Dad and Book Update

Thought I'd let you all know that my Dad went home today. They released him a day early. They felt he is doing very well. He feels much better. He is Still a little week and does not have a great appetite, but he is home. I think they are wanting to come down here to Medford this weekend to get away and check up on work around their house here. Praise the Lord for his quick healing!

The book I've been reading this week for "Reading Rainbow" was put on hold for a couple of days during all the events with my Dad, but I will be picking back up tomorrow and should have a review by Sunday. So far it has been very challenging...in a good way. It's not hard to read, but what is written is taking a lot to digest. I am really enjoying it. Check back for the review.

Update and Next Book

I just want to say thank you all so much! I just sounded southern...maybe I shouldn't frequent Mandy's blog so much :). I really do appreciate all the thoughtful calls emails and comments regarding my Dad. I was overwhelmed at church this morning. So many of you care and it shows. Thank You!

We have a long way to go, but he was doing a little better today. The doctor's gave him a new antibiotic and they felt that X-rays showed it was helping with the Pneumonia. We will head up in the morning to be with them for the Angiogram surgery on Tuesday. My mom is doing well. She worked at church all weekend. I know my Dad misses being able to be on stage teaching the church he is about to retire from. It is something he loves to do and does well. If any of you would like to hear him preach, you can check out the his latest teaching here.

In the midst of everything going on, I do not want to take a break from the amazing reading journey God has me on. I began a new book last night for the "Reading Rainbow". "The Dangerous Act of Worship" by Mark Labberton will be this weeks book. I saw this reviewed over here. It looked like something I really need to dig into after coming off the book I read last week.

So, thank you for the prayers. It is amazing to know that my Dad is being lifted up. Literally all over the world. I will post tomorrow with updates.


edit-that's a crap load of links...hopefully they are beneficial for you.

"Reading Rainbow" Book 7 - Week 7

This week for "Reading Rainbow" I read "Under The Overpass" by Mike Yankoski. I was referred this book by my best friend/older daughter Rachelle. She works with FCA and has been taking some amazing foreign missions trips. Thank Shell!

I say I read this book this week , but the reality was I read it in a day. I came home from work on Tuesday and started reading. I spent a little time with it and loved it. I took off that evening for some volleyball and when I returned I dug back into the book. I then could not put it down. I finished about 2:30 in the morning. I've never done that before. I was hooked with the story this book had to tell. I was so anxious to hear what would happen next, who the next character they met would be and if they were going to get enough money to eat today.

This book is basically Mike's journal from his trip. He was challenged while sitting in church one day that he was not sure his faith would withstand a true test. He then went on for the next year planning his trip to leave everything behind and live on the streets with the intention of seeing how God would work in and through Him when there was absolutely nothing for him to rely on except God.

The people he and his traveling partner Sam met were diverse. They met rude people, kind people, homeless, addicts, convicts, ministers and everything in between. What a way to see people. They saw people at their most vulnerable point. Not just the people living on the street with them, but the people around them making a decision as to what to do with this homeless man in front of them. I think that is the most challenging thought for me. How do I care for those in front of me.

This book wasn't a "how to care for the homeless" book. Mike did take time to share with us his thoughts on all of that, but it was more A journal of a journey. It was Mike's "fleece" before God to reveal Himself. It was Mike's personal test to approve His trust and faith in God. Here are some quotes from the book.

"I felt my frustration rising until I realized how unentitled I really was. No one deserves mercy. And no one walking by owed a dime. Mercy, is by definition, undeserved, or else it isn't mercy."

" A hungry man can be a fast learner. When you come to a table with nothing but need, you are grateful for things you might have pushed aside before. And when you kneel hungry and broken at His table, you receive a grace from Him you might at some other time, have completely missed."

"I wonder how much we miss because we are unwilling to pick it up...It's like asking God to bless your day, then when He puts a needy, smelly person in front of you that you could really help, you wonder what you did to deserve such rotten luck."

"Why do we so often overlook obvious ways to show the love of God we so proudly proclaim?"

"Having everything 'just because you can' is a trap. It numbs and blinds the human spirit. It can separate us from our calling and our privilege as Christians in this needy world.

