tag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:/blogs/adventures-of-a-starving-artist?p=25Adventures of a Starving Artist2024-01-23T17:36:00-05:00Infinitely Morefalsetag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/73390262024-01-23T17:36:00-05:002024-01-23T19:30:10-05:00Book Review - The Warsaw Sisters, by Amanda Barratt<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwVcz8TekkYaCiuTg11hewUKP8MTs1bEWY_p-F45c8MABQ8JirjDWxA10Zi0GN2wrx2TOszAny2o008Ga395hxCvEDYl3h_-1C9ZMA75zP-LCeLwwwXSkHoM4igaBFI4IJtYMJ86y6AuHDdUAyXaTcexX6VByJPDLXbuzxtaX1HBhGCD3C34tgg/s210/81CrYzPJluL._AC_UL210_SR210,210_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwVcz8TekkYaCiuTg11hewUKP8MTs1bEWY_p-F45c8MABQ8JirjDWxA10Zi0GN2wrx2TOszAny2o008Ga395hxCvEDYl3h_-1C9ZMA75zP-LCeLwwwXSkHoM4igaBFI4IJtYMJ86y6AuHDdUAyXaTcexX6VByJPDLXbuzxtaX1HBhGCD3C34tgg/s1600/81CrYzPJluL._AC_UL210_SR210,210_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="210" width="210" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br></i></b></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"How's the book you're reading?" </i></b></div></b><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Absolutely devastating. But really beautiful, too."</i></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Today, I'm honoured to review <br><b>The Warsaw Sisters</b>, <br>by Amanda Barratt.</p><br><p><br></p><p>Here's the publisher's blurb:<br><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>On a golden August morning in 1939, sisters Antonina and Helena Dąbrowska send their father off to defend Poland against the looming threat of German invasion. The next day, the first bombs fall on Warsaw, decimating their beloved city and shattering the world of their youth.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>When Antonina's beloved Marek is forced behind ghetto walls along with the rest of Warsaw's Jewish population, Antonina turns her worry into action and becomes a key figure in a daring network of women risking their lives to shelter Jewish children. Helena finds herself drawn into the ranks of Poland's secret army, joining the fight to free her homeland from occupation. But the secrets both are forced to keep threaten to tear the sisters apart--and the cost of resistance proves greater than either ever imagined.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Shining a light on the oft-forgotten history of Poland during WWII and inspired by true stories of ordinary individuals who fought to preserve freedom and humanity in the darkest of times, The Warsaw Sisters is a richly rendered portrait of courage, sacrifice, and the resilience of our deepest ties.</i></p><p><br></p><p>There were times I wanted to close the cover and not read another page, but at the same time, I just couldn't put this book down.</p><p>Amanda takes us from the absolute start of the war until just past its ending. Month by month, season by season, we relentlessly follow the journey of our two heroines. No pain is hidden from us, their witnesses. </p><p>Even more gut-wrenching is the realization that these fictionalized stories are rooted in real history. The narrative is made up, but the truth of the war in Poland is not. For many families, these stories are their family history. I have no doubt the echos still resonate.</p><p>And at the same time, this is a book of family, hope, and redemption.</p><p>This is my first Amanda Barratt novel, but it won't be my last. I truly loved every page - her writing, her characters, her storytelling, and her historical details were riveting, compelling, and even in the darkest moments, breathtaking. <br><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>The Warsaw Sisters</b> isn't an easy read, but it is a worthy read. <br>I highly recommend it!</p><p style="text-align: center;">Amanda's site has lots of resources, including FREE kits for book clubs!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.AmandaBarratt.net" target="_blank">www.AmandaBarratt.net</a> </b></span></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span> </p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/73390272024-01-23T17:10:00-05:002024-01-23T19:30:10-05:00Book Review - The Lost Boys of Barlow Theater by Jaime Jo Wright<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir0FDOhKCpqjZEXo5PjWjBl3OxLlwPKz2Hx2PjLTYbJHc3mUMOUOUHmb-dJfbXulrp-VrKnVKzXxOBatbpAYOtas0WHlwq9eEzqoWB5v8BMSpD32smU_mg0KnjM-RUxCrfYuonj_TRCvmxO1RZOU428rvThWDdlm-y4Ltdtp78tdXoOOGFTb0C_A/s210/81nTmLCKgRL._AC_UL210_SR210,210_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir0FDOhKCpqjZEXo5PjWjBl3OxLlwPKz2Hx2PjLTYbJHc3mUMOUOUHmb-dJfbXulrp-VrKnVKzXxOBatbpAYOtas0WHlwq9eEzqoWB5v8BMSpD32smU_mg0KnjM-RUxCrfYuonj_TRCvmxO1RZOU428rvThWDdlm-y4Ltdtp78tdXoOOGFTb0C_A/w225-h225/81nTmLCKgRL._AC_UL210_SR210,210_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="225" width="225" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Since I started reviewing books, I've become a super-fan of a few select authors, and Jaime Jo Wright is definitely one of them!</div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Thankfully, she's uber-prolific!</p><p style="text-align: center;">Jaime Jo is a Christian writer with a deep love of ghost stories, gothic settings, and all kinds of creepy historical settings. I'm definitely not a horror fan, but I loooove her spooky, suspenseful storytelling!</p><p style="text-align: center;">Today, I'm excited to share her latest creation:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater</span></b></p><p><br></p><p>Here's the publisher's blurb:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>It promises beauty but steals life instead. Will the ghosts of Barlowe Theater entomb them all?</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Barlowe Theater stole the life of Greta Mercy's eldest brother during its construction. Now in 1915, the completed theater appears every bit as deadly. When Greta's younger brother goes missing after breaking into the building, Greta engages the assistance of a local police officer to help her unveil the already ghostly secrets of the theater. But when help comes from an unlikely source, Greta decides that to save her family she must uncover the evil that haunts the theater and put its threat to rest.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Decades later, Kit Boyd's best friend vanishes during a ghost walk at the Barlowe Theater, and old stories of mysterious disappearances and ghoulish happenings are revived. Then television ghost-hunting host and skeptic Evan Fisher joins Kit in the quest to identify the truth behind the theater's history. Kit reluctantly agrees to work with him in hopes of finding her missing friend. As the theater's curse unravels Kit's life, she is determined to put an end to the evil that has marked the theater and their hometown for the last century.</i></p><p><br></p><p>The fictional Barlowe Theater is inspired by the real life Al. Ringling Theatre (<i>see photo below</i>). On Jaime Jo's social media, she took time to explore the real theatre and share some of its beauty and legends.</p><p>I spent the first decade of my career as an actor-singer, so the theatre setting caught me right away. Who hasn't gotten lost in the depths of an old theatre and wondered if you might ever find your way out again?</p><p>This story completely sucked me in! I loved the mood, the story, the intrigue, the setting, and the characters. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Jaime Jo has a gift for creating twisty stories <br>with deeply satisfying endings, <br>and this tale is no exception!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;">I highly recommend <b>The Lost Boys of Barlow Theater.</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">Jaime Jo Wright has a great newsletter and lots of social media content!</p><p style="text-align: center;">You can connect with her at</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.jaimewrightbooks.com/"><b><span style="font-size: large;">www.JaimeWrightBooks.com/</span></b></a></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yF2-Ly39KMEl_0SP6pBvGXMeEFIm1m9lI7SMASAqSjDpsdwVgacQXbezwm1Zi-0sSGycgVcsS6GgJOy6ZWtnTWEvG1LQ-ZKb8qbtvu-g7_gtAnee8bR_KFqT_j6o9H4YPI9_167porkdK4jXWD-xKNBu4iRxIYoJAWjfEdl70khdr5bmz19amg/s2048/401443873_867584072041615_1516983353876941708_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yF2-Ly39KMEl_0SP6pBvGXMeEFIm1m9lI7SMASAqSjDpsdwVgacQXbezwm1Zi-0sSGycgVcsS6GgJOy6ZWtnTWEvG1LQ-ZKb8qbtvu-g7_gtAnee8bR_KFqT_j6o9H4YPI9_167porkdK4jXWD-xKNBu4iRxIYoJAWjfEdl70khdr5bmz19amg/w640-h426/401443873_867584072041615_1516983353876941708_n.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/alringlingtheater">https://www.facebook.com/alringlingtheater</a>
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</tbody></table><br><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/73258742023-12-29T16:00:00-05:002023-12-29T17:30:12-05:00Book Review - The Wind Blows in Sleeping Grass by Katie Power<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgytxVRZ-tr0uVqzwRtEq-3G8fJCixQvebKg3FOQJDepctd4JrlUm5AASOpNLkvzQ6quMnD5ZrByBDDFZOW6ARP3NWADgHK0l57M8Iz-sOiW2PDto81_DH6CvAndtAy_Sa9odU1CmZ5CVP1kQoBjROMsKqZmCC2do0MWt3_KXXjdEb6KtbUxQNxkA/s1671/Screenshot%202023-12-29%20at%203.34.59%20PM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgytxVRZ-tr0uVqzwRtEq-3G8fJCixQvebKg3FOQJDepctd4JrlUm5AASOpNLkvzQ6quMnD5ZrByBDDFZOW6ARP3NWADgHK0l57M8Iz-sOiW2PDto81_DH6CvAndtAy_Sa9odU1CmZ5CVP1kQoBjROMsKqZmCC2do0MWt3_KXXjdEb6KtbUxQNxkA/w326-h183/Screenshot%202023-12-29%20at%203.34.59%20PM.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="183" width="326" /></a></div>At the start of 2023, I set a reading goal of 50 books over 12 months - the same goal I set for 2022. I find this is the right number of books for me. It means I need to be intentional about my reading time without having it overwhelm my life. <br><p></p><p>But as the year went on and we were swamped with illness, grief, and estate duties, I had trouble keeping up my reading targets. I found myself slipping further and further behind. Then, December hit, and I took off like a rocket! </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">I smashed my 50 book goal in early December, and I've been devouring books all month!</p><p style="text-align: center;">It put me a bit behind in my reviews, so stay tuned for some great reviews over the next week. <br><br></p><div style="text-align: center;">And I'm thrilled to kick it off with this beauty:</div><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Wind Blows in Sleeping Grass</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>By Katie Powner</b></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Last January, I read and reviewed Katie's novel, <br><b>Where The Blue Sky Begins</b>. <br>You can read that review <b><a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2023/01/book-review-where-blue-sky-begins-by.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</b><br><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">Katie has a gift for pairing interesting characters in a way that highlights the beauty and power of honest connections in ordinary life.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJnb8QDzSEU1UrX3WIwcPbEFIx0XQlqYM5FG-ypydBevPqXLMWXzWpqVywC_Rze6QhLF3oXYKx2elMYgpphQuF-5dbztmktENdZHcXpcG2tgceYZa42IvBrPq5L8y8xcXQGdw-42_wA6aYrJQLsLTKmpl09icnRCtv1nguEdRPUJKyG_Pqrm2ag/s1915/Screenshot%202023-12-29%20at%203.53.03%20PM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJnb8QDzSEU1UrX3WIwcPbEFIx0XQlqYM5FG-ypydBevPqXLMWXzWpqVywC_Rze6QhLF3oXYKx2elMYgpphQuF-5dbztmktENdZHcXpcG2tgceYZa42IvBrPq5L8y8xcXQGdw-42_wA6aYrJQLsLTKmpl09icnRCtv1nguEdRPUJKyG_Pqrm2ag/w640-h334/Screenshot%202023-12-29%20at%203.53.03%20PM.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="334" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: right;"><br></p><p>I really loved this book for so many reasons. First, the prairie landscape serves as its own character, giving a sense of vista and isolation. Having just spent the fall driving across the Canadian prairies, I resonated with the long drives and open space.</p><p>Second, each character is quirky, rooted, and endearing in their own way. These are flawed people who each have their own broken backstory. You find yourself cheering them on and hoping each has their own happy ending. Katie's own personal history with fostering children adds weight and realism to one particular storyline. </p><p>Finally, I love the way faith is part of this story without ever proselytizing. This is a story of redemption, friendship, family, and love. Faith guides the path without ever demanding a direction. There's a heart and gentleness to this world that stayed with me long after I closed the cover.<br><br></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">If you're looking for a novel with beautiful writing, endearing characters, and a wonderful story, </div><div style="text-align: center;">I highly recommend <b>The Wind Blows in Sleeping Grass!</b>
</div><p></p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">You can find more of Katie's wonderful writing at</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.katiepowner.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>www.KatiePowner.com/</b></span></a></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/73031482023-11-13T11:32:00-05:002023-11-13T15:15:15-05:00Kindred Spirits - Guest Blogger!<p style="text-align: center;"> I'm excited to be a guest blogger on the Inscribe Christian Writers Fellowship blog!</p><p style="text-align: center;">You can read my piece -<b> Kindred Spirits </b>-<b> <a href="https://inscribewritersonline.blogspot.com/2023/11/kindred-spirits-guest-post-by-allison.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://inscribewritersonline.blogspot.com/2023/11/kindred-spirits-guest-post-by-allison.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhCsJrw_WuwrbSDhgY9elZB-g-3T2pDwo39uMUs4jx_F5Lf_wkuF6-9w2E1pk-7hknc5lfNPUHMV-pqyOOzQR026yIS7UguuKHgEJCrn51tMTNAOD93cjScI-qkEKfjr5xuDRN7Bm2wUxJ0sbl765aMz9d_GHU6DKViWPvAz9EAUz8OoNfs_yYA/w640-h214/Kindred%20Spirits.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="214" width="640" /></a></div><br><p><br></p><p><br></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/73031492023-11-13T10:15:00-05:002023-11-13T15:15:15-05:00Book Review - The Secrets Beneath, by Kimberley Woodhouse<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyeeZVctgTeNZEXUp58x1jUv63uhl-yMk_V7eOI5L1H07akOpDAjjbKiSIxdPGcINIMlZgMRAC3pQjIiTEgRV9-gGHwPy_gdav0Oo5iYGuRO16LP6G-hAiCaUQUUtaggFN4Y5_USgOya4mMr_zZsFu2f4-tXhojYPXa6F1VSvjMv7Mhqdid90GWQ/s400/90197522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyeeZVctgTeNZEXUp58x1jUv63uhl-yMk_V7eOI5L1H07akOpDAjjbKiSIxdPGcINIMlZgMRAC3pQjIiTEgRV9-gGHwPy_gdav0Oo5iYGuRO16LP6G-hAiCaUQUUtaggFN4Y5_USgOya4mMr_zZsFu2f4-tXhojYPXa6F1VSvjMv7Mhqdid90GWQ/s320/90197522.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="207" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Ever think you'd find Christian Historical Fiction <br>that explores the world of 1800's Palaeontology?</b></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Well, here we go!</p><p style="text-align: center;">This week, I read Kimberley Woodhouse's new novel <br><b>The Secrets Beneath</b>.</p><p style="text-align: center;">It's the start of a new series exploring women in Victorian era science, specifically palaeontology.</p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">Kimberley has written over 30 books (fiction and nonfiction), but she's still a new author for me. Last year, I read and reviewed <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/search?q=woodhouse" target="_blank"><b>A Deep Divide</b></a>. I loved her ability to bring history to life, so I was excited to read this new offering.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><br><p></p><p>The official description reads:</p><p><i>Anna Lakeman has spent her life working alongside her paleontologist father, drawing intricate sketches at every dig. When they find dinosaur bones near their home in Wyoming Territory, they're swiftly caught up in the era known as the Bone Wars. But when her father becomes sick and an old beau, Joshua Ziegler, returns for the summer, Anna's world is upended and the practical, orderly life she has made for herself shatters.</i></p><p><br></p><p>As a lover of Historical Fiction, this book was filled with fascinating people and topics! <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bone_Wars" target="_blank">The Bone Wars</a> was <i>"a period of intense and ruthlessly competitive fossil hunting and discovery during the Gilded Age of American history."</i> To prepare for writing her novel, Kimberley explored <a href="https://www.nps.gov/dino/index.htm" target="_blank">The National Dinosaur Monument</a> - a literal wall of dinosaur bones! She was also able to consult with the grand-daughter of renowned palaeontologist and the man who discovered the bone wall - <a href="https://www.nps.gov/dino/learn/historyculture/douglass.htm" target="_blank">Earl Douglass</a>. </p><p>Kimberley's extensive research and passion for women in science really brought those parts of the book to life. I love reading all the scenes that involved discovering and exploring the dinosaur site. If anything, I could have used more of it!</p><p>Most of the novel centres around the romance between Anna and Joshua. It was good, but honestly? I don't think romance novels are for me. As much as I love romantic films and music, I just can't get into romance as a genre. And truly, not every story needs to have a romance in it! </p><p>That said, there really is so much to love about this book. The landscape, science, and drama in those areas are gripping. And the character of Julian is beyond fantastic! </p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">If you want to read a well-written novel that explores a little explored piece of American history, <br>I recommend <b>The Secrets Beneath!</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">You can learn more about Kimberley's wonderful novels at </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.KimberleyWoodhouse.com"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">www.KimberleyWoodhouse.com</span></b></a></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3764020707006152613" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 728px;">
<p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></p>
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</div><p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></p><div class="post-footer" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #9b9b9b; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/72774322023-09-22T15:13:00-04:002023-10-16T10:44:59-04:00Book Review: The Hiding Place, by Corrie Ten Boom<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5uI2gAo3K8GWKRDvJXAU8QctSlxIDi4BSCj7oVEnl6gQkmGAk2r-bm7dXRVQSs0_C4m8OXi0AMcdt8SiK6bPKWDYhyy-13Q8woWUJiJjTPsfmICG4qVCmdotLp2mk4HQcC2VGfrMS199R1BVnNNytcteJmPWwbMspC1fZ5_o1UyNmWyf2RKgzdw/s500/515ta228TrL.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5uI2gAo3K8GWKRDvJXAU8QctSlxIDi4BSCj7oVEnl6gQkmGAk2r-bm7dXRVQSs0_C4m8OXi0AMcdt8SiK6bPKWDYhyy-13Q8woWUJiJjTPsfmICG4qVCmdotLp2mk4HQcC2VGfrMS199R1BVnNNytcteJmPWwbMspC1fZ5_o1UyNmWyf2RKgzdw/w228-h352/515ta228TrL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="352" width="228" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">A few years, I finally read <b>The Hiding Place </b>by Corrie Ten Boom. It was one of those books I knew by reputation, but had never read for myself. After the opening chapter, I could already tell why this story had been a game changer for so many people.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">When I was offered the chance to review the book and receive free tickets to the new movie version. I jumped at the chance!</p><p style="text-align: center;">At first, I thought I would just skim the pages. After all, I could write the review based on my memories, right? </p><p style="text-align: center;">But again, that opening chapter hooked me. I devoured this book, and I'm sure in a few years, I'll do it again.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>The Hiding Place</b> tells the story of the Ten Boom family. <br>Watchmakers, people of faith, pillars of the community. <br>Even without their extraordinary story, they would have been a fascinating family. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">But when the Nazis invade Holland, their Christian faith is given its greatest test: </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>How do we love our neighbours when our own lives could be at risk?</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></p><p>Corrie and her family start hiding Jews in their home. First, it's one or two people overnight, until safer accommodations can be found. But their operation grows. Eventually, they go so far as to build a secret wall in their home creating a "hiding place" for their guests.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>It's estimated that the Ten Booms saved upwards of 800 people through their efforts!</b></p><p>I won't reveal the whole story, but this is a story of Nazis and the Holocaust, so you know it's going to get darker before it gets better.</p><p>But this isn't just a story a suffering. It's a powerful testimony of faith, hope, and loving your neighbours. It's an old story that's still frighteningly relevant for our current, divided times.</p><p><br></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">The Ten Boom's story begs the question: </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>What would we be willing to risk to save a neighbour? </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>What can we do in our own corner of the world to share God's love with those in need?</b></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">I highly recommend <b>The Hiding Place! </b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Read it yourself. Read it in a group. <br>Find a way to live out Corrie's message of hope and love...</p><p><br></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/72759202023-09-19T19:14:00-04:002023-09-19T22:15:13-04:00Book Review: This Is Where It Ends, by Cindy K. Sproles<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHTMmhDZ1htthtAHIXM10HrqvPeD3GGxALR1mR9izLz1h2UZUBTyDtsw8XdDx50si-sAzRDiwKlUGUmcYcDMEUG_y8tn1EbDWcXHedwIz9CLpSw6vicB1U50DtnsY89hulqaTtcuXs0JJTkpwcTJ1eMZUMFwn8JbliOF9T1hSCYOMk26BZ7ox6w/s400/62564011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHTMmhDZ1htthtAHIXM10HrqvPeD3GGxALR1mR9izLz1h2UZUBTyDtsw8XdDx50si-sAzRDiwKlUGUmcYcDMEUG_y8tn1EbDWcXHedwIz9CLpSw6vicB1U50DtnsY89hulqaTtcuXs0JJTkpwcTJ1eMZUMFwn8JbliOF9T1hSCYOMk26BZ7ox6w/s320/62564011.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="207" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> So, this is going to be a challenging review to write.</div><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>This Is Where It Ends</b> is Southern fiction - a genre that intrigues me, given our own Nashville years, but a genre I really haven't gotten into yet. I was excited when the hard copy, with its beautiful cover, landed in my mailbox.</p><p style="text-align: center;">The book blurb goes like this:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>When Minerva Jane Jenkins was just 14 years old, she married a man who moved her to the mountains. He carried with him a small box, which he told her was filled with gold. And when he died 50 years later, he made her promise to keep his secret. She is to tell no one about the box or the treasure it contains.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Now 94, Minerva is nearing the end of what has sometimes been a lonely life. But she's kept that secret. Even so, rumors of hidden gold have a way of spreading, and Minerva is visited by a reporter, Del Rankin, who wants to know more of her story. His friend who joins him only wants to find the location of the gold. Neither of them knows quite who they're up against when it comes to the old woman on the mountain.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>As an unlikely friendship develops, Minerva is tempted to reveal her secret to Del. After all, how long is one bound by a promise? But the truth of what's really buried in the box may be hidden even from her.</i></p><p><br></p><p>I was hooked by the first few pages and chapters of this story. I loved Minerva and her spitfire, survival attitude. I loved the rural world of Minerva's mountain farm. And I'm just always a sucker for any kind of historical fiction.</p><p style="text-align: center;">If I'd written my review at that point in the story, it would have been glowing.<br> My expectations were high!