Song Of Songs by Solomon

"Thus, I have become in his eyes,
one bringing contentment"

Ah, water to my soul. I picked up the bible to read last night for the first time in...a long time.
The above is what I read & then savoured through an unsettled nights sleep.

I felt divine contnentment at no longer 'trying' to please one who is already.

Soul Survivor by Philip Yancey

I liked the concept of this book but it took me some effort to get through it.

The chapter on Martin Luther King was fascinating but too graphic for me, the images play in my head well beyond reading.

I enjoyed reading about Gandhi. I have not read anything else about him. History was not really taught when I went to school nor have I developed an interest since then. I found it fascinating that India called Gadhi a holy man but has not adopted his philosophy, they continued in their ways.

The chapter on Paul Brand was a good read too

Henri Nouwen is a name I have come across before. I admire that he found his place in a community for the diasabled but I am left confused.

In reading this I see that my questions and doubts regarding the Christian faith are not unique and they do in some way create a path for the inquirer, which is not what I was expecting. My dear friend in the church said Yancey was one of her favourite authors, I can see why. He expresses the doubts & questions that must be so common and yet comes to safe conclusions. I find myself on the outside looking in. I value the independent thinking and am more looking for questions rather than answers. A big turnoff for me in the church was that they had an answer for everything, even if it was sometimes illogical. My favourite answer is I don't know, which I find very satisfying.

The Penny Pinchers Club by Sarah Strohmeyer

What a delightful story!

I am into saving and am part of an online community called Simple Savings, so this seemed like a book I would like.
I did.

Sarah writes very well and the story is about ordinary people, believeable characters (mostly) and how people are not always what you assume from the way they look. Everyone has a story.

I did borrowed the large print edition (so it was extra easy to read) from Mornington Peninsula libraries.

The book

The story of a womans journey of being out of control with spending to learning to live a new and fulfilling way through the Penny Pinchers Club that meets in the basement of a local library. She is fuelled by the idea that her husband is going to leave her and ir becomes her driving passion in her new quest. The group provides more than just household hints, they take her into their lives and help her. They go through her finances, shop together and meet up. It is quite a communal effort and story of people helping each other.

She is transformed as she gains the confidence that comes from takeing responsibility for her actions & then doing something to create a different future. Most notably when a new challenge appears near the end of the book her approach to money is then applied to this life situation with the same successful results.

I liked the story line & the characters, it is well written and easy to read .
She even included some hints on the last page.

It is well worth the time to read this book.

Greetings From Somewhere Else By Monica McInerney

Took me ages to get around to reading this but it was a delightful read, thoroughly enjoyable!

The characters were all believable, and the story line was easy to follow.

I enjoy her character descriptions and way of describing landscape that I hae never seen so that I then form an image in my head.

I would elaborate more but I am not up to it today.

I like everything I have read by Monica McInerney so far & have been recommending & loaning them to friends & family.