Anne Rice's long awaited book

I can't wait. March 4, 2008 and I'll finally be able to read the long awaited "Christ the Lord, The Road to Cana." If it's half as good the first in the series, "Christ the Lord, Out of Egypt," it will have been worth the long wait.
I've already signed up to be notified by e-mail as soon as the book goes on sale.

This is the book description from Amazon.com:

The Road to Cana, Anne Rice’s second book in her hugely ambitious life of Christ, begins before his baptism in the Jordan and concludes with the miracle at Cana. It is a novel in which we see Jesus, the man, living quietly in Nazareth as he has for many years. He is still known as Yeshua Bar Joseph. And he is enduring a winter of no rain, endless dust and looming trouble in Judea.

Legends of a virgin birth have long surrounded Yeshua, yet for decades he has lived no differently than the others who come to the synagogue on the Sabbath. All who know and love him find themselves waiting for some sign of the path he will eventually take.

And at last we see this quiet man emerge from his baptism to confront his destiny–and the Devil. We see what occurs when he takes the water of seven great limestone jars and transforms it into cool red wine; when he is recognized as the anointed one; when he is urged to call all Israel to take up arms against Rome and follow him as the prophets have foretold.

Like Out of Egypt, the first novel in Anne Rice’s series on the life of Christ, The Road to Cana is based on the gospels and on the most respected New Testament scholarship. The book’s power comes from the profound feeling its author brings to the writing and the subtlety with which she summons up the presence of Jesus.

I've posted about fictionalizing the life of Biblical people before and how in the past I wasn't sure it was a good idea. But I've come to feel that if reading a completely and thoroughly researched account of a Biblical figure can cause someone to open their Bible and read, then it can only be a good thing. I've read and loved such books as "Two Women of Galilee" by Mary Rourke, Bodie and Brock Thoene and others and absolutely enjoyed them.
I love the Lord so much I get excited just thinking about reading Anne's upcoming book and it's my prayer that some unsaved person will read it and be led to salvation as a result.

What do ya'll think? Is it wrong to write fictional accounts of Biblical people?

Confessions of a Food Network Junkie

I admit it. I'm a Food Network nut.

I watch every day for way too long.

I start out with Paula Deen so I can hear her delightful cackling laugh. I always hope I'll get to hear her say "mix some butter with some awlive awol yawl."

I move on next to the incredibly beautiful and exotic Giada DeLaurentis. Yes, I have one of her cookbooks and yes, I use it. Now she has a show called "Giada's Weekend Travels" and I got to see her take MY dream vacation on the Greek Island of Santorino! Sigh.......maybe someday.

Then on to the amazing Barefoot Contessa, Ina Garten. I want to be Ina Garten. She cooks the most delicious looking food and lives in that awesome Cape Cod style house in the Hamptons. And she has that cute little hubby Jeffrey.

Next I move on to the much maligned Sandra Lee. Poor Sandra. Everyone makes fun of her but I adore her. She's pretty and I love to watch her take tiny mincing steps toward the fridge or oven while never taking her eyes the camera. And if I'm really lucky, I get to watch her close a drawer with her hip and say "woooooooo!" Last Halloween, I discovered she does a killer Cher impersonation. Yes, I love Sandra.

Then comes the cute, bubbly, effervescent Rachael Ray. At least she used to be cute, bubbly and effervescent. Lately, she looks tired and stressed and she's just - dare I say it - loud and kind of obnoxious. She's become a Supa Star and she's dyed her hair black and tanned her skin and it kind of reminds me of when Rosanne Barr did the same thing right before she spontaneously combusted. I wish Rachael was still the old, not so famous Rachael. I loved her then.

Now when it comes to the guys on Food Network, my fave is the cute and ingenious Alton Brown. His shows are not only entertaining but educational. Love 'em!

I love all the guys from Dave Lieberman to Tyler Florence to Bobby Flay, but I have a crush on Chef Susur Lee. Maybe it's his long, flowing black hair. I just love him.

Now if only they would tape some new cooking segments, I'd be in Hawg Heaven, as Paula would say. But even if they don't, I'll keep watching. How can I stop? I'm a Food Network junkie!

