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Thursday, October 29, 2015

What Should a Christian Do?

Image result for log cabin

Oh, for the good old days when prayers were said in public school and everyone went to church on Sunday and Christian ethics and morals were enshrined in the law of the land.  Everything was perfect then and now it is so messed up.  Of course in those days we had the robber baron wealthy, racial, ethnic and religious bigotry, slavery,  and women had few legal rights.  Maybe things weren't so perfect, but compared to the way they are now?

What should a Christian do in today's world?  The big news when I started this post was that a Kentucky Clerk of Court was in jail for refusing to issue marriage licenses to gay couples.  For the sake of this discussion, no matter what your opinion is on gay marriage, let's assume that this clerk honestly believes what many people do today, and what even more believed fifty years ago--that homosexual activity (and thus gay marriage) is against God's will for humans.

What is the morally correct course of action for her?  Should she cooperate in issuing the licenses, because the Supreme Court  has said that the people have a right to marry whomever they please, no matter the gender? Should she resign quietly and go away? That way she does not cooperate in evil directly, but in resigning she knows that her replacement will cooperate in evil.  Or should she stand up and say, by going to jail if necessary, that this is wrong?

To haul out a tired example, what should the private who was assigned to Auschwitz have done?  He could have gleefully joined in the slaughter, a choice that clearly would have been evil. He could have just done his job, not going out of his way to be cruel, but accepting that this was a facility for killing Jews and since he was sent here, he just needed to do his job.  Of course without all the minions running the facilities, the higher-ups who set the policy would not have been able to carry it out.  He could have just resigned, gone to the CO and asked for a transfer elsewhere and his personal resignation would have made no difference in the killing machine.  He could have spoken out publically against the facility, this ensuring that he would meet a similar end as most of its inmates, and probably not saved any Jews in the process, just as I doubt that Clerk's stand stopped any marriage.  But what is the right thing to do?

I saw an article online recently about a young woman who, with the help of the ACLU, challenged a Catholic hospital's policy forbidding sterilization.  Her basic argument was that there was no other hospital close to home, and that a post-cesarean tubal ligation was the most practical form of birth control for her at that point in her life.  She wasn't Catholic and saw no reason that the Catholic church should interfere in such a personal choice.

This brings up the question of whether we are, or should be, able to practice our religion in the public market.  Does a drugstore have to carry contraception?  What if it is the only drugstore in town?  Does the pharmacist have to dispense it?  Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints believe drinking coffee is wrong.  If they own the only grocery store in town, are they obligated to carry coffee?  Hobby Lobby is closed on Sunday due to the owner's religious beliefs.  Maybe that's the only day of the week that I'm off--or maybe I'm Jewish or Muslim, and see Sunday in the way that churchgoing Christians see Saturday. Are they interfering with my ability to buy craft supplies?  Should a Muslim or Jewish-owned store be required to carry pork products, especially if there is no other store within a certain distance?

It is easy enough to say "If you believe it is wrong, don't do it", but I saw something online once where a woman was complaining that she took the morning off from work and walked into an urgent care/walk-in doctor's office.  She did not have an appointment and I don't remember if she had been there before.   She wanted birth control pills, but when she got to the front desk, before she could sign in, before she paid any money, she saw a sign stating that the doctor on duty, for moral/religious reasons,  would not prescribe contraception or refer her to someone who would.  She thought this doctor was interfering with her rights and most of the commenters agreed.  Had she paid her money for an exam, only to find out that the doctor would not provide the care she was seeking, not because of some reason particular to her (say high blood pressure or a family history of blood clots) but because of the doctor's moral beliefs, I think she would be justified in her anger.  She wanted a service that is customarily given at women's check-ups.  Since the doctor was not willing to provide that customary service, notice was given to potential patients BEFORE payment was made.

Most Americans, indeed most (I think all) civilized people believe female genital mutilation is wrong.  What if parents who do believe in it approach a doctor and ask to have it done under anesthesia with sanitary tools?  What is the difference between this, and a doctor or hospital that thinks birth control is wrong refusing to cooperate with those who want it?  Or, if you want to take the issue of consent out of the equation, let's say it is an adult woman who wants her genitals mutilated before her wedding?  I doubt they'd find an American doctor or hospital who'd perform such a procedure, because, despite the beliefs of the requestor(s), Americans think FGM is wrong.  Should they impose that belief on others?