"Sitting there with Sugar Man, I felt my carefully established definitions of a Christian, crack and expand. Here was an admitted addict and user openly proclaiming Christ in his community and asking how he could serve us...what's your definition of a Christian? Is it broad enough to encompass the drug dealers, pimps, prostitutes and broken people of the world? We all struggle with personal ways in which sin plays itself out in our lives...Why do we reject the loving, self-sacrificing, giving, encouraging, Jesus-pursuing drug addict, but recruit the clean, self-interested, gossiping, loveless churchgoer?"

Next Book - Week 7

The next book I will be reading for "Reading Rainbow" will be "Under The Overpass" by Mike Yankoski.

Here is an excerpt from the back cover of the book.

"Mike Yankoski's life went from upper-middle class plush to scum-of-the-earth repulsive overnight. From the United States Capital to San Diego, Mike and his traveling companion, Sam journeyed as homeless men for five months. Not for a project or even in response to a dare. He needed to know if his faith in God was real-if he could actually be the Christian he said he was apart from the comforts he'd always known.

So with only a bag on his back, a guitar in his hand, and Sam by his side he set out. And like any traveler in a foreign land, he returned a different man."


I think this should be good!

"Reading Rainbow" Book 6 - Week 6

Last week I read through 2 books. I spoke of the first here and then I made mention to the second here. The second book was “Stand Against The Wind” by Erwin McManus. It is interesting to read this book the week after I read through Bill Hybels book. They both are essentially speaking to the same thing, the character of God, alive and well within us. I told Pastor David today that it was as if someone handed Hybels and McManus the sermon notes and I got to here them both teach the same sermon. Needless to say, this book, as was Hybels, was very impacting. It is hard to read through these books and really soak everything in. I am going to find myself looking back through every once in a while and reminding and rereading things, just so they stay fresh.

Anyway, the first page of the book begins with our challenge to really live. Erwin made the statement that to truly know God is to have His character in our lives. I have heard Erwin speak a couple of times and have read one of his other books. He is so passionate about us as believers living fully as God intended. He is concerned how “the world” has completely affected us and limited us to living this way. He says, “To discover what it means to be truly human, the only one we can turn to is God.” He goes on to say, “A person God Himself deems as wise is one who not only hears His voice, but immediately begins to act upon His instruction.” I love that statement. It is a challenge. It is not enough to hear, but we need to also act. Erwin said, “You cannot follow Jesus and remain the same...It’s nothing less than leaving the fake for the real.” There is the overwhelming message in this book. “Real” life is not the aches and pains, the ups and downs, the family issues and joys. It is the character of God “alive and kicking” in our everyday life. God intended for us to live through “life” not as sitting ducks, but as beacons of hope and love.

Erwin speaks to aspects of God’s character and how to allow God’s character to transform our lives. He says that it starts with a complete surrendering to God...a “revolution of the soul”. Here are some great quotes from the book.

Humility – “When a person has an attitude problem, what he or she really has is an arrogance problem.”

Gratitude - “When we are grateful, we are most fully alive. Gratitude allows us to absorb every possible pleasure from a moment.” “When we embrace bitterness, we reject grace.”

Perseverance – “Transformation is both the miracle of God and the stewardship of man.”

Integrity – “Integrity is not just about who we are, but who we seek to become.” “Integrity is not about being ‘flawless’ but being ‘falseless’.”

Belonging – “When a person is whole, he or she sees love as limitless. We are designed to be conduits of love; the problem is we’ve been disconnected with the Source of love.”

Courage – Re: Joshua 1:1-9 – “God’s part...I will never leave you nor forsake you, and Joshua’s part...be strong and courageous.” “It was God’s promise, but it was Joshua’s responsibility.” “When God speaks, it requires immediate attention.”

Generosity – “generosity isn’t about how much we give but about how much it costs us.” “The generous see themselves as stewards of God’s treasures. They are not cautious in giving themselves away.” “They are the true investors in the human spirit.” “In giving they find themselves rich.” “The givers are unexplainably full.”

Fear of God – “When the fear of God is absent from our lives, we become slaves to lesser fears, and your fears define the boundaries of your life. When you fear God, you are subject only to Him.” “When we fear God, we find the freedom and courage to pursue dreams far too big for ourselves...God’s gift to us is Himself.”

"Reading Rainbow" Book 5 - Week...6

So this week I've been reading through, "God's Blogs" by Lanny Donoho. I started picking away at this earlier in the week, then last night I started reading and couldn't put it down. Needless to say this is a quick read.