</p><p>But as the pages went on, my enthusiasm diminished. Minerva talks endlessly about how she's going to die soon (<i>not that she has a fatal illness - there's no real ticking clock - she just feels old</i>), to the point where is starts to feel repetitive. </p><p>There's a "big twist" with Del that you can see coming a mile away. And the big secret about the box and the treasure is so bland it's like air leaking out of a balloon. </p><p>Sadly, I had to force myself through the final chapters of the book. I still loved the characters and the world, and some of Cindy's writing is truly beautiful. I feel this would have been really strong as a novella. There just isn't enough story to carry it through to the end.</p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/72485452023-07-27T17:28:00-04:002023-07-27T20:00:22-04:00Book Review: The Long March Home, by Marcus Brotherton and Tosca Lee<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmgG0YWGe1MQz17wsSrf6Y_78TlUK2ZlLoApFKxKJ74w8FaHsI3PxANiF2cADvuD3SNeDnYD2gRexFgOL59QwVvU0wyh88r19MXV2K3C7tRp8S_oRLeS91AYOhEUzTwABKsx1EJLFkPi62cS3QqvBWAyVvPvl7qhztCJePJGHJ_m4a4FFSg5cFQ/s1000/71Y+GE-B65L._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmgG0YWGe1MQz17wsSrf6Y_78TlUK2ZlLoApFKxKJ74w8FaHsI3PxANiF2cADvuD3SNeDnYD2gRexFgOL59QwVvU0wyh88r19MXV2K3C7tRp8S_oRLeS91AYOhEUzTwABKsx1EJLFkPi62cS3QqvBWAyVvPvl7qhztCJePJGHJ_m4a4FFSg5cFQ/s320/71Y+GE-B65L._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="212" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I've read a lot of great WWII books in recent years. It can be hard to find a fresh take on the subject, but the subtitle of <b>The Long March Home</b> caught my attention:</div><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The Long March Home:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>A World War II Novel of the Pacific</b></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>"The Pacific"? <br></i>All the books I'd read were firmly set in Europe or America. <br>I knew I needed to read this one right away!<br><br></p><p>Here's the promo description:</p><p><i>"Jimmy Propfield joined the army for two reasons: to get out of Mobile, Alabama, with his best friends Hank and Billy and to forget his high school sweetheart, Claire. </i></p><p><i>Life in the Philippines seems like paradise--until the morning of December 8, 1941, when news comes from Manila: the Japanese have bombed Pearl Harbor. Within hours, the teenage friends are plunged into war as Japanese warplanes attack Luzon, beginning a battle for control of the Pacific Theater that will culminate with a last stand on the Bataan Peninsula and end with the largest surrender of American troops in history. </i></p><p><i>What follows will become known as one of the worst atrocities in modern warfare: the Bataan Death March. With no hope of rescue, the three friends vow to make it back home together. But the ordeal is only the beginning of their nearly four-year fight to survive."</i></p><p><br>One of the most powerful lines of this book occurs just before the prologue:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>"Inspired by true stories."</b></p><p>As you read each moving, and sometimes devastating, chapter of this journey, you'll feel the truth seeping through. It resonates. And most of the time, you'll wish it didn't.</p><p>This isn't an easy book. I've read many wartime tales, but this is the first time I've read about prisoners of war and the atrocities they faced. And yet throughout it all, each character expresses and experiences an astounding depth of humanity.</p><p>Brotherton and Lee keep the story incredibly readable by beautifully balancing the story back home with the stories from the frontline. Heartbreaking history is interwoven with friendship, honour, humour, and so much love.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Honestly? I couldn't put this book down. I was literally grabbing every moment <br>I could to return back to it and finish yet another chapter.</p><p style="text-align: center;">The story is compelling; the history, fascinating;<br> the characters, engaging; and the writing, breathtaking.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I highly recommend <b>The Long March Home!</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/72267102023-06-14T16:48:00-04:002023-06-14T19:30:27-04:00Book Review: The Vanishing at Castle Moreau, by Jaime Jo Wright<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTuWIc_lpBfcd-VHh5FQJScr5W6ffQAaDEpxEsElWNYdwELRD_AmY_Q_W1A5fUxAguEMjuxyzFWafmN8qu5admCYfrOf6zFMsIQAjtJ57VsrHN9ScDSR4E8oJ4E3l25Paz8GTmLpqxcA9ptU-tmBsFyQZvNj3alQdIw1QGwz6udr7GC0U9PWE/s500/51el0l55obL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTuWIc_lpBfcd-VHh5FQJScr5W6ffQAaDEpxEsElWNYdwELRD_AmY_Q_W1A5fUxAguEMjuxyzFWafmN8qu5admCYfrOf6zFMsIQAjtJ57VsrHN9ScDSR4E8oJ4E3l25Paz8GTmLpqxcA9ptU-tmBsFyQZvNj3alQdIw1QGwz6udr7GC0U9PWE/s320/51el0l55obL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="207" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The first time I read a Jaime Jo Wright novel, I was gobsmacked. <br>Who knew you could write <b>Spooky Gothic Christian Fiction</b>, <br>and that it would actually be good???</div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Since then, I've loved and reviewed:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2021/08/book-review-on-cliffs-of-foxglove-manor.html" target="_blank"><b>On The Cliffs Of Foxglove Manner</b></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2022/12/book-review-premonition-at-withers-farm.html" target="_blank"><b>The Premonition At Withers Farm</b></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2022/06/book-review-souls-of-lost-lake-by-jaime.html" target="_blank">The Souls Of Lost Lake</a><br><br></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">And this week, I finished JJW's latest creation:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Vanishing at Castle Moreau</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br><br></span></b></p><p>Reviewing these books has become such a challenge! JJW is a world class storyteller, with gasp-inciting twists built into every tale. It's hard to write a review without giving it all away. (After all, like any great book, it leaves me wanting to shout its awesomeness from the rooftops!)</p><p>So, here's the book jacket blurb, plus a few thoughts of my own:<br><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>"In 1870, orphaned Daisy François takes a position as housemaid at a Wisconsin castle to escape the horrors of her past life. There she finds a reclusive and eccentric Gothic authoress who hides tales more harrowing than the ones in her novels. As women disappear from the area and the eerie circumstances seem to parallel a local legend, Daisy is thrust into a web that could ultimately steal her sanity, if not her life.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>In the present day, Cleo Clemmons is hired by the grandson of an American aristocratic family to help his grandmother face her hoarding in the dilapidated Castle Moreau. But when Cleo uncovers more than just the woman's stash of collectibles, a century-old mystery and the dust of the old castle's curse threaten to rise again . . . this time to leave no one alive to tell the sordid tale."<br><br></i></p><p>Okay first, the infamous, fictional Castle Moreau is as much a character as any human in this book. A French-inspired castle, built in love, hidden in the woods, next door to a gossipy small town - the perfect setting for grandeur and secrets!</p><p>Next, the story is beautifully structured. The mystery of the titular "vanishing" plays out in both timelines in a way that creates echos across time and oodles of tension.</p><p>The mix of characters is such a great choice! People of different social and economic backgrounds, plus various temperaments, all brought together because they each carry a connection to a decades-old mystery. </p><p>And on a personal note: if Daisy's entrance - a red-headed orphan carrying a carpetbag - doesn't remind you of your favourite storybook heroine-with-an-E, then you're not really Canadian!<br><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">I read this book quickly, and I highly recommend doing the same! <br>Hide yourself away in a dark room, with a big bowl of snacks, <br>and savour the perfect mix of twists and tensions that is <br><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Vanishing of Castle Moreau. </span><br><br></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">In addition to being a prolific novelist, Jaime Jo Wright is super active on social media, offers mentoring for writers, hosts a podcast, and sends out a great newsletter. You can learn more about her at:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.jaimewrightbooks.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>www.JaimeWrightBooks.com</b></span></a></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;"><br></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;"><br></span></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/72070722023-05-11T14:30:00-04:002023-05-11T15:30:11-04:00Introducing: Dr Dad! - My Convocation Oration <p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqS0FcMmBtFz3sSW-VflgbBkehCk9XyE7g6h1moCLGpVqgkGJsNfv51w2FBeNG9VTbKb50fgcf7W50mNFyEdDiR4IogDeIhdvK370lUm2ZUNhKpG21OHUMJYXwRz7-GC2IMQLSL10eu6ylOLzX3AClwWlyB74o3hn0SRMqhjDZfmoRjc2Tp6c/s2000/344422780_195249656688605_3424057487085715382_n-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqS0FcMmBtFz3sSW-VflgbBkehCk9XyE7g6h1moCLGpVqgkGJsNfv51w2FBeNG9VTbKb50fgcf7W50mNFyEdDiR4IogDeIhdvK370lUm2ZUNhKpG21OHUMJYXwRz7-GC2IMQLSL10eu6ylOLzX3AClwWlyB74o3hn0SRMqhjDZfmoRjc2Tp6c/w244-h342/344422780_195249656688605_3424057487085715382_n-1.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="342" width="244" /></a></div><b></b><p style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Today, my Dad - Rev. Hollis Hiscock - </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">from Queen's College, School of Theology, </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">in St. John's, NL.</span></b></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Gerald and I are unable to attend in person, <br>but I was very kindly asked to write Dad's introduction for the convocation. <br></p><p style="text-align: center;">Thank you, Rev. Rob Cooke, for this great honour, <br>and for reading in my absence.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Here's my oration. Please enjoy, and lift a prayer for Dad and for all those convocating today. May they have strength, peace, and loving hearts in their next chapter of ministry. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">*<span> *<span> *<span> *<span> *<span> *<span> *<span> *<span> *<span> *<span> *</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><br></p><p>I’d like to start with a personal story from Hollis’s daughter, Allison Lynn Flemming.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>“Growing up, our favourite place was our cabin at Ocean Pond. One night, Dad and I stayed up late playing a board game. I can’t remember the name of the game, but the goal was to get to know each other by asking questions. I had a great idea - I would ask Dad about becoming a priest. You see, even at a young age, I’d realized that Dad’s job wasn’t like the other Dads’ jobs. From the working-on-Sundays, to the way people reacted when he said ‘I’m a priest’ all let me know his job was somehow different.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>So, in the way that only a cheeky 10-year-old could, I asked, ‘If you could start all over again, would you still be a priest?’ Dad answered with no hesitation, ‘Yes, I would.’ </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>I can’t remember his next words, but it was the first time I ever heard someone explain the difference between a job and a calling. That night, I learned more about my Dad than I could fully understand in that moment. I would recall that night many times over the years, especially in the seasons where I saw Dad challenged by the work of ministry. And I was especially thankful for that conversation many years later, when I received my own calling into music ministry.” </i></p><p><br></p><p>Hollis Robert Nathaniel Hiscock was born in Salvage, the youngest child of James and Winnifred. Hollis and his older siblings, Winston and Alicia, were good kids who caused just the right amount of trouble. Their home was defined by a curiosity for learning, a strong sense of community, and a deep faith in God. All three of these would go on to shape Hollis’s ministry and life.</p><p>Hollis pursued theology and a path to orientation through Queen’s College. Like many students, Hollis was active in amateur sports. One afternoon, he was playing soccer when a professor reprimanded him for not wearing his clerical collar. <i>“Proper clergyman” </i>he was informed, "<i>always wear their collars, no matter what they’re doing!”</i> At that moment, Hollis thought, <i>“Well, I guess I’m not going to be a proper clergyman.” </i></p><p>Hollis joined the summer staff of Killdevil boys’ camp as Padre. One Saturday, a few of the girls’ staff dropped by for a visit, including the beautiful camp nurse, Helen Ryall. Legend has it that, at the end of that day, Hollis turned to his friend and said, <i>“I’m going to marry that girl!”</i></p><p>Hollis was ordained a deacon in 1964 and priested in 1965. On September 28, 1968, Hollis did indeed marry Helen, and the young couple moved to the Parish of Cow Head.</p><p>Now, that incident about the soccer game proved to be more prophetic than first imagined. Throughout their lives together, Hollis and Helen continued to challenge church rules that seemed outdated, frivolous, or discriminatory.</p><p>You see, you can’t talk about Hollis without talking about Helen, and Hollis will be the first to tell you that. Where Hollis thrives in public leadership, Helen prefers to work behind the scenes. Even in this moment, she hates that we’re talking about her in public.<i> (Don’t worry, Helen, Allison said to blame her for this part of the intro!)</i> Her gifts of hospitality, empathy, and proofreading have fed into every aspect of Hollis’s work. Helen has a unique ability to find people on the fringes of a party or a congregation, and bring them into the fold. She makes everyone she meets feel happier, healthier, and more loved.</p><p><br></p><p>Hollis’s life of ordained ministry has spanned almost 60 years, covering 4 Dioceses and 2 provinces! There are a thousand reasons for him to receive today’s honour, but I want to mention four tent-posts that have defined his ministry.</p><p><br></p><p><b>1 - COMMITMENT TO PARISH MINISTRY</b></p><p>Hollis’s first posting - a 30-point parish - took him to the Great Northern Peninsula. But the bulk of his career would be serving parishes as Rector, first at St. Thomas’ Church (St. John’s, NL) and St. John’s York Mills Church (Toronto, ON). </p><p>When Hollis was rector of St. Thomas’, General Synod came to Newfoundland, and Hollis helped lead a vibrant and Spirit-filled week of events. On the final Sunday, delegates and local parishioners gathered at St. Thomas’ Church for a 1-kilometre prayer walk, ending at Memorial Stadium. 4000 worshipers, led by a mass choir, celebrated Holy Communion. Always a creative thinker, Hollis had envisioned an altar that, with a few swift movements, could morph into a boat! As the worship concluded, the transformation began. Three large sails, each representing a Newfoundland-Labrador Diocese, was brought through the crowd and mounted on the boat. 4000 voices sang “I feel the winds of God today, today my sails I lift!” </p><p>In his “retirement,” Hollis has led over 20 parishes through interims and guest worship leadership. Wherever he goes, parishioners of all generations testify to his gentle, creative and inclusive preaching, leadership and pastoring. Perhaps it was said best by the teenage girls of St. John’s York Mills. At Hollis’s retirement celebration, they expressed their love and admiration for him by singing a song from the musical Wicked, letting Hollis know that<i> “because I knew you, I have been changed for good.”</i></p><p><br></p><p><b>2 - COMMITMENT TO ANGLICAN JOURNALISM</b></p><p>Hollis’s passion for writing, photography, and parish life came together in his work as Editor for two Diocesan newspapers. He served 10 years with The Newfoundland Churchman <i>(now “Anglican Life)</i> and 8 years with The Niagara Anglican. In addition to his role as Editor, Hollis wrote hundreds of articles, interviews and editorials, sharing the Good News as lived out in local parishes. Hollis’s teacher’s-heart also led to him to mentor countless new and emerging writers and photographers for each paper, creating a legacy of storytelling across the country.</p><p><br></p><p><b>3 - COMMITMENT TO THE ARTS IN WORSHIP & AS OUTREACH</b></p><p>Hollis is a passionate supporter of the arts, encouraging parish choirs, bands, handbell choirs, and drama to generously share their gifts with the congregation and community. His signature phrase - <i>“We’re carving out new ministries.”</i> - has led to the creation of countess plays, concert series, and other creative ventures. </p><p>Perhaps the highlight was <b>The Real Christmas Story - A Walk Through</b> - cowritten by Hollis and his daughter, Allison. Each December, audiences walked the churchyard of St. John’s York Mills to visit seven stages, each featuring a living scene from the nativity. 125 performers, greeters, and volunteers pooled their talents to create the production. During its 10-year run, over 5,000 people attended the live performances. A documentary of the play aired nationally for 5 seasons on Vision TV, with an estimated viewership of over 100,000 homes.</p><p>Hollis’s love of the arts and support for artists is obvious to anyone who knows him. In recognition of this, St. John’s York Mills Church created <b>The Hiscock Fund</b> in Hollis and Helen’s honour. This ongoing grant program continues to support and encourage a whole new generation in their own artistic expressions of worship.</p><p><br></p><p><b>4 - COMMITMENT TO THE WIDER COMMUNITY & AN INCLUSIVE CHURCH</b></p><p>Hollis’ ministry has never been limited by the walls of the church. He taught Religious Education at the high school level and Psychology at MUN. He was the original Co-Ordinator of Grenfell Campus Extension Services (MUN), responsible for academic, recreational, and business programs in Western and Northern Newfoundland. He has served on numerous church and local committees, including the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, the St. Christopher's Rainbow Committee, and the 1988 Olympic Torch Relay Committee.</p><p>And remember the professor who wanted Hollis to wear his collar at all times? Well, how do you think he would feel about wearing his collar with high heels?</p><p>On his 50th ordination anniversary, Hollis donned pink high heels and his clerical collar to join the community event: <b>Walk a Mile in Her Shoes</b>, speaking out against male violence against women. Just another creative way Hollis has let people of faith, or of no faith, know they are seen and loved by God.</p><p><br></p><p>Hollis’s favourite parable is <b>The Sower and The Seed</b>. If you recall the opening of the story, the Sower isn’t stingy with the seed. Instead, he sows it generously, trusting it will find its way to the good soil. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Hollis, you have sowed the seed of the Gospel generously!</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Because of your commitment to parish ministry, both seekers and lifelong Christians have found a church home that’s welcoming, loving, active, and compassionate. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Because of your passion for Christian journalism, the stories of God and God’s people have been written, read, and lifted up across our country.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Because of your love of the arts, the Gospel has found new forms of expression, sharing its message of love in countless ways.</p><p style="text-align: center;">And because you dared to step outside the walls of the church, you have provided a loving and inclusive witness of faith to the wider community. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">Isaiah 6:8 inspired a great song - <b>Here I Am, Lord</b> - <br>a song that has been a touchpoint of Hollis’s life of ministry. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” <br>And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></p><p style="text-align: center;">Hollis, your love for God and God’s people, your generous and creative leadership, has sparked and supported a legacy of ongoing ministries by clergy, artists, and people of faith. You have made our Church, and our wider community, a stronger, more loving, more inclusive place. You live out the Gospel message with every breath.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">We so are thankful that when asked, you responded, <br>“Here am I. Send me.”</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfiFH3n5jZWsDwZkLOlbIGIc95UiBxdhrKhE9bL2CgOG04FJsSQARai8M5hmn58rb2bVRXTFTj1N9QlGHMa9D3Ll6x6dJkZ06rFlhzcRRxWEsZy7wD2kms66rh8cxxg5IfUN4hQS52ZgUXvRKU1ssdfhW9Zzb82o_F-mjNsXTXt9HD_iaI-Jk/s2000/Hollis%20Convocation%20.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfiFH3n5jZWsDwZkLOlbIGIc95UiBxdhrKhE9bL2CgOG04FJsSQARai8M5hmn58rb2bVRXTFTj1N9QlGHMa9D3Ll6x6dJkZ06rFlhzcRRxWEsZy7wD2kms66rh8cxxg5IfUN4hQS52ZgUXvRKU1ssdfhW9Zzb82o_F-mjNsXTXt9HD_iaI-Jk/s320/Hollis%20Convocation%20.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="229" /></a></div><br><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>PREACHING AT ST. THOMAS THIS SUNDAY!</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Hollis will preach on Sunday, May 14, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. Newfoundland time (9:00 a.m. in Ontario)<br></b><b> at St. Thomas' in St. John's, Newfoundland-Labrador. </b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>He served there over ten years as part of the clergy staff and Rector. All are welcome to join in person! </b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>The service will also stream live on the church's Facebook page: </b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/stthomasnl">https://www.facebook.com/stthomasnl</a></b></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/72024072023-05-03T18:08:00-04:002023-05-03T18:15:19-04:00Book Review: The Weight of Air by Kimberly Duffy<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOoYrOmaleE90HGJZ_TD6OF_xdvSR69Gvp12WCpVVs7pe8MuFsrKggiv-dY4wYRdESKGQqUweaA44gWAvgplzQuHCL0qnqE4Ea-Lf-aZXVeAPAszqHLo7WrXBe9iC7mog9TmVUdeqDlkBYjGTVMHBu7RvhQqekrTD0K9yymDe0o1gW3M2HyCE/s440/The-Weight-of-Air-Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOoYrOmaleE90HGJZ_TD6OF_xdvSR69Gvp12WCpVVs7pe8MuFsrKggiv-dY4wYRdESKGQqUweaA44gWAvgplzQuHCL0qnqE4Ea-Lf-aZXVeAPAszqHLo7WrXBe9iC7mog9TmVUdeqDlkBYjGTVMHBu7RvhQqekrTD0K9yymDe0o1gW3M2HyCE/w191-h295/The-Weight-of-Air-Cover.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="295" width="191" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Friends, let's run away and join the circus!</span></b></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">I've already loved two Kimberly Duffy creations:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2022/01/book-review-every-word-unsaid-by.html" target="_blank"><b>Every Word Unsaid</b></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">and</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2021/07/book-review-tapestry-of-light-by.html" target="_blank"><b>A Tapestry of Light</b></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">I'm excited anytime she releases a new book, <br>but when I discovered her new book takes us to the circus, <br>how could I resist?</p><p><br></p><p><b>The Weight of Air</b> immerses us in the 1911 circus world, right in the midst of the modern circus's popularity. Aerialists and stunt performers were the movie stars of their day. Circuses regularly toured Europe and America, bringing dangerous feats and exotic animals to people of all ages, backgrounds, and economic levels.</p><p>Our heroine, Mabel MacGinnis, comes from a circus family. As Europe’s strongest woman, she performed beside her strongman father her entire life. But his sudden death reveals long-hidden family secrets. Mabel and her best friend, acrobat Jake Cunningham <i>(a man with his own storied past), </i>head off to America in pursuit of the truth. </p><p>Meanwhile, in America, aerialist Isabella Moreau has lived a 5-star career, but age is sneaking up on her, putting her act, her future, and even her life at risk. When she sees a young strongwoman perform, Isabella's European past coming rushing back. Can she redeem her past choices, and find a future beyond her own doubts and brokenness? </p><p>Mabel and Isabella's stories are filled with moving themes: mother-daughter bonds, the nature of depression, assumed gender roles, the power of forgiveness, and the definition of strength. Some of these themes, especially the storylines around depression, are extra poignant in this Edwardian setting, where mental health was so misunderstood.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>But even with these heavy themes, this book is still filled with so much joy, love, and life!</b></p><p>I loved being in the world of the circus! My artist-heart loved every scene that dealt with rehearsals, audiences, and performances. Imagining the costumes, the horses, the acts, the tent ... As Anne of Green Gables would say, it gave great<i> "scope for the imagination."</i></p><p>Be sure to read <i>The Note from the Author</i> at the end of the book, where Kimberly shares her personal inspiration, as well as her historical inspiration, for the story. Below is a photo of real-life strongwoman, Katie Sandwina. After reading the novel, it's worth spending some time reading up on Katie's story and scrolling through the amazing photos of her act!</p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If you're looking for a unique kind of historical fiction, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I highly recommend <b>The Weight of Air!</b></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">Kimberly shares her writing and creative process on her site and Facebook page. <br>You can connect with her here:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://kimberlyduffy.com" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">www.KimberlyDuffy.com </span></b></a></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCogicgzmiDH4-dcrNTVnclwBScFQKHVKlrrb9iohcznt2tP4q0q2bwErbzb9uS5aXfDcdTcZPeRedZafwYAE8PRAGomAzjjQ89ls0gvnR94hf0YoI8gxmZT_XFEXSxVNLFPAItg9SoYvzETTfNnmmBVFiPprZpuT_pfH2_TKag9Z4D0MekC0/s1248/Katie-Sandwina-1200x1248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCogicgzmiDH4-dcrNTVnclwBScFQKHVKlrrb9iohcznt2tP4q0q2bwErbzb9uS5aXfDcdTcZPeRedZafwYAE8PRAGomAzjjQ89ls0gvnR94hf0YoI8gxmZT_XFEXSxVNLFPAItg9SoYvzETTfNnmmBVFiPprZpuT_pfH2_TKag9Z4D0MekC0/w385-h400/Katie-Sandwina-1200x1248.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="400" width="385" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Katie Sandwina, the real life inspiration for<b> The Weight of Air</b>