For better or for worse (and I think it is some of each) our society is becoming more pluralistic.  More and more of our neighbors disagree with us (and each other) about what is moral, what is not, what is good, what is bad and what is my right.  How do we respect each other's beliefs and give people the ability to act in accordance with their beliefs without denying others the same right?  

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Children's Book Review: Light for the World


About the Book:

Written and illustrated for your entire family, this softcover book explains Catholic traditions and feast days that we celebrate throughout the seasons of Advent and Christmas.

My Comments:
As Catholics, we celebrate the liturgical year, which has its own seasons and celebrations.  Light for the World takes us through the seasons of Advent and Christmas, touching on feast days, prayers and traditions.  Feasts discussed include the Annunciation, St. Francis Xavier, St. Nicholas (of course!), the Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. John of the Cross, Christmas, St. John, Apostle and Evangelist, The Holy Innocents, The Holy Family, Mary the Mother of God, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. John Neumann,  Epiphany and the Baptism of Our Lord.  Traditions that are explained include the Advent Wreath, the Advent Calendar, the Nativity Scene, the Jesse Tree, the "O" Antiphons, filling stockings, presents and King Cake.  

The pages about the feast days give short stories about the feast or the celebrated saint and they often include prayers.  The Feast of the Holy Innocents page includes the following prayer;

Prayer for the Dignity of Human Life

Lord and giver of all life, 
help us to value each person
created in love by you.

In your mercy, guide and assist our efforts
to promote the dignity and value of all human life,
born and unborn.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

The book has an Imprimatur and Nihil Obstat from the Bishop of Green  Bay, Wisconsin.  Scripture quotes are from the NRSV.

While marketed as a children's book, I see it as a book for family use.  I think there is too much text and that some of the words are too advanced for young children, such that giving them the book would not be using it to its full potential.  Grade:  B.  

I'd like to thank Catholic Word for sending me a review copy of the book.  Catholic Word describes itself as " a one-stop resource for leading programs and religious titles from over 35 top Catholic publishers. For over 15 years, Catholic Word has built a reputation based on quality, personal relationships and a devotion to excellence in service."  The mission they espouse is "to build up the Church one soul at a time through top quality Catholic materials and resources. Wherever a person is on their faith journey, we offer real help to taking the next step closer to God. Our motto is to do the right thing, in the right way, for the right reason."  They claim to be "100% faithful to the teachings of the Magisterium".  

Sunday, October 25, 2015

The Sunday Post

Sunday Post


When I first started as a book blogger one of the things I LOVED was getting all those packages in the mail.  Those review copies were wonderful and Christmas came often in the form of books in the mail.  I actively pursued them and was prompt with my reviews so I think everyone was happy. Then I got a Kindle and discovered NetGalley.  Even more books were available, and I didn't have to figure out what to do with them when I was done with them.  Well, I've recently gotten three packages in the mail, just like the good old days and it was fun to open the envelope and see what was there.  

The nice folks at Catholic Word sent me these books, which I will be reviewing later this month and all through November:








I also got a package from Litfuse that contained


and finally I got


On my blog this week, besides Mommy Mommy,  I've reviewed:







Oh, and something else I've been doing is highlighting old posts via a "From My Archives" post.  This week I looked at June, 2006 and it included one of my first book reviews:  The DaVinci Code.

Saturday, October 24, 2015

Mommy, Mommy, When You Pray


Mommy, Mommy, When You Pray

About the Book:
Celebrate the simple joys of family life! A mother shares with her children the joy and thanksgiving she offers through prayer, teaching them that they are blessings, just in being who God made them to be.

My Comments:
The story starts with a son asking his mother what is in her heart when she prays.  She replies that she thanks God for "little hearts, and hands and faces. Whispers that tickle, and horseback races. For every curious cabinet searcher, and overflowing imagination to nurture.".  There are pictures of the family sledding and kids in a holiday performance.  Kids joining the parents in bed in early morning are also shown. The book concludes with "My heart says thank you.  Thank you God".  