So, I think this is one of the most creative books I've ever read. the whole premise is that God is blogging and here are excerpts from that blog. God is pouring out who He is and what he intends for us, He is dispelling myths and wrong thinking and He speaks boldly and honestly to those that have done a disservice to him and his church. I do wish that hearing from God was this simple. Wouldn't it be great if their was a daily update.

Anyway, this book was fun, there are little nuggets of truth and encouragement all over through book. I think the author may take some liberties with theology(just my opinion), but it is not really sacreligious. There are great thoughts from start to finish. Every chapter is kind of a glimpse into God's thoughts on a specific subject. The chapter entitled Tsunami's responds to the questions, where is God when there is tragedy. This chapter ends with the statement, "Some people are asking me, 'Where are You when disaster hits?' I'm asking you the same question." Here are some qoutes from chapters I really enjoyed.

Anger - "Next time you feel yourself tighten up, and you know your face is red, and you're ready to yell or lash out, and you know that your anger is just abbout to take over, think about what it is that you want that you can't have (the thing that is making you angry). Then try to remember: The only way to really get what you want is to give up."

In His Image - "If you've read my book, you know that you guys...all of you...we're created in My image." "Reflections happen best when you are standing near to that which you want to reflect (That which you were made to reflect)."

Bubbles - (I think I am going to write a whole new post on this one. It really speaks to the "Christian Culture" discussion that we've had lately.)

Death - "...and then someday when you sit in a doctor's office and you hear what to so many is sobering news...you might even smile. Because you decided a long time ago to live like you were dying. And that included getting to know Me...and that means that you already know there is no such thing as death for you...

There is just moving from your house to mine. I'll see you soon."


Another thought on this book is that it is visually a lot of fun. think of a scratch pad a writer would use to scribble down thoughts, highlight mistakes and circle main points. This book is printed this way. i would definitely recommend this book. It's light and easy to read and it is packed full of great little thoughts and sayings. you could use this almost as a little daily read. Just pick a chapter a day, it would take about a month to go through in that routine.

I Want To Really Live

After reading My last book and also digging into one of the new ones I am working on, I am convinced of our need to be changed to reflect the character of God. I wouldn't say this is a new revelation for me but one God is having me focus on more intently. I love this quote from the McManus book I am reading. "God formed us in his image and then breathed life into us. God's life in us is sustained by character. When we lose the character of God, we lose the life of God in us. But to have his character, we must first die to ourselves, because to become like Him is what it means to really live."

I read this today and I was prompted to pass this info along to you. Let God examine your character. If we are not becoming more like Christ, He is not "living" in us.

Next Book - Week 6

So this week I am reading through a fun book. It is "God's Blogs" by Lanny Donoho. The premise of this book is that God has something to say and he wants us all to hear it. So, God has started a blog :) It takes time to hear God speak(truths from His word) about His character, His love for us, His passions and desires. It should be a lot of fun. I will start digging into it tonight.

"Reading Rainbow" Book 4 - Week...5

So I had to take last week off from reading due to my crazy schedule during the fair. But I am back up and running.

This week I read through the book "Who You Are When No One's looking" by Bill Hybels. Here is the basic overview. Easy book to read. A quick read actually. Great simple insight into character and how it affects our life. It is a book that challenges us to evaluate and take the next step to seeing our lives transformed buy God's power.

Bill spent the first half of the book focused on specific character traits. Each chapter was dedicated to a specific trait - Courage, Discipline, Vision, Endurance. The second half of the book was dedicated to forms of love - Tender Love, Tough Love, Sacrificial Love, Radical Love. The way Bill writes and teaches is very simple to understand. Anyone could read this book and walk away with a challenge and a better understanding of what scripture says about our character in Christ. I really appreciated the chapter on Discipline and Vision. Both of which are areas of my life that God is working overtime on. The chapters dealing with love begin by declaring our need to be living lives of empathy and then continues on to see how that looks in dealing with work, relationships and then further on into dealing with issues and trials. There is an excellent balance of turning the other cheek and speaking the truth in love. Both extremely valid, both necessary. In chapter 9 Bill discusses Matthew 5:39-41 from the sermon on the mount. It is one of the best practical teachings on that passage I have ever heard or read.

Anyone can read this book. I would definitely recommend it. It is practical, challenging and speaks in love. Bill truly cares about the character of the Christian community. You hear and feel this with everything he writes.

