Sunday, December 9, 2007

I Am Woman, I Don't Roar

Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered.
I Peter3:7
-Holy Bible

I am woman, I don't roar. I am soft and sensual. I am the feminine side of his masculinity. I am delicate like a rose, as rare as a red diamond, but as practical as prose. My voice is silky enough to caress his soul yet brazen enough to strike nerves. My eyes are the portals to my soul and when I meet his gaze he is captivated by the love that shows. With my embrace his uncertainties are subdued. I am fragile, unto the weaker vessel, yet strong enough to return that which has been sown unto me. I am his wife, I am woman, I don't roar.
(c) 2007 Takiela Bynum

Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam (AMDG)


Life is blind but faith can see
beyond circumstances outside of me
To muster the strength in my weakness
My spirit is willing but vigor amiss
Affliction's journey have I trod
For the greater glory of God



Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam (AMDG) - For the greater glory of God
(C)2007 Takiela Bynum

Around the World in 80 Dates: Confessions of a Christian Serial Dater

This book is absolutely hilarious. In this novel Christa Banister takes the reality of Christian dating, and adds a humorous flare to the usually hushed subject. As Christian singles, especially women, sometimes we become consumed with finding our husband. We concentrate more on finding a husband ourselves than we do on believing that God will send a husband to us.

The quest begins with Sydney Alexander, a savvy chick with class and wit. She is the queen of shopping and sarcasm. Her morals and values are based on her faith. Sydney is a travel writer for Get Away, a travel magazine. The book tells of Sydney’s love and loss of boyfriend after boyfriend. Her first page begins:

“When Daniel told me he was in between jobs, I believed him.

And when Michael told me that I was the only girl for him, I believed him too. Well, until I found out he was also dating…. Then there was Taylor, who was more in love with his own reflection…than he could ever be with me. And Tyler, who didn’t have much self-esteem and always wondered if he was good enough. With Ben I was the girl friend, never the girlfriend.”

As the reader accompanies Sydney on her dating adventures, they will rupture with giggles. Throughout the course of the book, Sydney went through more boyfriends than babies go through diapers. Although this novel has humor written all over it, Banister conveys the underlying story effortlessly.

Each chapter begins with quotes from lines of different movies like You’ve Got Mail, As Good as It Gets, Pretty Woman, The Princess Bride just to name a few. Banister creates well balanced characters. For example, after Sydney graduates from college she works three unpopular jobs to make ends meet. She stands by her beliefs but she is not overbearing, however is firm in her stand on abstinence. She is well grounded.
Banister has taken a sensitive subject and modernized it as a faith based comedy which puts this book in a class of its own. I recommend this book to two types of individuals, those en route to marriage and those who have been blessed to find their true love.

Reviewed by: Takiela Bynum

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Love

O how my heart desires your love,
Your radiant demeanor is that from above.
Our love has been enduringly tested, painfully tried and victoriously proved, And like a tree planted by water, my love for you shall not be moved. Of all other options, you chose me as your wife. I am bound to you with love, for the rest of my life.
With each passing day my love for you grows deeper
Always know you have my heart and that you are its keeper.
O how I do admire you for you’re my spiritual inspiration.
An upright man who does indeed walk worthy of his vocation.
The depth of our love goes beyond realms that were never anticipated. You’ve made many sacrifices for me and it is immensely appreciated. Many times our love enmity has tried to plunder, But what God hath joined together let no man put asunder. Know that with all that we’ve been through
I’d do it over again to share love with you. Copyright 2007

Joy

Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning.
-Psalm 30:5
Holy Bible

Sometimes midnight seems to engulf me within its darkness. Preventing me from depending on my senses to guide me. I am rendered helpless, restricted by my own physical limitations. Aah, but my souls reminds me that there is One whose strength is perfected in my weakness. My mortal being draws on that of a higher power. I feel Him restoring me and as the morning dawns so does my joy.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Try Dying by James Scott Bell

Try Dying is a crime fiction laced with cynical characters and bleak settings. From the first page author, James Scott Bell, pounces the reader with a vortex of violence, like predator to its unsuspecting prey. Helpless to Bell’s power over the pen, I devoured this book in less than 24 hours. Bell is a master of suspense, indeed.

A character by the name of Rudy Barocas made a remark, “What the mind of a man can conceive and believe, the mind of a man can achieve.”

That statement holds much wisdom. If one can merely think something, good or bad, and then believe it, it has the ability to exist outside of the mind and be successfully carried out. This truth is resounding, and can also be threatening, an interesting theory.

In a particular passage, which had me gripping my blanket, the author reveals the meaning of the title “Try Dying.”
Ty Buchanan, the heroine of the story is in a situation where his outcome is dim. He begins to give up-
“I would soon be dead.
My mind told my body not to stress about that. Just give up, it’s time, what are you doing hanging around here? You can’t win against people like this. There’s too many of them, and they’re too powerful. Living here isn’t what you thought it’d be. Try dying. Maybe you’ll find that white light.”

At this point in the story the reader has developed a relationship with Ty and is cheering for him. The readers’ heart will cry out, “He can’t die now, he has come too close to finding out the truth.”

This is not your classical who-dun-it mystery. This novel displays the remnants of a well seasoned craft, which is not ordinarily seen amongst inspirational writers. James Scott Bell has been added to my list of favorite authors. He has proven himself a worthy component of the general and inspirational market.

Reviewed by: Takiela Bynum