</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; text-align: left;"></span></p></div><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;"><br></span></div><p></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/71836002023-04-03T19:25:00-04:002023-04-03T23:45:13-04:00Guest Post - Every Day Is Easter, by Rev. Hollis Hiscock <p style="text-align: center;"><b><br>Please welcome my Dad - Rev. Hollis Hiscock - as today's guest blogger!</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">*<span> <span> *<span> <span> *<span> <span> *<span> <span> *<span> <span> *<span> <span> *<span> <span> *<span> <span> *<span> <span> *</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><b></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENlduOz4Gngm8hAm96N7A_UrxyMZkAlVblWPSQNMbkFnSGXI9uC9njhILiS8bCGC4OnkKRND-ND91P9JU-b9WVja0SCK2AtFufZ3BESGmG64i3_jOxWmSOoiTd2HTKd2LyyzU9pGnHFousYAd2je-wWNnEHIXFUCc2En-uXeS9Q3jjQM44B4/w512-h269/Every%20Day%20Is%20Easter.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="269" width="512" /></b></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Every Day Is Easter<br></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>By Rev. Hollis Hiscock</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><br></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p>“<b>Every day is a mini-Easter</b>,” intoned the university professor, noticing the stone-faced students he hoped to impress with his stark dramatic revelation.</p><p>His words have remained with me since hearing them nearly 60 years ago. </p><p>I recall little else about the professor or the class, but his quote became etched on my psyche because of its insightful eye opener and sustainability. </p><p>Indeed if “<b>every day is a mini-Easter</b>” then the annual celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead must be our <b>“maximum” Easter.</b></p><p>As we approach Easter 2023, let this be our Easter message to ourselves and every person with whom we come in contact.</p><p><br></p><p><b>Let us do it because …</b></p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>We are the Easter people, </b><br>touched by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>We are God’s church in the world, </b><br>namely the outward visible signs of <br>God’s unconditional love for all people.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>We are ambassadors of Jesus, </b><br>presenting the good news of his gospel to others <br>and pointing them to God.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>We do it because Christ is risen, </b><br>because he has overcome sin, temptation, suffering and death – <br>every obstacle preventing individuals from having a living relationship with God.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Jesus/God did it because of love, and we respond for the same reason. </b></span></p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">That is why we celebrate Easter with great joy, jubilation, hope and assurance.</p><p style="text-align: center;">That is why we share, by word and action, the marvellous news that <br><b><span style="font-size: medium;">“Jesus Christ is risen from the dead, Alleluia!”</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Easter to you and yours! </span></b></p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">*<span> <span> *<span> <span> *<span> <span> *<span> <span> *<span> <span> *<span> <span> *<span> <span> *<span> <span> *<span> <span> *<span> <span> *<span> <span> *</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><br></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKp4rF74lC5NWme4LQHlpwPHSvNrftzZsYAiFIzjAMKzNQbkffR81sYOhuYBDYnFFphAFUIS8czCt8UIgCpRagX1fg5_SSlwmPxDa4qvy9Zq4Ui_IYuG_PyWtlwzOwz8ZC-D799fjK07oWLTO_JDukXX_POUKUIKufgsE0hsotnSuFCHizao/s1280/Dad%20Photo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKp4rF74lC5NWme4LQHlpwPHSvNrftzZsYAiFIzjAMKzNQbkffR81sYOhuYBDYnFFphAFUIS8czCt8UIgCpRagX1fg5_SSlwmPxDa4qvy9Zq4Ui_IYuG_PyWtlwzOwz8ZC-D799fjK07oWLTO_JDukXX_POUKUIKufgsE0hsotnSuFCHizao/s320/Dad%20Photo.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="266" /></a></div><br>Next month, Reverend Hollis Hiscock will be awarded the Doctor of Divinity D.D. (honoris causa) by Queen's College, Newfoundland, in recognition of his years of leadership and service to the Anglican Church. <p></p><p>You can read the official announcement<b> <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cmg81rqK2SlBzd8cCBea-W5GhcY04vot/edit?fbclid=IwAR078Ao_yNc-WiZYePl62EnucNcTOepGUWggOSrpOzeZYZS68D2va4B6Dn8" target="_blank">HERE</a>. </b></p><p><br></p><p>Hollis is currently serving as Interim Priest-in-Charge of St. John’s Church, Burlington, Ontario. </p><p>You can find their Easter services<b> <a href="https://www.stjohnsburlington.ca" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</b></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENlduOz4Gngm8hAm96N7A_UrxyMZkAlVblWPSQNMbkFnSGXI9uC9njhILiS8bCGC4OnkKRND-ND91P9JU-b9WVja0SCK2AtFufZ3BESGmG64i3_jOxWmSOoiTd2HTKd2LyyzU9pGnHFousYAd2je-wWNnEHIXFUCc2En-uXeS9Q3jjQM44B4/s1200/Every%20Day%20Is%20Easter.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENlduOz4Gngm8hAm96N7A_UrxyMZkAlVblWPSQNMbkFnSGXI9uC9njhILiS8bCGC4OnkKRND-ND91P9JU-b9WVja0SCK2AtFufZ3BESGmG64i3_jOxWmSOoiTd2HTKd2LyyzU9pGnHFousYAd2je-wWNnEHIXFUCc2En-uXeS9Q3jjQM44B4/w640-h336/Every%20Day%20Is%20Easter.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="336" width="640" /></a></div><br><p><br></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/71820302023-03-31T13:43:00-04:002023-03-31T17:45:10-04:00Book Review: The Rose and The Thistle, by Laura Frantz<p style="text-align: center;"> <br><b>One of the things I love about Historical Fiction </b><b>is spending time in unexpected eras and places.<br><br></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVcztpXHPuG0TNcHg7hiCFf3pxcKHU1womuDAxQ6hCsh5LXfzDh7OQgvolCcas3nUxU-AxSUE2hh_9NATK03WYICC93pgI_eBuiE8_Oi1evtXqhbCTcavbyf-rcbPquUqPmCXlDs-3KnzZ5JtESrUVPq6jmofhbIgRtBmtzqj5UIXep4xC6s/s400/61137156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVcztpXHPuG0TNcHg7hiCFf3pxcKHU1womuDAxQ6hCsh5LXfzDh7OQgvolCcas3nUxU-AxSUE2hh_9NATK03WYICC93pgI_eBuiE8_Oi1evtXqhbCTcavbyf-rcbPquUqPmCXlDs-3KnzZ5JtESrUVPq6jmofhbIgRtBmtzqj5UIXep4xC6s/s320/61137156.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="207" /></a></div><br><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">With Lisa See, I explore ancient China.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">With Kate Quinn, I visit Bletchley Park.</p><p style="text-align: center;">And thanks to Laura Frantz, <br>I've just spent a week in 1715 Scotland.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>The Rose and The Thistle</b> is immersive in the best kind of way. <br>It opens with a map, a piece of history, and a mini-dictionary of Scottish phrases. Yes, you have a bit of a learning curve to get into this world but trust me, it's worth it.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: left;">Our heroine is Lady Blythe Hedley, daughter of an English Duke. Her father is declared <span style="text-align: center;">an enemy of the British crown because of his Jacobite sympathies. When their castle is attacked in the middle of the night, she flees to the home of her godparents: Wedderburn Castle in Scotland.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">Our hero is Everard Hume, eldest son of the ailing Lord </span>Wedderburn, Lady Blythe's godfather. At the passing of his father, Everard is burdened with his estate, a political uprising, a volatile brother, and now, a refugee Lady hiding in his castle tower.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>The Rose and The Thistle</b> is rife with secrets, political ambitions, family intrigue, and cultural divisions. But at its heart, it's also a passionate, slow burn love story. I'm sure many may simply categorize this as a "romance", but for me, this novel is so much more: it's historical, dramatic, and epic, with romance sizzling throughout.</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Fun Fact:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">In the Author Note, we learn that Laura Frantz is actually related to the original Hume family, with roots in Wedderburn Castle! According to the Journal (blog) page of her site, she's working on two other Scottish books. Her Journal has photos of some of her extensive research!</div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">You can check out her many books and her beautiful writing at:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.LauraFrantz.net" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">www.LauraFrantz.net</span></b></a></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></p><p><br></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/71742112023-03-18T14:54:00-04:002023-03-18T15:00:10-04:00Book Review: Everything Is Just Beginning, by Erin Bartels<p style="text-align: center;">A few days <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2023/03/book-review-all-lost-places-by-amanda.html" target="_blank">ago</a>, I mentioned another SuperFan Author Review was coming. <br>Well, here it is!<br><br></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUsXo6nfOxIbpSId82poOh3e8AA3_cD_p9HCQ8NcHuod2cZTq14O_sKt3l_S_w1ijheHo7DEnESyIZIkicFY2dwZk1gw3uf_5LQmkMYGsNYJ7C_xpDrXrteh7wmiPIkKJmh1T8S5vt3omSDB28gHs570vH_LGCwnO3OXduX60dO9pMpib--I/s499/41XC58qTn9L._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUsXo6nfOxIbpSId82poOh3e8AA3_cD_p9HCQ8NcHuod2cZTq14O_sKt3l_S_w1ijheHo7DEnESyIZIkicFY2dwZk1gw3uf_5LQmkMYGsNYJ7C_xpDrXrteh7wmiPIkKJmh1T8S5vt3omSDB28gHs570vH_LGCwnO3OXduX60dO9pMpib--I/s320/41XC58qTn9L._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="208" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>I am a SuperFan of Erin Bartels!</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">So far, I've read, reviewed & LOVED:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2019/04/book-review-we-hope-for-better-things.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">We Hope For Better Things</span></b></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2021/04/book-review-all-that-we-carried-by-erin.html" target="_blank">All That We Carried</a></span></b></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">And one of my favourite books of 2022:</div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2022/03/book-review-girl-who-could-breathe.html" target="_blank">The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water</a></span></b></div></b><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">I think she only has two other books for me to search out!</p><p style="text-align: center;">Today, I'm excited to share her latest creation: <br><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Everything Is Just Beginning</span></b></p><p><br></p><p>I know what you're thinking: <i>"Of course you wanted to read this, Allison. There's a guitar on the cover."</i></p><p>But let me share a secret: Reading novels about music can be very frustrating when you're a musician! So often, people get it all wrong, especially when it comes to the process of songwriting. When the author makes too many assumptions, or trivializes the process, it can become incredibly frustrating!</p><p>Fortunately for all involved, Erin knows what she's talking about! Music Creation is almost like a character in this novel, driving the plot forward, traversing relationships, and giving the human characters voice to their emotions.</p><p>Michael Sullivan is a young musician without a band, an apartment, and most of his family. In the final days of 1989, his uncle receives an invitation to the New Year's Eve party of the year, hosted by a family of music legends. Michael and his uncle share a trailer and a name, so no one will notice if he accepts the invitation, right? At that swanky, celebrity-filled party, Michael meets the girl, the musician, who will change his entire life...</p><p>I read this quickly, over a few restful days in beautiful Fergus, Ontario. We stayed in a B&B in an 1850's stone building, resting in a hand-carved four-poster bed, overlooking the Grand River. Talk about a decadent way to read a book!</p><p>The story is well paced, but never at the expense of the characters or the relationships. There's so much depth going on here, but it's all told so well and with the perfect amount of emotional detail. Most of the story takes place in either Michael's uncle's run down trailer or the Wheeler's luxe, music-filled home. The tightness of his world and the contrasting settings tell us so much about Michael's struggles and dreams.</p><p>As a special gift for readers, Erin has created a hidden webpage with recordings of the song, videos, chord charts, and all kind of other gifts! It's only accessed via a QR code and a special password you'll learn by reading the book. Check out the last page of the novel for the link. So fun!!!</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm always happy to recommend an Erin Bartels book, <br>and <b>Everything Is Just Beginning</b> is no exception! </span></p><p style="text-align: center;">Grab your copy today and enjoy ...</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Erin's site has a blog, videos, book club resources, and all kinds of fun things. <br>You can find her here:</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ErinBartels.com" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">www.ErinBartels.com</span></b></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="364" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PguuLyt56dg" width="576" youtube-src-id="PguuLyt56dg"></iframe></p><br><p><br></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.<br></span></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/71742122023-03-18T12:55:00-04:002023-03-18T15:00:09-04:00A Storyteller's Celtic Roots - A St. Patrick's Day Post<p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> I'm guesting on the InScribe Christian Writers' Fellowship Blog!</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Please check out my post <b><a href="https://inscribewritersonline.blogspot.com/2023/03/a-storytellers-celtic-roots-st-patricks.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://inscribewritersonline.blogspot.com/2023/03/a-storytellers-celtic-roots-st-patricks.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_JMBMuUjRhgoDNX-5gKIh2lZUq3wfsKEkao5iTcwtoGeVEhGwepholewRHOrkbMzN4sIkAymH1VL9DHuA6eNIN_O7CeuOoeeGrfw40E9GcF453CoGPdduebu8V1Qfbc_ceSLQYfKj3i3PU0SVed8J5oVSmb-p414ckMhxxd-hEMjTg5uXGcs/w640-h360/Celtic%20Roots%20-%20Inscribe%20Blog.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><br><p><br></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/71728752023-03-16T12:05:00-04:002023-03-16T16:15:13-04:00Book Review: All The Lost Places, by Amanda Dykes<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyHqMUQ4EvvRlmdlKNosejCCi3SWl1dcqaOgnhBJzBsQL-PuvIhZAXGauuvUWdQEtpm2KqbQxhEJjivBxc6z14ja10cO8xLOSfKgeBjiwnELoHpC-WQLDcGiVrwn39quDsCpDvcOh6OViXYbNDO3nQ3wvr8lbDFoPiCCYI40sDRmqnZtlaxyQ/s499/51OpS+BaTkL._SX321_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyHqMUQ4EvvRlmdlKNosejCCi3SWl1dcqaOgnhBJzBsQL-PuvIhZAXGauuvUWdQEtpm2KqbQxhEJjivBxc6z14ja10cO8xLOSfKgeBjiwnELoHpC-WQLDcGiVrwn39quDsCpDvcOh6OViXYbNDO3nQ3wvr8lbDFoPiCCYI40sDRmqnZtlaxyQ/s320/51OpS+BaTkL._SX321_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="207" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Since I started reviewing fiction, I've become a SuperFan <br>of a select number of authors!</div><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">Amanda Dykes is one of those few. </div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(A review of another SuperFan Author is coming this weekend...)</i></div></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">I'd read, reviewed, and LOVED: </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2019/08/book-review-whose-waves-these-are-by.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Whose Waves These Are</span></b></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2020/10/book-review-set-stars-alight-by-amanda.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">Set The Stars Alight</span></a></b></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">And one of my very favourite books of 2021:</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2021/08/book-review-yours-is-night-by-amanda.html" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2021/08/book-review-yours-is-night-by-amanda.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Yours Is The Night</span></b></a>
</div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Amanda is a beautiful storyteller, creating decadent and tactile worlds for her characters. I was beyond excited when my review copy of <b>All The Lost Places</b> arrived in my mailbox.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p>Our story starts in California, but the true setting of this book is romantic Venice. This is literally historical fiction within historical fiction.</p><p>In 1904, we meet Daniel Goodman, a man in need of redemption. In an effort to save his mother's home and business, he takes on a challenging job: travel to Venice to procure and translate a rare "unfinished" book. Along the way, he meets Vittoria, a bookshop owner and true Venetian. As Daniel winds through the city's canals, the mysterious book - and the city's true history - come to light.</p><p>In 1807, a baby is discovered floating along the canals of Venice. Here, we meet the real-life characters of The Book of Waters. Our hero - Sebastien Trovato - wrestling with his unknown past. A guild of artisans, raising the lost boy as their own. And Mariana, a woman who washes ashore during a storm.</p><p>The challenge of writing this book was monumental! Not only is Amanda writing in two historic timelines, but she also writes huge swaths of The Book of Waters, masterfully weaving together the "novel' and the "history" of the story. <i>(When you've read the book, that'll make sense!)</i></p><p>There's so much to love about <b>All The Lost Places</b>. It's a thick one, not so much in pages, but in mood, story, and history. It deserves to be read slowly with huge cups of tea. I didn't discover this 'til after I'd read it, but Amanda actually created a Thematic Soundtrack for the novel via Spotify, that's available on her site.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I will always be first in line to read an Amanda Dykes book!</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Do yourself a favour and pick up any of her treasures today...</p><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You can find more of Amanda's writing, as well as lots of <b>FREE</b> bonuses at:</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.AmandaDykes.com" target="_blank">www.AmandaDykes.com</a></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/71638382023-03-02T09:00:00-05:002023-03-02T13:30:19-05:00Book Review: Why Gather? by Martha Tatarnic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1K61Q6ySg-VN-HwTMtVhwk1OnVDtYmre6zUjw31TDTDlbKJccsC5RePLz_qQ8w3RK-nhDhT9CkcDsraWKRF8IwEYIxLrzG0S6DP4B12OAQA9pnK5SqCt8eaBQOy8Oo6LBiwRoBYq6A8RC2OTceD2EZwgwb9xgypKVRV-fV3zWpWcpiL5bOA/s2782/WhyGatherCover-1800px-aRGB.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1K61Q6ySg-VN-HwTMtVhwk1OnVDtYmre6zUjw31TDTDlbKJccsC5RePLz_qQ8w3RK-nhDhT9CkcDsraWKRF8IwEYIxLrzG0S6DP4B12OAQA9pnK5SqCt8eaBQOy8Oo6LBiwRoBYq6A8RC2OTceD2EZwgwb9xgypKVRV-fV3zWpWcpiL5bOA/w236-h365/WhyGatherCover-1800px-aRGB.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="365" width="236" /><br></a><div style="text-align: left;">
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</div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Full Disclosure: This is a book review with lots of bias!</i></div></i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Not only is the author a great friend and colleague, but I also handled the online promo for last year's book launch (including the fun video below!) That said, this is an awesome book and I can't wait to tell you about it!</i></div><div><br></div><div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After not being able to gather in person for almost three years, many of us have started asking the question, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">"Why gather now?"</span> </b></div>
</div><div><br></div><div>We're thankful for Zoom, Skype, and live streaming. These technologies saved many families and ministries over the last few years (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/infinitelymoreband" target="_blank"><i>our ministry included!</i></a>). But if we're being honest, we know we're supposed to be with each other. We're meant to live face to face.</div><div><br></div><div>Martha asks and responds to the question of <b>Why Gather?</b> with stories of flawed, faithful people living out their doubts and beliefs in the midst of both good times and bad. Some of these stories will hit close to home, rubbing close to your own personal experience. Some will open windows into lives and communities rarely witnessed by others. Each will expand your own sense of empathy and humanity.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>As we wrestle with the issue of gathering in a post-pandemic world, Martha isn't afraid to challenge us, both as individuals and as the Church:</div><div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">So often, we're looking for the next great "thing" that will save our declining churches. <br>But what if, instead of "saving" the Church, we seek out where God is already at work <br>in our lives and in our communities? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Across Canada, many Indigenous communities suffer from a severe lack of a most basic need: <br>clean drinking water. How do we make our gatherings more inclusive to the needs of <br>our Indigenous brothers and sisters, and those pushed to the fringes of our society. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We want the world to change before we're willing to change. <br>But what if we look to the world of sports and discover the mind shift of "<a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2022/03/guest-post-getting-ultrareal-by-martha.html" target="_blank">Ultrarealism</a>"? </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>
