Scribble and Scrambles ~ Think It Through

I got an email from a publicist who has recently changed companies and is promoting a new book. She and I have had conversations in the past and so I clicked on the link to her new firm and read up on it. Turns out she's an award winning blogger in her neck of the woods and so, of course, I checked out her blog.

And I feel sad. Really sad.

Turns out she used to be a Christian until disillusioned by other Christians.

Now she's found Buddhist teachings and feels enlightened and back on a good path.

She said she's finally ready to accept that some people choose Jesus and that's okay in her book. After all, the teachings of Buddha are to let things go, and she thinks she can let go of the hate of the narrow-minded Christian philosophy that has ruined so much of our culture. (my interpretation, not her words.)

Why...why...why do we let other people crush our beliefs? Life is full of rude, arrogant, pushy, destructive, wounded people. People who say they are followers of some sort of belief or teaching don't necessarily "get it" nor do two followers follow identically.

It comes down to this.

Please. Please. Please. Don't let someone else's behavior or many someones' behaviors make a decision for you on something as serious as your spirituality.

Do all roads lead to Nirvana/Heaven/Happiness? Isn't that question important enough to really, truly look into? Your spiritual path is much more important than to let it be determined by default. Or others interpretations.

If Christianity has been "ruined" for you by a person or group of people consider this. Would a rotten fan or groups of fans change your loyalty to your favorite team? Would a book review or movie review keep you from picking up the DVD or book and reading the back cover? Would anti-buffalo sauce zealots keep you from trying the stuff? Or if your best friend had a peanut allergy would you avoid all peanuts all the time in complete and total support?

I don't want anyone to believe in Jesus because I do. Nor does He, actually. And never would I want to put a media spin on Him, or by my words or actions change who He is to make Him fit someone's life. The Jesus that is presented by narrow-minded bigots or half-invested "feel good Christians" is not necessarily the real Jesus. He makes some outrageous statements and some mind-blowing claims. But you should check them out for yourself not via someone else's interpretation or behaviors.

Serials and Scenarios~ Ooooh, Very Clever Marketing Idea

I received this "honor" today.

I interviewed this particular author after he created an awesome self-parody of his hideously criticized novel. It was a clever and creative "making of lemonade" moment that intrigued me.

Now he's hit upon yet another awesome marketing tool.

Ha. When the internet is good it is very, very good.

Serials and Scenarios ~ Fabulous Giveaway.

In case you missed my review of Gina's new book it's posted at The New Book Review. Drop by and check it out.

AND Gina is offering a fabulous giveaway of not only a signed copy of her book, but a string of freshwater pearls. Hurry and check out the contest rules (simple) and get your name in for a chance to win.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Turkey in the Grass

Though the picture requires much imagination I'm thinking you will forgive me when I tell you that to take a better one might have resulted in a hideous injury to either me, an innocent bystander (Have you ever wondered about that term. Really? How do we KNOW that the bystander is innocent?) or an amorous turkey. The picture is just a teeny bit of proof of the following facts.

It is turkey season in Iowa. Apparently (and I can back this statement up) they are everywhere doing their turkey come-hither disco moves in an attempt to make a love connection. I have seen them strutting their stuff...usually with a male in all his Thanksgiving Turkey finery. (Okay, without the stuffing or the bag of giblets.) At the side of the interstate. Traffic whizzing by at 65...no problem. He's bad, baby, he's Mr. Turkey Danger. Several females, usually in pairs, (probably headed to the ladies room to talk about their double dates) have crossed roads in front of my car. Apparently within the season of love there are no such things as traffic rules, or cars, for that matter.

The picture is the latest of a "lady" who crossed in front of me. Fortunately, the road was deserted and the turkey made it to make eyes another day.

Scribble and Scrambles ~ Tuesday Totally Trippy Tunes

So, talent by any other name is still talent, right? Enjoy the tunes, the creativity and the stylins.

Serials and Scenarios ~ MAY BOOK GIVEAWAY....

I have the opportunity to offer my readers (3 of them anyway) a chance to get a free book.

The rules. Simple.

Leave a comment with the title of the book you'd like on this post. Leave a comment every day if you'd like. The more you leave the better the chance you have a winning a copy. May 31st is the final day to leave a comment and I will randomly pick three winners from the comments June 1st. Make sure I can get in touch with you if you are one of the winners.


1) Released from the Prison my Father Built, by James Ryle- James Ryle, co founder of the Promise Keepers..The story of James Ryle’s life reads like a Hollywood screenplay: father sent to prison…abandoned by his mother at the age of six…sent to live at a Texas orphanage…teen runaway…rebellious life of drugs and alcohol…arrested and charged with negligent homicide…incarcerated at the age of 19…However, the miracle of James’ life story doesn't’ end in a Texas State penitentiary. Reconnecting with his father after 26 years changes and reorders James’ life in a remarkable and profound way. “Dear God Son……….I built that prison.”


2) Tithing, by Douglas Leblanc-In a world where international tragedy and a tough U.S. economic crisis both inspires and tests our giving spirit, tithing has become a hot topic in churches and homes nationwide. In Tithing (Thomas Nelson), journalist Douglas LeBlanc travels the nation to talk with believers whose lives have been greatly enriched by this ancient spiritual discipline of giving.


3) The Vertical Self, by Mark Sayers- In The Vertical Self: How Biblical Faith Can Help Us Discover Who We Are in an Age of Self Obsession (Thomas Nelson) Mark Sayers explains the problem of the pop-culture cult of “identity” through the eyes of a Bible-believing Christian, exposes the myths of the public image, and offers the ancient solution of radical Holiness to our modern insecurities.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Possum Hunter?

So. In case you don't know 23 very well, let me just say that she's very open to quirky ideas and finding fun ways to do the mundane.

Her latest adventure is riding her bike to the coffee shop. First she had to buy the bike. Of course, she bought the sweet retro looking model. Gotta look the part of quirky if you are quirky, after all.

Before she punctured her tire and put the bugger out of commission for a week she was able to ride to and from work and enjoy every second of it.

Well. Most of them anyway. Seems that six in the morning can be dark in spots. And the night creatures aren't all tucked away in their beds yet. She nearly ran over a possum. With her sweet new bike. You just don't experience that every day. Ha.