Life Perspective: Reviews & More

Since 2010, Houston area churches have provided an alternative to frenzied Christmas shopping on the day after Thanksgiving.  article at Black Friday Becomes Bless Friday | Christian Activities

Lucknow Railway Station Hires a Monkey-Man to Control Local Monkeys: Sometimes Truth Really is Stranger Than Fiction Kathryn E. Darden ,  Yahoo Contributor Network When I was a child, my father was stationed at the US Embassy in New Delhi, India, where we lived for three years. I have always been fascinated with India, so after I graduated from college and spent several years working in sales, I went back to India for a three-week tour. India is home to many strange things: snake charmers, sword-swallowers, wandering holy men, maimed beggars, and other oddities that can be a little overwhelming to Westerners. However, my scariest moment came when I was opening a package of film to put in my camera, and a monkey attacked me, thinking the rattling sound was food. I wasn't injured except for a few small scrapes, as the monkey climbed me all the way to the top of my head where he grabbed the film out of my hand and took off. Monkeys are a problem in many parts of India; t...

My Miss Katy: still loved; still missed. I wish I had a dollar for every time I have mentioned Rodan + FIelds to someone who has replied, "Yes, but you have the personality for it. I don't have the Direct Selling Personality. "  These people don't KNOW me. They have no idea I was so shy in elementary school I hid in the bushes next to the playground during recess EVERY DAY in 4th and 5th grade so the more outgoing kids wouldn't bully me. They don't know that for FORTY YEARS, I was not invited to my own high school reunion because I was so shy and quiet in school, apparently no one remembered me. These are people who don't know that for over 20 years, I published  my own local magazine  from my home with only my sweet dog for company, because I was perfectly happy quietly working from home by myself. They don't know I wrote for several publications from home after my print publication closed, because I was introverted and preferred to be wi...

Joseph the Carpenter by  Georges de La Tour   It's amazing how many people are willing to BUY things that are sold, but somehow "selling" and "direct selling" are dirty words! Guess who has been involved in Direct Sales? Almost everyone in the "good ol' days" before things like national retail chains, malls and the internet. This includes many people in Biblical times, like Jesus. Direct Selling in Days Gone By Yes, back in those long-ago days we look on with such nostalgia, farmers sold their eggs and produc e  directly to the consumer. Dairies delivered milk directly to their customer's doors. Cobblers measured and sold their shoes, seamstresses and tailors measured/made/and sold clothes -- you guessed it -- directly to consumers.  Methods of Direct Selling Olden-days entrepreneurs sold their wares from carts, from tents, from boats, from the backs of donkeys, at makeshift markets, and from their cabins and houses or in t...

There's a blog especially for Blogger/Blogspot poets who write poems from a Christian perspective. Christian Poet's Pen   is a great place for Christian poets to publish their poems and get feedback from other Christian writers. Membership is free and each poet gets his or her own personal profile page. If you like to read inspirational poetry, you can also sign up to be a follower and read new poems as they are published. There are already several respected poets contibuting who have been published in numerous anthologies, newsletters, websites and books. HISTORY Christian Poet's Pen  has a long history. Started in the early 1990s as a bi-monthly print newsletter,  Christian Poet's Pen  was published for several years, publishing poems and passing along tips, before becoming a section on the  www.christianactivities.com  website in 1999. For the past decade, the  Poets Pen  page on  ChristianActivities.com  has provided a consi...

 What's going on in the gospel music industry in July? Amy Grant to release 'In Motion: The Remixes' in August It doesn't seem that long ago that a teen-aged girl's first songs started being played at local church events and on "The Brian Mason Show" in Nashville. Now almost 30 years later, Amy... Continue   Natalie Grant's 'It Takes a Church' premieres June 5, 2014 on GSN Natalie Grant, who was the buzz of social media for a week when she left the GRAMMY Awards early, is in the news again. The singer is hosting "It Takes a Church," a new dating game show that... Continue   Yancy releases Spanish children's album with Jaci Velasquez and Nic Gonzales Yancy is expanding her reach with the upcoming release of “Pequeña Fiesta de Alabanza!” and she brought along a few friends to help her with her new outreach. Enlisting the aid of pals l...

  A Man like You & Journey to the Sea Kathryn E. Darden ,  Yahoo Contributor Network ~ A Man like You  ~ A poem about temptation and the corrupting influence of power inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien's Witchking in "The Lord of the Rings" Once I rode a pony small; I sat upon my father's knee. My mother sang fair lullabies And placed her warm arms around me. My father said, "Be strong! Be brave! And strive to win whate'er you do." I scarce remember, just in dreams That once I was a man like you. Once my father passed away, And I ascended to the throne, My mother said, "Be strong. Be brave, And make this kingdom now your own." I took the sword. I chose the blade And wielded it to claim my due. At least it seems thus in my dreams, When once I was a man like you. Once a noble came to me Austere he looked in raiment grand. Reading the desires of my heart, He placed the future in my hand. To me ...

Happy Father’s Day! Here is an assortment of poems, articles and more about dads for Father's Day 2014/ Honoring Our Fathers on Father's Day Our fathers do so much for us besides helping to bring us into the world. Most fathers have a hand in providing for their children, and helping to raise them. Fathers provide a role model for boys and girls and much-needed guidance. Read more: Have a Happy Father’s Day! Top Ten Old Testament Bible Verses for Father's Day & Dad's Birthday If you have ever wondered what a Divine perspective on fathers would be, the Old Testament is full of Bible verses about fathers and children that are well worth reading, no matter your religious background. Top Ten Quotes & Bible Verses for Father's Day Father's Day reminds us to remember dear old Dad, and it also inspires some special thoughts about fathers. Father's Day Poems Fathers ...

