Taking the Yellow Car to Faith

Family vacations. Gotta love them.

During a family trip to South Dakota, my kids and husband found amusement in playing Yellow Car.

Huh? you're thinking. I don't blame you.

According to LOST's bible (Wikipedia), "Yellow Car is the name of a game commonly played between passengers when travelling in a car. When a yellow car is spotted by any passenger, they call out 'yellow car' and lightly hit the other passenger. It is played often in the United Kingdom. There are other variations of this game such as 'Mini Punch' and 'Slugbug'"

Oh, the important things you'll learn from me.

Even if I weren't a writer, I'd love Wikipedia. 99.9% of the time Wiki has the answers to my questions. Trust me, I have lots of questions. While on our family vacation, I made a list of random things I needed to google when I got the chance. I'll spare you my page full of all the random things/people I investigated. But I can't help it. My curiosity causes my Google and Wikipedia addictions.

The reality is I google because I want to learn.

If I really wanted to impress you with my reading library, I'd show you my copy of ANNA KARENINA, which I only keep prominantly displayed in my office because I want people to think I've read it. Just between us, I have no intention of reading it. Call me reverse snobby if you will. I think I'm quite clever.

In the last ten-ish years, I've notice a snobbery between literary readers and pop fiction readers, between non-fiction readers and fiction readers, between those who think Wikipedia should count as a credible source and those who don't. Oh, this tangled world we live in, where many folks won't eat the unfamiliar cereal. If Mikey likes it, then why not expand your cereal..umm, reading horizons.

I recently finished reading Malcolm Gladwell's OUTLIERS. Great read! Easy read.

Now my motto is "Love a book? Then tell someone." So I went to church and told several folks. One person looked oddly at me and said, "How do you have time to read?"

Huh?!

With anything, if it's important to you, you will find the time.

Two summers ago, as I was helping Judy Duarte put together the worship service for the RWA Faith, Hope & Love chapter's general meeting, I asked several published authors for a quote about a non-fiction book that has influenced her faith, family, or fiction. The number of those who said they didn't read non-fiction kinda surprised me. On the other hand, many others graciously and openly shared. Here's a few:

"Debbie Macomber's book, KNIT TOGETHER--DISCOVER GOD'S PATTERN FOR YOUR LIFE is one of my favorites. It's the story of how she overcame a variety of obstacles to become a writer. I found her positive approach to life incredibly inspiring."~Shelley Shepard Gray, author of the Sisters of the Heart series for Avon Inspire, 2009 IRCC finalist

"I love Joyce Meyers' book, BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND because it not only gets my mind in a goodplace to hear from God before pouring my imagination into a story, but her book sparks lots ofideas about what kinds of things I can use for my characters' spiritual struggle/conflict fortheir faith journeys within the stories."~Cheryl Wyatt, author A SOLDIER'S REUNION, Love Inspired

"I attended a lady's retreat this spring and the speaker spoke right into my heart. She taught from a book she co-authored, called HOLY HABITS, by Mimi Wilson and Shelly Cook Volkhardt. One of the habits is keeping an alphabetical address book - if you will - with all the names and attributes of God as I read through the Bible. I haven't gotten very far, but it's been fabulous to take my eyes off my own problems and see how big God is and how He meets me everywhere I go." ~Sunni Jeffers, author EYES ON THE PRIZE

"I'd have to recommend Beth Moore's book, GET OUT OF THE PIT. It's about how to get out of the "pit", AKA overcoming anger and desperation from past hurts. The book was inspired by Psalm 40, and encourages us to turn to God. The study guide was awesome. Very thought-provoking." ~Renee Ryan, author HANNAH'S BEAU, Love Inspired Historical



Serious Question of the Day: What's the last non-fiction book you read? Did ya like it? Learn anything?

Non-Serious Question of the Day: When you looked in the mirror first thing this morning, what was the first thing you thought?