One Million Arrows Blog Tour

Sunday March 7th, 2010

12:34 p.m.

I have never been very good at deadlines. I am a champion procrastinator. I could even be a better one, but I keep putting off practicing.



About a month and a half ago, Julie Ferwerda contacted me about reading and reviewing her book One Million Arrows. She even sent me a copy of the book. I began reading it at once; the first two chapters were amazing. I set it aside expecting to finish it soon. Life happens, as it often does and as 2010 has been a busy, stressful year so far, it got missed.



I was supposed to go to church, visit my new nephew and go to an Oscar Party today. But I have been sidelined with a sore throat and other illnesses and opted to stay home. I may try to make the Oscar Party tonight if my health improves (Hey, I have my priorities). After resting for a few hours, I checked my e-mail to receive Julie's reminder that today is the last day of her blog tour. Seeing as I have some time on my hands without the pitter patter of my darling rug rats (for the record we have a wood floor), I will read as much of the book as I can in the next few hours and report back in.

4:33 P.M

I have read most of the book and I can highly recommend it to all. It is a book about, if I could quote the Flash Dance theme song for a moment, taking your passion and making it happen. It's actually a book about taking God's passion and making it happen. It tells the story of M.A. "PAPA" Thomas and his vision of using orphans to change the world.

The book is broken up in 3 parts Gather, Sharpen and Launch. Each section tells a little of Papa's story but generally give practical insights and inspiration from other believer's whom Ferwerda calls arrows.

The book reaffirms some basic concepts that I already believe. One is that we should not let the church raise our kids but have the parents take that responsibility. As a father, I have been failing too long in taking the leadership of our home. I would like my children to make an impact in this world for Christ. In order to do that I need practical insights on how to do that. I believe Mrs. Ferwerda does just that. I also need to just do it (first Flash Dance, now Nike).

I recommend than you read this book and then take one thing and start applying it. I am going to start working through the Westminster Catechism with my 10 year old as one of the Arrow Makers in the book does.

Head on over to OneMillionArrows.com to see how to get a copy of this magnificent book. The book is available at Amazon for $ 13.95. As a regular Amazon shopper I know that with any qualifying purchase of $25.00 or more that there is a free shipping option. So you might want to consider buying a copy for a friend as well. Click here to go to the book's page on Amazon.

That's enough being salesman Joe, I now revert to blog guy Dave to tell you this . . .



Next Time: Structured and Unstructured

Six Word Saturday

Every day as part of our school day we read aloud from a book a chapter at a time. We are currently working on Winnie the Pooh. This week when Emma was reading to us the part where Pooh gets stuck in Rabbit's door my mind drifted to the animated version.

The movies introduces a character name Gopher, who happens to be a gopher. Gopher has the signature line "I'm not in the book." The line actually has a double meaning. The straight forward meaning is that gopher's excavation services are not listed in phone book. The second meaning is that since the character was created for the movie, he is literally not in the book.

I have always appreciated children's entertainment that also has adult humor thrown in.

Which brings me to today's six words . . .

When did adult lose a letter?

When I said adult humor a moment ago perhaps some of you thought of risque or inappropriate humor. I actually meant the second definition of the adjective adult found in my Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary which states " of relating to, intended for or befitting adults, ex. an adult approach to a problem."

Webster's offers a third definition of adult as dealing in or with explicitly sexual material. But it seems that these days that is the most common definition. Adult used to mean mature, deep, grown-up. Adult has become a four letter word.

So here I am a 45 year old who does not swear (use adult language), drink alcohol (adult beverages) or watch pornography (adult videos). No wonder my parents often sit me at the kids table at family gatherings.

Seriously when did the word adult become strictly a euphemism for things we don't want kids to do? Aren't there more adult uses for the word adult?

Not sure exactly where this diatribe came from or where it's going. It's been brewing in my cranium for some time and I thought I would try to let it out. If you would like to see more Six Word Saturday head on over to Show my face dot com and join in.

Next Time: Structured and Unstructured

Don't forget Frugal Fridays!

Saving money in these difficult financial times is becoming a necessity rather than a luxury. One good way to save money is to see what other people are doing. Frugal Friday, a weekly blog meme currently being hosted at Life as Mom, is a weekly collection of money savings tips.

I haven't shared an idea through this forum in quite a while. What I am sharing today is actually rather tongue in cheek. However, I do review the ideas found there from time to time and suggest you do the same.

My money saving idea this week is simply this:

Don't get a hair cut. Get them all cut.

This is a picture of my Son charlie taken two weeks ago. As you can see he is in need of a haircut. My Dad often cuts his hair, so that saves money . Sometimes we just can't find the time to get him over to my Dad's so yesterday I took him out to get a haircut. I had a 2.00 coupon so I saved a little money on the haircut.

My real money saving tip is this.

Extend times between visits.

This cut was all Charlie's idea as attested by his joyous expression. The stylist begged him to reconsider his 1 1/2 top 1 back approach. It will be some time before he needs a hair cut and that saves money!

For some real money saving tips head over to Life as Mom for Frugal Friday.

Next Time: Six Word Saturday

March . . .

and the world marches with you.

February . . .

and you feb alone.

Say Uncle

Six Word Saturday time.

Uncle for ninth and first time!

I was on my way out to take my kids to see a play Thursday Morning. My SIL was trying to reach my wife at work, because her water had just broke. Early Friday morning she gave birth to Connor Mark. Amy was able to participate in the birth and Mom, Dad and Baby are doing fine.

I am now the uncle of nine children. Connor is a little different as he is my first nephew by marriage rather than blood. This is generally not too great of a distinction. However, being related to me by blood is not exactly a picnic. Sure I have my rugged good looks. I have no allergies and I am of pretty healthy stock. The problem is if being a goofball is hereditary, than you don't really want to have me swimming in your gene pool. Puns, parodies, crazy ideas, not to forget my scary math skills. Let's face it, Connor has a definite advantage of not having genetic predisposition to my random thoughts and nut job tendencies.

The flip side is that he is related by blood to Amy. Amy may well be every bit the lunatic that I am. After all, we did co write the song I'm insane, your insane, who's gonna win?

So, if 12 years from now at Grandma Kayrene's birthday bash Connor writes down the first thing that comes into his mind during a spirited game of Balderdash, we can know for sure that Amy's influence (nature or nurture) is to blame. Katie, Danny you knew what kind of relatives you had and you chose to continue those blood lines anyway. I say to you congratulations and good luck!

Head on over to Show my face dot come for more Six Word Saturday.

Next Time: C+H Book Review