Life Perspective: Reviews & More

2009 New Year's Resolutions of Gospel Artists What Some of Your Favorite Christian Artists Resolve for 2009 featuring DecembeRadio, Bob Halligan of  Ceili Rain, Joanne Cash--sister of Johnny Cash, After Edmund, and other artists. Find the complete list at: 2009 New Year's Resolutions of Gospel Artists - Yahoo

Top Ten Songs for New Year's In years past I have been disappointed with the lack of good playlists for radio stations on New Year's Eve. A few years ago, I created a play list for my brother who loves New Year's Eve celebrations and wondered why there aren't any good New Year's songs. Over the years I have refined it somewhat introducing new songs. This is my top 10 list of great New Year's songs from Robert Burns, U2, Barry Manilo, Relient K, Dan Fogelburg, Stacy Orrico, Ella Fitzgerald, Sir Cliff Richards and more. Read it at: Top Ten Songs for New Year's - Yahoo

New Year Acrostic - a Poem for the New Year - Yahoo The New Year hands you a clean, fresh slate. This acrostic poem asks the question: What will you choose to write on it? New Year Acrostic - a Poem for the New Year N igh draws the New Year E veryone takes stock W eighing past and future...   Read the full poem here

 I wrote this Christmas acrostic poem today while answering phones at Toys R Us. Well, there were occasionally short periods when all 6 lines were not ringing!   Eternal Herald Angels - a Christmas Acrostic  C ry eternal herald angels ' H ere is mercy come to man!'  R ighteous ones will see His glory  I n every nation, every land. Read the complete poem at:  Eternal Herald Angels - a Christmas Acrostic

Angels Sing with Harry Connick,Jr., Connie Britton a great family Christmas film "Angels Sing" is a sweet 2013 family Christmas movie starring Harry Connick, Jr., "Nashville's" Connie Britton, Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Kris Kristofferson, Chandler Canterbury, and Fionnula Flanagan. Review at Angels Sing with Harry Connick,Jr., Connie Britton a great family Christmas film - Nashville Gospel Music & Entertainment | Examiner.com

  Duck hunting season runs from Nov. 28, 2013 - Jan. 26, 2014, which makes sense because apparently it is open season on Phil Robertson of Duck Commander and "Duck Dynasty" fame. While I have never seen the show and am therefore neither a fan of the show nor of Robertson, the recent bruhaha over his comments has made me question a few things. Here are my thoughts on some of the reactions from the Christian community to Phil Robertson's statements and why I think perhaps the Pot is calling the Kettle black. Why is it that if Christians speak out against greed or pride or intolerance, there is no great contingency of fellow Christians who rise up to criticize us for our lack of tolerance and compassion toward the greedy, the prideful and the intolerant? Why are we only expected to be tolerant about certain sins in the 21st century? And why is rebuking greed or pride or intolerance usually perceived as righteous, but quoting a scripture about another sin is co...

Where to donate to Toys for Tots in Nashville for Christmas 2013 Christmas is almost here and many Christian music fans are looking for last-minute ways to help the needy this year. One charity is a perennial favorite in Nashville--the U.S Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program. Read more at: Where to donate to Toys for Tots in Nashville for Christmas 2013 - Nashville Gospel Music & Entertainment Examiner

  A Tender Nashville Tennessee Christmas Nashville/Davidson County is a large Metropolitan area full of free things to do for the holidays Article at: A Tender Nashville Tennessee Christmas - Yahoo

Today is my birthday, and I  just had a disappointing discussion with my dentist office, Bellevue Dental. What a way to celebrate! On Aug. 17, 2013, I went in to see Dr. Gross about a crown she said I needed due to a cracked tooth. She asked if I was having any pain in the tooth and I said no, but she said it needed a crown to save it. I suspected my days working at Sears were numbered at the time due to layoffs, so I opted to have the crown put on while I had a part-time insurance plan since I have been on such a tight budget following the Nashville flood with all the resulting home repairs. The tooth was X-rayed on Aug. 17 and filed way down. An impression was taken, then a second one when the first one did not turn out well, all of which was quite painful. I had to wear a temporary crown for a week or so while I waited for the permanent crown to come in.  Dr. Gross said it was one of the deepest crowns she had ever done, but in hindsight I wonder -- was it too deep??...