Teaching kids to pray is an important part of motherhood and this book show that we should start with thanking God for the most precious part of our lives, our family.  Grade:  B-

I'd like to thank Catholic Word for sending me a review copy of the book.  Catholic Word describes itself as " a one-stop resource for leading programs and religious titles from over 35 top Catholic publishers. For over 15 years, Catholic Word has built a reputation based on quality, personal relationships and a devotion to excellence in service."  The mission they espouse is "to build up the Church one soul at a time through top quality Catholic materials and resources. Wherever a person is on their faith journey, we offer real help to taking the next step closer to God. Our motto is to do the right thing, in the right way, for the right reason."  They claim to be "100% faithful to the teachings of the Magisterium".  

Thursday, October 22, 2015

A Winter Wedding: My Review


A Winter Wedding (Whiskey Creek)

About the Book:
Kyle Houseman believes he'll never find anyone he could love as much as Olivia Arnold, who's now married to his stepbrother. Not only did he lose her, he's been through one divorce and has no desire to go through another. He's determined to be extra careful about the next woman he gets involved with—which is why he fights his attraction to the beautiful stranger who rents his farmhouse for the Christmas holiday.  

Lourdes Bennett is a country music artist. She's only planning to stay in Whiskey Creek long enough to write the songs for her next album—the album that's going to put her back on top. Her dreams don't include settling in a town even smaller than the one she escaped. But as she comes to know Kyle, she begins to wonder if she'd be making a terrible mistake to leave him behind…

My Comments:
If you can suspend disbelief, this is an enjoyable Christmas romance.  However, like many Christmas romances, it isn't very realistic.  Lourdes is from the town down the street, but she chose to come to Whiskey Creek so she isn't noticed.  Kyle is the landlord; when Lourdes moves in the heat doesn't work.  Instead of going to a hotel, she moves in with him.  Kyle is still carrying a flame for Olivia who also happens to be his ex-wife's sister (long story).  His ex-wife is crazy, and frankly I find their post-divorce relationship to be unbelieveable.  I liked Kyle, I liked Lourdes, and I enjoyed catching up with the whole Whiskey Creek gang.  I didn't like some of the sex scenes--they weren't terribly explicit but I didn't like the attitude embodied in them. I also found it hard to believe that a celebrity who was trying to lay low would have sex in a public place.  

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley.  Grade:  B

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Children's Book Review: The Midwife of Bethlehem




About the Book:
A beautifully illustrated telling of the Christmas nativity through the eyes of the women who may have come to help Mary give birth.

My Comments:
We always see the Nativity Scene with Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the angels and the kings, but realistically speaking, there was probably a midwife or perhaps a female family member around to help Mary during labor and delivery.  As noted above, this is the nativity story through the eyes of a first century Jewish woman.  She quotes Old Testament scripture,wondering when the Messiah will be here, and talking about what He will be like.  It is a wonderful way to tie together the Old and New Testament, but the dialogue comes across as a little unnatural.

The pictures in the book are beautiful and the story, of course,  timeless.  

I'd like to thank Rebecca Brown at Cadence Marketing Group for providing a complimentary review copy.  Grade:  B.

Monday, October 19, 2015

Mailbox Monday

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It's Monday and my mailbox was full when I got home.  The nice folks at Catholic Word sent me these books, which I will be reviewing later this month and all through November:







Catholic Word describes itself as " a one-stop resource for leading programs and religious titles from over 35 top Catholic publishers. For over 15 years, Catholic Word has built a reputation based on quality, personal relationships and a devotion to excellence in service."  The mission they espouse is "to build up the Church one soul at a time through top quality Catholic materials and resources. Wherever a person is on their faith journey, we offer real help to taking the next step closer to God. Our motto is to do the right thing, in the right way, for the right reason."  They claim to be "100% faithful to the teachings of the Magisterium".  

Sunday, October 18, 2015

From My Archives: June, 2006

Once upon a time, many years ago I was a school teacher.  While I taught a lot of kids in those two years, only one name really sticks out in my memory.  In June, 2006 I was fortunate enough to run into this student, and I wrote about the encounter. 