The Last Sin Eater

I rented The Last Sin Eater and watched it last night.
First, let me post the synopsis here, quoted from Moviefone:

Michael Landon Jr. directs this period drama set in 1850s Appalachia and concerning a young girl who carries a crushing burden. Ten-year-old Cadi Forbes' (Liana Liberato) sister has died as the result of a tragic accident, and now the surviving sibling can't help feeling somewhat responsible for her sister's untimely death. Desperate to shake the guilt she feels and absolve her dearly departed kin from her Earthly sins, Cadi seeks out the assistance of the one person rumored to have the power of achieving both goals -- the mysterious Sin Eater (Peter Wingfield). In the midst of her redemptive quest, however, young Cadi uncovers a malevolent secret that threatens to destroy her family and divide her tightknit community. Only after discovering the truth about Jesus Christ and the human condition does Cadi realize that there is only one man capable of providing absolution of sin, and the word of that man can only be found in the Holy Bible. Henry Thomas and Louise Fletcher star in a feature adaptation of the novel by best-selling Christian author Francine Rivers. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

It wasn't what I was expecting and since I haven't read the book, I don't know exactly what I was expecting.
The first thing I'll say, is that in some way it reminds me of an M. Night Shyamalan movie. There was something kind of suspenseful, other-worldly and spooky about it.

What I didn't like about it was that there was way too little of Henry Thomas, who I adore. He barely has a couple of scenes in the movie.

I didn't quite understand the Lilybet characher. Was she a ghost, an Angel, an imaginary friend?

And something that really bugs me is the fact that they kept referring to the Native American lodgings as "hogans." Huh? This story takes place in the Appalachians. The Natives in that area, probably Cherokee, didn't live hogans, those are Navajo lodgings in Arizona and New Mexico.


Soren Fulton, who played Fagan, was the real stand out of the movie. What a fantastic young actor and he had the only convincing Welch accent of the entire cast.

Overall, I did enjoy the movie but it was a distant second to my favorite Michael Landon, Jr. movie, Love Comes Softly.

Waiting on the Lord

Psalm 62:
1 My soul waits in silence for God only;

From Him is my salvation.

2 He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold;

I shall not be greatly shaken.

Have you ever noticed that when you're going through something tough - some personal crisis or uncertainty, an answer will come through exactly when you need it? That is what has happened to me over the last couple of days.

Today while I was driving I had the radio tuned into Charles Stanley and the subject of his sermon was waiting on the Lord. It was exactly what I needed to hear.

I've been restless lately, waiting for answers on several things of importance in my life. I've prayed and I've talked to people that I thought could give me "expert" advice. Then I prayed some more.

But the hardest thing for me to do has always been to wait. I want to help things along, to influence in some way. I wonder how many of the Lord's blessings I've missed out on simply because I couldn't wait for a clear answer.

Do I trust in Him? Yes.

Do I believe He has a plan for my life that was designed before I was born? Yes.

Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

I do believe that but I never thought about it until recently. For a while now, I've felt strongly that God has something He wants me to do and I'm eager to get started, but I'm still not completely sure what it is.

Does He want me to witness for Him through Inspirational novels? Maybe. Or maybe its something different.
Right now I feel at loose ends and my patience is wearing thin, but I continue to wait. To resist the urge to "do" something on my own. In my heart I know whatever "it" is, I'll be ready when the opportunity presents itself, and it will be right for me, because I'm waiting on the Lord.

Psalm 27:
11 Teach me Your way, O LORD, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.

12 Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; For false witnesses have risen against me, And such as breathe out violence.

13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.

14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!

Prettiest Flowers in the World

See these flowers?
They're the most beautiful flowers I've ever received or probably ever will receive.
You know why?
Because they were sent by my son in Iraq!
Sure, they were a day late but that's okay and I got a call from him at 7:30 this morning, which made it all the better. Great day when I get both a phone call and Mother's Day flowers from my son the Marine!
I hope all the moms out there had as great a Mother's Day as I did.

My prayers are with the three soldiers who were captured in Mahmoudiya, Iraq and with all our troops. This is a parent's worst nighmare. May this war be over soon.

I didn't get anything else done over the weekend that I'd planned to do like watching the movies I wanted to review, but I'll get that done soon.
Have a great week everyone!

Researching Herbs or Too Much Time On My Hands

I've been researching herbs for my WIP and I've become fascinated with the subject. I've always admired herbalists or just anyone with a knowledge of how to forage through the woods and find things that heal and nourish. I guess I'm a cross between a wannabe Herbalist and wannabe Survivalist.

Anyway, my Heroine makes lace and sells it to a dressmaker in town. She made this tincture and gave it to the woman who was having "women's complaints." I've decided I'm going to make it and try it!
By the way, I'm in NO WAY condoning self medicating or replacing medications prescribed by doctors. Herbs are medicine and one should always be very careful when taking them. There...that was my disclaimer.