Christmas in Mayberry Imagine what Christmas would be like in Mayberry and on "The Andy Griffith Show." It's Christmas in Mayberry, the mountains are white  Opie and his friends are all filled with delight.  Poem at Christmas in Mayberry - Yahoo

Friday the 13th was a big night for me this year. I have a "decades" birthday on Dec. 19th and wanted to celebrate with some old friends. I have been dealing with a toothache following a crown put on several months ago and have been to the Bellevue Dental every week since then complaining of the pain. Turns out the tooth was abscessing under the crown and they lanced it on Monday (oh so very painful!) and put me on mega doses of antibiotics that have had me going to bed as soon as I got home from work every night this week. I almost called off the party, but I had been looking forward to it so much that I just couldn't bring myself to cancel. After work I hurried home to get ready. I spent time styling my hair. Since I struggle with rosacea, I carefully applied my Soothe treatment followed by my hypoallergenic makeup. I wore my best Nine West pants and a beautiful and expensive Christmas sweater that was a treasured gift. I even wore cute little fringed boots wit...

Poems for Soldiers Overseas? - Ask.com : What does Ask.com have to say about "Christmas in Iraq?" Christmas in Iraq is a poem written by Kathryn Darden, that was written for a a troop in Iraq in 2005. It is a touching poem about what it is like to be far from home and everyone you love at this special time of year. You can read the poem here.

I first met Mark Smeby when I was attending Bellevue Community Church with my brother in the mid 1990s. Mark was on the drama team and was frequently on stage delivering his lines. Off stage he was the most personable person I had ever met--so much so that I wrote him off as one of those glib, insincere artistic types that moves to Nashville to use its people and resources to make it big. That turned out to be a big mistake on my part as through the years he has proven me wrong on multiple occasions. I have had to eat a portion of crow with my humble pie more than once. Here are a few articles I have written recently about this interesting, talented and overall nice guy:   Experience the Hope of Christmas with singer Mark Smeby December 11, 2013 If you have not heard of singer, author and actor Mark Smeby, that's because he hasn't become a "big" name yet outside of industry and church circles. However, h...

How to Be a Salvation Army Volunteer Bell Ringer at Christmas For more than 100 years, the Salvation Army's Red Kettles have been a Christmas tradition in cities and towns across America, making their way into movies and popular culture. The Salvation Army often looks for volunteers to be a part of this tradition to man the Red Kettles and be Salvation Army bell ringers in many locations around the country during the holiday season. Read More: How to Be a Salvation Army Volunteer Bell Ringer at Christmas - Yahoo Voices

2014 Gospel GRAMMY nominations announced The 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominations were announced by the Recording Academy on Friday evening live from Los Angeles including those nominated in the four Gospel Music categories. Continued: 2014 Gospel GRAMMY nominations announced - Nashville Gospel Music & Entertainment Examiner

I wrote this poem eight years ago to slip in a package for a soldier and his troop I was sponsoring in Iraq. I posted it on MySpace, and before I knew it, it was showing up on hundreds of other MySpace pages, discussion boards, newsletters, radio stations and other places. My patriotic take on "Twas the Night Before Christmas" had gone viral! (I kept a scrapbook for a while but have not had a working printer since the Nashville flood.) So here it is again for the eighth year, and I still hope the link to the verses is shared with all our military men and their families: Christmas in Iraq - a Christmas Poem for Our Soldiers Christmas in Iraq is a poem written for a soldier and his troop I sponsored in Iraq in 2005. It is my hope that this poem and others like it will be forwarded to our military men and women during the Christmas season so they will know they are not forgotten during the holidays. Read it at: Christmas in Iraq - a Christmas Poem for Our Sold...

While I earn part of my income writing, I have a lot of trouble typing them due to my Dyslexia. The Dyslexic Writer - a Journalist Coping with Dyslexia When I was little, I was an avid reader, but it took me a long time to master writing certain letters and numbers, especially 3s, Es, Zs, Ns, and Ss. Today if I am very tired, I still get confused about which way Ns, Ss and Zs face. As I grew older, it became apparent I had some grasp of math, yet trying to add, subtract or multiply numbers longer than a couple of digits was a problem. And my entire life I have been easily tongue-tied. I know what I want to say in my head where complex thoughts swirl just wanting to come out, but somehow between my brain and my mouth and fingers, there is a barrier. I suffer from dyslexia and dyscalculia. Read more: The Dyslexic Writer - a Journalist Coping with Dyslexia - Yahoo

