What it's all about (a book review)

"You can do this dance! I'm sure even God does the hokey pokey once in a while. Get in a circle!"

Calling. It's a word that gets tossed around a lot, especially in the world of American Christian culture. We look for it, discover it, follow it, and (all too often) lose sight of it. And for the most part, many of us would just like a Old-Testament-style sign from God to show us just what "it" is.

This idea of calling is the starting point for Matthew Paul Turner's upcoming book Hokey Pokey: Curious People Finding What Life's All About. But warning: this book is no burning bush... it's more like a collection of stories and thoughts that ponder the journey we all face of learning, well... just what "it's all about."

Hokey Pokey explores the nature of real calling with light, conversational anecdotes laced with just enough sarcastic, good-natured humor. And the biggest strength of this book is that it never attempts to lay out a plan to find your purpose and have a wonderful, fulfilling life in a few easy steps. Instead, Matthew presents life as a story, as a series of experiences that "point to a greater significance." Life is a path for curious people, and through these stories he shares valuable insights on a wide range of subjects, from freedom in curiosity, to the importance of mentors, to waiting on God for changes (and how to cope when they finally come!).

In addition to the storytelling approach, the chapters are broken up with questions to reflect on and the occasional interview with "curious people." These short interludes are easily skipped, but they provide a moment to really pause and think about how the point of each chapter applies to your own life. In this way, it might drift just a little bit into "self-help" territory, but never in an overly distracting or instructional way.

The Donald Miller comparisons are inevitable, but hey -- I'd say that's a compliment! Reading this book was a lot like reading Blue Like Jazz, with less focus on the memoir and more on the spiritual truths in the stories. And this book rings with truth; I dare you to get through the pages without a moment of, "wow, I am so right there." It's the sort of book that comes with you like a good friend, and shows you where you've been to hint at where you're going.

This is one of those books that truly resonated with me in more ways than I expected, and I can't recommend it enough, no matter where you are on the curious path of life.

Hokey Pokey is available in stores April 1. More of Matthew Paul Turner's writing can be found at his blog, Jesus Needs New PR.

Because I haven't randomly posted a quote in a while...

"Some people strengthen the society just by being the kind of people they are." ~ John W. Gardner (educator, public administrator, and social activist)

Soft and Juicy... Muscat?

Kasugai gummy candy is probably the best thing to come from Japan since sushi, anime, and Human Tetris. I mean, gummy candy is great anyway, but the first time I had one of these delightful, squishy, fruity confections, it was love.

And then the store I bought them from went out of business. So sad. Picked up a few bags at the Japan store at Epcot last year (grape and orange... yum!), but really didn't know where else to find them.

Then today... I walk into FYE and behold! Kasugai gummies! Yay!

Including a flavor I'd never seen before, not even at Epcot...

Muscat? What the heck is muscat?

So, I bought a bag because:
(1) I had no idea what muscat was. Looks like green grapes on the picture though, and I like green grapes.
(2) That little Engrish blurb on the package was too funny to pass up. "...taste and aroma so gentle and mellow offer admiring feelings of a graceful lady." Awesome. (actually, all the flavors have pretty funny Engrish blurbs)

Well... they taste pretty much like sour green grapes. Only... weirder. And then I find out they are muscadine grapes, better known in my family as "those things your grandma used to grow." Ah yes, I remember those now...

That's what you get for living dangerously and not sticking with strawberry. Not bad... just a weird acquired taste.

Anyway, I whole-heartedly recommend you try Kasugai gummies if you like fruity, soft gummy candy. The texture and flavor are perfect... seriously amazing.

Just... not this flavor first. Unless you have fond childhood muscadine memories. :)

starkest madness.

So yesterday marks the one year anniversary of the first post of this little blog of mine. (Yay!) And I meant to post something to commemorate this occasion, but... I forgot.

 

And at work with no time and nothing really to say, I'll just quickly note that for this week, every slip-up, every over-sleep, every wrong turn, every forgetful moment, and generally everything that goes wrong will be blamed on Daylight Savings Time. That lost hour of sleep really messes you up.

 

(right down to the spilled honey I just cleaned out of my desk drawer. :P)

 

DST is evil. The end.

Back to work now.

Our listeners = the best

And so, another eventful (or maybe it should be event-full) weekend survived. Yes, worked a weekend of events... Lecrae show last night, and Central Florida Home & Garden Show tonight. Fun times.

But actually, I really just wanted to mention my favorite listener comments of the weekend. Because our listeners are awesome and funny... sometimes without realizing it. :)

Favorite Friday Comment

"Wow! Are you guys related? You look so alike!" (to me and Wolfman. I don't think we look that much alike, but... maybe after years of working together, you start to look alike? Kinda like people and their dogs? Eh, maybe not... but we have a new inside joke now.)

Favorite Saturday Comment

Wolfman: "And this is Jen, who works with me at the Z..."
Listener: "Oh yeah, I've heard of Jen. She just had a baby, right?"
Me: "ummm.... no..."

***

And now, time to lose an hour of sleep. Assuming I can get to sleep. Drinking coffee at 10pm, especially bad coffee, is not a smart idea. (whee!)

Don't forget to spring forward tonight, kids. Or um... this morning, actually.

Local Music and Not-so-local Weirdness

So, I'm just a little bit proud of Fireflight. I mean sure, we all know Florida bands are awesome and will take over the music scene, but face it... it's not everyday that a group from a little town called Eustis (that's in Lake County for all you city folk :P) gets signed and picks up national attention including exposure in a network TV promo. And really, they are sweet people and make pretty darn good rock music.

So, the point: their new album drops on Tuesday, but they've got a preview of the whole thing online now. Just doing my part to plug my local people. :D It's really quite good too. And the cover is pretty rad.

***

On a (much) less-local level... some hilarity from the Land of the Rising Sun... Human Tetris!

I admit... I laughed hysterically. Be amazed by the random and awesome weirdness of Japanese television!