...nerves and excitement

Well, I teach today for the first time at The Gathering which is the sunday morning event for the student ministry that I work with at Trinity Chapel.  I am so excited about this opportunity and what God has in store for Julie and I in the future.  But I am also a little nervous because this is such a huge step and a brand new adventure.  But I know that God is there and I know that this is going to be a wild, fun, and exciting ride.

Pray that I continually seek Christ during this adventure and that I never lose sight of Him amongst the business.  Pray that this ministry can be a place where true community happens and that lives are changed by the Gospel.  Pray that God will do His thing...because thats all I can ever ask for.

...amazing grace

My favorite hymn of all time is Amazing Grace and I may have to admit that it could be my favorite song.  This wasn't the grace until recently, as I have been diving in and trying to understand what exactly grace entails. (see previous blog on grace)  And every time I do, I leave saying, "thats amazing".  That old song has been sung for a very long time and I think for most of us it has lost its meaning, but I pray that we slow down and hear the words.  I pray that we hear the passion in the words "Amazing Grace".  Thats my challenge to all of us...hear the words and fall in love with the free gift of grace.

Amazing Grace (How sweet the sound)
That sav'd a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev'd;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ'd!

Thro' many dangers, toils and snare,
I have already come;
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall profess, within the vail,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call'd me here below,
Will be for ever mine.

...mans guide to mystery (follow-up)

Yesterday, I wrote my take on the Top 5 mystery authors for men and posted it on this blog and on the Katy Budget Books blog.  The author that toped my list was Harlan Coben...and this is where it gets funny.  My mom owns a bookstore and guess who stopped by today to sign copies of his latest book for stock at the store...Harlan Coben.  My mom printed off a copy of my blog entry, showed it to him and he signed it and said that "this is the best blog ever".  So now I have a celebrity following.  I thought that was pretty funny considering I just randomly wrote it yesterday.  

BD 

...a man's guide to mysteries

This post can also be found at the Katy Budget Books blog where I am a new contributer.

Several guys have asked me, what's a good book that will keep me entertained throughout?  They usually go on to say that they don't like to read or get bored easily because its never is as good as 24 or Gladiator.  This pains me because there are some amazing books out there that men of all ages will absolutely love....and ladies, they would make great gifts as well...and you might like them too.  These authors are just the tip of the iceberg and I will add to this list regularly.  Read on and enjoy.

A Man’s Guide to Mysteries

 1. Harlan Coben (stand alones)

…Tell No One, Just One Look, The Woods

 The current King of suspense…bar none.  Coben has already claims the top 2 spots on my list because he is just that good.  I would argue that he is among the best to ever master this genre.  His books beautifully weave epic suspense, brilliant humor, dry sarcasm, and fun into a wild ride.  If you have never read Coben…I only have one question…why not?  His absolute best is Tell No One…check it out and I promise that you will be amazed.

 2. Harlan Coben (Myron Bolitar Series)

…Drop Shot, Fade Away, Back Spin

 Really anything that Harlan Coben writes is gold and the Myron Bolitar series is no exception.  This is where Coben started and there are some genuine gems.  The main character, Myron Bolitar, is an arrogant sports agent who winds up in some very interesting (…to say the least) situations.  The books are funny, great for guys (…honestly, Coben transcends all gender gaps), and keep you guessing the entire time.

 3. Vince Flynn (Mitch Rapp Series)

…Transfer of Power, Separation of Power, The Third Option

 This is the author that ignited the spark and made me love to read again after I rebelled against my mom (…yeah, I was a wild child and rebelled by saying that I hated to read…yeah, I’m a dork) in junior high.  Flynn’s run of masterpieces are built around the character of Mitch Rapp.  Rapp is a CIA assassin that must protect America by taking the war on terrorism right to the terrorists and it makes for an exciting thrill ride.

Plus, he is the creative consultant for the tv show, 24...maybe you have heard of it.  And I say this with the most respect to Jack Bauer but Mitch Rapp would kick the crap out of him.

