The music video for this song features images from Boston and other tragedies. It's kind of a pop song but still hopeful and pleading for peace, knowing it will happen someday when Christ returns. Check...
A Heart Revealed
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I have to say, it was quite a bit of creative thinking that resolves this one. It was lovely seeing the other O'Connors again. Julie Lessman writes well. However, it's not for everyone - if you skip...
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This is the second man-on-death-row-is-he-innocent? book I've read recently. (The other was Randy Singer's "The Last Plea Bargain") I thought this was well-written, but sad too. There's two twists...
Good book | Posted June-08-2010
After seeing it recommended by Aaron Shust and others, I noticed it on the library shelf one day. This book is not a lifechanging stricken dumb book for me, but it's well-written.
Moving... | Posted June-05-2010
This book will definitely make you cry. It is so sad! A little hard to read when they tell Mary's story, and the ending is different for Kingsbury's books, but still worth the read.
Great album | Posted June-02-2010
I hear the first track all the time on the radio at the community centre and in stores. "The Truth" is my favorite song on this CD. Don't miss this album!
Revealing | Posted June-08-2010
Assuming most of us don't have the time or the discernment to create a themed playlist, Revelation Songs was compiled to inspire and express feelings. Appropriately enough, all of the songs on Revelation Songs deal with the experience of or a response to a revelation.
There's a mix of older and newer songs (some date back 6 years). Some choices are no-brainers; Kari Jobe, anyone? Her "Revelation Song" is included in its shorter version with Gateway Worship. It's a song I've loved since I first heard it, (She also appears with Klaus on the song "Running"). Other standouts are New Life Worship's "Hear Us From Heaven", and Paul Baloche's "Glorious". The songs all seem to blend into each other, creating a near-seamless effect. (Sorry Third Day fans; "Revelation" is not included.) As the songs range from long to very long ("Revelation Song" @ 4:33 to "Where You Go I'll Go" by Brian and Jenn Johnson @ 9:48) it's more of an atmospheric album (revelation mood music, if you will) than a sing-along.
While I didn't have any revelations of my own listening to it, I do believe that Revelation Songs would be a nice gift album for a friend who's waiting for direction from God. Chances are if you're a big music fan you already have the best songs anyway.
NICE! | Posted May-22-2010
Guess who's now one of my favorite lyricists? Jimmy Needham's Nightlights is a great album. Songs 1-4, 5 and 7 are my favorites. The spoken word at the end was moving too.
Follow up | Posted May-22-2010
The title track seems a little too fast-paced, but there's no mistaking the lyrical depth of these songs. "All The Pretty Things" "The Truth Is Who You Are" "You Are More" and "Empty My Hands" are my favorites. I love the worshipful songs TAN does best, and was hoping for more like their debut. :) Mike's voice is emotional.
Confusing | Posted May-19-2010
The plot is compelling but I found the details confusing, especially with all the "secret partner" and vague references to bio-terrorism that don't really go anywhere. Not the best.
Ontario tunes | Posted May-19-2010
Tracks:
1) When I See You 5:38
2) All Else Fades 4:09
3) Short Of Breath 3:51
4) The Creator 3:51
5) I Give You All 4:54
6) Lead Me Home 2:51
After an agonizing half hour trying to remember how to take a screenshot (okay, maybe "agonizing" is a bit much), I finally had proof that I'd invited my friends to become a Facebook fan (did I say "become a fan"? I meant "like"....whatever!) of Nine O Five. The reason for this little exercise? It snagged me a digital copy of their EP.
A worship band hailing from Port Perry, Ontario, Nine O Five recently appeared with Starfield at their home church, Carruthers Creek Community Church (C4) in Ajax for a free concert (which, before you ask, I did NOT see....I'm just passing on some trivia.) Band members include siblings Josh and Stephanie McCabe, Tim Mann, Tom Lang, and James Watts
From the awe expressed in "Short Of Breath" to the complete surrender of "I Give You All", this EP is solid all the way through. Josh McCabe's vocals are heartfelt and emotional, and the music ranges from reverent to joyous. However, "Lead Me Home" is a little abruptly ended, and at some points echoes "In Christ Alone" musically. If you like Our Heart's Hero, Tenth Avenue North, Hillsong United and/or Starfield, you might enjoy Nine O Five. You can get "All Else Fades" and "I Give You All" for FREE @ http://www.purevolume.com/nineofive. They're easily the 2 best tracks on this album.