What do your favorite Christian artists enjoy doing for the holidays? Find out what Christian artists like KEVIN MAX, MIKE WEAVE, MISSION SIX, BONNIE KEEN, BARLOWGIRL, LYRYCYST, RUSH OF FOOLS, SARA GROVES, LARNELLE HARRIS, JAIME JAMGOCHIAN, JASON GRAY, KEVIN LEVAR, ALACHE, ALEXA JAMES, DECEMBERADIO, TAMMY TRENT, AFTER EDMUND and others have to say about their  Favorite Christmas Traditions. In my article Christmas Memories - What Christmas Means to Me , I shared some of my favorite Christmas memories and family traditions. I thought I would turn the tables and ask some of the gospel artists and groups what their favorite Christmas traditions are to give us a glimpse into what they enjoy doing during the holiday season. Continued: Favorite Christmas Traditions of Gospel Artists - Yahoo Voices

  What do you call the holiday season around December 25? Christmas - What's in a Name? In 2007 I was more than a little surprised when people on the discussion boards for devout Christians J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis posted their odd holiday greetings between December 21 and 25 omitting the word "Christmas." So, what do you call the December 25 holiday? Here is what President Franklin D. Roosevelt had to say about the holiday in December 1944:   Here, at home, we will celebrate this Christmas Day in our traditional American way because of its deep spiritual meaning to us; because the teachings of Christ are fundamental in our lives; and because we want our youngest generation to grow up knowing the significance of this tradition and the story of the coming of the immortal Prince of Peace and Good Will. Read more at:  Christmas - What's in a Name? - Yahoo Voices  

Photo by Kelvin Kay, Wikimedia Commons The holiday season is already here and most or all of my readers will have some Christmas shopping to do. Black Friday is almost here, Cyber Monday is around the corner and Small Business Saturday is on Saturday, November 30, 2013.. Here is a way to participate in all three events from the comfort of your home while you also support a friend or two! Instead of rushing all over town, stop and ask yourself if you have friends who operate small businesses with products that might make great gifts. Whether its purses or makeup, skin care or cookware, the chances are extremely high that you have friends who operate small businesses in the direct sales industry for their primary or secondary income. These people would LOVE to have your Black Friday business and you won't have to leave you home to shop! If you are a regular reader of my blog, you already know I sell skin care products, so if you are thinking about any skin care products ...

  Christmas Stories: Repeat The Sounding Joy Some tidings of comfort and joy from Christian artist Jason Gray Jason Gray to headline 2014 Christmas tour Jason Gray has announced his 2nd annual Christmas Stories Tour on December 4, performing songs from his 2012 holiday album, " Christmas Stories: Repeat The Sounding Joy." The Christmas project examines the story of the birth of Christ taking a closer look at the details inside the Christmas narrative.  Full story at: Jason Gray to headline 2014 Christmas tour - Nashville Gospel Music & Entertainment Examiner

A fun honor for gospel music's Jason Crabb Christian artist Jason Crabb honored by comic strip 'Nancy' Jason Crabb may be best known for the flock of Dove Awards he has won or his work with The Crabb Family as a singer, but he is about to have a new claim to fame. Crabb will soon to be featured in the comic strip "Nancy" by Guy Gilchrist, who is a Nashville-area resident. Article at: Christian artist Jason Crabb honored by comic strip 'Nancy' - Nashville Gospel Music &amp Entertainment Examiner

 The Privacy For All Students (PFAS) coalition today announced they have submitted over 620,000 signatures to elections officials to qualify a statewide referendum allowing voters to reject the co-ed bathroom law (AB 1266) that was enacted by the Legislature and signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown. The coalition needs 504,760 valid voter signatures to qualify the referendum. Article at Will Co-Ed Bathroom Bill End Up on the California Ballot? | Christian Activities

Are you ready? Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Turkey and Dressing, Harvest, Shopping, Candied Yams, Pilgrims, Great Deals, Pumpkins and Pumpkin Pie, Family, More Shopping, Thankfulness... No matter how you celebrate it, Thanksgiving is almost here! Here are some articles to help you get in the mood and to help you find gift and decorating ideas as well as recipes and more. And if you prefer to do your shopping for unique gifts from the comfort of your own home, check out the link at the bottom of this post and ask me for details! Happy Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving is our nation's original national holiday and it celebrates the courage, faith and friendship of our country's first settlers. However, this important holiday... Article at: Happy Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving & Pilgrim Dolls & Figures One of the most charming things about Thanksgiving decorating i...