<b>Why Gather?</b> encourages all of us to look deeper into our hearts, our churches, and our world, and see that the Kingdom of God is already at hand. And then asks: what is our response to that?</div><div><br></div><div>
<b>Why Gather?</b> is a book of living out your faith, appropriate for laypeople and church leadership alike. Each chapter ends with discussion questions, perfect for your own reflection or group discussion.</div><div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This Lent, I highly recommend picking up a copy of <b>Why Gather?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Read it and then, I encourage you to get yourself to church.</div><div>
<div style="text-align: center;">We need each other more than ever ...</div>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Why Gather?</b> has been chosen by Bishop Susan Bell, Anglican Diocese of Niagara, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">for the Lenten Book Series 2023.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">You can find the <b>FREE STUDY GUIDE</b> <b><a href="https://niagaraanglican.ca/uploads/documents/2023/01/why-gather-lenten-study-guide-final-2.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0ira05OV8YZgKR9t067DcbLsrNNE-g9TYNtvIt1s6AANJrvdfKiom4ZOM" target="_blank">HERE</a>. </b>
</div>
<p></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Martha wrote a blogpost about the concept of<b> Ultrarealism </b>for this blog <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2022/03/guest-post-getting-ultrareal-by-martha.html" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">HERE</a><b>.</b></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><br></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You can find out more about Martha and her writing at:</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.MarthaTatarnic.ca"><span style="font-size: large;">www.MarthaTatarnic.ca</span></a></b></p>
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<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Why I Wrote "Why Gather?"</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">By Martha Tataric</span></b></div>
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</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/71596912023-02-23T17:20:00-05:002023-02-23T20:30:03-05:00Guest Post - Snowy Lessons For Our Reflection, by Rev. Hollis Hiscock<div style="caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: medium;">Please welcome my Dad - Rev. Hollis Hiscock - as today's guest blogger!</span></b> <span style="text-align: right;"> </span>
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</div><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGeG04MxUAsJcbbNKrOqcvvXOtjivl3DYJCgDPGNKrZ_LBZRFG19S7wlpzPJBhuAelxMxSh7ijP4RO16hmNwvDRgLfU4I1oGs_lhSCDbc4_fnBQ9dGhsMHuHGfm06eSywd6H0Sc4i1yCKivESFjS0ylDowIDFUaGh0xG5zkEhUlk9ni1bR38Q/s6912/Snowy%20Lessons%20for%20Our%20Reflection%20-%20Dad.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGeG04MxUAsJcbbNKrOqcvvXOtjivl3DYJCgDPGNKrZ_LBZRFG19S7wlpzPJBhuAelxMxSh7ijP4RO16hmNwvDRgLfU4I1oGs_lhSCDbc4_fnBQ9dGhsMHuHGfm06eSywd6H0Sc4i1yCKivESFjS0ylDowIDFUaGh0xG5zkEhUlk9ni1bR38Q/w554-h277/Snowy%20Lessons%20for%20Our%20Reflection%20-%20Dad.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="277" width="554" /></a></div><p><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: x-large;">Snowy Lessons For Our Reflection</b><br>By Rev. Hollis Hiscock</p><div><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></b></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>SPECIAL REPORT:</b> </span><br>On February 23, 2023, Eastern and Central Canada, along with many parts of the United States, <br>were blanketed with heavy snow and blizzard conditions.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>SPECIAL NOTE:</b> </span><br>Snow is mentioned some 20 times in the Bible!<br>Not bad for lands that rarely, if ever, experienced individually designed, <br>small, tongue-catching snowflakes fluttering to the ground.</p><p><br></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Job</b> </span>- while enduring life-threatening struggles which drastically altered his family - called <b>snow</b> “an amazing thing that we cannot understand,” which falls on the earth. <i>(Job 37:5-6)</i></p><p><br></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Isaiah</span></b> reflected that <b>snow</b> “came down” to water the earth “making it to bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater.” <i>(Isaiah 55:10)</i></p><p><br></p><p>The writer of the <b><span style="font-size: medium;">Psalms</span></b> stated that everything and everybody should praise God, including <b>snow</b>, hail, frost and stormy winds. <i>(Psalm 148:9)</i></p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">These Biblical ideas direct my attention to a book which my father used for many years. <br>Today - in its well-worn condition - it still occupies a prominent place in my study.</p><p>You see, as a Church Lay Leader, Dad conducted worship almost every Sunday. As was the practice back then, he was not permitted to write and deliver his own sermons or homilies. Rather, he had to read sermons from books, usually written in England, which he had to deliver verbatim in small and isolated communities in Newfoundland-Labrador.</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>“The Lessons of the Snow”</b> was one such sermon.</span></p><p><br></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSCcxnP5-E5S9Z-s43Sxqo3vodOj8zu2CBtHoYR0vhftpP-ul0wMGe1APPP7FpcLOaC1l37sMiDTjpfTvxNwnItbVkBPl_BnpC5cfSgRpnVkKrpFjLsxIktctKaOAWUa7JsJUmH5nTN67eWbQ8l0HHN82jW1nsbs33lvSlPQhuaD5zocwlk8/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_1812%202.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSCcxnP5-E5S9Z-s43Sxqo3vodOj8zu2CBtHoYR0vhftpP-ul0wMGe1APPP7FpcLOaC1l37sMiDTjpfTvxNwnItbVkBPl_BnpC5cfSgRpnVkKrpFjLsxIktctKaOAWUa7JsJUmH5nTN67eWbQ8l0HHN82jW1nsbs33lvSlPQhuaD5zocwlk8/s320/thumbnail_IMG_1812%202.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="311" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">Including his snow sermon, the Reverend H. J. Wilmot-Buxton published 23 short sermons for children<i> (maybe long by today’s standards)</i> which he dedicated to his children because he was “more than ever impressed with admiration for the powers of those who clothe holy teaching in language suited to the intelligence of the little ones.” His conclusion reminds me that Jesus also used simple stories and parables to explain the complexity and mystery of God.</div></span></div><p style="text-align: right;"><br></p><p></p><p style="text-align: right;">Wilmot-Buxton never imagined my father would read his children’s sermons to people of all ages in the colonies, and that in 2023, I would be asking you to reflect on his lessons from the snow, but here we are.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Here are 4 </span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Snowy Lessons for Our Reflection:</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p><b>Firstly</b>, we learn how wonderfully God works through the great workshop we call Nature. Moisture, drawn from the reservoirs of the earth, is condensed and returns to give new life to the earth. God is the great recycler! </p><p><b>Secondly</b>, we learn about the wonderfully quiet and irresistible way God works. The snowflake seems so fragile and weak independently, yet when one comes together with millions of others, they become powerful enough to bring a megacity or country to a standstill. “We can get more things done when we pool our resources of time, skills and treasures, than when we act alone” is fodder for our reflection and action.</p><p><b>Thirdly</b>, we learn that God works in our lives in a manner similar to how snow preserves life under its protective covering. The earth may seem dead, but it is only sleeping and is ready to burst into new life. We may feel the same. At times, personal and external circumstances may cause stagnation without hope. Then suddenly, or not so suddenly, we are transformed by God’s power and newly enriched life emerges from the embers. </p><p><b>Fourthly</b>, we learn that underneath the snow each flower, plant or shrub is holding a placard declaring, “I SHALL RISE AGAIN.” It is the message of the resurrection from a loving God who promised, “I am with you always.”</p><p><br></p><p>In his sermon, Wilmot-Buxton suggested that when snow confines us to airports, hotels, residences, work places, traffic jams or wherever, we should take the opportunity to be safe and grasp the opportunity to learn and reflect more about nature, creation, God, others, and ourselves.</p><p><br></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRe692MKZmBI-HlnWMAKsjKmgDE1A2GjCI6kWdhhRe8Vx4XCw8XTFZIiyeIZ2xbMgNrB3rO01n8oHjRg58FL5wDnTeZiiuPMjwqbOksptRgJwG7Lpg5DZuyL2iGH4RpDSCtqIUL_gLlFhPINMwc5BU2jOYOsTuVL3_lRqUk6AZ8Qaq0nTIm4I/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_4107.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRe692MKZmBI-HlnWMAKsjKmgDE1A2GjCI6kWdhhRe8Vx4XCw8XTFZIiyeIZ2xbMgNrB3rO01n8oHjRg58FL5wDnTeZiiuPMjwqbOksptRgJwG7Lpg5DZuyL2iGH4RpDSCtqIUL_gLlFhPINMwc5BU2jOYOsTuVL3_lRqUk6AZ8Qaq0nTIm4I/s320/thumbnail_IMG_4107.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">While flipping through Wilmot-Buxton’s sermon book, I found my copy of the song <b>The Rose</b>, written by Amanda McBroom and made famous by Bette Midler. I quote the lyrics here to indicate how the people of the Bible, those living in the mid-20th century and even artists today learn similar lessons from the snow. </div><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">“Just remember in the winter, </span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">far beneath the bitter snow</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Lies the seed, that with the sun’s love </span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">in the spring becomes a rose.”</span></i></b></div><p></p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What are your reflections on our winter snow?</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Please share your thoughts in the comments below or on social media... </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * </span></p><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXpd5q7HNKHPFYTu5dUSe2dZLvar5gFS-UpAcF8iLGFeHWN3ohetyIssfIv5OZ2dtbQ_txYt7FCsq-aCY_-i6KyjAV983v5QAbJ8w7-8OgCgd6HXqmwiusjOtFHre1iej-tWdiHZtTdWfMMEzoETbBZiCASQD6tYRMOkHslMpPzTr51VvLpw/s1280/Dad%20Photo.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXpd5q7HNKHPFYTu5dUSe2dZLvar5gFS-UpAcF8iLGFeHWN3ohetyIssfIv5OZ2dtbQ_txYt7FCsq-aCY_-i6KyjAV983v5QAbJ8w7-8OgCgd6HXqmwiusjOtFHre1iej-tWdiHZtTdWfMMEzoETbBZiCASQD6tYRMOkHslMpPzTr51VvLpw/w184-h221/Dad%20Photo.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="221" width="184" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXpd5q7HNKHPFYTu5dUSe2dZLvar5gFS-UpAcF8iLGFeHWN3ohetyIssfIv5OZ2dtbQ_txYt7FCsq-aCY_-i6KyjAV983v5QAbJ8w7-8OgCgd6HXqmwiusjOtFHre1iej-tWdiHZtTdWfMMEzoETbBZiCASQD6tYRMOkHslMpPzTr51VvLpw/s1280/Dad%20Photo.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br></a>
</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Reverend Hollis Hiscock </span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;">is Interim Priest-in-Charge of </span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;">St. John’s Church, Burlington, Ontario. </span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You can read his New Year's reflection</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242;">"</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #424242;">3 Guideposts & 1 Prayer for 2023"</span></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: right;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2023/01/guest-post-3-guideposts-1-prayer-for.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</span></b></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br></b></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br></b></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; text-align: right;"><br></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br></b></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br></b></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br></b></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGeG04MxUAsJcbbNKrOqcvvXOtjivl3DYJCgDPGNKrZ_LBZRFG19S7wlpzPJBhuAelxMxSh7ijP4RO16hmNwvDRgLfU4I1oGs_lhSCDbc4_fnBQ9dGhsMHuHGfm06eSywd6H0Sc4i1yCKivESFjS0ylDowIDFUaGh0xG5zkEhUlk9ni1bR38Q/s6912/Snowy%20Lessons%20for%20Our%20Reflection%20-%20Dad.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGeG04MxUAsJcbbNKrOqcvvXOtjivl3DYJCgDPGNKrZ_LBZRFG19S7wlpzPJBhuAelxMxSh7ijP4RO16hmNwvDRgLfU4I1oGs_lhSCDbc4_fnBQ9dGhsMHuHGfm06eSywd6H0Sc4i1yCKivESFjS0ylDowIDFUaGh0xG5zkEhUlk9ni1bR38Q/w640-h320/Snowy%20Lessons%20for%20Our%20Reflection%20-%20Dad.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="640" /></a></div>
<br><b><br></b></span></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/71434092023-01-25T13:57:00-05:002023-01-25T16:00:15-05:00Book Review: Where The Blue Sky Begins, by Katie Powner <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYaQWwnqu1dCb4CB1UnxSgR_qoR4TVTVCbGQgpm0jLy6uN0lV03u7BCQunN9ftlv5kwM82Qydt_fkuyF8QGz0Ofis9Soat0MmIfvNXeoh679tyZp4IGvLFIaQ1c0GmC9sTutXJpLP8opt8zM-6_Lb0NTj5nOIYUUb--9KRHrW1rZEr0TzaU-s/s499/41SfRj6O-6L._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYaQWwnqu1dCb4CB1UnxSgR_qoR4TVTVCbGQgpm0jLy6uN0lV03u7BCQunN9ftlv5kwM82Qydt_fkuyF8QGz0Ofis9Soat0MmIfvNXeoh679tyZp4IGvLFIaQ1c0GmC9sTutXJpLP8opt8zM-6_Lb0NTj5nOIYUUb--9KRHrW1rZEr0TzaU-s/s320/41SfRj6O-6L._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="208" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">January is turning out to be an amazing reading month!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Week #4 and I'm already reading Book #5. <br>My Goodreads account won't know what hit it!</div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">And, I'm already on Book Review #2:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Where The Blue Sky Begins, by Katie Powner</b></p><p>I can't think of a better description of <b>Where The Blue Sky Begins</b> than Katie's own:</p><p><i>"When a shallow but charming financial advisor from Seattle and an eccentric terminally ill woman in rural Montana are thrown together for the summer, their unconventional friendship will produce surprising results. Eric and Eunice couldn’t be more different, but they each must learn lessons about themselves, what friendship really means, and how to let go. When the end of summer comes, neither of them will ever be the same."</i></p><p>There were a lot of things to love about this book. The characters have rich backstories, woven together in a way only found in tight knit communities. The story unfolds with a great pace, and some unexpected twists. The town and landscape become characters themselves, shaping the people who live in their midst. There are strong themes of redemption, regrets, forgiveness, connection, and purpose. </p><p>Eunice is definitely my favourite character. Her signature personality and sharp dialogue make you feel like she's in the room with her. I really appreciated the unapologetic portrayal of Eunice's health challenges. Nothing is too graphic, but at the same time, nothing is too pretty. It's a realistic picture of this particular character's physical, emotional and spiritual struggles, mixed with her unique humour, as she faces her final days.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I didn't really know what to expect when I requested this book, <br>but <b>Where The Blue Sky Begins</b> really hooked me in. <br>I read it quickly, yet it will stay with me for while.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Katie's website includes a section of fun FREE resources for individuals & book clubs, <br>including trivia sheets and discussion questions. You can find everything here:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.katiepowner.com/book-club" target="_blank">www.KatiePowner.com/Book-Club</a></span></b></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/71372672023-01-12T17:17:00-05:002023-01-12T20:15:07-05:00Guest Post - 3 Guideposts & 1 Prayer for 2023, by Rev. Hollis Hiscock<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></b></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Please welcome my Dad - Rev. Hollis Hiscock - as today's guest blogger!</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: center;">* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * </p></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">3 Guideposts & 1 Prayer for 2023</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_pgzw9yJHe8d-7q0KQqKf61FjjzbOi6gCISAG0zZ0VCISsXmSwTQ1u0vCVDof9jFXEjZPUNm4mMA-2YRp77xkd0T_A2AFPhZ-qdS1A_B0ogkWCFZQMaco85zuNCaxPhtXdTjGokzLAy_BskvrlVdOAuIuX-PypI9R1XvefqOOs81xKCy7xFk/s1640/Dad%20-%203%20Guideposts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_pgzw9yJHe8d-7q0KQqKf61FjjzbOi6gCISAG0zZ0VCISsXmSwTQ1u0vCVDof9jFXEjZPUNm4mMA-2YRp77xkd0T_A2AFPhZ-qdS1A_B0ogkWCFZQMaco85zuNCaxPhtXdTjGokzLAy_BskvrlVdOAuIuX-PypI9R1XvefqOOs81xKCy7xFk/w539-h303/Dad%20-%203%20Guideposts.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="303" width="539" /></a></div><br><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">“Thank God 2022 is over! Hopefully 2023 will be much, much better.”</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;">These sentiments have been echoed by many people in varying situations around the globe.</p><p style="text-align: center;">So, as we journey daily into the evolving future, <br>may these three guideposts and one prayer <br>help us navigate our personal, communal, and global life encounters.</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Hand of God</span></b></p><p>The first guidepost comes from Sunday School teacher, poet, and college professor Minnie Haskins. Standing near a second story balcony window at dusk, looking down a long driveway leading to a gate which opened onto the street and the unknown, she compared it with a new year or new journey and wrote:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>I said to the one who stood at the gate of the year, <br>"Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown"; <br>and they replied, <br>"Go out into the darkness, and put your hand into the hand of God. <br>That shall be to you better than a light, and safer than a known way."<br>So, I went forth, and finding the hand of God, trod gladly into the night, <br>and God led me towards the hills and the breaking of the day.</i></p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Never Alone</span></b></p><p>The second guidepost comes from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel. This song of comfort and encouragement was included to help a person coping with a devasting life situation. It is a reminder that we are never walking alone – God and other human beings are by our side.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>When you walk through a storm<br></i><i>Hold your head up high<br></i><i>And don’t be afraid of the dark.<br></i><i>At the end of the storm is a golden sky<br></i><i>And the sweet silver song of a lark.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Walk on through the wind,<br></i><i>Walk on through the rain,<br></i><i>Tho’ your dreams be tossed and blown.<br></i><i>Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart,<br></i><i>And you’ll never walk alone.<br></i><i>You’ll never walk alone.</i></p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>A Divine Perspective </b></span></p><p>The third guidepost comes from St. Paul and Jesus Christ. </p><p>In the Bible’s New Testament, Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans (8:38-39): </p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>"I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."</i></p><p>Similarly, Jesus/God promised (Matthew 28:20): </p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>“I am with you always.”</i></p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">A Prayer to Help </span></b></p><p>This prayer, with which St. Paul concluded his letter to the Christians living in the city of Corinth (2 Corinthians 13:14) several decades after Jesus’ resurrection, may be a good mantra for us to repeat often as we traverse time and space.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, <br>the love of God, <br>and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit <br>be with us all.”</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Amen.</span><br></b><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Happy New Year!</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvm_hgw5AUN6eq-MNlr5hTDb24Lj-1-qSaIIvc9F0QTt5tOMaR8c6jw26tE9OVkVuYn7HxiAfhWyv2AjFoKHuySvfdguvyapSUGVb-h-wgknv2b1BVjCjD_gWgnMaXCUw-WveruWQZ_-hC4JmZ2I7M14q4P2fsH8STU1yTIlf9Y4BR3Bed-HU/s1280/Dad%20Photo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvm_hgw5AUN6eq-MNlr5hTDb24Lj-1-qSaIIvc9F0QTt5tOMaR8c6jw26tE9OVkVuYn7HxiAfhWyv2AjFoKHuySvfdguvyapSUGVb-h-wgknv2b1BVjCjD_gWgnMaXCUw-WveruWQZ_-hC4JmZ2I7M14q4P2fsH8STU1yTIlf9Y4BR3Bed-HU/w198-h238/Dad%20Photo.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="238" width="198" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: right;"><br></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Reverend Hollis Hiscock </span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;">is Interim Priest-in-Charge of </span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;">St. John’s Church, Burlington, Ontario. </span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You can read his 2022 Christmas message </span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A "Way" in a "Lodge of Broken Bark" </span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b><a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2022/12/guest-post-way-in-lodge-of-broken-bark.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">HERE</span></a></b></div><p></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_pgzw9yJHe8d-7q0KQqKf61FjjzbOi6gCISAG0zZ0VCISsXmSwTQ1u0vCVDof9jFXEjZPUNm4mMA-2YRp77xkd0T_A2AFPhZ-qdS1A_B0ogkWCFZQMaco85zuNCaxPhtXdTjGokzLAy_BskvrlVdOAuIuX-PypI9R1XvefqOOs81xKCy7xFk/s1640/Dad%20-%203%20Guideposts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_pgzw9yJHe8d-7q0KQqKf61FjjzbOi6gCISAG0zZ0VCISsXmSwTQ1u0vCVDof9jFXEjZPUNm4mMA-2YRp77xkd0T_A2AFPhZ-qdS1A_B0ogkWCFZQMaco85zuNCaxPhtXdTjGokzLAy_BskvrlVdOAuIuX-PypI9R1XvefqOOs81xKCy7xFk/w640-h360/Dad%20-%203%20Guideposts.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><br><p><br></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/71277162022-12-23T13:56:00-05:002022-12-23T17:15:11-05:00This Christmas, Celebrate Differently...<p style="text-align: center;">Friends, it’s been a challenging year for us, rife with illness and struggle, and now we’re wrapping up 2022 with a wicked bout of Covid. We’ve been sick for almost 3 weeks. To date, we’ve cancelled 8 different Christmas concerts. It’s hard to state the toll this has taken on us. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Frankly, we’re just exhausted - vocally, physically, and emotionally.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>So, we’ve decided to celebrate Christmas differently this year.</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkiKtti5wutc2wfqJJt1MP_bwwYSnzQMOEe3gYvpQ0zO3Uokhhr-9z17Y_Eay7nP5_0BFfpxysqYN-z5RAJAE8NLHNkoSqkXglnqBni1vjk74P8KUGTuUDvoyl4TfQObBynHvDtFGy72qM5bwF8BVHkbYw_cX-y0U8TYCBsWeui14SXUeKnAU/s4027/IMG_2517.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkiKtti5wutc2wfqJJt1MP_bwwYSnzQMOEe3gYvpQ0zO3Uokhhr-9z17Y_Eay7nP5_0BFfpxysqYN-z5RAJAE8NLHNkoSqkXglnqBni1vjk74P8KUGTuUDvoyl4TfQObBynHvDtFGy72qM5bwF8BVHkbYw_cX-y0U8TYCBsWeui14SXUeKnAU/w430-h640/IMG_2517.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="640" width="430" /></a></div><p>We’re keeping it simple. </p><p>We’re choosing new priorities.</p><p>One of my favourite Christmas traditions is decorating, but the idea of getting a tree and hauling out the tinsel was just more than we could handle.</p><p style="text-align: center;">So, we did something different:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">We’d like to share with you our Christmas Card Tree for 2022.</span></b></p><p>Four feet tall, doesn’t need water, and placed on a table high above the reach of our little puppy, Max.</p><p>Last week, my parents dropped by.</p><p>We pulled out curling ribbon, pinking shears, and last year’s Christmas cards</p><p>Over cups of espresso, we cut the cards into ornaments, and tied them on the tree with ribbon.</p><p>Coloured lights and our Victorian glass beads tied the whole look together.</p><p>Finally, we tucked our nativity under the tree, surrounded by my collection of angels.</p><p><br></p><p>In just a few hours, with a few snips of paper, our home transformed from everyday to extraordinary.</p><p>It started as a simple art project, but in the making it became so much more.</p><p>It’s covered in cards given to us by people we love.<br>It was created in an afternoon of laughter and family.<br>And it’s giving us light in our darkness - something we all need.<br><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Friends, we know we’re not alone. It’s been a tough year for many of us.<br></span></b><b><br>If you’re struggling this Christmas, may we encourage you to celebrate differently:</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br>Choose to do less.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Spend time with the people you love.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Find new ways to do things.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Spend a little extra time in prayer.<br><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">A<b>nd however you choose to celebrate, <br>remember that whatever our personal circumstances, <br>the Reason for the Season never changes.</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">From our family to yours, <br>we wish you a peaceful, joy-filled & healthy Christmas!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">* * </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">* * </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">* * </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">* * </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">* * </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Please enjoy my Dad's Christmas message:</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2022/12/guest-post-way-in-lodge-of-broken-bark.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>A "Way" in a "Lodge of Broken Bark"</b></span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2022/12/guest-post-way-in-lodge-of-broken-bark.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAwmoZONvf66S3tqfcPIzd-P4YxpFfRl37hI_9i3lFnaa7MjE5_MYS5GDlTdx6eXYbFETEBJUlw5lMvv2Lu95vjz9OMpSS4yu3L63asWBNrF2CO82TGVBQARhR94NteOH-oFwX4veT7Q5hu-FTCQ1ict2uBeNHzCaIoJLx9vtaIQXSQBuB8Tc/w640-h360/A%20Way%20in%20a%20Lodge%20of%20Broken%20Bark.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><br><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/71254592022-12-19T17:14:00-05:002022-12-19T18:30:10-05:00Book Review: The Premonition at Withers Farm, by Jaime Jo Wright<p></p><div style="text-align: center;">
