that hoping for Diego's death? I mean while there is plenty of intrigue in this show, it does take place in Spain (a good Catholic country) and divorce can't just happen... so Diego will have to die for anything to truly happen between Julio and Alicia. I mean Julio has his shady sides but overall he is a good guy so I don't want Alicia and Diego to just be a cheating scandal. I mean just look at him:

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Looking pics for this post has given a way some plot spoilers... but I don't even care. I know the drama and mystery of this show will keep me on the edge of my toes guessing what is going to happen next.

If you are like me you will spend the whole time saying: "Just kiss already", "What?" or "Don't trust Diego?"

Outside of the drama the thing I probably love most about this show is Alicia's hair... In the first season it is pulled up but she lets some strains show, which I think shows she still has an adventurous side and is not completely prim and proper. At least so far in the second season her hair is always perfectly pinned up showing (spoiler alert) now that she is married she cannot as adventurous as she used to be... however just watching her you can see she doesn't want to be all prim and proper as she has to be. I know probably no one else notices this detail but I thought it was good to show character change.

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Once again recommend this show if you love Edwardian Drama, want to be on the edge of your seat guessing what is going to happen next, and want to brush up on your Spanish (don't worry there are subtitles on Netflix) but I find it fun to recognize words I learned in Spanish class in High School.

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It doesn't hurt that the scenery is beautiful and captivating