I grew up with a mailing address in Falls Church, Virginia, in the 1960s, but our community was actually outside the Falls Church area, closer to Bailey's Crossroads and Culmore on Lake Barcroft. Our property was perfect for a kid with a wooded back lot that went down to a field and then a dock on the lake. I have happy memories of my 5 years growing up in Virginia. My father was stationed in Washington D.C. in the 60s which is why we lived there. It was an interesting time for my family and our nation. I was asked to write a first-hand account of what life was like (in 300 words or less) during the time of President Kennedy's assassination, and these are my memories: Life in a Washington, D.C. Suburb at the Time of Kennedy's Assassination Lake Barcroft, located in Falls Church, Va., was a middle-class suburban area outside of Washington, D.C. populated by many military and government families in the 1960s. My own father was stationed at the Pentagon and ...

Happy 11-12-13! It's Nov. 12 or 11/12/13! It may not be a holiday, but you can make it a "pay it forward" kind of day.

Happy Veterans Day to All Our Vets! Thank you -- we are so appreciative of your service!-- Proud daughter of a Vet Veterans Day: Veterans Lit the Torch...  “In the midst of all that is going on in America today – the turmoil in the economy, the discussions of recent national and local elections, the struggle between conflicting morals – it is my prayer and hope that Veterans Day 2012 won’t be seen as a background shadow instead of placed in the spotlight it deserves.” Read the article at Veterans Day: Veterans Lit the Torch... | Christian Activities

  Gospel according to Britney--Spears premieres new musical & new single 'Perfume' In news of the odd, a new musical is premiering in New York's theater district which is attempting to tell the story of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to the pop stylings of sometimes troubled songstress Britney Spears . Read more: Gospel according to Britney--Spears premieres new musical & new single 'Perfume' - Nashville Gospel Music & Entertainment Examiner Also see: Lynne Spears, mother of Britney Spears , launches skin care line

Dove Awards at Lipscomb University--The Doves and I Come Home This year's 44th Annual Gospel Music Association Dove Awards Show was a homecoming in more ways than one for me. Not only did the Doves finally return to Nashville after a two-year's absence bringing with them all the friends I only see once a year at the Awards, but the show was held at my old alma mater, David Lipscomb University. It was definitely a nostalgic evening for me as well as my first time covering a red carpet event! Also, Terry, the Getty Images photographer who was the official photographer for the event graciously took a photo of me with my camera. You know how all those celebrity photos have "Getty Images" on them? Well this is MY Getty image!  You can read about my experiences here: Dove Awards at Lipscomb University--The Doves and I Come Home | Christian Activities More 44th Anniversary Dove Awards Coverage: 44th Annual GMA Dove Winners Partial List ...

44th Annual GMA Dove Awards Fact Sheet Everything you wanted to know about the 44th Annual GMA DOVE AWARDS coming up Oct. 15 Read more at 44th Annual GMA Dove Awards Fact Sheet | Christian Activities   Dove Awards Logo  44th Annual GMA Dove Awards show prepares for Gospel Music's biggest night (Video) October 8, 2013 As previously announced in "44th Annual Dove Awards coming to Nashville Oct. 15," the 2013 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards are coming up in Nashville. Cross-genre music superstars Amy Grant and Kirk Franklin will serve as the... Continue   Continue 44th Annual GMA Dove Awards Nominees revealed today in Nashville August 21, 2013 The 44th Annual Gospel Music Association (GMA) Dove Awards nominations were announced today, Weds., Aug. 22, at Nashville's Lipscomb University Allen Arena.Nominees were reve...

  Two fall poems celebrating the autumn colors of October and November. The Leaves of October - a Fall Poem I love the cooler weather October brings, the bright blue sky and the colorful falling leaves. The sight of fall leaves spinning in an October breeze always makes me want to dance with them! This is a poem in celebration of autumn and the beauty of October leaves: Poem at: The Leaves of October - a Fall Poem - Yahoo Voices November Nostalgia A poem about a particularly colorful November in Nashville Read poem at: November Nostalgia - Yahoo Voices