<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJX9ia-KBEGAjRjTDBaJ6rRt1aoAf-gDFtkz0o10eFccnkMo3lG4KecLsWU1zFlQR4KL8kdP4jZ9Ypl6HZ_lScdOzbPXd2sLdts0WLFsXTyvAIE_Sbcdz18eAi5-H7u_w5rwUak-mX8EW-dlAI9B4D_l8fFlZ07VaMjBk8oazksBWtiMhBUjQ/s2552/816+Au1WFcL.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJX9ia-KBEGAjRjTDBaJ6rRt1aoAf-gDFtkz0o10eFccnkMo3lG4KecLsWU1zFlQR4KL8kdP4jZ9Ypl6HZ_lScdOzbPXd2sLdts0WLFsXTyvAIE_Sbcdz18eAi5-H7u_w5rwUak-mX8EW-dlAI9B4D_l8fFlZ07VaMjBk8oazksBWtiMhBUjQ/w269-h416/816+Au1WFcL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="416" width="269" /></a></div>
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Well, here's a first: reading a ghost story at Christmas!</div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(And not a Dickens ghost story!)</i></div></i><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Technically, this book came out in the fall, but when your copy arrives in December, whatcha gonna do?</p><p>I've already reviewed two of Jaime Jo's books - <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2021/08/book-review-on-cliffs-of-foxglove-manor.html" target="_blank"><b>On The Cliffs Of Foxglove Manor</b></a> and <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2022/06/book-review-souls-of-lost-lake-by-jaime.html" target="_blank"><b>The Souls Of Lost Lake</b></a> - and I will jump at any chance to read and review her fantastic stories!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>The Premonition at Withers Farm</b> tells the story of a Michigan farm haunted by murders, ghosts, and mystery.</p><p>In 1910, we're introduced to self-proclaimed healer, Perliett Van Hilton, and her spiritualist, seance-holding mother. When one of the Withers' daughters is murdered in her own family's corn field, the whole town in swept up in fear and mystery. Is the answer in the field or in the beyond?</p><p>In the present day, Molly and Trent Wasziak have suffered greatly in their personal lives. When they move into the Withers Farm, the young couple is forced to confront the unsolved mysteries of the past, a current murder in the present, and how their family's history ties into it all.<br><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm hesitant to say much more. <br>This is a book that must be allowed to unfold on its own terms!<br><br></span></p><p>Like any great ghost story, <b>The Premonition at Withers Farm</b> relies on intriguing characters, a killer plot <i>(pun not intended, but kind of perfect!)</i>, and copious amounts of tension. Jaime Jo is a Christian writer with a passion for all things Gothic, so you know it's going to get scary without getting too gory or bleak.</p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I am such a superfan of Jaime Jo Wright! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Pick up a copy of <b>The Premonition at Withers Farm</b>, <br>and any other copies of her books you can find... </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></div><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">Jaime Jo has a great newsletter, a really fun Facebook group, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and lots of encouragement for writers. </div><div style="text-align: center;">You can find out more at:</div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.JaimeWrightBooks.com"><b><span style="font-size: large;">www.JaimeWrightBooks.com</span></b></a></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.<br></span></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/71254602022-12-19T16:45:00-05:002022-12-19T18:30:10-05:00Book Review: The Blackout Book Club, by Amy Lynn Green <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIqT-gCKFbDKZupCDnDoyKBf1fgJh0heoGWCvu8LZ92NCA_n3S4IiY8EiiGVfA5VUkTOzPlLXtksvOSZFOU_xqS2z7EED-WLRRHuZCwyP0wXNmmiH6MDsgdJFlyIy5Q1VSbEiDrQXAN574-76G-OJ0V5TSzgqSOAYtk4zH5G2Z1aI9ddNNvTM/w247-h382/62076050._SY475_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="382" width="247" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">For the last two weeks, we've been wiped out by Covid. It's the first time we've had it, and despite our vaccines, it's really done a number on us. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div>
<div style="text-align: center;">The one perk? Lots of time for reading, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">and this book was the perfect balm for a rough few weeks.</div>
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<b>The Blackout Book Club</b> by Amy Lynn Green appealed to me from the start. Historical fiction, a library, letters from the front, and a secret backstory - what's not to love?</div>
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<div>Avis Montgomery unexpectedly finds herself as a librarian in a privately owned library in small-town Maine. When the owner threatens to close the library, Avis creates a book club in an attempt to save the special place. A disparate group of men and women start to gather on Saturday mornings to read classics and favourites. As their lives weave together, they start to learn the power of story - fictional and real - to save communities and themselves. </div>
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<div>I loved this book! Amy's writing is beautiful, creative, and clear. I could see every person and imagine every corner of the library. Different characters lead different chapters, and each voice was perfectly clear. Amy also mixed in a few letters from the front, as well as "notes" from the book club meetings, all of which made for a fun narrative experience.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>And check out this beautiful piece from Amy's Facebook page. Isn't this charming and kind?</b></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixS_mNzRcKGi8h-26Je9mDBKOYgWD2E1uU9fHPhgUUZz7OGXiz2yJjOGKX_dbhGnZSYC7pHPWWIInESpO8C3Mb5l6wKZ_fBKvOZuODuOiMTHl4FnS5yr00Zg2f9IjZB0Y3D7u1mzI_iM-EI8G9wrQOsTj3Xb6C5UOrLXxWS5kDORRfir1x8gU/s2091/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-19%20at%204.13.22%20PM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixS_mNzRcKGi8h-26Je9mDBKOYgWD2E1uU9fHPhgUUZz7OGXiz2yJjOGKX_dbhGnZSYC7pHPWWIInESpO8C3Mb5l6wKZ_fBKvOZuODuOiMTHl4FnS5yr00Zg2f9IjZB0Y3D7u1mzI_iM-EI8G9wrQOsTj3Xb6C5UOrLXxWS5kDORRfir1x8gU/w640-h223/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-19%20at%204.13.22%20PM.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="223" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I completely recommend getting two copies of this book - </span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">one for yourself and one to give as a Christmas gift.</span></div>
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<p style="text-align: center;">You can learn more about Amy's books and writing at </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/AmyGreenBooks"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>www.facebook.com/AmyGreenBooks</b></span></a></p>
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<p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></p>
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</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/70911412022-10-28T20:43:00-04:002022-10-28T21:00:13-04:00Book Review: Dangerous Beauty, by Melissa Koslin<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha5q66B3zBmgg-K_YuU2ydIYmac0FQkJ9WcRdqq4skhaTiAqFXwTYVWRC7O1favxb2YwPxfnc1E1-R6VghcvlThzbyw7pXx4_U8zyFPHztgPzdpIcwj-WuDkpvTsjgQaDzwlUg2K-W8MtrTU8oMdMQvpd-mNWBJI_dp6xHpIqNKQPgzQQRQrg/s400/59857167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha5q66B3zBmgg-K_YuU2ydIYmac0FQkJ9WcRdqq4skhaTiAqFXwTYVWRC7O1favxb2YwPxfnc1E1-R6VghcvlThzbyw7pXx4_U8zyFPHztgPzdpIcwj-WuDkpvTsjgQaDzwlUg2K-W8MtrTU8oMdMQvpd-mNWBJI_dp6xHpIqNKQPgzQQRQrg/w240-h371/59857167.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="371" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Several reviewers said, "Don't pick up this book unless you have time to read it one sitting" and they weren't kidding!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Dangerous Beauty</b>, by Melissa Koslin, <br>grips you from the first page. </span></p><p>Liliana Vela is running for her life in the dark of night. She's in America, not her native Mexico, as a victim of human trafficking. She finds herself sneaking into a gas station, desperately in need of help, and not knowing how to ask for it. </p><p>Meric Toledan is just stopping by the gas station for a drink, when he sees Liliana and quickly assesses the situation. The authorities arrive, but Liliana has no options for safety. They'll have to send her back to Mexico.</p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">Until Meric makes an offer - </div><div style="text-align: center;">he will marry Liliana to keep her in safely in America.</div><p></p><p><br></p><p>Okay, here's where I had to raise an eyebrow. I knew this was the premise of the book, but it all happened so quickly and all I could think was "This isn't realistic."</p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">But it was in the moment, my friends, that I learned of a whole new literary genre: </div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Marriage by Convenience.</b></div></b><p></p><p>Little did I know that this was an entire, hugely popular sub-genre of romance novels and movies! I guess that shows how few romance books I read...</p><p>Well, once I learned that this is an accepted genre (with apologies to all those who already know and love the genre!), I was able to enjoy the story much more.</p><p><b>Dangerous Beauty</b> is a fast-paced, thriller-romance that is set in the world of human trafficking. Melissa's writing is sharp, with a strong narrative pulse. She found a wonderful way to express the heaviness of the subject matter without ever slowing down the plot or exploiting the topic.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I'll definitely be looking out for more of Melissa's writing in the future!</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Melissa offers a free novella to all email subscribers! You can find out more here:</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.MelissaKoslin.com" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">www.MelissaKoslin.com</span></a></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-664182635641437469" itemprop="description articleBody" style="caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 728px;"><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></p></div><p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/70911422022-10-28T20:15:00-04:002022-10-28T21:00:13-04:00Book Review: The Clutter Fix, by Shannon Acheson<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewJt5rrJ7lLmY70fcrKLduU1klc0RvhgkxZFqmaTDmb2rblgTy7aGSejL0li4zmVEBbqEx7gYSlsYC3UsXKvmaNyxQrno_h08OR8fCIauS80I1ogHdOhPB57EN41aTpzrapbXxB7TfFdye7y-CXal7GRMdp-tkOsxX7gQtY36z17p39otjRo/s1360/612bNKUhvpL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewJt5rrJ7lLmY70fcrKLduU1klc0RvhgkxZFqmaTDmb2rblgTy7aGSejL0li4zmVEBbqEx7gYSlsYC3UsXKvmaNyxQrno_h08OR8fCIauS80I1ogHdOhPB57EN41aTpzrapbXxB7TfFdye7y-CXal7GRMdp-tkOsxX7gQtY36z17p39otjRo/w254-h381/612bNKUhvpL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="381" width="254" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">In 2020, I reviewed <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2020/12/book-review-home-made-lovely-by-shannon.html" target="_blank"><b>Home Made Lovely</b></a> by Shannon Acheson, and became an instant fan! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Shannon weaves creativity, practicality, and spirituality </div><div style="text-align: center;">to create beautiful, comfortable living spaces. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">As an avid follower of her blog, I was super-excited when I learned she was releasing a new book in 2022!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Clutter Fix</b> is exactly what it sounds like - </div><div style="text-align: center;">a practical journey for removing clutter from your home.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Anyone who has ever tried to remove or reduce clutter knows it's a challenging and often overwhelming project. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Shannon starts with giving some some quick, focused projects. These allow you to practice decluttering, while also gaining some easy wins.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>She takes time to look at the psychological and spiritual side of clutter. How does it affect our emotions? How often do we carry guilt about throwing things away? And how can we work through those feelings to achieve a calmer home?</div><div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">Finally, Shannon gives us a whole-house decluttering project, complete with lists, detailed work plans, and worksheets. To top things off, she ends with a section on maintaining your clutter-free home.</div>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">I read this book in one sitting, but my plan is to return to it in January for the continuation of my own decluttering journey. Wish me luck!</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You can follow Shannon's blog and learn more helpful home-tips at her beautiful site:</span></div><div>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.HomeMadeLovely.com" target="_blank">www.HomeMadeLovely.com</a> </b></span><br></p>
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<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-664182635641437469" itemprop="description articleBody" style="caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 728px;"><div><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></p></div></div>
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</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/70728152022-10-01T20:35:00-04:002022-10-01T22:30:08-04:00The Sermon I Wrote But Never Spoke - GUEST POST!<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Please welcome my dad, Rev. Hollis Hiscock, as today's guest blogger!<br></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">* * * * * * * * * * * * * * <br><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHFJe4pGdSr33tp78sLrSXovWQ8WVK43rvXlibSOB48WjYcc8Hi_pWrkYnsck9BoGpX5mQ4T7PKDuNull3oVOGQuK_-q0hafHKj6XW70vFLxUTfX9nxGfh4hl0q737w7A-7q_7VQ9sD0DV329M_GKp88A26-YWyXXE3YT-TO0jAkYOcD6sCk/s1280/Dad%20Photo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHFJe4pGdSr33tp78sLrSXovWQ8WVK43rvXlibSOB48WjYcc8Hi_pWrkYnsck9BoGpX5mQ4T7PKDuNull3oVOGQuK_-q0hafHKj6XW70vFLxUTfX9nxGfh4hl0q737w7A-7q_7VQ9sD0DV329M_GKp88A26-YWyXXE3YT-TO0jAkYOcD6sCk/s320/Dad%20Photo.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="266" /></a></i></div><i><b><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br></b></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>INTRODUCTION</b>:</span></i></div></b></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br> I prepared my sermon on September 27, 2022 for the following Sunday, October 2nd. <br>I called it my pre-harvest Thanksgiving sermon because I was not going to be preaching on Canada’s National Thanksgiving Sunday (October 9th). <br>However, COVID intervened, and my plan was thwarted: <br>I tested positive on Thursday – two days after writing my message. <br>So, from my quarantined cloister, I offer you this written version as you and I prepare for Thanksgiving 2022. <br></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>I call it, “The Sermon I Wrote But Never Spoke”.</i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-style: italic; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><p>As I walked from St. John’s Church in Burlington, Ontario, towards the Parish Hall, somebody said, “They are waiting for you to say grace so people can eat at the BBQ”.</p><p>Not wanting to keep people waiting too long, I rushed upstairs and wondered what grace I should say.</p><p>In my wallet I carry three graces, two humorous in nature and the third called the World Hunger Grace.</p><p>I decided to use the third.</p><p>It is attributed to the Girl Guides, initially used in Huron Diocese in Ontario, and repeated often in multiple venues around the world by Archbishop Ted Scott, former Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Here are the words for the World Hunger Grace …</p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b>For food in a world where many walk in hunger;</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>For faith in a world where many walk in fear; </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>For friends in a world where many walk alone; </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>We give you humble thanks, O Lord.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><p></p><p>This grace is very fitting for us as we pause and reflect on what we have and who we are as we prepare for our Thanksgiving.</p><p>This grace is very fitting in light of the Act passed in Canada’s Parliament on Jan. 31, 1957 – declaring the 2nd Monday in October as: </p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>"A DAY OF GENERAL THANKSGIVING TO ALMIGHTY GOD <br>FOR THE BOUNTIFUL HARVEST WITH WHICH CANADA HAS BEEN BLESSED".</i></p><p>This grace is very fitting as it reminds us of what Charles Dickens wrote, <i>“We complain and gripe for 364 days every year and give thanks on one --- it should be the other way around”.</i></p><p><br></p><p>Traditionally <b>HARVEST</b> meant sowing the seeds in the spring and harvesting the crops in the fall, but there are many kinds of harvests in our lives.</p><p>Harvest can mean the gathering of crops, as well as the product or results of an action. It can come in the form of financial growth, creative output, or even renewed relationships. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Think of which harvest applies in your own situation ...</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ztK3CX7juZ0He2VG4j9l_of6DJNBlehvTMJ5XJKrmSKm9ew0SGRz68zQwysESgWk2jbwaBXQzwFebydK04uwAkI327taoqD_l5AYnG0TUJlD0TqmC-O1RyQwTYuZFbjgSkVWkVS0isWehX-DhQvZjmL5TLeDMcOjdwOQs_5tKFqGB_sXB8s/s940/Dad's%20Quote%20-%20Thanksgiving.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ztK3CX7juZ0He2VG4j9l_of6DJNBlehvTMJ5XJKrmSKm9ew0SGRz68zQwysESgWk2jbwaBXQzwFebydK04uwAkI327taoqD_l5AYnG0TUJlD0TqmC-O1RyQwTYuZFbjgSkVWkVS0isWehX-DhQvZjmL5TLeDMcOjdwOQs_5tKFqGB_sXB8s/w373-h312/Dad's%20Quote%20-%20Thanksgiving.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="312" width="373" /></a></div><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The World Hunger Grace helps us to focus both on what we possess ourselves <br>and what we can do unto others.</span></p><p>Firstly, <b>FOOD</b> - all we need to live – physical, mental, emotional, spiritual food.</p><p>Secondly, <b>FAITH</b> – our value system, our belief in a loving God, our trust in one another’s righteousness.</p><p>Thirdly, <b>FRIENDS</b> – who walk with us faithfully, who give us assurance, guidance, compassion, confidence, and encouragement. </p><p style="text-align: center;">The challenge of the prayer is that while giving thanks for what we have, <br>we are acknowledging what others do not have and then pledging ourselves to help them.</p><p><br></p><p><b>For those who WALK IN HUNGER - </b><br>We can donate to the food drive, volunteer our services, or send a cheque to help those devasted by floods, hurricanes, fires, droughts, and other dehumanizing conditions.</p><p>While stopped at a red light, a man approached my car. As I reached out to give him money, he handed me cards for free coffee from a nearby take out. He said, “I really wasn’t asking for money.” I replied, “I really don’t want the free coffee cards, but I will take them and give them to someone who does.” I think each of us was fulfilling what the prayer is asking us to do.</p><p><b>For those who WALK IN FEAR – </b><br>People being bullied, discriminated against for many reasons, forced to choose between heating their homes during winter or proving food for their family, fearful of their job security or the pandemic or wars or the many other situations where people can lose hope and vision - we can be their model and inspiration, showing that that even though we are “walking through the valley of the shadow of death” (our worst possible scenario) we are not afraid because we believe in a loving God who is with us at all times, in all places and in every conceivable situation. </p><p><b>For people who WALK ALONE – </b><br>Those living in our city or neighbourhood, those waiting in hospitals, those residing in their own residence or long term care facilities, those coming to church - we can be their friends by welcoming them in person, making a telephone call, sending a card or email, etc. to assure them they are not alone.</p><p>Keith decided he would walk with people who were in palliative care facilities. During his visit he would read to them their choice of books, magazines, or papers. Over many years he walked with nearly one hundred people as they walked towards eternity.</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This Thanksgiving, as we give thanks for our food, faith, and friends … <br>let us renew our commitment to help those walking in hunger, <br>those walking in fear <br>and those walking alone.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;">Maybe in your personal prayers, as a grace before your meal or in some other venue, <br>you can pray silently or aloud or together with others …</p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b>For food in a world where many walk in hunger;</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>For faith in a world where many walk in fear; </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>For friends in a world where many walk alone; </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>We give you humble thanks, O Lord.