Here are some great quotes from the book...

Courage - "Every single day we make choices that show whether we are courageous or cowardly. We choose between the right thing and the convenient thing, sticking to a conviction or caving in for the sake of comfort, greed and approval. We choose to either take a carefully thought out risk or to crawl into a shrinking shell of safety, security and inactivity. We choose either to believe in God and trust Him, even though we do not always understand His ways, or to second-guess Him and cower in corners of doubt and fear."

Discipline - "Delayed gratification. Advanced decision making. Accountability. These six words define discipline and tell how to achieve it."

Vision - "Vision is the God-given ability to catch a glimpse of what God wants to do through your life, if you dedicate yourself to Him."

Endurance - "You build endurance by learning how to crash through quitting points." "That is when ordinary people like you and me become extraordinary in God's sight."

Love - re:Matthew 23:13-33, "Jesus said these things because they were true. His words were upsetting, difficult to receive, tough to swallow-but true."

"He or she must believe that truth telling is more important than peace keeping...that the well being of the other person is more important then the current comfort level in the relationship."

"True personal fulfillment never comes through self-gratification."

"Jesus is the exact opposite of a thief. He does not come to rob, but to give. He does not break into anyone's life; He stands at the door and knocks. If invited in, He wanders around the house placing precious objects on the mantels, on the shelves and in the cupboards. He fills up the person's life with everything life is worth living for: purpose, fulfillment, meaning, love, peace, confidence, security and even freedom."

Book Update - Week 4

Well, I do not believe I will be able to finish my book this week. With my schedule right now, I have zero time to read. I am leaving the house by 10AM and not returning till 12AM. I do not have more than 5 minutes break at the fair right now and when I get home, I am spending 30 minutes catching up with you and the family and then crashing...getting up around 9 and doing it again. It is a crazy schedule that I am doing OK with, but I will not have a chance to read. I will pick the book up again on Sunday PM and I should finish it by Tuesday PM, so I may try and get 2 in next week. I have failed a the 10 in 10, but I still think I can get a total of 10 in by the end of 10 weeks. thanks for hanging with me!

Next Book - Week 4

For the next installment of "Reading Rainbow", I will be reading,
" Who You Are When No One's Looking" by Bill Hybels.

I am excited to read through this book. Bill is a leader of leaders and I am sure he will have a lot of wisdom and challenge to those in leadership to live life with integrity. It isn't a very large book, so it should be easy on my head, unlike last week. I won't have a lot of free time this week. I am taking some vacation time to do something I love, but I'll post about that later.

So look for the review later this week!

"Reading Rainbow" - Week 3...Book 3

OK...my head hurts.This book was intense.

This week I read through "Simply Christian" by N.T. Wright.

First of all, let me get the basic critique out of the way. I said earlier this week that this was more of a "month" book than a "week" book. I needed to read things twice or even three times to let it soak in and many times I did not have the time to do so. This book was really hard to read for me. He spoke in long run on sentences with often 3, 4 or even 5 ideas running around in that one sentence. This book was definitely not simple and with all the thought and theology that went into this book, I would say that Christianity is definitely not simple.

So, that is the bad...but there was a ton of good. The reason this book was so intense is that Wright spent a lot of time explaining the views of Christianity (often by comparing the views of other religions to it) to point out that Christianity in it's pure form IS simple. Here is a statement from the book...

"At the heart of the Christian ethic is humility; at the heart it's parodies, pride. Different roads with different destinations, and the destinations color the character of those who travel by them."

Christianity is simply living out a life dedicated to the world God has created for us through His Son Jesus. Wright spent time looking at different theologies (Pantheism, Deism) to show how we can often go astray by how we feel or what we think, versus what is true through God's eyes and Word. I love the intent in this book, which I saw as stripping ourselves of everything culture and society have made of Christianity and getting back to it's true purpose. Our lives are an opportunity to share Him with others. Wright spoke to the churches role, worships role and relationships role in our faith walk.

I appreciated his constant reminder of our life in Christ being "alive". An amazing story that we are a part of and have the opportunity to write chapters into. I also appreciated his discussion on the translation of scripture. Is it literal or metaphorical? Is it abstract or concrete? Could the bible at times be abstract in explaining literal truth? See why my head hurts!

