Book review: Christmas at Harrington's

I absolutely can't stand when I get interrupted at the best part of the book.

I was reading this book on the ferry, and it was time to go back to my car to disembark. But as I moved myself back down the stairs and onto the car deck, my mind was still completely entranced and wrapped up in the scene Melody Carlson transported me to in New Haven, Minnesota.

Carlson, in her book, Christmas at Harrington's, tells the story of a woman who is looking for a fresh start and a new life. We join Lena, once a pastor's wife, falsely convicted of a crime which devastated her, her parents, and her church congregation, as she gets her prison release papers and a bus ticket to a new town. On the bus, she meets a woman who engages Lena in conversation and befriends her, and helps Lena with a meal and new clothes on her new start. One of the things she gave Lena was a red coat with fur trim. This coat spurs her to be hired by the town's struggling department store, Harrington's, as Mrs. Santa Claus. Her job would make her somewhat of the town's celebrity, but her past can't seem to stay in the past.

Carlson tells such a rich story. The story spans such a small snapshot of time, just a Christmas season, but she spends her time on developing extremely colorful, descriptive scenes, and extraordinary characters who affect our main character's ability to seek a new life. Some show exceptional mercy, engaging Lena beyond what she could imagine she could deserve. Others allow Lena to show love to them, so that we see what kind of woman Lena really is. Others show skepticism, suspicion, and unforgiveness for a crime she must have committed. Carlson takes us through Lena's season of adapting, making friends, and helping others realize what the gift of the Christmas season really is all about.

I just love Carlson's style. I read her book, The Christmas Dog, last year. I thoroughly enjoy her ability to just give us a vignette of a small town Christmas season, this time with a very unlikely, but very likable, main character, as she discovers herself, finds hope, and gives the hope of Christmas to others. It's the kind of story I love to get lost in and read all in one sitting from beginning to end.

If only the ferry was fifteen pages longer.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Merry Christmas!

Keelin's drawing :)

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid ; for behold, I bringyou good news of great joy which will be for all the people ; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:8-11

Watch the fireworks...

My mom and the kids and I went to Disneyland last Thursday. So did everyone else, it seemed. It had rained and rained the days before, so when the sun came out, everyone in Southern California headed for the Land of Mouse to see all the Christmas decorations in the way that only Disney can do.

We go to Disneyland a lot. And we don't normally stop to watch things like the parades, or fireworks, or things like that. Ask Candan when the best time to ride the Matterhorn is-- when the fireworks are on, of course! The lines are short. We often seem to time things badly, too, when we want to go from a place to place at certain times of night, there's usually a long route around everyone is funneled to a small pathway behind all the parade watchers, and you have to walk fast, and hang on to your family, and get someone's stroller shoved up the back of your ankle while you're weaving through the sea of people to get through Main Street.

This time, we'd sat down to a late-ish dinner at one of the outdoor cafes. (dinner outdoors at 8pm in December-- I've finally realized what an amazing thing this is!) We had perfect seating at the end of our meal for the 8:30 Christmas fireworks show. We stuck around, and oh, it was beautiful and moving...and magical.

On December 23rd, it's easy to get caught in swarms of people.

This Christmas, stop and watch the magic.

And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. Luke 2:18-19

My favorite thing overheard at Disneyland, a young boy asking, "Hey, Dad, can we go on that Indiana Jonas ride?" There's definitely a generation gap between Indiana Jones watchers and Jonas Brothers fans. :)

Book review: The Grace of God

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! Second Corinthians 9:15

The apostle Paul calls grace "indescribable," but Andy Stanley comes awfully close! Stanley's book, The Grace of God, is a wonderful examination of many of the Bible's stories through the lens of God's grace.

Grace, Stanley defines, is unearned, undeserved favor. Throughout the book, we follow figures such as Jonah, Joseph, and David and how God lavished grace upon them despite themselves. We see how God's creation is an act of grace. That His law was meant as an extension of His grace. And that the kingdom of heaven is unfair. Grace, Stanley explains, is better than fair.

I loved this book. I want everyone I know to read it. I want everyone I don't know to read it. This book so clearly, so simply illustrates God's purpose of grace. Why He extended the hand of relationship to us in the first place, why He wants the best for us, and why our freedom is important to Him. I especially loved his clear explanation of how God's saving grace is better and fairer than systems we've devised to earn our way into heaven. It's better, Stanley says, because:

• everybody is invited.
• everybody gets in the same way.
• everybody can meet the requirement.

Everyone needs to know that.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available October 2010 at your favourite bookseller.