</b></div><p></p><p><br></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="309" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aL5nhEUxp7A" width="529" youtube-src-id="aL5nhEUxp7A"></iframe></div><i></i><p><i><br></i></p><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(The Reverend Hollis Hiscock is Interim Priest-In-Charge <br>at St. John’s Church, Burlington, Ontario, Canada.)</i></div><p></p><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/70268532022-07-29T17:20:00-04:002022-07-29T18:30:14-04:00Book Review: Joanie, by Elizabeth Deveau<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUc9MJACTFkEuGVRc9n9K-PX7-xC9BMRbqhgmWM5S2K6CsREM8TEWvcBDJKt11aXc0hhbhMltCMIgdup4yh7_JzfzzyjvAzgRcvYZUl_7LJOFxmaIqpGnTkOQsGBxZRPoF3WcH1DQwZzRBItQu3VPZLZOrxWpSkXSxqQLmbYAWRwirHamDJq0/s2700/Cover-Front%20(Joanie).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUc9MJACTFkEuGVRc9n9K-PX7-xC9BMRbqhgmWM5S2K6CsREM8TEWvcBDJKt11aXc0hhbhMltCMIgdup4yh7_JzfzzyjvAzgRcvYZUl_7LJOFxmaIqpGnTkOQsGBxZRPoF3WcH1DQwZzRBItQu3VPZLZOrxWpSkXSxqQLmbYAWRwirHamDJq0/s320/Cover-Front%20(Joanie).png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I always love when I can claim this bias:</div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>I'm friends with this author!</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Is there anything more thrilling (<i>and more stressful!</i>) <br>that being able to review a friend's art?</p><p>Gerald and I met <a href="http://www.elizabethdeveau.ca" target="_blank">Elizabeth Deveau</a> at our first GMA Canada event in Ontario (<i>Gospel Music Association of Canada - the folks who give out the Covenant Awards</i>). Over the years, we've kept in touch, and followed her passionate and prolific music ministry.</p><p>Earlier this year, Elizabeth shared that she'd been working on a biography of her mother, Joan. She asked if I could read the book and provide a review.</p><p>I jumped at the chance, but yes, there is definitely added stress when you review a friend's work! I've done it a few times over the years. It's both a tremendous honour and responsibility. I know how much time and heart goes into creating art, and I never want to take that effort for granted.</p><p><b>Joanie</b> tells the story of a young girl growing up in troubled times. Joan Crabb and her siblings experience a tumultuous childhood, worthy of any dramatic film script. When Joan is only 6-years-old, the children unexpectedly find themselves living in the orphanage of their home province of Nova Scotia. After several troubled years, they're adopted by a loving couple, only to be ripped away from them years later by the birth-father they barely know.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>But Joanie isn't just the story of a troubled childhood. <br>It's the story of a life redeemed, and the deep love that can grow from a broken heart. </b></p><p><b>Joanie</b> is also a love letter. The book is rich with details of Joan's entire life, which must have taken countless hours to collect. As I read, I often imagined Elizabeth sitting with her mother, hearing the stories of her past, and lovingly transcribing them for the ages. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Reading the comments on the book's Facebook page, <br>it's clear that Joan had a tremendous impact on her family and her community. <br>I know this book will be well received, and will celebrate Joan's legacy of love!</p><p style="text-align: center;">You can find out more about <b>Joanie</b> at</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/JoanieBook" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/JoanieBook</a> </span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">A complimentary e-copy of this book was provided in exchange for an unbiased review.</span></i></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/70242572022-07-26T14:23:00-04:002022-07-29T18:30:14-04:00Book Review: The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip, by Sara Brunsvold<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEU4RQ_152fVjsq8YBv8WQqnhvgyFd75JqZuCZelU654DnVx4TVRgrOy8jh-vzE2KGsFgApUMlULbOibUzZImD5433YmpHmdQlh8vzKmAEgisrPRs_jnhA-hTdIjIgiR2USv5SqDRLSwk-PkSa0UXvquflQSJX_DlnQAw5SZpISCt5dX-_FQ/s2550/59449050.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEU4RQ_152fVjsq8YBv8WQqnhvgyFd75JqZuCZelU654DnVx4TVRgrOy8jh-vzE2KGsFgApUMlULbOibUzZImD5433YmpHmdQlh8vzKmAEgisrPRs_jnhA-hTdIjIgiR2USv5SqDRLSwk-PkSa0UXvquflQSJX_DlnQAw5SZpISCt5dX-_FQ/w280-h433/59449050.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="433" width="280" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'll admit, the title and cover of this book </div><div style="text-align: center;">completely pulled me in, <br>but what I found inside was so worth discovering:</div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip </b><br>by Sara Brunsvold <br>might be one of the most special books <br>I'll read this year. </span></p><p>Aidyn Kelly is a young, ambitious reporter looking for her big break. In her enthusiasm, she steps on some toes and is relegated to the menial assignment of interviewing a dying woman and writing her obituary.</p><p>But Mrs. Kip is no ordinary woman. Behind her failing body and witty sarcasm beats the heart of spiritual warrior, carrying a story for the ages. This is a woman who's experienced grief, and learned the power of sacrificial love.</p><p>I don't want to reveal too much about this book, because I think it's one that really benefits from its own gentle reveal. Like last year's <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2021/10/book-review-nature-of-small-birds-by.html">The Nature of Small Birds</a>, it's a book that's driven by character, story, moments, and relationships.</p><p>In sharing Mrs. Kip's fictional story, we also delve into a piece of real history. Again, I love the power of historical fiction to shine light on the hidden and lost stories of our past. Strangely enough, it's a story that is still current today.</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I highly recommend The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip!</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">I think it would be a particularly lovely selection for a book club,<br>especially one open to faith-based discussions.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">And, look at all the neat bonus opportunities that come with this book:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">Baker Book House is offering a <b>FREE ONLINE AUTHOR'S NIGHT</b> with Sara this Thursday!</p><p style="text-align: center;">You can sign up here:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-author-night-with-sara-brunsvold-tickets-374258125127" target="_blank">https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-author-night-with-sara-brunsvold-tickets-374258125127</a></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">Signing up for Sara's newsletter gets you some free gifts, <br>and she even has a neat trailer for the book. </p><p style="text-align: center;">You can find out more at:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/www.SaraBrunsvold.com%C2%A0" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">www.SaraBrunsvold.com </span></b></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="385" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_PJkJ8kdkSk" width="639" youtube-src-id="_PJkJ8kdkSk"></iframe></div><br><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-664182635641437469" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 728px;">
<div><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.<br></span></p></div>
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</div><p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></p><div class="post-footer" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #9b9b9b; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/70199402022-07-21T22:00:00-04:002022-07-22T00:30:22-04:00Book Review: When The Day Comes, by Gabrielle Meyer<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMlPZ-Tc3YFyA80eBB7dk2fxhy69gI4WPU-o3mwWY9B41Jz1b_cQzSJomzatWS99a46ljiFD1hepfblnTesnnVWyMnC6Fg_BHbU0YMgs6iYK_TD9bPcKFEacfLhw4pHgnuqv7gY9B1xuEr07ditrvLOew7Vvui92Cgl618iW47kGVZwatGA3g/s400/59627677.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMlPZ-Tc3YFyA80eBB7dk2fxhy69gI4WPU-o3mwWY9B41Jz1b_cQzSJomzatWS99a46ljiFD1hepfblnTesnnVWyMnC6Fg_BHbU0YMgs6iYK_TD9bPcKFEacfLhw4pHgnuqv7gY9B1xuEr07ditrvLOew7Vvui92Cgl618iW47kGVZwatGA3g/w251-h388/59627677.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="388" width="251" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>This is going to be a different kind of review for me.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I've got a bit of a hot take on this book, </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and I've genuinely struggled with how to write this.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Okay, h</i><i>ere we go...</i>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>When The Day Comes</b> by Gabrielle Meyer </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">is a fun blend of historical fiction, romance, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and time travel science fiction.</span></div>
<p></p>
<p>Libby is a "time crosser." She was born on the same day in two completely separate locations and eras. From birth til her 21st birthday, she exists in both 1774 Colonial Williamsburg and 1914 Gilded Age New York City. When she falls asleep in one life, she wakes up in the other without any time passing. When she reaches 21, she can choose one path for the rest of her life, but choosing one means forfeiting the other path forever. </p>
<p>There is so much that I love about this book! The story is so creative, and Libby is a wonderful heroine and guide to the novel's unique world. I loved all the characters, settings, and relationships. </p>
<p>I haven't read much about Colonial Williamsburg, so that was a really fun journey. That said, I know a fair bit about the Gilded Age New York, and that felt both familiar and exciting.</p>
<p>The storyline kept me guessing with some really smart twists, and the ending was beautifully written.</p>
<p><br></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But here's my struggle, and full warning: <b>SPOILERS AHEAD!!!</b></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Seriously - if you haven't read the book - STOP NOW!!!</b></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Also, full disclosure, we're about to discuss some difficult <b>trigger</b> topics.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><i>(Whew, dramatic!)</i></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Warnings done. Here we go...</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>I would love to wholeheartedly recommend this book, save for one important matter. In her Gilded Age life, Libby is forced into an arranged marriage <i>(not uncommon for the era and her status)</i>. Libby is raped not once, but twice by her new husband. They have no incidents of consensual intercourse in their marriage. The second rape results in a pregnancy. </p>
<p>I'm not offended by the subject of marital rape in a novel. What offends me is how it's handled.</p>
<p>In the historical context, marital rape was legal. In the novel, her husband blames his "bad behaviour" on drunkenness, which historically, would also have been accepted as an excuse.</p>
<p>I always want my historical fiction to be in a proper historical context, but here's where I struggled:</p>
<p>First, as her husband writes her "kind" letters, we see Libby second-guessing her own feelings about the rape and her future with this man. At one point, she actually asks <i>"Reggie's letter made me wonder if he would be a good father. Could we find a way to move part the tragic way our marriage started?"</i> Again, she's asking this about her two-time rapist. In other sections, Scripture is used in a disturbing way to justify her choices.</p>
<p>Second, it's hard to stomach this thinking within the context of the novel because of Libby's mom. Also a time crosser, she spent the first part of her life living in 1990's America. This shapes her as a parent, and there are many references to Libby being raised with modern, feminist values. Why on earth would she never say to her daughter, <i>"This is wrong. In the future, it'll be illegal, but you can still make different choices now."</i></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;">I've read several discussions about this book online. <br>Some people don't seemed phased by the rapes or Libby's reaction. <br>Others hated the plot choice entirely. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I guess the good thing is that it's encouraging dialogue about a difficult topic, <br>and that's the sign of good art.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">But because of the way it's handled, I just can't recommend the book.</p>
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<p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.<br></span></p>
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</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/69966352022-06-17T18:53:00-04:002022-06-17T22:30:02-04:00Book Review: The Master Craftsman, by Kelli Stuart<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIqXt2xx-aC89z6CxjkS1bgDEVQr5vaZms9LPykw7WTY8V9L01sYnotM6Lq6BgnOFM1NH7njeu-a5iSFxEMJyXVkThVfBBrwG2O2k_Qc5dA4V975ltraTJyxfEaOSJIe2tuDUnum8L-aY_S4BkxBr1w27wEJiJme16Wg7A2StunT6R2bGmBFk/s1360/61sHUewClXL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIqXt2xx-aC89z6CxjkS1bgDEVQr5vaZms9LPykw7WTY8V9L01sYnotM6Lq6BgnOFM1NH7njeu-a5iSFxEMJyXVkThVfBBrwG2O2k_Qc5dA4V975ltraTJyxfEaOSJIe2tuDUnum8L-aY_S4BkxBr1w27wEJiJme16Wg7A2StunT6R2bGmBFk/s320/61sHUewClXL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="207" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Historical fiction, Faberge Eggs, and a treasure hunt?</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sign me up!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;">With that description, I was so excited to receive my copy of <br><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Master Craftsman </span></b><br>by Kelli Stuart. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p>The Master Craftsman features a smart interweaving of historical and modern timelines that's popular in historical novels right now.</p><p>The historical side of our tale bring us to Russia in the early 1900's. Karl Faberge is at the peak of his success, crafting his iconic Faberge Eggs for the Tsar of Russia. </p><p><br></p><p>We meet Alma Pihl. In real life, Alma was first woman to become a "Master Craftsman" in the Faberge studio. She started as an apprentice, graduated to making jewellery, and eventually designed two of the Faberge Eggs. I've included a photo of my favourite design on this page.</p><p><br></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2LQ9exSVmbsBebKXfMpgE88E2lTFih93xcW6ritWm63PCAJoSm9uqBjdw2Im7buptWa3X2YEqBG9NJLg0adV32Iow6eWZLMQ_BAjWyM75gzSk37dIn20GPy_d81bQzLGo4c0rfP1o46P4Zc1mV8nGy9aqgvhG8cVkyL6fSpEuS6biD0aB9pw/s322/Alma-Pihl.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2LQ9exSVmbsBebKXfMpgE88E2lTFih93xcW6ritWm63PCAJoSm9uqBjdw2Im7buptWa3X2YEqBG9NJLg0adV32Iow6eWZLMQ_BAjWyM75gzSk37dIn20GPy_d81bQzLGo4c0rfP1o46P4Zc1mV8nGy9aqgvhG8cVkyL6fSpEuS6biD0aB9pw/s320/Alma-Pihl.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Real life Alma Pihl. <a href="https://www.faberge.com/news/international-women-s-day-335" target="_blank">SOURCE</a></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: right;">If you have any interest in the Faberge Eggs at all, you'll want to keep Google close at hand while reading this book! Kelli describes each egg beautifully, but to truly appreciate their exquisite creativity, you'll want to see photos. </div><p style="text-align: right;">Even though Karl Faberge is at the peak of his success, Russia is changing swiftly. Our timeline takes us through rebellion and political upheaval in the streets of St. Petersburg. In a moment of crisis and desperation, Karl entrusts Alma with his most precious creation - a final, secret Faberge Egg.</p><p style="text-align: right;">Decades later, treasure hunter, Nick Laine has become obsessed with the mysterious egg. As he faces his final days with cancer, he reaches out to his estranged daughter, Ava, to help him find the missing piece of Faberge history.</p><p><br></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uRXhO8rkNnT5Gqk2GtvZHU1vEWcwlKvCmMBXoF85UTQhqyNgQMvZdRn5w9KFmnRBx-sfRt37KmweUEJZ_OefxQJiugHRNg1EFdg8OeeGm3b3umF2weHiC_V3c8exSTcdw1RSjKJN3zPmBKbfAyunZnBFmvKdttPJb6zpjfVWUrIZbEQkrnI/s2250/220076-1541435561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uRXhO8rkNnT5Gqk2GtvZHU1vEWcwlKvCmMBXoF85UTQhqyNgQMvZdRn5w9KFmnRBx-sfRt37KmweUEJZ_OefxQJiugHRNg1EFdg8OeeGm3b3umF2weHiC_V3c8exSTcdw1RSjKJN3zPmBKbfAyunZnBFmvKdttPJb6zpjfVWUrIZbEQkrnI/s320/220076-1541435561.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="251" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Alma's "The Mosaic Egg and Surprise" <a href="https://www.rct.uk/collection/themes/trails/the-art-of-monarchy/the-mosaic-egg" target="_blank">SOURCE</a></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>I don't always read other people's reviews before reading my own, but for some reason I did with this one. It was curious reading the other responses. Some people loved the historical storyline, and dismissed the modern one as far-fetched. Others found the historical parts were filled with too much description, but loved the fast-paced treasure hunt.<p>The two storylines are very different, but to me, those differences are part of the strength of the novel. As a creator myself, I really loved all the details of the eggs, the jewellery, and the studio. The historical chapters felt rich and full. In contrast, the treasure hunt was fast paced, with the right amount of heightened drama and humour.</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">I really enjoyed <b>The Master Craftsman</b>, <br>and I can't wait to read more of Kelli's beautiful books!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You can find out more about Kelli and her writing at </span><br><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.KelliStuart.com">www.KelliStuart.com</a> </span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/69964712022-06-17T16:11:00-04:002022-06-17T17:45:14-04:00Book Review: The Souls of Lost Lake, by Jaime Jo Wright<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0RY4861W7E1VFYyVpJysY_vUm5uWr4K2Ms9Oq_CHyMG7JW9EYMA31HJoq6yyzqIX90XNWuqwR2NexkSgyDTyNWNH6OJlDIjVFVF5dzzY-x12M3thiFgo6xVrKxnSRQnUyFtsb9fZr7wDSxXvQSFZnfdoaZm97keFHtOhaP1NuIRKeSg2P_BU/s1360/61TKhFoyG2L.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If you've been looking for your next spooky summer read, I've got it right here!</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0RY4861W7E1VFYyVpJysY_vUm5uWr4K2Ms9Oq_CHyMG7JW9EYMA31HJoq6yyzqIX90XNWuqwR2NexkSgyDTyNWNH6OJlDIjVFVF5dzzY-x12M3thiFgo6xVrKxnSRQnUyFtsb9fZr7wDSxXvQSFZnfdoaZm97keFHtOhaP1NuIRKeSg2P_BU/s1360/61TKhFoyG2L.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0RY4861W7E1VFYyVpJysY_vUm5uWr4K2Ms9Oq_CHyMG7JW9EYMA31HJoq6yyzqIX90XNWuqwR2NexkSgyDTyNWNH6OJlDIjVFVF5dzzY-x12M3thiFgo6xVrKxnSRQnUyFtsb9fZr7wDSxXvQSFZnfdoaZm97keFHtOhaP1NuIRKeSg2P_BU/s320/61TKhFoyG2L.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="207" /></a></div>I was first introduced to the writing of Jaime Jo Wright last year when I reviewed <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2021/08/book-review-on-cliffs-of-foxglove-manor.html"><b>On The Cliffs of Foxglove Manor</b></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">I was completely shocked to find out there was such a thing as a Christian Fiction author who loved mysteries, ghost stories, and all things Gothic.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">Having a Christian writer compose stories about fear and death might seem antithetical to some people, but you know, as Christians, we have a unique relationship to fear and death. At the end of this review, I've included a screenshot from Jaime Jo's spring newsletter that sums up her approach to writing in a really beautiful way.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">Jaime Jo is an exquisite writer and an incredible storyteller, <br>so I was completely excited to receive a copy of her latest tale: </div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Souls of Lost Lake</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Our story spans two time periods, with both set in the Northwoods, surrounding infamous Lost Lake.</div>
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<div>Ava Coons is but a child in 1920 when she appears in town, covered in blood. Her recluse family is missing, presumed dead. When we meet Ava as a young woman, she is still haunted by the mysterious ghosts of unsolved murders and missing memories.</div>
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<div>Wren Blythe, our modern day heroine, has loved growing up on the campgrounds of the Northwoods. But when a little girl goes missing, past and present collide to stir up campfire stories and rumours. Is a still-vengeful Ava Coons roaming the woods? Where is the missing girl, and why does Wren's name start to appear in creepy places?</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The only way to read a campfire ghost story...</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Honestly, I couldn't put this down! It's scary enough to be fun, but not so dark as to delve into horror. </div>
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<div><i>(That said, I'm easily scared, so when I read this at night, I made sure I had a funny story to read right before falling asleep!)</i></div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Jaime Jo's writing is truly beautiful, delving into near-poetry at times. Each timeline was distinct, capturing the unique flavour and behaviours of the day. And the characters and storyline were fantastic! I hate being able to see the ending, and this kept me guessing til the final twist.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">I highly recommend <b>The Souls of Lost Lake</b> for your summer read!</div>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Jaime Jo has a great newsletter, a fun Facebook community, podcasts, <br>and lots of great mentoring tools for writers. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You can find her online at</span><span style="font-size: large;"> <br><a href="http://www.JaimeWrightBooks.com">www.JaimeWrightBooks.com</a></span></p>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGPNb7QC0vovbJgcc-HEq10Q56j5EI2cfr0bca8ewUIheatBjwQ6RlDDNTHIV2q2el_8vnZ_PRIRbv0r7fQqbXrHZpA4FldtgRFZ7rqa2FyZYGREGmPyrG0HmyhyUhw_nkjxFSTCYa5bMUDF1sjs5hw95HHzxa-HEcHlsNJsm2nHtikAcQ_-M/s1443/Screen%20Shot%202022-05-16%20at%206.17.23%20PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGPNb7QC0vovbJgcc-HEq10Q56j5EI2cfr0bca8ewUIheatBjwQ6RlDDNTHIV2q2el_8vnZ_PRIRbv0r7fQqbXrHZpA4FldtgRFZ7rqa2FyZYGREGmPyrG0HmyhyUhw_nkjxFSTCYa5bMUDF1sjs5hw95HHzxa-HEcHlsNJsm2nHtikAcQ_-M/w633-h343/Screen%20Shot%202022-05-16%20at%206.17.23%20PM.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="343" width="633" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Screenshot from Jaime Jo's most recent newsletter.<br></i></td></tr>
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<p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></p>