While today this is mostly a book review blog, back in 2006 book reviews were the exception, not the norm.  This review of The DaVinci Code was one of my first.

I expressed my opinion about required reading.  That opinion hasn't changed.

I wrote about breastfeeding.

I wrote about a fast requested by our archbishop.


Book Review: Willow Brook Road


Willow Brook Road (A Chesapeake Shores Novel)

About the Book:
Spirited, spontaneous Carrie Winters has grown up under the watchful eyes of not only her grandfather Mick O'Brien, but the entire town of Chesapeake Shores. 

Now that she's home from Europe, a glamorous fashion career behind her and her heart broken, there seem to be far too many people watching to see if she'll live up to the expectations her family has for her. 

As if that weren't enough pressure, Carrie finds herself drawn to sexy, grief-stricken Sam Winslow, who is yearning for someone to help him raise the nephew who's unexpectedly come into his life after a tragedy. 

With her own life in turmoil, is Carrie really ready to take on a new career and a new man? Or is Sam exactly what she needs to create the strong, loving family she's always wanted?

My Comments:
I enjoyed this trip back to Chesapeake Shores to visit with the O'Brien clan again.  Carrie and Sam are both at crossroads in their lives.  Carrie has returned home after breaking up with the boss/boyfriend she had in Paris, realizing that he meant far more to her than she did to him.  Sam never planned to marry, have kids, or put down roots until his sister died and left him custody of his nephew.  Carrie's large, nosey, loving, and interfering family has always been important in her life.  Sam was the son of an abusive family and his sister has been his only family for years--and he had chosen not to speak to her for a while before she died.  Sam is learning to be a dad; Carrie is a natural with children.  Sam is good at his job; Carrie is still trying to decide what to do when she grows up.  She has a plan, but will the plan be good enough for the family?

The major subplot focuses on a couple that was the focus of Beach Lane (click title for my review).  They have been trying to adopt a child and have had their hearts broken.  They are at that point in life when "everyone" they know is having children and Suzie especially feels a lack in her life.  I liked the way Sherryl Woods wove the stories of the two couples together.

The real star of this show however, was Bobby, Sam's nephew.  He too is looking for love and family after losing his parents.  Of course he is the one who gets all the best lines.

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley.  Grade:  B. 

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Title Showcase: If You Were Me and Lived In China




I've reviewed and showcased other books in this series.  Recently this one showed up in my mailbox.  I've been donating them to my daughter's school and I hope they are useful for things like Global Awareness Day.  As I said in the other reviews, the books are all the same except that the country changes, and therefore the words used, places visited and so forth change.  I think the series is a great way to show kids that we are all different, but all the same in so many ways.  

On My Other Blogs

I've been blogging here at This That and the Other Thing for over ten years.  While originally I did not have a real focus, over the years, this has primarily become a book blog.  Lately, I started two new blogs and since the readership of this blog is greater than their readership, I thought I'd use this space to plug my latests posts on them.

On Racing Toward Retirement I write about financial topics, usually with the point of view of someone who is approaching retirement, but who isn't quite there, yet.

The front ends of two vehicles after an accident
 Some recent posts:
Preparing for the Unexpected:  Car Insurance discusses yes, you guessed it, car insurance.

Oh No, I Was in a Wreck talks about what to do when it happens to you.

Get a Check, Get a BIG Check takes you through a lawsuit filed as a result of a car accident.



My newest blog is called A Brownie Leader's Journal and it will talk about all the meetings and activities in which my Girl Scout Brownie Troop engages this year.  I don't claim any special expertise, but this is my fifth year as a Brownie leader and my ninth year as a troop leader, so I hope I have learned a few things over the years.








Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Quick Review: Christmas on Candy Cane Lane


Christmas on Candy Cane Lane (Life in Icicle Falls)

About the Book:
Everyone's getting ready for Christmas in Icicle Falls, especially on Candy Cane Lane, where holiday decorating is taken very seriously. Tilda Morrison, town cop, is looking forward to celebrating Christmas in her first house…until she discovers that she's expected to "keep up" with the neighbors, including Maddy Donaldson, the inspiration behind the whole extravaganza. But this year, someone's destroying Maddie's precious candy canes! Thank goodness for the cop in their neighborhood. 

