Books of 2014

[This post will be continually updated with each new book read]

1. The Husband's Secret
by Liane Moriarty



Overall I enjoyed this book. It reminded me a lot of last year's Gone Girl, but with more characters. The Husband's Secret told three separate stories about three families for most of the book that all came together in a plot twist toward the end. For me, the mark of an excellent "plot twist" book is that I don't see it coming, unfortunately I found this one a little too obvious. C+

2. Take One
by Karen Kingsbury

I've never been the Christian that only listens to Christian music and my favorite movies are not Fireproof, Facing the Giants, and others like that. That's just not me. For that reason, I've never even given Karen Kingsbury a chance despite my mother and sister's recommendations. While Take One is far from my favorite book, its not bad. The way Kingsbury uses scripture and the way the characters uplift is a good reminder to do those things in my own life. The story line is predicable and flat though, and it probably didn't help that I listened to it as an audiobook. C

3. Take Two
by Karen Kingsbury

Well I didn't hate it enough to quit reading, plus its easy listening while walking my dog or delivering notices at work. The second book got a bit tedious for me, and became increasingly predictable and unrealistic. I'm starting to doubt if I can stick with the series. D+

4. Bossy Pants

by Tina Fey

Loved this book! Two years ago one of my favorite books was Mindy Kaling's "Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?" and this one was close to being as funny. I listened to this by audiobook as well, which I highly recommend because Fey reads it herself. The book has charm, wit, and humor. Plus I enjoyed learning more about Fey and how she got to where she is now. I highly recommend this one. B+

5. Heads in Beds
By Jacob Tomsky

My major in school was Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism. This book was written by a long time employee and manager of a major (unnamed) hotel chain. It is an expose on the hotel industry that most people outside of my major and job probably wouldn't have much interest in, but I found it fascinating. If anything everyone can learn how to get a room upgrade, free movies, or never pay for another minibar item again. C+

6. The Fault in Our Stars

By John Green

This book was absolutely heart breaking and wonderful. Everyone one of my favorite books is sad, but if that's not the case for you then you may not be a fan. The story is about two unique teenagers brought together by cancer figuring out how to live without letting their disease define them. As a quote in the book says "Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book”  and that is how I feel about this book. A

7. The Truth About Forever

By: Sarah Dessen

8. The Moon & More

By Sarah Dessen

9. Eleanor & Park

By Rainbow Rowell

I thought I decided I wasn't going to grad school...

Seminary Classes.


Well I've only been in my seminary classes for 2 days but I can already say... I love it! I know we're only taking these classes for 2 weeks but they are real classes for real graduate credit at schools like Bethal, Dallas Theological Seminary, Trinity, Reformed Theological Seminary, and other amazing schools. Granted, we only receive 2 one hour credits for intro courses, but still, not bad for only 2 weeks.


The schedule is INTENSE. We have our Intro to Systematic Theology class at 8:00am every day and it's two hours, then we have a short break before Bible Study Methods, which is from 10:30-12:30. I really enjoy both of the classes so far and I will write more blog entries in the future over some of the specific things I'm learning.


After class everyday I grab a lunch and then begin on the reading and homework. Yesterday we had to read about 100 pages and another long article, plus read and summarize the whole book of Ephesians section by section, and complete a study guide to review all we had read and learned throughout the lecture that day. Its work that I do enjoy so I don't want to rush through it, but it took me about 7 hours to complete which is harder than I ever have had to work for school.


Today we had around 70-80 pages, and more work on Ephesians that required me reading the whole book about 5 times, and another study guide. I'm still not done with today's work but I did take a break to go for a run on the beach which was nice and refreshing. I'd say I'm looking at about 6 hours of work today.


I really enjoy the theology class. Its at 8:00am and I'm tired but I am completely drawn in. Today our topic was on the inerrancy, inspiration, and accuracy of the Bible. We discussed how views on that have changed throughout the years and why the alternate opinions came into view. Our professor does have an opinion on many things, but the first day in class we learned about what to hold as convictions and what to hold as persuasions or opinions.


Convictions: central beliefs, crucial to salvation, over which we should be willing to denounce someone in serious disagreement, found multiple times in the Bible
Persuasions: beliefs about which we are personally certain but which are not crucial to salvation, we must accept those with differing persuasions as members in good standing of God's family, even if we are certain they are wrong, based on subjects included in the Bible (ex: tongues, millennial views, age of the earth)
Opinions: beliefs on subjects where we have a preference but acknowledge others may also be right or we do not have any confidence in (ex: best bible translation or political views)
[Taken from Enjoying God by Alan Kent Scholes--a book I highly recommend]


So while our professor does share his opinions, persuasions, and convictions, he also stresses how we should form all of that on our own research and not the beliefs of others. My convictions are very steadfast, but I have come to really how much I need to research those things I call persuasions for myself. It is all just making me want to dive into scripture and research, and I find it all so fascinating!


That's all I'll write for now because I doubt you're still reading (I mean who puts definitions with a citation in a blog?! I do cause I'm crazy). I'll leave you with this...


Prayer Requests:

• That I would continue to encounter Christ in every class, reading, and homework assignment and grow to love him more as I learn more about him
• That our group would remain healthy
• That I can build close relationships with the women here to have a support system during MPD time

Love y'all and I truly miss everyone SO much!