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</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/69891312022-06-07T19:14:00-04:002022-06-07T23:00:08-04:00A Queen, a Priest, and a Ghost Walk Into a Church ... - GUEST POST!<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><p style="text-align: center;">Please welcome my dad, Rev. Hollis Hiscock, as today's guest blogger!</p><p style="text-align: center;">This post is inspired by his Pentecost sermon. You can watch it live <a href="https://youtu.be/v3q2_7Xk3Mo?t=1331" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>HAPPY PENTECOST!</b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCf4khrSFTiFU5To9IqVvCndt6VFB4jpGYHZ_lwFYSnajtPwhnBEdTadMHl-qsREScXSiUrlJwW6Qcc5Qt_7swVcw-X0w-xFMJQFWs7ct4PMGpVgu6KtbNJonVv3ibXVmR7U2AFLZLBiZePIST-QF1uzFnFo-cTiBZ34pEGZTB7zKUPl54Rig/s2135/Screen%20Shot%202022-06-05%20at%2010.00.31%20AM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCf4khrSFTiFU5To9IqVvCndt6VFB4jpGYHZ_lwFYSnajtPwhnBEdTadMHl-qsREScXSiUrlJwW6Qcc5Qt_7swVcw-X0w-xFMJQFWs7ct4PMGpVgu6KtbNJonVv3ibXVmR7U2AFLZLBiZePIST-QF1uzFnFo-cTiBZ34pEGZTB7zKUPl54Rig/w400-h268/Screen%20Shot%202022-06-05%20at%2010.00.31%20AM.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="268" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Screenshot of Rev. Hollis Hiscock in action...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>A Queen, a Priest and a Ghost walk into a church on a Sunday morning ...</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"> I know you're waiting for the punchline.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">Today, the message of the homily is the punchline:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>The Queen is Elizabeth …. The Priest is Hollis … the Ghost is Holy.</b></p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>How are they connected with Pentecost?<br></b><b> And what is their message to us in the year 2022?</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">The three go to the front of the church and take turns speaking ...</p><p><br></p><p><b>THE QUEEN</b></p><p>Queen Elizabeth goes to a table, picks up a plate, and shows it to the people sitting in the church. The plate is a souvenir of her coronation which happened on June 2, 1953.</p><p>She explains that she wants to take people back to the previous year. In 1952, when she gave her first Christmas message as Queen, she asked people that <i>“whatever your religion may be, (I ask you) to pray for me on that day (her coronation)—to pray that God may give me wisdom and strength to carry out the solemn promises I shall be making, and that I may faithfully serve Him and you, all the days of my life.”</i></p><p>After all the ups and downs in the ensuing 68 years as Queen, in her 2020 Christmas message, she spoke about the festive mood created by Christmas lights - how lights bring hope, and how Jesus Christ is <i>“the light of the world”.</i></p><p>She went on to say that <i>“the teachings of Christ have served as my inner light”</i>, and that we should <i>“let the light of Christmas, the spirit of selflessness, love, and above all hope, guide us in the times ahead”.</i></p><p><br></p><p><b>PRIEST HOLLIS</b></p><p>After the Queen sits down, the Priest picks up a Bible and shows it to the people.</p><p>He says it was given to him on June 13, 1965, when he was ordained to <i>“the office and work of a Priest in the Church of God”</i>. He explains why it looks rather unused: the King James Bible was the only version available for hundreds of years, but after 1965 there was an explosion of Bible translations. Today, portions of the Bible are available in nearly 3,500 languages.</p><p>Like the Queen, he wants to take people back to the winter of 1964: <i>"Four of us were preparing to be ordained. We met for 2-3 hours with the Archdeacon, and I was so upset after the meeting that I went back to my room and documented my feelings." </i></p><p>He shows a letter outlining why he was upset, disillusioned, and wondering if he wanted to be a Priest, after he observed the behaviour and heard the words of the Church authorities. </p><p>After struggling through questions, like <i>“do I preach the Gospel of Jesus or be restricted by the whims of fallible beings?”</i> and <i>“whom do we serve - God or church hierarchy?”, </i>he concluded that<i> “my firm conviction in God kept my hopes for the ordination to the Priesthood alive”.</i></p><p><i>“I have carried the copy with me ever since and when things were not going well for me in my ministry work, I reread it for guidance. My firm conviction in God kept me going”.</i></p><p>Hollis goes on to share:</p><p>In 2004, on my 40th anniversary of ordination, I said in a sermon, <i>“I am still sane and have kept my faith in God”.</i></p><p>On my 50th anniversary, I wrote, <i>“God is still around and promises to meet us - at all times, in all places and under all circumstances”.</i></p><p><br></p><p><b>HOLY GHOST</b></p><p>When the Priest sits down, the Holy Ghost picks up a red candle, and says:</p><p>“I was there at the first Pentecost” (Acts 2:1-21).</p><p>The followers of Jesus were a sorry lot. After waiting for 40 days (not really knowing why) they were disillusioned, bored, complaining, and ready to give it all up.</p><p>But when God’s mighty wind entered the house, they opened their eyes, and when they felt God’s 'tongues of fire' touching their heads they stood up, and when they were 'filled with the Holy Ghost' they were ready to act … and they did.</p><p>First, they told the people nearby about God’s love. </p><p>Then, they spread it across countries and down through the ages. </p><p>One day, God’s spirit touched you and you began to follow God. I was there then and with you ever since, like I was with the Queen and the Priest." </p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">This brings us to today, a time to renew our faith in God:</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"> - Light a candle or visualize a lighted candle in your church.</p><p style="text-align: center;">- Feel God’s spirit waking or renewing your faith.</p><p style="text-align: center;">- Feel God’s fire bringing new life and energy to you.</p><p style="text-align: center;">- Feel yourself being filled with God’s spirit.</p><p style="text-align: center;">- Remember the Queen’s words, <i><b>“Jesus is the light of the world”.</b></i></p><p style="text-align: center;">- Remember the Priest’s words, <b><i>“wherever we go, God is there waiting for us”.</i></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">- Remember God’s (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) promise, <i><b>“I am with you always”.</b></i></p><p style="text-align: center;">- Repeat, repeat, repeat...</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Happy Pentecost! </b></span><br><b><span style="font-size: medium;">May God's light shine brightly in your heart, today and always...</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Want even more Pentecost inspiration?</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please enjoy our first episode of Breaking Light Broadcasting:</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Pentecost - A Musical Celebration</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="420" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/K_2Z9u6MYYI" width="612" youtube-src-id="K_2Z9u6MYYI"></iframe></div><p><br></p><p><br></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/69556632022-04-23T20:32:00-04:002022-04-23T22:30:11-04:00Book Review: "God, Take Action", by Janis Cox<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiB7gCnf-FjdH_yuD7ujwjWnEleo-nDzpa2QEJ4_XYX5-FLRGmYgtKg6Gu9-a6pF-irvCzZdT55rCNJXeKYQ46Wb9Si6VRehjUPMdwNtedw1jfg1JQT8D4qqQd5PshBGqY8BtP-l1f731BDU3xIO0WOS4l6Mnb4clW8_xKl9Au5r0ktZoNMc/s962/thumbnail_front%20print%20God,%20Take%20Action.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiB7gCnf-FjdH_yuD7ujwjWnEleo-nDzpa2QEJ4_XYX5-FLRGmYgtKg6Gu9-a6pF-irvCzZdT55rCNJXeKYQ46Wb9Si6VRehjUPMdwNtedw1jfg1JQT8D4qqQd5PshBGqY8BtP-l1f731BDU3xIO0WOS4l6Mnb4clW8_xKl9Au5r0ktZoNMc/w278-h363/thumbnail_front%20print%20God,%20Take%20Action.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="363" width="278" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">There's something so special about combining prayer and worship with visual art. I love attending a worship service where someone paints during the music, or reading a book of prayers with beautiful artwork.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">That's why I was so excited when Janis Cox asked me to review her latest book:<b><br><br></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">"God, Take Action" <br>- Visual Inspirations for Prayer</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">In full disclosure, I don't know Janis personally, but we've "met" through <a href="https://inscribe.org" target="_blank">InScribe Christian Writers' Fellowship</a>. She's an incredibly prolific writer and creator based out of Ontario.</p><p><br></p><p><b>"God, Take Action" </b>was inspired by a 30-day Facebook prayer challenge. On the second to last day of the study, Janis was inspired to pick up her paint brush and add art to her prayer journey. One month later, Janis joined International Justice Mission Canada in a fundraising effort that also involved praying and painting. From this 2-month journey, <b>"God, Take Action"</b> was born.<br><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">Along the way, Janis also partnered with <a href="https://joysmithfoundation.com" target="_blank">The Joy Smith Foundation</a> in fighting human trafficking. <br>This extraordinary group has endorsed<b> "God, Take Action." <br><br></b></p><p>The format of the book is simple: Each of the 30 entries opens with one of Janis's bright and inspiring paintings. Next, we're given a verse of Scripture, followed by a prayer. Finally, we're given a "prayer focus" for our own private prayer time. The book itself ends with a helpful list of resources.</p><p>The prayers could be for anyone who is suffering, but Janis's heart for those who are trafficked and abused comes through in every line. More than once, I was reminded of the classic prayer, <i>"Break my heart for what breaks Yours."</i> In her generosity, Janis asks us to pray for people on all sides of the abuse spectrum, including vulnerable children, fragile families, and women in shelters, without every forgetting the more complex prayers for churches, perpetrators, and those in law enforcement. <br><br></p><p><b>"God, Take Action"</b> has such a heart for the vulnerable in our world! I can see this being a powerful, personal devotional for any season of the year. Likewise, its entries are brief enough that they could be used as the opening prayers in your weekly small group meeting. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I read this as an e-book, but for those of us who like to make art ourselves, stay tuned: <br><span style="font-size: medium;">Janis is also creating a colouring book of the same title!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Please check out all of Janis's beautiful creations at:</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.JanisCox.com"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>www.JanisCox.com</b></span></a></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89BsglmX3jfzSXi1Nf_4deEO6kWHdbHUd9i2bbL3NtITR9HlwbIiAM4spBLux_-l9QaP9kGSB2hqB-lfLd5Ywr6SLdWNG242rJPNF9qK_CdIbMEwnAxt0Ei_vAyKXF_8XccSSIZoefoYoIQEadPEJcba7fyEPDxGR2_sBTOlsmiZHrgds3fU/s940/Triplets.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89BsglmX3jfzSXi1Nf_4deEO6kWHdbHUd9i2bbL3NtITR9HlwbIiAM4spBLux_-l9QaP9kGSB2hqB-lfLd5Ywr6SLdWNG242rJPNF9qK_CdIbMEwnAxt0Ei_vAyKXF_8XccSSIZoefoYoIQEadPEJcba7fyEPDxGR2_sBTOlsmiZHrgds3fU/w519-h435/Triplets.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="435" width="519" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Screenshot from Janis's website.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><p><br></p><p><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">This book was provided to me in exchange for an unbiased review. </span></i></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/69541872022-04-21T17:00:00-04:002022-04-21T21:00:11-04:00Book Review: Until Leaves Fall In Paris, by Sarah Sundin<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKz_d5T2gNDj6BD55ab3W_k3LWPLbw74rzAeNjg4Xw5xNWaE25t_L2pLwrLsBY1G9T4peFbtFWUBJNNIaCuICkrzc3zFESz1VDprKE-m1UlgxYMAiAwW8NKWLQwVdOmFpFnekwsc47yaeaI9NbWZxyhGTKHR1mrJe5yPXDHAgQAwez8ittOE8/s1545/61C8gXTqgIL.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKz_d5T2gNDj6BD55ab3W_k3LWPLbw74rzAeNjg4Xw5xNWaE25t_L2pLwrLsBY1G9T4peFbtFWUBJNNIaCuICkrzc3zFESz1VDprKE-m1UlgxYMAiAwW8NKWLQwVdOmFpFnekwsc47yaeaI9NbWZxyhGTKHR1mrJe5yPXDHAgQAwez8ittOE8/w273-h422/61C8gXTqgIL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="422" width="273" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">Paris in WWII seems to be an obsession with so many authors!</p><p style="text-align: center;">And it's easy to see why: <br>one of the most romanticized cities in the world, under siege. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Art, war, romance, danger - <br>the dramatic possibilities are endless!</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></p><p><b>Until Leaves Fall In Paris</b> opens in the rehearsal room for the Paris Opera Ballet - yes, the same one made famous by both the paintings of Degas and the novel and musical, The Phantom of the Opera.</p><p>On the cusp of the Nazi invasion of Paris, American ballerina Lucie Girard leaves the stage to buy and run her favourite bookstore, thus allowing her Jewish friends to escape Paris. </p><p>American car manufacturer and recent widower, Paul Aubrey, wants to escape Paris, too, but the US Army convinces him to stay in business and feed them information about his German customers.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Each, in their own way, starts to find their path in the Resistance.</b></p><p>War is a time for secrets, so when Paul and Lucie meet, they don't know what to make of each other. But there's a connection they can't resist. And that's where our story starts to unfold...</p><p><br></p><p>As I mentioned off the top, there's a lot of competition for Paris-in-WWII books these days! <b>Until Leaves Fall In Paris</b> is a completely lovely book. Where it falls on the spectrum of similar novels will depend on your personal literary preferences. It's not as dangerous as some of the other books I've read about this era, but that might make it the perfect book for you!</p><p>Some of Sarah's writing is truly beautiful, and I especially found myself loving and underlining the passages about the dark and light green leaves <i>(trust me, you'll know that part when you get to it!)</i></p><p>My favourite scenes involved the comings and goings at the bookstore. As I was reading it, something felt very familiar. Then, I read Sarah's wonderful note at the end of the book, where she recognizes the "real life" characters in the novel.</p><p>Lucie and the bookstore are inspired by real-life bookstore owner, Sylvia Beach and the Shakespeare and Company Bookstore. Sylvia is a "character" in Ernest Hemingway's beautiful Parisian memoir: A Moveable Feast! I love it when books I've read overlap!</p><p><b>Until Leaves Falls In Paris</b> also comes with a set of Discussion Questions, as well as a preview chapter of Sarah's upcoming novel.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Sarah's website has lots of great info about WWII, <br>including a special collection of blogposts when you sign up for her mailing list.</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.SarahSundin.com"><b><span style="font-size: large;">www.SarahSundin.com</span></b></a></p><p><br></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPhQpSD1WT9VGQXEL4UZ_e576jf2PeB0vunWvzKqrXTg_Bb9moHcJRE7-uvJlHZvx2wnRnb1Yg7L2-HIdpDxLLy4NQud0ORbqB1uMvjYq9d2VSb1kVVPElEvZw6wtBHzXZHlyLQMsoQtOtFDugk1-p3CgkvpqFluy74iaY-QiqJwhjj7lYAc/s1778/Screen%20Shot%202022-04-21%20at%204.23.24%20PM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPhQpSD1WT9VGQXEL4UZ_e576jf2PeB0vunWvzKqrXTg_Bb9moHcJRE7-uvJlHZvx2wnRnb1Yg7L2-HIdpDxLLy4NQud0ORbqB1uMvjYq9d2VSb1kVVPElEvZw6wtBHzXZHlyLQMsoQtOtFDugk1-p3CgkvpqFluy74iaY-QiqJwhjj7lYAc/w640-h390/Screen%20Shot%202022-04-21%20at%204.23.24%20PM.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="390" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Screenshot from Sarah's website</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br><p><br></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.<br></span></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/69375432022-03-31T20:44:00-04:002022-03-31T22:45:09-04:00Book Review: Shaped by the Waves, by Christina Suzann Nelson<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgReik8HTv_xZMvynlG89oi3fFgFf7KRTeCWDifSHQtwkYAz56JB0YnRm19QQDJVQv0bcUClsV-EEgiZvNAvqZ_jXcdyEyQUSC9Nr83cx-fEooA4utB6ftzuaZYnGXsIVMW-A3Ag7-8PFYXOKdQkbYK1iwiDwYxXPSdk02slMkbSyYQCYESIVA/s400/58302793.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgReik8HTv_xZMvynlG89oi3fFgFf7KRTeCWDifSHQtwkYAz56JB0YnRm19QQDJVQv0bcUClsV-EEgiZvNAvqZ_jXcdyEyQUSC9Nr83cx-fEooA4utB6ftzuaZYnGXsIVMW-A3Ag7-8PFYXOKdQkbYK1iwiDwYxXPSdk02slMkbSyYQCYESIVA/s320/58302793.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="207" /></a></div><p></p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Is anyone else a sucker for books set by the sea?</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">As a girl who grew up by the ocean, <br>I was captured by the title of <b>Shaped by the Waves</b>, <br>and hooked from the first chapter.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p>Cassie is a young single mom, struggling to complete her doctorate, raise her energetic little girl, Lark, and, quite frankly, find a way to leave her broken past. She left her small seaside town in Oregon for a fresh start in California, but a single phone changes everything. Shasta, the aunt who raised her, is facing a desperate health crisis, and Cassie realizes it's time to go home and face her past.</p><p><br></p><p>Cassie arrives home and begins to care for Shasta, but before long, a mysterious package arrives. It's filled with anonymously written pages telling the story of a woman's life, marriage, and child. But who sent it? And what does this have to do with Cassie?</p><p>When I first started<b> Shaped by the Waves</b>, I assumed it would be a straightforward telling of "There's no place like home", but the anonymously written confession really takes this story in a whole new direction. I found myself completely sucked in by the woman's story, the mystery of who sent it, and how it all tied into the main storyline.</p><p>There's so much to love about this book! The characters and setting are all beautifully fleshed out, with relationships that are both realistic and inspirational. The issue of faith is treated with a delicate hand - present, but never preachy. </p><p>Oh, it's so clear that Christina Suzann Nelson looooves coffee! One of the central settings is the family cafe. The descriptions of making, smelling, and tasting cappuccinos and lattes sent me downstairs to my own machine more than once! And let me tell you, if I ever discover Christina actually hates coffee, I'll be even more impressed with her writing skills! </p><p><br></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">With summer coming up, <b>Shaped by the Waves </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">will be a great addition to your seaside reading list!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You can learn more about Christina's books, blog, and social media at</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.christinasuzannnelson.com" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>www.ChristinaSuzannNelson.com </b></span></a></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/69333272022-03-27T13:23:00-04:002022-03-27T15:00:03-04:00Book Review: Sheltering Mercy, by Ryan Whitaker Smith & Dan Wilt<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3sIBV9migJuHMU-GKbEr-gmjmH6HAAU1TQ_m0KC-X8ZH1VId6PY9d_9hEXCs58GHjO4MNWtIDxqoEbuWawTVwjMM1dGv899FA1xkoy1ntH9eKfGrut4S494kFgxyXzYSuEgn9DGgygC1GaVD4K6Q-rwPIPE_HgYEKMvgMFMWrtToNbM52RmU/s400/58401330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3sIBV9migJuHMU-GKbEr-gmjmH6HAAU1TQ_m0KC-X8ZH1VId6PY9d_9hEXCs58GHjO4MNWtIDxqoEbuWawTVwjMM1dGv899FA1xkoy1ntH9eKfGrut4S494kFgxyXzYSuEgn9DGgygC1GaVD4K6Q-rwPIPE_HgYEKMvgMFMWrtToNbM52RmU/s320/58401330.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's rare for me to review a book before I've finished reading it, <br><div style="text-align: center;">but this is not a book to be rushed.</div>
</div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Sheltering Mercy: Prayers Inspired By The Psalms</b> </div><div style="text-align: center;">is something special, something unique.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">I met Dan Wilt many years ago when he taught worship leading workshops at Break Forth in Edmonton. I was impressed by his leadership skills, but also by his true heart for ministry.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Sheltering Mercy</b> is a collection of "prayerful responses" to the psalms. </p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">They're prayers that read like poetry.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Poetry that feel like psalms.</div><p></p><p><br></p><p>It's a bit hard to describe the experience of this book. It starts with the physical presentation - a solid hardcover book with a classic, tactile cover. Open the pages to discover gracefully laid out text, interspersed with woodcut-style images. </p><p>Each of the 75 prayers was inspired by one of the first 75 psalms. They're numbered, and also have Scripture references, but don't expect new translations of each psalm. These are like improvisations, starting from a key verse, and branching out into new words, new cries, new praises. The writing is lyrical, with gorgeous turns of phrase and poetic images.</p><p>I've taken to reading a prayer a day, before I begin my own writing practice. I know some readers who are using it as their Lenten devotional. Others are reading the psalm from the Bible, followed by the prayer from the book. One reader said that, inspired by the artwork, she's using her pencil crayons to doodle, colour, and journal as she reads. </p><p style="text-align: center;">However you enjoy <b>Sheltering Mercy</b>, it will be a blessing to your devotional life!</p><p><br></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">This beautiful video gives you the prayer inspired by Psalm 1, </div><div style="text-align: center;">read by Dan Wilt, with music by Michael W. Smith. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Enjoy...</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="341" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uUbsE3LhKmM" width="552" youtube-src-id="uUbsE3LhKmM"></iframe></div><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.<br></span></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/69316642022-03-25T00:01:00-04:002022-03-25T04:00:16-04:00Guest Post: Getting UltraReal by Martha Tartanic<p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi90RA5UukfRZLBg1ed8XmfvwF3ObJtpdWWe6I3cthCCfSaHQvcny6kdCnqIp0GBl_LGUpsTMHMroytenVFpyfhmyb6KmLUmNE-6uEjc_4M84wER7oH7nP9YVLgCfPdWmVbmbRa05lymRDDwULrRBswPh4ItDUlT1tUqa22BgDa4OI2yrIQqp0/s3748/Jog1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi90RA5UukfRZLBg1ed8XmfvwF3ObJtpdWWe6I3cthCCfSaHQvcny6kdCnqIp0GBl_LGUpsTMHMroytenVFpyfhmyb6KmLUmNE-6uEjc_4M84wER7oH7nP9YVLgCfPdWmVbmbRa05lymRDDwULrRBswPh4ItDUlT1tUqa22BgDa4OI2yrIQqp0/w317-h320/Jog1.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="317" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Welcome to a very special Goal Setting Fridays!!!</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Today, I'm excited to introduce you to <br>my dear friend</span></b></p><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.marthatatarnic.com" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Martha Tatarnic! </span></a></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div></b><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Be sure to read her fabulous bio at the end of this post, <br>and I also invite you to check out the <br>Book Review I wrote of her first book <br>- <b>The Living Diet</b> - <br><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://niagaraanglican.news/2019/05/25/jesus-food-and-a-way-of-life-eating-played-a-powerful-role-in-the-shared-journey-of-jesus-and-his-followers/" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Please welcome Martha, <br>and enjoy her inspiring post!</span></b></p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">GETTING ULTRAREAL</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">By Martha Tatarnic</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNtnULz9Dk7e7Odynk14zffMN9XH6HRDxMLWCxZWvPb4VlgbRaH4h6e5p-mb0hAeF_1beF1D_-H4QVYff0K4Z0euyzl5J2JAxFDwGvMFyQUcgA0EmRwFhq5GxH67j_ZJHM7MrvpISevis0nc1pMyCHV9Yav6LouPP99zHanGpkg1KM0Ar0BEI/s1640/GSF%20-%20Getting%20UltraReal.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNtnULz9Dk7e7Odynk14zffMN9XH6HRDxMLWCxZWvPb4VlgbRaH4h6e5p-mb0hAeF_1beF1D_-H4QVYff0K4Z0euyzl5J2JAxFDwGvMFyQUcgA0EmRwFhq5GxH67j_ZJHM7MrvpISevis0nc1pMyCHV9Yav6LouPP99zHanGpkg1KM0Ar0BEI/w427-h240/GSF%20-%20Getting%20UltraReal.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="240" width="427" /></a></div><p><br></p>I am not naturally athletic. I’m the kid who was picked last for every sports team in gym class growing up. One of the happiest days of my high school career was when I graduated Grade 9 gym and never had to struggle through another class being graded on various forms of hand-eye coordination, running, jumping and throwing.