I’ve recently begun reading four good books, two that I picked up at Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, another that my sister loaned me, and the newest release from Dr. Emerson Eggerichs. Don’t be impressed. Last September, I wrote about three newly acquired books, important books, books I’ve read from, but not finished. Perhaps it is my preference for nonfiction that derails my plans to finish books. I imagine that well written stories with enticing plots and characters might lure me into hours of “one more chapter” reading.
By contrast, most of the books I choose are better digested one chapter at a time. They’re designed to educate and offer better ways to do life. I’m excited about beginning them, even about recommending them. Of these four, I’m very confident that I’ll finish one, pretty sure I’ll complete another, glad that I have the other two for reference. Without further ado, the titles.
Bright orange stickers give away the Ollie’s finds, Brain Power and Career Tests Book.
Why the Career Tests Book? I’m not looking for a new career, but I know people who are. This is one of Simon & Shuster’s The Everything books. The subtitle “10 tests to determine the right occupation for you”, along with the bright orange price sticker, made the purchase easy. The authors, who have experience with career change and career counseling, have put together a fun, easy-to-read manual that doesn’t tell you what to do or what career path to take, but claims the reader will “find things to adjust, things to overhaul, and new opportunities in which you can grow… while discovering some surprising things about yourself.” I read the first two chapters, Know Yourself, Know Your Career and Values and Your Career last night. Next up: Skills and Your Career. Maybe I’ll be surprised and realize that I do want a new career!
Brain Power, Train your brain and improve your memory If I benefit from a couple of the 300+ challenges in this colorful and very interesting book, the $2.99 will have been well spent. I’m on page 27 of 267 (or was it 297?) I know that reading this book will be a waste of time, though, if I don’t DO what the experts suggest. That’s the way self-help books work, or don’t.
Emerson Eggerichs, ME, Sarah Eggerichs
The 4 WILLS of GOD, The way He Directs Our Steps and Frees Us to Direct Our Own, is the latest from Love & Respect Ministries president, Dr. Emerson Eggerichs. I’m ninety pages into this one and hope that MANY people will discover and decide to follow the Biblical advice shared by Emerson. The back cover gives away the 4 Wills: Believe in Jesus Christ, Give Thanks in Everything, Submit in Doing Right, and Abstain from Sexual Sin. Easy, right? (deep breath and sigh) Emerson describes the book type as a “choose your own adventure,” encouraging readers to jump to the chapter that most interests them. The encouragement comes from realizing that when we do the will of God, we are in God’s will and free to move forward in life’s decisions.
Follow up to Magnolia Story by Chip Gaines and Joanna Gaines
CAPITAL GAINES is the book that I will read cover to cover. And how about that cover? When my sister shared Magnolia Story with me, I didn’t know what Chip Gaines looked like. Not yet a watcher of Fixer Upper, I enjoyed the book first, finding Chip and Joanna’s life together to be pretty interesting. Since then, I’ve added the words shiplap, German schmear and demo day to my vocabulary. (Speaking of demo day, four men with ladders, hammers, and a radio playing classic rock are stripping my house as I write.)
PHOTO TAKEN OVER MY SHOULDER JUST NOW
Whether you’re an HGTV junkie, or have never heard of Fixer Upper, whether you’re a man or a woman, in your twenties or fifties, I recommend CAPITAL GAINES for your reading pleasure and some great life advice. In the first few chapters, Chip has been hilariously and painfully honest about his life, his career, and his marriage with Joanna. He maintains that “Every ounce of energy you invest in pursuing your goals will help you grow toward God’s plan for you…even if you end up somewhere you hadn’t counted on.” My bookmark is at the page entitled, “INTERMISSION: A SHORT STORY ON HOW THIS COVER CAME TO BE”.
***OK, I’ve got to finish this up. I just saw a reflection of a falling gutter on my screen accompanied by a guttural “YEAH!” ***
Lastly, let me tell you about a page-turner I’ve been reading about a pagan prostitute who defied the powerful men around her, sheltering spies, daring to choose a different direction for her life, finding herself spared from enemy attack and eventually married to one of the spies. Rahab’s true story is found in the Bible’s book of Joshua. Her name, amazingly, comes up in the gospel writer Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus Christ and in the book of Hebrew’s “hall of faith” chapter. It turns out that God’s plan for her was to be the mother-in-law of Ruth and great-great-grandmother of King David! All because she believed that “God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.” (Joshua 2:11)
While reading your blog, I had to smile😊. Our lives have taken on some similarities:
1. My neighbor recently loaned me “Capital Gaines”. It was an easy read and an enjoyable one, since Fixer Upper is the only HGTV show I watch.
2. Since I am doing a 90-hour Bible reading for 90 days this summer, Rahab’s part in helping the Israelites at Jericho was recently read. It’s a reminder that God isn’t limited in what He can do in a life given to Him.
3. We also are having old siding stripped off and new put on. It’s quite a bone-jarring and house-jarring experience. But not to be compared with finding a 5-foot long black snake nestled against the house! I was glad for all the “siding men” who drove it into the woods.
Thanks for sharing your life with us, Lisa!
Kathy
Well, now I’m smiling! No snakes found yet, but we had a black snake incident a few years back. You can ask Dave about it sometime. (Spoiler alert: our snake didn’t fare as well as yous.) As far as the siding goes, I can only hope that the new vinyl siding is installed as well as the 1963 aluminum was. The guys had to work HARD to get it down! And while our house is vulnerable (no gutters or window capping), a torrential rain found its way inside last evening. I hope that your house and mine turn out beautifully.