Other reading options for this summer

So, remember that night we sat in the beautiful Lobby of Harris Hall and made a wonderful list of books that we should read this summer? Well, I wrote that list down, and thought I had thrown it away, but then I found it! So, here is the list! Let's pick a book and set a date and it will be lots and lots of fun! ;)

The List:

The Kiterunner by Khaled Hosseini,

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Angels and Demons by Dan Brown

Runaway Jury by John Grisham

The Pelican Brief by John Grisham

Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

The Alliance by Gerald Lund

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

Leadership and Self-Deception by the Arbinger Institute (? Maybe? Is this right?)

A Boy in the Girl's Bathroom by Louis Sachar

Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball

The Most Dangerous Game (aka The Hounds of Zaroff) by Richard Connell

Marianne's killing book (That is obviously not the real title, but I don't know it...sorry!)

Frindle by Andrew Clements

My book club input.

Hi!
So, my favorite quote from The Screwtape Letters was, well I can't find it now....but oh well. It was in the letter about making him pray for courage, but becoming more brave by himself and boasting in his own strength without the help of God. I kind of think this happens to all of us, if you know what I mean. For example, sometimes, (or at least I do this...I've never been in your head, so I am just assuming you do too) when I pray for help finding something that I have lost, and a place to look pops into my head, I sometimes assume that it is just a lucky guess on my part...and sometimes I assume that it is help from God. But this book kind of made me think about that for a little bit, and realize that I need to be more thankful when I do get Divine help and to always assume that it is Divine help. Because it always is.
The end.

Quotes

Allright everybody. There are SO many good quotes in this book but I have decided on two that I like the best that are kind of related to each other. Here they are.

"Talk to him about "moderation in all things". If you can once get him to the point of thinking that"religion is all very well up to a point", you can feel quite happy about his soul. A moderated religion is as good for us as no religion at all—and more amusing." (Letter 9)

"Our cause is never more in danger than when a human, no longer desiring, but still intending, to do our Enemy's will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys." (Letter 8)

This first quote is awesome. Screwtape presents a phrase to Wormwood that most Christians are quick to embrace: moderation in all things. However, as Satan does with so many seemingly "good" things, he twists the statement to talk about moderated religon. The last part about a moderated religon being as good for him as no religon all is really an insightful statement. Again, Satan wants to lull us into a false sense of security. When we live our religon when it is convenient for us, it provides us with that security.

The next quote gives us a good example of how NOT to live a moderated religon. In mission prep, Bro. Bott talked about two reasons why the Spirit leaves somebody: first, because of unworthiness, and second, because the Lord needs to test you-- to give you your own personal Liberty jail experience. Then, when we feel abandoned and still obey, the Lord will bless us. He is pretty much just summarizing Ether 12:6. And, Satan's cause will be "in danger". The whole book from the perspective of the devil is so unique and helps the reader to further his or her faith in Christ. Good Pick you guys! And yes we should skype sometime, but I dunno how I can. We can set up a time and I will see what I can do. Later!

Book Club

Hey Club,

So we should get this book club going! Have most of you started Screwtape Letters? How about the coming Monday for a deadline? If that doesn't work, just let me know. I thought it would be cool if we just wrote one quote or idea that you really liked in the book and why you liked it. Maybe you guys think that's stupid, and maybe you are right. It's probably just the English teacher in me. Hope you are liking the book. I like it alot!

Taylor

Finally!

So, guess what?
I bought a new Hula Hoop! She's a beauty! Orange and thin! Got to love it, right? Right! She's not nearly as cool as the old one (she doesn't light up and she's not pink and she doesn't have the memories of Micah hula hooping velociraptor-like attached to it) but, she's functional! Hooray! I am so excited, and I know you all are too! :D