Engaging | Posted May-19-2010
Like many of the people who recommended it, I too read through Rooms in less than a day. I don't usually go for Christian scifi because I'm no theology expert. Give me Karen Kingsbury anytime; real life people in a real world with no weird time/reality bending to muddle the issues. Even so, I decided to give it a whirl. Comparisons to The Shack, another house-centred Christian novel, didn't even sway me. Rooms is superior; a compelling story of choices, second chances, healing, and forgiveness.
Successful software entrepreneur Micah Taylor (a glance at the "thank yous" reveals he was named after Rubart's two sons) is living in a fool's paradise. At first glance, anyway. Inside, he's a barrel of mixed emotions, unhealed wounds, and bad choices. A letter from his uncle (who is not God), the first of several arrives in the mail informing him that he is sole heir to a custom-built house on Cannon Beach, the one place that has come to symbolize all that is broken in his life. He travels down there, thinking he'll check the place out and put it on the market. Instead, the house grabs him by the heart and won't let him go. For it is more than a house; it is a mortar, wood, brick, and glass representation of his soul. And it will lay on the line everything he holds dear. Challenge his perceptions of what really matters most. Bring him face to face with the God he abandoned. So the big question remains; world or soul?
Shades of Brigadoon (movie) and Twice In A Lifetime (TV show) here, only it's so much more than that. You can write off the former as a nice fantasy, and the latter as a whimsical look at second chances. But Micah's backstory is easily yours or mine. Despite the fantasy elements, we all have to choose whether to "sell eternity to buy a toy." (Whose quote is that? Nice!) On the outside looking in, we can ape Peter all we want, ("Oh no, Lord, not I!") but when push comes to shove, we'll blow it just like he did. I say this with certainty because you probably have. I know I've made my share of mistakes. What is so incredible is that God wants us back, even after we're damaged goods.
Rooms is not only full of great spiritual insight, it's well written fiction too. Rubart manages to make his characters sound like real people, with the exception of Micah's father, Daniel, who sounds a little too precise in his words. Mysterious, soulful Rick.....sweet, innocent Sarah.....shallow, worldly Julie....these are people we live with and work with every day. He also manages to balance out the serious themes with some well-placed humor. And as for the fantastic nature of many of the scenes in this book? If you can suspend your disbelief long enough to watch Star Wars, then you can surely imagine the possibility of a journey into self. In fact, this reviewer predicts that you won't have to imagine for long. Movie rights are probably being discussed as you read this.
You don't have to be a scifi geek, a book maniac, or even a Christian to enjoy Rooms. But I dare you to do more than enjoy it. I dare you to ask God to boot up AutoCAD and show you your floorplan. Get ready for a wild ride as you and God explore your own Rooms together.
:) | Posted May-18-2010
Forgiveness. Unconditional love. They seem like empty words to a confused girl who can’t wrap
her mind around them, whose only experiences with love and repentance have made her so bitter
and hardened that when the real thing comes along, she can’t or won’t recognize it for what it is.
The women profiled in Loved all struggled with major issues in their lives that lead them away from
God. Some still do. But the underlying message in all of these stories is that God is ready and
willing to meet us where we are and make us new.
If we’d only ask.
In each section (“Identity Crisis”, “Addictions”, “Family Problems”, “Friends”, “Man Trouble”, and
“Faith Crises”), a story about a woman from the Bible facing a tough situation is shared. There is
some artistic license taken in Rebecca’s re-tellings, as she fleshes out each tale with descriptive
imagery and glimpses at what might have been running through their minds. However, it only
serves to add to the impact of the modern-day stories that follow. There really is “nothing new
under the sun”; these women have been there before. Furthermore, it encourages readers to keep
the Bible in mind first.
Although Loved is intended to be read as a devotional over a 6-week period, there are no discussion
questions at the end of each section, or suggested Bible verses to look up. I can only speculate that
Rebecca wants Loved to be more of a personal seeking study than an author-lead journey. I’m the
kind of person who would flip through a 365 day calendar just to read all the jokes in one sitting, so
I didn’t mind going through it faster than recommended.
Loved is compelling, candid, and relevant. I had moments where I would stop reading after a story,
sit for a while, and then pick up the book again. That’s what prodigal stories have in common with
snowflakes; no two are exactly alike, yet they’re all beautiful in their own way.
All the women whose stories are recounted have had their names changed to protect the redeemed.
But their names don’t really matter. It could be your sister’s story. Or your best friend’s. Or even
yours. What does matter is that Christ has shown each of these women the love and forgiveness
they craved so much.
LauraCC's Music and Book Reviews 