Tilda already has her hands full trying to sort out her love life and fix up her fixer-upper. Oh, and won't it be fun to have the family over for Christmas dinner? Not really… Then there's her neighbor, Ivy Bohn. As a newly single mom, Ivy can sum up the holiday in two words: Bah, humbug. But she's determined to give her kids a perfect Christmas. 

Despite family disasters, irritating ex-husbands and kitchen catastrophes, these three women are going to find out that Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year!

My Comments:
I think most Christmas romances are very sweet and very predictable, and this one fits that bill perfectly.  Honestly, sometimes I had a little trouble keeping track of who was who, but in the end it really didn't matter because everyone ended up living happily ever after.  Ho-Ho-Ho.  

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley. Grade:  B-.

Sunday, October 11, 2015

It's Monday!

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I thought Sheila was back to hosting "It's Monday!  What Are You Reading?" and I'm back to trying to participate.  Since I didn't see her post I'll link up with Mailbox Monday This week I published one review:



I'm in the process of reading Willowbrook Road


Besides this book blog, I also write a blog on personal finance, Racing Toward Retirement, and I invite you to take a look.  

Review: The Shift




About the Book:
In a book as eye-opening as it is riveting, practicing nurse and New York Times columnist Theresa Brown invites us to experience not just a day in the life of a nurse but all the life that happens in just one day on a hospital’s cancer ward. In the span of twelve hours, lives can be lost, life-altering medical treatment decisions made, and dreams fulfilled or irrevocably stolen. In Brown’s skilled hands--as both a dedicated nurse and an insightful chronicler of events--we are given an unprecedented view into the individual struggles as well as the larger truths about medicine in this country, and by shift’s end, we have witnessed something profound about hope and healing and humanity.

Every day, Theresa Brown holds patients' lives in her hands. On this day there are four. There is Mr. Hampton, a patient with lymphoma to whom Brown is charged with administering a powerful drug that could cure him--or kill him; Sheila, who may have been dangerously misdiagnosed; Candace, a returning patient who arrives (perhaps advisedly) with her own disinfectant wipes, cleansing rituals, and demands; and Dorothy, who after six weeks in the hospital may finally go home. Prioritizing and ministering to their needs takes the kind of skill, sensitivity, and, yes, humor that enable a nurse to be a patient’s most ardent advocate in a medical system marked by heartbreaking dysfunction as well as miraculous success.

My Comments:
Back when I was in high school I wanted to be a nurse.  I read a bunch of nurse romance novels, nurse mystery novels and was sure I was going to be a nurse--until I took and hated high school chemistry.  Now, as a paralegal, I make my living reading medical records.  I found it interesting to contrast those nurse novels of thirty some odd years ago with the stories of what really happens in a hospital of today.  I was also interesting to see that the nurse creating those hundreds of pages that land on my desk doesn't like them any better than I do.  For those unfamiliar with electronic medical records, they have about tripled the size of the average record we get from hospitals--and yet from my standpoint (I work car accident cases, not medical malpractice) they don't contain any more information.  

Theresa Brown has a Ph.D. in English and switched careers from academia to nursing.  Her old career shows up in the book as quotes from poets and other writings.  It also shows up in the writing itself--it is clear, engrossing and fast-paced.  I could feel Brown's fatigue at the end of her 12 hour shift.  

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via Edelweiss.  Grade:  B+

Friday, October 09, 2015

Sunday, October 04, 2015

It's Monday!

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Hello to my fellow book bloggers.  I've been out of the loop for a little while and I'm trying to get back on track.  I'm glad to see that Sheila is back to hosting "It's Monday!  What Are You Reading?"  She and her family are in my prayers.  

This week I've been pretending Christmas is here already, reading




The Midwife of Bethlehem

I wish I could say I reviewed this because of the Pope's visit, but I didn't, I reviewed it because I finished it


I reviewed a Christmas romance as well:



Oh, and this will be the last week for my giveaway of Five Days Left.  The author, Julie Lawson Timmer was kind enough to do an interview and give a copy away.  Please enter!



I don't know what I'll read next, the stacks are large, the allotted time is not...