Memorial Day Celebrations in Nashville, Tennessee: Honoring the Fallen Family Celebrations and Weekend Festivals for Memorial Day in Nashville, Tennessee  Having lived for five years in Washington, D.C., Memorial Day celebrations in Nashville are somewhat limited compared to many other U.S. cities. However, there are quite a few ways to celebrate Memorial Day in Nashville, so let's take a look at some of the ways Nashvillians will be celebrating Memorial Day this year. Continued: Memorial Day Celebrations in Nashville, Tennessee: Honoring the Fallen - Yahoo

Happy Memorial Day! Memorial Day History, Traditions, Poems & More! Memorial Day is a federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May every year in the United States. It is one of America's numerous patriotic holidays, Memorial Day originated as Decoration Day after the American Civil War. This page will look at the history of Memorial Day as well as Memorial Day traditions and more.

Michael Jackson died June 25, 2009 from an apparent heart attack, but rumors continued to surround him after his death. This is a reprint of a 2009 article in honor of the 5th anniversary of the death of Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson, superstar and the king of pop, was known around the world for his music and his scandals. Jackson died June 25 from an apparent heart attack (see Michael Jackson King of Pop Dead at 50 ), but rumors continue to surround his death. Michael Jackson was found unconscious at his home in Los Angeles and was rushed by an ambulance to the UCLA Medical Centre. Jackson was not breathing when paramedics arrived at his home. How Sick was Michael Jackson Before His Death ? Michael Jackson had been scheduled to play 50 sell-out shows at London's O2 Arena starting in July but Jackson had already had to postpone the first few nights of the tour. Jackson had apparently been ill up until his death. There is speculation now tha...

Top Ten Old Testament Bible Verses for Father's Day & Dad's Birthday If you have ever wondered what a Divine perspective on fathers and Father's Day would be, the Old Testament is full of Bible verses about fathers and children that are well worth reading, no matter your religious background. These scripture references are full of wisdom and common sense about fathers and their relationship to their children. Read more:  Top Ten Old Testament Bible Verses for Father's Day & Dad's Birthday - Yahoo

    Tina Pappas and Mark Sorrells captivate at Crumb de la Crumb Jazz Brunch I got to see my good (notice I didn't say "old" friends) friends Mark Sorrells and Tina Pappas perform at Crumb de la Crumb in Bellevue at lunch yesterday.  Our friendship goes back to the 1980s where they were both part of the Nashville music scene and both attended Belmont Church with me. Crumb de la Crumb hosted their weekly Jazz Brunch with pianist and vocalist Mark Sorrells Saturday, May 17th from 11:45 a.m. - 2:15 p.m. The bright, airy Bellevue restaurant was full of patrons enjoying dishes from Crab Cakes to the Hippie Sandwich, and the soft jazz piano provided a nice ambiance where guests could easily converse and listen to old favorite. Read more: Tina Pappas and Mark Sorrells captivate at Crumb de la Crumb Jazz Brunch - Nashville Community Examiner

Picking the Perfect Mother's Day Gift Mother's Day is right around the corner. Do you know what you are going to give your mother this year? As someone who has worked in retail for many years, I have had the opportunity to help many people buy just the right gift for their mothers. Here are some tips to help you pick out the perfect Mother's Day gift.  Continued: Picking the Perfect Mother's Day Gift - Yahoo

  Jungle in my yard courtesy of Signature Lawn Care Why You Don't Want to Use Signature Lawn Care in Nashville  I have been a customer of Signature Lawn Care for many years with the understanding Larry Steel would contact me each spring to mow my yard. For almost a month, I have tried to reach Signature Lawn Care, but no one has bothered to return my calls. Larry has always been bad about returning calls, especially for the first appointment each spring. Every fall I made sure he had me on his list for the following year and would call me when lawn mowing season started. Each year I had to call him over and over to get him to come out. Sometimes I had to call him multiple times through out the summer to keep him on schedule. He wasn't good about returning calls, and he wasn't always good about showing up. However, 2014 has been the WORST year in Signature Lawn Care's abysmal history of lack of communication. Starting the 2nd week of April through the first wee...

  Faith-based movies gaining attention of Hollywood, exceeding ticket expectations With recent mainstream movies like "NOAH" and "Heaven Is for Real," it is obvious Hollywood has been paying attention to the enormous audience out there for faith-based films. Unfortunately, the "Noah" movie was handled with such laughable clumsiness and deviousness that it turned into an epic #fail , losing its faith-based audience at the ticket counter. Continued: Faith-based movies gaining attention of Hollywood, exceeding ticket expectations - Nashville Gospel Music & Entertainmen Examiner

 Easter History Have a Happy Easter! According to Wikipedia, Easter is considered "the most important annual religious feast in the Christian liturgical year" because it establishes Jesus Christ as... Why is Easter on a Different Date Each Year? a Look at Easter & Passover According to Wikipedia, Easter is considered "the most important annual religious feast in the Christian liturgical year."    Easter Poems Easter Acrostic A poem for Easter written in the acrostic form Wonder - an Easter Poem Wondering about the wonder in Jerusalem on Easter morning Faint Ray of Daylight - a Poem for Easter A poem in celebration of Easter morning Easter Movies Best East...