 4. Brad Thor (Scott Harvath Series)

…Lions of Lucerne, Path of the Assasin, Blowback

 Cast from a similar mold as Vince Flynn, Thor builds his books around Secret Service agent Scott Harvath.  Harvath has killed his share of terrotists…just with his own unique flair.  Plus, the author’s name is Thor…that guarantees that it is going to be great for guys.

 5. Old School John Grisham

…The Firm, A Time to Kill, Pelican Brief  and The Partner

 Let me first say that I really am not a big fan of Grisham’s newer stuff.  Its good but nowhere near where it was when he first defined the genre of legal thriller.  Basically, he “jumped the shark” with some of his random recent stuff and hasn’t been able to recapture the magic of The Firm, A Time to Kill, The Partner, or The Pelican Brief.  I highly recommend Grisham and I promise that he will keep you engaged and thinking until the very last page.  His new stuff is good but his old stuff is phenomenal.

Thats my thoughts...check back soon for more recommendations.

BD

...going green

Even though the concept of "going green" has now become nothing more than one more sales pitch for corporate America...I am on board.  I have been thinking about it for awhile but I am here to announce that...I am "going green".  I am not really sure what this will look like yet but I know that the first thing that I am going to do is set up the apartment that Julie and I are going to be living in with an energy provider that uses all renewable energy like Green Mountain Energy.  This will be a process...I drive a truck for example...but I am going to take steps such as walking to work from the new apartment.

I decided this because of Earth Day...I felt it was time.

More details to come...

Does anyone have good ideas about how to go "green"?  I would welcome your thoughts. 

...fresh fruit batidos

It has been a few days since I last posted.  It has been nuts between new jobs and seminary and I just have not had the time to sit down and write a good post.  But have no fear...I'm back.  And I am back with one of my all-time favorite recipes.

I have a confession to make...I am an INTENSE sweet tooth.  It doesn't matter if its cookies, cakes, pudding, ice cream, or fruit...if its a dessert, I will eat it.  It is so bad that when I went on a cruise this summer, I would order 2 desserts for dinner. Hmmm...this may explain why I am out of shape?  Maybe I should explore that sometime.

But now I want to pass on one of my favorite dessert recipes and it is even [relatively] healthy. It is a recipe from Bobby Flay called Fresh Fruit Batidos.  It is the perfect summer time dessert as it combines fresh, sweet mangos and ice cream to make a very smooth and fun dessert that everyone will enjoy.  I have cooked this desert for a plethora of people and I have never had a single person not like it...and that includes Ryan Jackson who doesn't eat fruit.  So check it out...it literally takes 3 minutes and it will blow your mind.

Here it the recipe: (or you can go to the recipe on foodnetwork.com)

6 ounces mango sorbet 
3 ounces vanilla ice cream 
1/2 cup chopped fresh mango, plus mango slices, for garnish 
5/8 cup cold milk 
1 to 2 tablespoons honey, or more to taste 
Mint sprigs, for garnish

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a 10-ounce glass and serve immediately. Garnish with a mango slice and mint sprig, if desired.

So...there it a fantastic recipe for you to all check out.  I absolutely love it.

BD

...blogs, blogs, and more blogs

To all of my faithful readers...all 3 of you...

I am joining another blog as a contributer in the next few weeks.  Katy Budget Books has asked me to become a contributer on their new blog endeavor and I am very stoked about it.  I will be reviewing books (...mostly in the mystery, suspense, and religious sections) and giving my recommendations.  You should check it out for helpful reviews and advice from many people who have a passion for books and can always recommend just the right book for the moment.

 

Katy Budget Books is a 25 year old independent bookstore located in Katy, TX.  It boasts a huge selection of new and used books and there has never been a book that I wanted that they were not able to help me locate.  It is the perfect place for everyone who prefers to talk to a person who loves to read...rather than someone in a corporate chain who has never heard of Tom Clancy, Nora Roberts or Dr. Seuss...

Check out the new blog or Katy Budget Book's main site...I am confident that you will enjoy the experience...

BD