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Top Posts For October 2015

October was a pretty crazy month around here. Between football games, church events, and my health problems, it was a crazy month. And it flew by. November begins the season of birthdays in our family, and of course, the holidays. 2015 will be over before we know it!

Top Posts: October 2015

With all that has been going on, I have been more intentional about carving out some time to write consistently. With everything that has been going on with my health, that has been tough, but I am striving to stay on a schedule.

I am also trying to strengthen my habit of journaling, and take it to the next level. So I have been writing a lot more than normal. What would really help is if we had a good coffee shop around here. But alas, we do not. There is one in the next town over, but his open hours are so inconsistent, it isn’t worth the time to drive over there, only to find out he is closed for the day. Ah, the joys of rural, small town life.

And so, I have been seeking out places to write outside my normal desk at the office and my corner at home. While the weather lasts, writing outside is enjoyable. But that can’t last much longer. In the meantime, I am having fun with the process.

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Book Review – A House Divided by Robert Whitlow

A House DividedI have long been a fan of legal fiction. Novels from authors such as John Grisham and Randy Singer are among my favorites.

Another favorite legal fiction writer is Robert Whitlow. One of my first experiences with Whitlow’s work was his novel, The List. After reading that, I was hooked. Since then, I have read several of Whitlow’s novels,and each is better than the last.

In his most recent book, Whitlow tells the story of a man who is on the verge of losing everything. His wife, though divorced, is dead. His son is distant, and his daughter is more than distant. It seems as if she hates her father.

Throw in the battle with alcohol, and you have a man on the brink of destruction. His one ray of hope resides in his relationship with his grandson.

When a local company is accused of environmental poisoning, and several community kids end up with cancer as a result, he is faced with the challenge of bringing justice to his town.

And in the midst of all of this, he searches for healing and restoration.

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Coffee Break – 11.02.2015

Your Monday Dose Of Inspiration

On this day in history: In 1721, Peter the Great (Peter I), ruler of Russia, changed his title to emperor. In 1895, in Chicago, IL, the first gasoline powered car contest took place in America. In 1947, the Hughes Flying Boat, also known as the Spruce Goose, and the largest aircraft ever built, is piloted by designer Howard Hughes on its first and only flight. And in 2001, the computer-animated movie “Monsters, Inc.” opened. The film recorded the best debut ever for an animated film and the 6th best of all time.

Coffee Break

Using The Poplite Air Popper To Roast Coffee – With “real” coffee roasters commanding a premium price, sometimes of hundreds of dollars, some people have found cheaper ways to roast their coffee. This article makes some adjustments that aren’t necessary to use an air popper, but he is thorough.

Photos Of European Churches Left In Holy Ruin – It seems as if I have a fascination with abandoned ruins. When I stumble across articles like this one, it piques my curiosity to the highest levels. Some of these kinds of places make my bucket list of sites to see more than the more famous landmarks.

Russia Exhumes the Remains of the Last Tsar and Tsarina, Nearly a Century After Their Deaths – Although I am not a great student of Russian history, there are some things that stand out. The rebellion that dethroned the Romanovs is one of them. Here is an interesting bit of more modern history about this family.

A Rare Look Inside The Famous Iron Mountain – I never knew this existed. National Treasure and Indiana Jones aside, this is simply amazing! I really want to know what is hidden in here, but we will likely never know the extent of it all.

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Memorize Scripture: Philippians 3:4b-6

Of all people, Paul had plenty of reasons to be full of confidence in his own heritage and achievements. But that is not where he puts his faith. In this passage, he lists out his accomplishments.

You can see the list in Philippians 3:4b-6:

Philippians 3:4b-6

Paul’s Jewish heritage and testimony were impeccable. His resume, so to speak, was spotless, and had all anyone could every wish for… from a worldly point of view. But Paul’s emphasis here is that our own achievements, or our own heritage, is not worth placing our trust in. There is something more.

And, if anyone had the right to place their trust in themselves, Paul did. In this passage, he lists seven characteristics of his life and accomplishments. The first four represent his birth and background. The final three represent his accomplishments.

Let’s look at each in turn:

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The Sacredness Of The Word

I love words. I think I always have. Words have long been a critical part of my life.

The Written Word

As a result of this love, I also greatly enjoy the tools of the word. I love writing with fountain pens, and have a small collection of pens of all sorts, from vintage fountain pens to specialty pens, to custom made pens. And pencils are fun too. I recently was given a box of special issue Blackwing pencils. Using one of those is like what I imagine writing in Heaven will be like.

I also have a fascination with vintage typewriters. I have a couple of older ones, one from the 40s, and one from the early 60s. These are more display pieces than usable equipment, but I do write the occasional letter or note with one of them.

I journal. I carry a Moleskine journal with me at all times, and I usually have a Field Notes brand notebook or two handy as well. The Field Notes are inspired by the old farmers’ field notebooks of the last fifty years. I have several of those old notebooks as well.

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Coffee Break – 10.26.2015

Your Monday Dose Of Inspiration

On this day in history: In 1825, the Erie Canal opened in upstate New York. The 363-mile canal connected Lake Erie and the Hudson River at a cost of $7,602,000. In 1854, Charles William Post was born. He was the inventor of “Grape Nuts,” “Postum” and “Post Toasties.” Yum! And in 1881, the “Gunfight at the OK Corral” took place in Tombstone, AZ. The fight was between Wyatt Earp, his two brothers and Doc Holiday and the Ike Clanton Gang. Read more about it here.

Coffee Break

Touring 24 Of The Top Coffee Production Regions – Where does your favorite coffee come from? Have you ever wondered what gives that region the particular tastes that you like so well? Here are 24 of the world’s top regions.

15 Infamous Facts About ¡Three Amigos! – This is one of my all time favorite movies. I can watch this over and over. Here are some facts about the film that you may not know.

Why Is It So Hard To Catch Your Own Typos? – As a writer, typos are the bane of my existence. And I get really frustrated when I find one later that I missed after I finish my blog post or sermon or whatever. Why can’t we catch our own typos? This article from Wired explains the reason behind this.

What Is Fire? – I love to sit around a campfire and watch the flames. Fire fascinates us. The color. The movement. The warmth. But what is fire? This video explains it well.