Here's the deal on this book. This is a deep book that only taps into certain discussions of Christian theology. He gives, at the end of the book, More options to dig deeper (I'm going to wait on digging into those options, by the way). If someone wants to keep this education going, it could be endless. But, my bet is that if we asked Wright, he would tell us, stop reading into everything and live the life. I really got that from him. Wright is brilliant and is using his brilliance to speak frankly and honestly to all self-proclaimed Christians. He is tired of seeing us "Christians" screw up the life God has intended for us. Unfortunately we often do this through our convictions and beliefs (think of the suicide bombers). We can get so caught up in theologies and traditions (all of which can be very valid and worshipful) that we forget to actually live as Christians. He wanted to make sure we knew that we don't have to wait for some far off time to go to some far off heaven to experience God. God is here...now.

Here are some quotes from the book...

"Christianity is all about the belief that the living God, in fulfillment of His promises and as the climax of the story of Israel, has accomplished all this-the finding, the saving, the giving of new life-in Jesus. He has done it."

"The pain and tears of all the years were met together on Calvary. The sorrow of heaven joined with the anguish of earth;the forgiving love stored up in God's future was poured out in the present;the voices that echo in a million human hearts, crying for justice, longing for spirituality, eager for relationship, yearning for beauty, drew themselves together in a final scream of desolation."

"...the resurrection of Jesus doesn't leave us as passive, helpless spectators. We find ourselves lifted up, set on our feet, given new breath in our lungs, and commissioned to go and make new creation happen in the world."

"We are called to be part of God's new creation, called to be agents of that new creation here and now. We are called to model and display that new creation in symphonies and family life, in restorative justice and poetry, in holiness and service to the poor, in politics and painting."

"When you see the dawn breaking, you think back to the darkness in a new way. "Sin" is not simply the breaking of a law. It is the missing of an opportunity."

Book Update

So I am going to be close to finishing the next book in the "Reading Rainbow". This book has been intense. I probably bit off a little more than I should have chewed, seeing as how I am reading this in a week. This is probably more of a "month" book.

With that being said, it has been intriguing to read. My Dad and I had a great discussion last night, spurred on by the book, about the divinity of Jesus.

So, look for the review tomorrow!

Next Book - Week 3

This week for "Reading Rainbow" I will be digging into the book "Simply Christian" by N.T. Wright.

I started this book on Friday PM and have gotten through the first 4 chapters (of about 16). This is going to be an intense book. This book is a deep thinker. I am finding myself reading a little slower to make sure I don't miss anything and sometimes reading things twice. I don't want to miss anything. I've been using little post-it notes to mark things and I've already gone through a stack of them. It may be difficult to fit the whole review in one post, so I may give you a couple. It has been great to hear Wright's passionate desire to know Jesus and to study Him authentically. he spent time in the first chapter explaining incorrect world views of Christianity that I think were right on.

Anyway, I am looking forward to sharing this one with you on Friday!

Reading Rainbow - Week 2...Book2

This week I focused on "The blogging Church" by Brian Bailey and Terry Storch.

I was actually pleasantly surprised with this book. I knew going into this book that I was in for a lot of great information and disciplines in creating and maintaining a blog. I did not expect how creatively it was written. I think we have certain expectations for "how-to" books and this one surpassed my expectations.

If you have started a blog or are just thinking about it, grab this book. There is a lot of focus on churches creating and using blogs, but not to the extent that it leaves the individual out. The writers took time to teach us a little history as well as give us clear detailed info on the how, why and where of the blog world. Chapter 9 & 10 focus on starting a blog and then building a blog well. I love chapter 11 titled "Build A Really Bad Blog". It's kind of the how-to in reverse.

One of the coolest things in the book was hearing from bloggers around the country about their take on blogging and how it has affected their lives or the lives of the businesses/churches they are involved with. I enjoyed hearing the real world ideas.

This book really starts from the beginning by asking 3 questions...
-Is it a tool or a toy?
-What problem are you trying to solve?
-What is the return on ministry?

The writers go on to explain that "Blogs are tools, not toys. Blogs help solve real problems. Blogs deliver a true return on ministry."

