DCB: One word

Awesome!

OK, here's a few more words. Last night I got to see the David Crowder Band in concert right here in the Little Apple (Manhattan, Kan.). Opening acts were The Myriad and Phil Wickham -- who were excellent by the way. But the main attraction rocked the house. I was near the back, but it was a good location because the sound just washed over me and I could see just fine. David Crowder and company are excellent musicians and their focus is alway where it belongs -- on God. And they have a great time, too, so the audience has a great time. They played a lot of songs from their new album, Remedy, but also some old favorites. If you have a chance to see them on this tour, do it. You won't be sorry.

Help my hometown hospital

My hometown hospital, Clay County Medical Center, has entered a short video in a contest to win a FREE Siemen's MRI machine that would be installed in the hospital. Currently, the hospital uses a mobile unit. Our hospital serves a fairly large rural area and the MRI would be a real benefit. If you want to help out, go to the Web site, watch Granny Gets an MRI, and vote. You can vote every day (once each day per computer) until Dec. 31, and you don't have to watch it every time after the first time -- just click the vote button. But it's really cute so you'll want to watch more than once.

CSFF: Bark of the Bog Owl

If you've paid any attention to Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy in recent years, you've heard of this month's book: Bark of the Bog Owl by Jonathan Rogers. It's the first book in the Wilderking Trilogy for grade-school age readers, and an imaginative take on a familiar Old Testament story.

You can find out more by visiting some of the other bloggers posting this month:

Brandon Barr
Jim Black
Justin Boyer
Grace Bridges
Amy Browning
Jackie Castle
Valerie Comer
CSFF Blog Tour
D. G. D. Davidson
Chris Deanne
Janey DeMeo
Merrie Destefano or Alien Dream
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Linda Gilmore
Marcus Goodyear
Andrea Graham
Jill Hart
Katie Hart
Sherrie Hibbs
Christopher Hopper
Becca Johnson
Jason Joyner
Karen
Dawn King
Mike Lynch
Rachel Marks
Karen McSpadden
Melissa Meeks
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Eve Nielsen
John W. Otte
Lyn Perry
Deena Peterson
Rachelle
Cheryl Russel
Ashley Rutherford
Hanna Sandvig
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Donna Swanson
Daniel I. Weaver
Laura Williams
Timothy Wise

Monday good stuff

I was absent from blogging last week -- getting ready for women's retreat and trying to get a lot done at work. The retreat went well and was a testimony to God being in control. (It's a long story, but a couple of months ago, I wondered if we'd even have a retreat.) God came through, big time, and I think a lot of us were encouraged and challenged.

When I got home from retreat yesterday, I found my very own copies of Coach's Midnight Diner and Relief Issue 4 had come in the mail. Yay! These are quality publications, in spite of my own contribution to them. I started reading the Diner yesterday and was not disappointed. There are some stories I like better than others, but the writing is top-notch. If you like horror, weird fiction, crime stories, or supernatural suspense, you should check it out. You'll be challenged and you may disagree with some of them, but you'll definitely be thinking after reading the stories in the Diner.

Want some good music? I'd never heard of Tim McAllister, but Infuze pointed me to his album Strong Tower. I figured I'd check it out, since it was free. This is good music. He's got kind of a different voice -- but good. And the songs express a lot of honest emotion and Christian wondering. It's not all wrapped up neatly and tied with a bow, but it's hopeful all the same. Good stuff.

One of the new posters at The Master's Artist is Chris Fisher. He's got some good thoughts today about writing and faith.

I watched the 60 Minutes interview with Joel Osteen last night. I am even more convinced that he's preaching a very incomplete gospel and downright bad theology. But better theological minds than mine have posted about it -- check out the Internet Monk's thoughts here. Of course, Osteen isn't preaching anything new -- the prosperity gospel has been around in some form or another for a very long time. But it's still wrong.

Free Burma

Tuesday news

Here's a few tidbits:

The revamped Relief Journal site is up and it looks great. The Relief Writer's Network is integrated into the site and I understand the submission system will be part of that. Coach is still transferring content, but it will soon be complete.

J. Mark Bertrand has been doing stuff with his blogs: He's separated out his Bible Design and Binding entries into their own blog as well as making a new site for his writing related blog. It used to be call Notes on Craft, now it's Write About Now and, like the other sites, shows Mark's flair for design as well as boasting excellent content. And, of course, he's got a blog related to his soon to be released book Rethinking Worldview.

The Master's Artist has a new look, too, thanks to Mark (with photos from Jeanne Damoff).

Right now I'm listening (via Rhapsody) to the new album from the Foo Fighters: Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace. Very, very good. So far it's a good mix of loud and mellow.
Last week I got to listen to the new CD from David Crowder: Remedy. Also very good.
Both of these are going on my music wish list (my itunes shopping cart).

FIRST time again

It's time for the monthly post for the FIRST tour and this month's book info is below, along with a link to read the first chapter. I'll have to admit I'm not likely to read it -- I have too low a heebie-jeebie threshold and it's not something that appeals to me. But if you like supernatural thrillers, this could interest you so check it out.

Demon: A Memoir by Tosca Lee

This month's feature author is:

TOSCA LEE

and her book:

Demon: A Memoir

(NavPress, 2007)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tosca Lee received her BA in English and International Relations from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. She has also studied at Oxford University.

As a Leadership Consultant, Tosca works with managers and leaders of organizations throughout the Pan-Pacific region, Europe, and the U.S.

Tosca is a former Mrs. Nebraska-America 1996, Mrs. Nebraska-United States 1998 and first runner-up to Mrs. United States and has been lauded nationally for her efforts to fight breast cancer.

In her spare time, Tosca enjoys cooking, studying history and theology, and traveling. She currently resides in Nebraska with her Shar Pei, Attila.

Visit her at her website and her blog. Read the first chapter here.