I am not a multi-tasker but I do tend to be a multi-reader. Juggling several books at one time is not unusual for me. Although I’ve just started them, the two newest editions to my collection promise to be good reads!
Donald Miller begins A Million Miles In A Thousand Years proposing how “the saddest thing about life is you don’t remember half of it.” I for one agree with him. Yet every life is a story worth telling because every life has meaning and purpose. Miller is given a unique opportunity to literally edit his own story.
Markus Zusak opens his NY times bestseller, The Book Thief, by asserting “a small fact – you are going to die.” At this point, all I know is – Death is his story’s narrator.
Well it has finally happened. Tucker Max’s best selling book, I hope They Serve Beer In Hell, has been made into a movie and hits theaters in just a few days. Now, I read a lot of books — many listed on the NY Times best-seller list. And I’m the first to support an individual’s right to express themselves in whatever medium they choose. And normally, I refuse to critique books I haven’t actually read or movies I haven’t seen….but in this case I make an exception. This is just my opinion – but I cannot see anything positive or redeeming in the kind of reckless and remorseless debauchery that is apparently represented and promoted in Max’s literature or film. Clearly, Tucker Max disagrees. In the introduction to his book he writes,
Tony B may have left his heart in San Francisco but after 5 days there – I brought mine back with me. Don’t get me wrong, Margie and I loved the city – it’s very interesting and quite beautiful but let’s face it…there is no place like sweet home Chicago. After doing A LOT of walking in San Fran, I couldn’t help but wonder, “who was the knucklehead that thought building a city on rolling hills was a good idea?” I almost lost my mind a couple times and finally declared, “I’m done with walking these stinking hills, we’re getting a taxi.” We also took advantage of riding a cable car – which every other single tourist does in San Fran – apparently at the exact same time. So riding them is not particularly an advantage in terms of getting around – but it is fun. FYI – the trip was in celebration of our 25th wedding anniversary [coming in Nov] and we had a great time. We visited all the tourist spots, Chinatown, Alcatraz, Napa, Pier41, Grace Cathedral [where I actually sat, rested and prayed about my bad attitude regarding the stupid hills and endless walking], etc. And although Mark Twain never actually said, “The coldest winter I ever spent was summer in San Francisco,” he should have…because it is very chilly in and around the city this time of year. If you’ve never been there – it’s worth a visit. We took too many pictures to actually share…so I found a promo [odd but effective] which includes most of the stuff we saw…sans the hula dancers. 
Out of the many books I’ve read of late, Kathleen Norris’ text entitled Acedia & me has helped to idenify and clarify for me something we all struggle with at one time or another. Acedia, as defined by standard dictionaries is apathy, boredom, topor or what the monastics refered to as ‘the noonday demon.’ At its greek root, the word acedia means the absence of care. The person afflicted with it refuses to or is incapable of caring. Originally listed as ‘sloth’ [number 7 of the deadliest sins], acedia is more than just laziness. It is a spiritual apathy that can overshadow our lives. Norris suggests it rests at the core of much of our restless boredom, frantic escapism, commitment phobia, and enervating despair. Could acedia be the malady that plagues Christians today and keeps us from full and passionate living?
When coaching boy’s high school ball, I’d bring him to the gym with me. He loved it. Truth be told, I even prayed for him to be at least 6′6″ — good size for a small foward. Well, God answered my prayer. At 17 years old, my son Corey is 6′7″ with a arm span of 6′10″. He, however, is not a basketball player but a volleyball player. This has been very difficult for me. Why? Because I’ve had to learn about a completely new sport!
Husband. Father. Senior Pastor of 