I got this tincture recipe from herbalist Rosemary Gladstar:

Gladstar recommends using high-quality dried herbs which you tincture yourself in good brandy or vodka. You can also make this formula from store-bought tinctures. The formula will last you a very long time. Use the tonic consistently over an extended period of time to assure steady, long-lasting results, she adds.

2 parts wild yam
1 part sarsaparilla
1 part black cohosh
2 parts Siberian ginseng
1 part dang qui
3 parts sage
3 parts licorice
3 parts dandelion root

Mix the herbs together. Put 4 tablespoons of the mixture into a wide-mouth jar and cover with 1 pint of good-quality 80 proof brandy or 100 proof vodka. Cover with a tight-fitting lid, place in a dark place and let stand for four to six weeks. Shake daily to mix the herbs with the alcohol. After four to six weeks, strain into a clean bottle through a strainer lined with cheesecloth. The recommended dose is 1/4 teaspoon three times a day for three months or longer. Dilute the tincture in water, juice, or tea before drinking, Gladstar suggests.

To avoid irritability, you should avoid consuming caffeine and other stimulants while using ginseng. Some herbalists say Licorice can raise blood pressure so be careful with that herb if you have high BP or perhaps use a smaller amount in your tincture.

Anyway, I bought the herbs and other supplies and I'll put it all together this weekend. Can't wait to try it in about, oh - six weeks!

The Nativity Story

I finally watched "The Nativity Story."

I had wanted to see it at Easter but for some reason, I didn't.

I liked it....but it didn't satisfy me. By that, I mean that I long to see a real blockbuster of a movie, an epic worthy of de Mille or at least with the zeal of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ."

I want it filmed in a location that looks authentic, not the wasteland of Morocco. I want a great cast. I want to see a story from the birth of Christ all the way through his life, ministry, crucifixion and resurrection.

I know it was done and done well in "Jesus of Nazareth" but I want an even better version with a Christ who looks like an ethnic Jew, not a blue eyed blond.

I think I'll e-mail Gibson and tell him to get on it.

This weekend I'm renting "The Last Sin Eater." Hope its as good as it looks!

John Schneider and Hidden Secrets

A couple of weeks ago I saw John Schneider being interviewed on TV. He was talking about his new movie, "Hidden Secrets." The plot of the film centers around the sudden death of a Christian “hometown hero,” and the longtime friends and family that gather for his funeral. Together for the first time in years, some begin to reveal hurts and mistakes they have been hiding from one another.

I read somewhere that the movie is sort of a Christian "Big Chill." Now I have to be honest, this doesn't really sound like my kind of movie but it stars John Schneider so how bad can it be? I've loved this man since he was Bo Duke and everything since then from his role on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman to Smallville. I'm sure I'll see this movie, too.

I hadn't realized that John is a born again Christian and.....okay, this is going to sound really ugly, but I am a born skeptic, I just can't help it and I wondered if he was just saying he's a Christian because of this movie. So I did a bit of Googling and I discovered, much to my joy, that he co-founded The Children's Miracle Network with Marie Osmond in 1982 and he founded FaithWorks Productions in 1995 to produce family-oriented videos and recordings, so he's had his "ministry" for a very long time.

It fills me with so much joy every time I see a celebrity come forward and say they're a Christian. We so desperately need Christian TV to offset the mainstream garbage coming our way.

On to another subject. My heart so goes out to those in Greensburg, Kansas after the tornado that swept through the town. I can't quite wrap my mind around the horror of a town being 95% wiped out. Those folks will be in my prayers.

We're having another stormy day here, too. It was storming so badly this morning that we didn't go to church. My daughter and I got dressed and started to go - in fact we were half way there and driving through flooded streets and I decided it was just to scary to be out and about. When I passed over the Little Blue River it was running faster than I've ever seen it run.

Looks like another lazy day watching old movies and bumming around the house.

I bought tomato and pepper plants and intended to put them out this afternoon after church but the weather channel says we'll have rain all through next week!! Sheesh.....guess I'll have to set them out in a mud hole and hope for the best.

I also got some fresh herbs which I'm going to pot and keep outside. I've never done that before so I don't know how they'll work but I love cooking with fresh herbs, especially parsley and it seems like all they ever have at the market is those scraggly little sprigs of parsley in plastic containers.

Well, hope ya'll have a nice week ahead. God bless and walk in the Word.