I also appreciate the hopeful message from start to finish. As churches and Christ-followers, we have an amazing opportunity to share our story with others. The blog world is open and ready for the taking. This book consistently draws you back to intent. The writers want you to be excited about who God is in your life and they want that to burst out on your blog.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone thinking of or already in the blogging world. It's very easy to read. It is not extremely technical. And when it does get technical, they have done a great job of explaining themselves so no one gets left behind. It has real life stories and history. It is a quick read. I thought this would take me longer than some of the other books I have planned for the "Reading Rainbow", but this read very smooth.

If you want to check in on the writer's blogs, take some time to say thank you for their book.

Terry Storch is on staff at Lifechurch.tv in Oklahoma

Brian Bailey is on staff at Fellowship Church in Dallas Texas

Here are a couple of great quotes from the book...

"Church is the last place where you should invest a lot of time pretending to be perfect. The standard has already been set, and everyone has been found lacking."

"Whether online or in person, reaching out is about risk. Walking across the room and introducing yourselves involves risk, and the blogosphere is no different."

"If we want to have any hope of communicating with on another, and learning from one another, we have to realize that we're all self-centered sinners, trying to do the best we can in this life for our family, our community, and ourselves."

"When passion, mistakes, answered prayers, and struggles are shared openly and honestly, people can connect with the church beyond the weekend services."

Next Book - Week 2

My next book for the "Reading Rainbow" will be "The Blogging Church" by Brian Bailey and Terry Storch. I've really enjoyed reading Terry's Blog so this should be fun. this will be more of an education on blogging vs a spiritual journey, but it should keep me pretty full with all the info. Pastor Ron is reading through this book as well, so this will be a great opportunity for both of us to compare notes. Watch out blog...I am sure it is in for a nice makeover...in a good way.

"Reading Rainbow" - Week 1...Book 1

So here is the first post for the "Reading Rainbow"! I am very excited to inform you that I finished the first book. Trust me, this is a great day. So let's get on with it.

This weeks book was, "The Coffeehouse Gospel" by Matthew Paul Tuner.

The focus of this book is the techniques that we as Christians use to share our faith. Matthew's heart is that we as a Christian community often do not consider the effect we have on others when we share our faith. It is often programmed and taught in specific fashions that discount the feelings and even the value of those who do not know Jesus. Matthew made the statement, "It is a major fumble to speak the gospel in any way other than lovingly, mercifully and graciously." This book speaks to the importance and even the necessity of relationship and story in the sharing of our faith. I loved another statement he made, "An invitation to become a follower of Jesus is a personal and intimate message. Not meant to be auctioned off nonchalantly or delivered by car salesman-like men and women who couldn't care less what your name is or where you came from".

This book really spoke to my heart, because I have always felt myself to be a failure at sharing my faith. Matthew was very encouraging and yet stressed with great importance our duty as Christ followers to share our faith with others. I love this statement from the book. "The art of evangelism is not one to be mastered; It's more lifestyle than duty and more natural process than calculated function of necessity. It's God's resounding request for His followers to participate in His story". This book challenged me to reevaluate both my process and my thinking in when and how I share my faith. It's easy for me to freeze up when I have a chance to share. even a better possibility is that the chance for me to share will go right by without me ever noticing it. Matthew made this statement, "How many times have you felt God nudge you and you ignored it? I often wonder what I missed in the process. What would God have done in my life or the life of the man/women if I had simply said, 'yes I'll obey You'".

I really appreciated Matthew's ability to see things simply and then write about it in a practical easy to understand fashion. The book was easy to read and easy to apply. There were some great questions to ponder as well as opportunities to do some work on my end to dig into my own stories of faith and how then to share them. The 7th chapter was a great resource for what we should know as we take the time to share.

I encourage all of you to grab this book if you can. I look back in my life of growing up in church and there is so much deprogramming that needs to take place. Salvation is not a process of 3 steps and a prayer and we are good. Evangelism is not about me telling someone if they walk out that door and get hit by a bus that they are going to hell. Sharing my faith takes communication. It takes as much if not more listening than it does talking. I am excited to share my faith after reading this book. Not because I have a new faith, but I have a new confidence in Who's I am and I want people to know about Him. I'll leave you with 2 more statements from the book.

"Human beings do not evangelize. God is the one in the business of evangelizing. His people are the witnesses of His truth." "It is a Christ followers goal to reach out to those who do not know the loving kindness of God!"

"Reading Rainbow"

Alright, I have decided...the name shall be Reading Rainbow. That just seriously cracks me up! Now I have to think of a prize for the winner. Maybe...

Anyway, great ideas!