"Armada" by Ernest Cline

I have been waiting on tenderhooks for Cline's second novel since his debut - Ready Player One - kind of rocked my world.
Armada has a very similar vibe to its predecessor; lots of 80's references, young male lead coming-of-age story with a skillful mix of adventure and humor. The protagonist is a high schooler plucked from behind his monitor to use the skills that he has been carefully honed, without his conscious knowledge, through the governments' secret program to train fighter pilots through the use of online gaming. This premise would be plenty but it's interwoven with a sparky, quirky romance, a dramatic family tale, and a fascinating group dynamic between a group of people of all different races, religions, nationalities, and ages.
Whichever of Cline's books you read first you will no doubt adore.
The problem is, whichever you read second might sound like a bit of an echo. Both books are good. But they're a really similar vibe. It's like any of the early Taylor Swift albums - each song was good on its own but if you listened to more than one in a row it all blurred into one giant song, even though technically the content was different, it all rings the same.
I don't want to seem like I didn't enjoy the book, I did, but I'll be interested to see if Cline has any more range in his (hopefully) upcoming third novel.

I'm still loving Blogging for Books, who provided me with this novel, even though I've been pretty negligent lately. Can't wait to tell you about the next one!

Why Doesn't God "Come Up"?

Psalm 40:10 "I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and faithfulness from the great congregation."

I’m a pretty passionate person.

I like what I like and I like to share that with people I like (or whoever will listen really).

I recommend a strange variety of music, force my friends to watch stand-up comedians they’ve never heard of, and openly obsess over books/blogs/Pinterest.

None of that, however, compares to how much you’ll hear about my husband, parents, college roommate, friends, or friends’ kids if we sit down for dinner.

All of these things fit seamlessly into conversation, they’re part of my heart so they bubble over; so then why is it that my first love, my truest advocate, my safe place, never seems to come up naturally?

The subject of God draws me up short, I shrink back and turn nonchalant -- always hoping not to offend – and that’s if He even makes it into conversation at all. I could say that it’s because I’m polite and don’t discuss sex, religion, or politics but that’s not true. Maybe I don’t want the other person to feel awkward? Not exactly.

I don’t want me to feel awkward. I don’t want them (anyone at all) to think I’m judgmental or holier-than-thou or a total mess of a hypocrite.

The problem with this line of thinking is that I’m obviously a Christian. Not like I wear a stack of “WWJD?” bracelets, but I went to college for Christian Counseling and Women’s Ministry; most of my friends are either from my Pentecostal university or high school youth group; and, when people ask what I’m working on right now, I’m trying to write a 365-Day Devotional.

All I’m doing by not talking about God in my casual conversations is showing a lack of passion. TheMan, my parents, The Shins, Jim Gaffigan, and on and on are all shown as more important and valuable to me than the God I trust with my life and forever.

So I’m done with that. My God has been too sweet to me during this trial, His Word teams up with Prozac to help me overcome my depression day by day, He shows Himself to be good a hundred ways every day and I’m over being dispassionate about that!

Our lives will always show what we’re passionate about – if you want to know what you’re broadcasting check your Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter – so today, I’m praying that I can show people the loving God who allows a quirky little girl from the middle of nowhere to peak into His glory and who will, clearly, use anyone who is willing as an ambassador.

What are you showing the people you interact with that you’re passionate about? Will you join me today in praying for a heart that bubbles over with talk of God’s goodness?

Why Carb Queen?

My parents have always called me the “Carb Queen” – because I adore pasta and bread. They’re versatile, the best food if you ask me, and, overall, delicious.

I’ve always loved them both, but lately bread is gaining an advantage.

Recently, I’ve begun to bake, but my doctors have taken away simple sugars which leaves me and bread almost alone. And I’m starting to like it that way.

Bread is variety – you can do almost anything with it. Butter. Peanut butter. Jams, jellies, or preserves. Dip it, rip it, dunk it.

No matter what I do to it, I can always be sure it will satisfy and maintain its bread-y essence.

I believe there’s a reason that the Lord’s prayer includes the line, “give us this day, our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). God called His provision for the Israelites, “Manna,” or “bread from heaven” (Exodus 16:4). Moreover, Jesus referred to Himself as the, “Bread of Life” (John 6:35).

One of my favorite authors, Shauna Niequist, describes herself as “a bread-and-wine person.” A harkening back to communion, which she explains thusly, “As a Christian, I recognize them as food and drink, but also, at the very same time, I recognize them as something much greater – mystery and tradition and symbol … The two together are the sacred and the material at once, the heaven and earth, the divine and the daily.”

(Can you tell I’m obsessed with her writing? Really, go buy Bread and Wine, it’s be dog-earred by the time you’re through the first chapter.)

Her words and these verses mingle and echo through my mind as I flour the counter, as I knead the dough (or don’t depending on the recipe), and as I peek into the darkness under the striped towel that conceals my rising prize.

Obviously, I’m a girl who loves her bread, but what if I got obsessed with the Living Bread? What if I ate this in remembrance of Him (Luke 22:19)? What if I ate and drank and did everything in honor of Him who sustains me (1 Corinthians 10:31)? What if I watched for the places that the divine meets the daily?

Bread is messy; it’s a lot of measurements that look like sticky chaos, sort of come together, are in the dark for a while, are changed by heat, and then come out delicious.

My life is messy too; I’m a newlywed, battling multiple chronic illnesses, and looking down the barrel of a lot of transitions.

I guess all that’s left is to be on the lookout for the deliciousness.