<p></p><p><br></p><p>Nobody has been more surprised than I to find myself as a runner in my adult life. Running has now been a consistent part of my life for the better part of two decades, and I have embraced long distance running in the last ten years. In 2021, I trained for and ran my first marathon. I enjoyed it so much that I’m training for another one now. </p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Running is stress relief, it is prayer. <br>It is the space I need in order to be able to reflect, rather than just react, <br>to the circumstances of my life. <br>When I make room for running, <br>I seem to have room for all of the other family, church, work, <br>community commitments that I also have on my plate.</span></p><p><br></p><p>I know all of these things about running. I know why I do it and why I love it. And still, every time that I go out, putting foot to pavement, I can feel my mind rebel against the exercise. Sometimes, when I am pushing myself to be faster or to run longer, my body starts to rebel too. But mostly - and this sounds somewhat counter-intuitive - running is a mind game. </p><p>Training for a marathon involves a regimented schedule for slowly building up my weekly mileage, as well as inching my long-run mileage closer and closer to the 42km mark needed to complete a marathon. Each day that I head out to tackle my planned mileage, I have to fight the monkey on my shoulder nattering in my ear about the cramping I am sure I can feel in my side, the impossibility of the miles stretching out in front of me, the labour of breathing that already threatens to derail my plans, and the sure and certain feeling that I have to pee, even though I went just before leaving the house. I worry that it’s too hot or too cold or too windy or too slippery; I don’t believe that I can complete the assignment in front of me.</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Ultrarealism*</b> is a powerful technique from the realm of endurance sports, <br>and it has been a game changer for me - as a runner, and also as a person. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;">It is the practice of seeing, accepting, and embracing the actual circumstances in which you find yourself.<br>It is about responding to the moment in front of you rather than the moment you worry might be coming<br>or which circumstances you wished were different. </p><p style="text-align: center;">When people talk about positive thinking, I instantly lose interest. <br>Ultrarealism, however, isn’t about training the mind <br>to squeeze reality through the frames of any sort of rose coloured glasses. <br><b>It’s about getting real. </b></p><p><br></p><p>It is easy as a runner to expend large amounts of energy and anxiety worrying about what might happen or wishing that things could be different from what they are when you have twenty, thirty or forty kilometers stretch in front of you. If we instead train our minds to focus on what is actually happening and how we really feel, then a new sort of freedom opens up. </p><p><br></p><p>I might get freaked out about how my breathing is uneven. I might feel despair about the spitting rain outside and how slowly the first kilometer seems to have gone when I still have twenty-nine to go. But while these things about breathing and rain and mileage might be true, I can choose to note that my leg muscles feel strong, the rain is refreshing, and I have the great privilege of being able to run. I am not just not dying; I am not just safe and okay. I am running and it feels good. </p><p><br></p><p><i>“I’m doing it!”</i> my friend Sarah uses as her power statement. It’s an ultrareal power statement. It’s not the power of positive thinking. It’s a statement of fact. For all of the worry or uncertainty or reluctance that we might feel about putting on our shoes and tackling some mileage, here we actually can find ourselves - out running. We are out here. And we are doing this.</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The benefits of ultrarealism don’t just apply to running. </span></p><p>Instant gratification is easy to come by, but a lot of what makes life worth living requires a measure of patience and openness to stick it out past beginnings that aren’t comfortable or fun. Whether you want to learn a new skill, take on a creative project, meet your professional goals, improve as an athlete, or even just increase your capacity for prayer, the practice of getting ultrareal can provide perspective that can allow you to overcome the challenges of your own mind convincing you that you can’t do a certain thing.</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Ultrarealism is like the famous serenity prayer: </b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>God grant me the courage to change the things that I can, <br>the serenity to accept the things I can’t, <br>and the wisdom to know the difference. </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></p><p>There is much about the circumstances of a run - not to mention the circumstances of my life, and all of the other challenges that I take on - that I can’t change or control, and within all that isn’t shaped and dictated by me is the choice to keep one foot going in front of the other. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Somewhere in the letting go and the choosing anyway is a wild and surprising joy.</span></b></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><b><a href="http://www.marthatatarnic.com" target="_blank">MARTHA TATARNIC</a> - Author. Priest. Runner.</b></p><p><i>Martha’s second book - <b>Why Gather? The Hope and Promise of the Church</b> - will be published this June. She has also authored <b>The Living Diet: A Christian Journey to Joyful Eating</b>, an exploration of our relationship with food and our body through a Christian perspective. She is the lead priest of a thriving downtown Anglican church in St. Catharines Ontario, St. George’s. She writes a regular blog for the Anglican Church of Canada, which can be found at <a href="http://medium.com/@mtatarnic">medium.com/@mtatarnic</a> Details on writing, speaking engagements and her author’s journey can be found at <a href="https://MarthaTatarnic.ca">https://MarthaTatarnic.ca</a></i></p><p><br></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>* Matt Fitzgerald coins this term “ultrarealism” in his book, The Comeback Quotient, 2020, as a mental fitness technique which he applies particularly to endurance sports. I (Martha) adapt his definition slightly in applying it to my life.</i></span></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCqbycFxpzcoAw1xkuympAGxVvMnLhseAHLvqW3u3W47rbyBIWiL1DodRT_5soXCpsMEjqknB1_w-MkjmMOAuAj8uOVdk7OaOu2180HB56aHd8RFDmkR2tokYBP950fISLWThlB3CFPrTrvfoGpUzL3XBY61edLkHCSR_XULkLt-AJLgHeLc/s1640/Goal%20Setting%20Fridays.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCqbycFxpzcoAw1xkuympAGxVvMnLhseAHLvqW3u3W47rbyBIWiL1DodRT_5soXCpsMEjqknB1_w-MkjmMOAuAj8uOVdk7OaOu2180HB56aHd8RFDmkR2tokYBP950fISLWThlB3CFPrTrvfoGpUzL3XBY61edLkHCSR_XULkLt-AJLgHeLc/w640-h360/Goal%20Setting%20Fridays.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><br><p><br></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/69292872022-03-22T14:19:00-04:002022-03-22T17:30:08-04:00Book Review: The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water, by Erin Bartels<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ugC6p-97kHqdVWaRM11y7Zjbh-c6w8o0pYmOukBIYbOmBquhtZBWjE0H8qCaJr57NHhds_CcXhFmENkxd999DcpqbQa76HkK_cYhsrmlMg1vUjIg7UjDJsmlZPvaY4lO2t19upvaDblA1-Umn6SAagNKdozVhGDaElLdeKpnypITpcYZDVw/s2550/58303325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ugC6p-97kHqdVWaRM11y7Zjbh-c6w8o0pYmOukBIYbOmBquhtZBWjE0H8qCaJr57NHhds_CcXhFmENkxd999DcpqbQa76HkK_cYhsrmlMg1vUjIg7UjDJsmlZPvaY4lO2t19upvaDblA1-Umn6SAagNKdozVhGDaElLdeKpnypITpcYZDVw/s320/58303325.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="207" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I love this book and you should buy it!!!</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">There you go - that's my whole review in a nutshell.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Erin Bartels is quickly becoming one of my <br>I've-read-everything-she's-written authors.</p><p style="text-align: center;">To prove my longterm love, <br>here's my 2019 review for <b><a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2019/04/book-review-we-hope-for-better-things.html">We Hope For Better Things</a>.</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">And here's my 2021 review for <b><a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2021/04/book-review-all-that-we-carried-by-erin.html">All That We Carried</a>.</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Seriously - thank goodness she's so prolific!</p><p style="text-align: center;">Also, I know we're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but come on! That cover?? That title??? I was hooked before page 1...</p><p><br></p><p><b>The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water</b> gives us a most intriguing opening. Our narrator, Kendra, isn't speaking to us. She's speaking to "you." Who is this "you" and why is she sharing this story with him or her? Already, lured in ...</p><p>Kendra spend her summers growing up around Hidden Lake, an idyllic childhood world of water, forest, and freedom. She had those incredibly close friendships that form from late night campfires and woodland adventures. But something happened on the lake with one of those friends. As an adult, Kendra transformed her trauma into a best-selling novel. But there is one dissenting voice: an anonymous letter from "A Very Disappointed Reader" questions Kendra's version of the truth. Her second novel is due, and she has incurable writers block. Her solution? Return to the lake and confront her past.</p><p>I inhaled this book! Erin's writing style is so incredibly beautiful. Her deep love for the lake setting puts us straight into the sensual beauty of sunsets and morning mist.</p><p>She has a gift for creating compelling, fully realized characters, and the plot folds and flows in a way that keeps us fully engaged in both the present day story and the perfectly utilized flashbacks.</p><p>There were two themes that I thought Erin handled particularly beautifully:</p><p>First: Fiction vs Truth. Where is the truth in fiction? How do we discover ourselves, others, and the world through story? I don't want to say to much about this to avoid spoilers, but as a writer and an avid reader, this theme was truly powerful and served the story brilliantly.</p><p>Second: trigger warning: abuse and assault. There are difficult themes in this book, not often handled in Christian fiction. Erin has a powerful way of sharing the reality of the story, without ever exploiting or sensationalizing. </p><p><br></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">I opened this post with my 2-line review, but honestly,<br> I feel I could write a proper essay on how much I love <br><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water!</span></b>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> I truly can't recommend this book enough! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Erin's site is full of all kinds of wonderful treasures like blogposts, photography, and podcasts. <br>You can check it all out here:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ErinBartels.com"><span style="font-size: large;">ErinBartels.com</span></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="392" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BrzXWiG1TLg" width="600" youtube-src-id="BrzXWiG1TLg"></iframe></div><br><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/69259252022-03-18T13:12:00-04:002022-03-18T14:15:08-04:00Goal Setting Fridays - The Inefficiency of Worry<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Welcome to Goal Setting Fridays!</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">Don’t forget to check out last week’s post:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2022/03/goal-setting-fridays-resource-round-up.html"><b>Resource Round-Up</b></a></span></p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNP1NLCVUPysIHciQ4AWU3dzGSPOdP8V49FliuNiXbpKP4UFj4G_yPg8lc6YNqNkno7xzbDF1H9SccmD4ROwZ_mOUFAFu5sS8v8VR3tB9AII1JELAhWKfNaueYB0CVu_Q7pygDGZ9digU3MNneXIUesBkCJN71y36M129OKQhgfkE-gfiGSI0=s1640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNP1NLCVUPysIHciQ4AWU3dzGSPOdP8V49FliuNiXbpKP4UFj4G_yPg8lc6YNqNkno7xzbDF1H9SccmD4ROwZ_mOUFAFu5sS8v8VR3tB9AII1JELAhWKfNaueYB0CVu_Q7pygDGZ9digU3MNneXIUesBkCJN71y36M129OKQhgfkE-gfiGSI0=w492-h277" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="277" width="492" /></a></div><br><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">Being a Planner also, often, naturally leads to another Truth:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I’m a Worrier.</span></b></p><p><br></p><p>I wish I wasn’t. My husband isn’t, and there are times when I envy him. When stressful times come, he has a faith and peace that I just have trouble harnessing. And let’s be completely honest: not just in “stressful times”. As a Worrier, I also have the unique gift of creating stressful times for not-yet-happened times.</p><p>For years, I’ve tried to strategize worry out of my life, with varying and inconsistent results. I’ve read essays and articles from various thought-leaders on how to eradicate worry from my mind. I’ve read all the Bible verses that speak to letting go of worry and trusting in God.</p><p>In theory, I get it. I really do. But in reality, WOW, it’s just so hard to simply stop worrying!</p><p>After all, my worry shows that the problem is important. My worry gives the situation weight and prominence in my thinking. It helps me prepare for difficult situations.</p><p>Doesn’t it? That what it feels like in the moment.</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>But am I really a better Planner, am I truly more prepared, because I worried?</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Or, is there a way I could do the planning without the worrying?</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Could less worry actually make me a better Planner?</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p>Last week, my morning devotional contained this verse from Luke 12:</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?</span></i></b></p><p><br></p><p>I’ve read these words a hundred times, but for whatever reason, last week, this verse hit me in a brand new way.</p><p><br></p><p>There have been so many reasons to worry lately:</p><p><br></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The war in Ukraine.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The end of Covid support for self-employed artists.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The end of mask mandates and restrictions, while Covid rises again in China.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Trying to find our pathway back to live performances in a whole new world.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The general worries of family and health and life in general.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Did I mention Ukraine?</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><p></p><p>We’re also in a unique time of transition: after two whole years of pivoting and trying to find creative ways to maintain our ministry, we’re now swamped with work! We’re making a swift transition from struggling-to-create-work into working overtime, and it’s hard!</p><p>On the flip side, the lockdowns taught us the value of incorporating Gentle Time in our lives - time for reading, walking, exploring our neighbourhood, and just having quiet time together. Now that the world is returning to “normal”, I steadfastly refuse to jump back into the rat race and abandon our Gentle Time.</p><p>The key to avoiding complete burnout will be Efficiency. </p><p>I'll need every hour I can get, and I'll need to use them well.</p><p><br></p><p>So when I read this:</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?</span></b></i></p><p><br></p><p>The lightbulb clicked on:</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Worry is a threat to my Efficiency.</span></b></p><p><br></p><p>Worrying isn’t going to help me do the things I want to do.</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Worry won’t give me more hours - it’ll eat up my time.</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Worry won’t give me more ideas - it will cloud my mind.</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Worry won’t give me more freedom - it’ll make me operate from a place of fear.</b></p><p><br></p><p>Worry is a threat to my Efficiency.</p><p><br></p><p>Simply “giving up” worry never made sense to me, but for whatever reason, it all clicked this week.</p><p>I’ve now found a hardcore, practical reason to eradicate worry from my life.</p><p>Now, I’m not saying I’ve stopped worrying altogether. If anything, my problems and concerns have only grown over the past week.</p><p><br></p><p>But when worry comes, I have a solid reason to ask it to leave.</p><p><br></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>“Not now worry - I just don’t have time for you. </b></i></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>I have bigger, better things to do, and they need my hours more than you do.”</b></i></div></i><p></p><p><br></p><p>So far, it’s working. I’ll let you know how it goes from here…</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Are you a Worrier?</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">How do you reduce worry in your life? </span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUHYTbhSWepqzOb6jUgQ171R2BAGETOUsY0VblbqajFa02VwUGJxz1cp-dWUYRnH6kic4tV949CWmRrf9Xka4ZpdzRfXRAoj5jvzdHLapzAl1iZgl7YetOLFT1yusG1WynmPWEDdGwl6nMv6fgtkxgvHeXT-NmzAJJITf4eFn9tZSJE2tpraU=s1640" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUHYTbhSWepqzOb6jUgQ171R2BAGETOUsY0VblbqajFa02VwUGJxz1cp-dWUYRnH6kic4tV949CWmRrf9Xka4ZpdzRfXRAoj5jvzdHLapzAl1iZgl7YetOLFT1yusG1WynmPWEDdGwl6nMv6fgtkxgvHeXT-NmzAJJITf4eFn9tZSJE2tpraU=w640-h360" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><br><p><br></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/69194672022-03-11T00:01:00-05:002022-03-11T01:45:08-05:00"Hear Me Roar" - A special post for International Women's Day<p style="text-align: center;"><b>It's Birthday Week in our house! </b></p><p style="text-align: center;">First Dad, then Gerald - we've had <span style="font-size: medium;">SO. MUCH. CAKE!!!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>(not that I'm complaining...)</i></p><p style="text-align: center;">Because of all the celebrating, I'm taking a break from <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2022/03/goal-setting-fridays-resource-round-up.html">Goal Setting Fridays</a> today to share a very special link:</p><p style="text-align: center;">In celebration of <b>International Women's Day,</b> <br>The Anglican Journal <i>(Canada's largest Christian newspaper) </i><br>posted a special article by my Dad!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://anglicanjournal.com/hear-me-roar-in-celebration-of-the-ordination-of-women/" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">“Hear me roar”: In celebration of the ordination of women</a><br><span style="font-size: medium;">By Rev. Hollis Hiscock</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">I highly encourage you to read this wonderful and inspiring article!</p><p style="text-align: center;">You can read it <b><a href="https://anglicanjournal.com/hear-me-roar-in-celebration-of-the-ordination-of-women/" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</b></p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://anglicanjournal.com/hear-me-roar-in-celebration-of-the-ordination-of-women/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjeV4d8-KDZAaSveLOnKhz7M0QBh9Zi6qIB-31DFgOOhrDNepqjXROHiw0hzAstaa_TLMQeUwedeL0e1sgAFGpa0hLaKsXyP9tHcKN_CPXHU0JWLVuaGo7KB-HnLSoNxUR34jzYq9MC1aI9WVgbAgWZikLdYtEgwpj5g9nQDxJN0oFZOtWwFek=w640-h472" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="472" width="640" /></a></div><br><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/69134232022-03-04T00:01:00-05:002022-03-04T03:00:11-05:00Goal Setting Fridays - Resource Round-Up!<p> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Welcome to Goal Setting Fridays!</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">Why Fridays? <br>So you can ruminate over the weekend & get a fresh start on Monday!</p><p style="text-align: center;">Please subscribe to receive all new posts!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">Don’t forget to check out last week’s post:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2022/02/goal-setting-fridays-5-ways-to-up-your.html">5 Ways to Up Your Goals</a></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7vJ2qrlBWu2RwCLqwPElMUm2NEMV8sobTNywJWGbKm9T_w9yiJRwJQ4X1VyKPAX69BAZRvJ5VXLBn5Eh2Xwk3AEHNAZ1sZhM5UqL9oyd73Xf6VDQgrYxPMQrjDETcxuLamOR-OUM_IH3iJq1ZU6lUOiOVnXLCehFjTEFglYHaTFFr0VU6SLk=s1640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7vJ2qrlBWu2RwCLqwPElMUm2NEMV8sobTNywJWGbKm9T_w9yiJRwJQ4X1VyKPAX69BAZRvJ5VXLBn5Eh2Xwk3AEHNAZ1sZhM5UqL9oyd73Xf6VDQgrYxPMQrjDETcxuLamOR-OUM_IH3iJq1ZU6lUOiOVnXLCehFjTEFglYHaTFFr0VU6SLk=w471-h265" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="265" width="471" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">Every once in a while here on Goal Setting Fridays, <br>I’m going to share some of my favourite Goal Setting Resources with you.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">Today, I have a list of five people who bring me lots of inspiration! <br>They come from different backgrounds and industries, each approaching productivity from a very different perspective. Some are high creatives and others are amazing business people. All of them, in their own ways, bridge the gap between those two worlds with imagination and energy.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Here are 5 of my favourite people who write about Goal Setting and Productivity:</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://fullfocus.co/rebrand/" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Michael Hyatt </span></b></a></p><p style="text-align: left;">Michael is the go-to guy for learning about Goal Setting. I’ve read his book - <b>Your Best Year Ever</b> - at least 3 times, and I know I’ll read it again. He has lots of resources on his site, including a fantastic podcast.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://stevenpressfield.com" target="_blank">Steven Pressfield</a> </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>The War of Art </b>and<b> Do The Work</b> are in regular rotation on my Kindle. I usually read at least one of them each year. They focus on overcoming Resistance - that impersonal, immovable, limiting force that rears its ugly head any time we set out to do something amazing with our lives.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://planetsark.shop" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">SARK</span></b></a> </p><p style="text-align: left;">Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy is an author, artist, entrepreneur, and mentor. Don’t let the fun name, playful drawings, and bright colours fool you. SARK is a sharp business woman who’s turned her signature take on the world into a unique empire. I have no doubt I’ll end up writing a blogpost about the transformative power of her “micro-movements.”</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://juliacameronlive.com" target="_blank">Julia Cameron</a></span></b> </p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>The Artist’s Way</b> has saved more than one creative soul over the years, mine included. Julia is a creativity teacher for all levels and expressions. I can’t recommend her teachings and methods enough!</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://seths.blog" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Seth Godin</span></b></a> </p><p style="text-align: left;">Seth is known for writing short blog posts featuring big ideas. Or maybe, more specifically, bite-sized ideas with big impact. If you’re looking for some fresh perspective on productivity, his blog is a great place to start. Be sure to check out the “Free Content” section, as well. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Who are some of your favourite Goal Setting experts?</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Please share their names and links in the Comments below… </span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJc5JlmsCbLn5xBpOkf8PJKJzzqD7Hj0XhdD2kZ-sy48orL6Hy83gU_Ueuq00iEFy4v4T4lQ1Kv2X0rGsDVmYE4HlD96QJ2wuVnk78q8g3yTcBpoMmN7a9mqHxP5SGvL44lJAH1Xn0LbqXZwdP2ycnF1LAGVr33WOPsl9vAqbFML3O_v_BVZA=s1640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJc5JlmsCbLn5xBpOkf8PJKJzzqD7Hj0XhdD2kZ-sy48orL6Hy83gU_Ueuq00iEFy4v4T4lQ1Kv2X0rGsDVmYE4HlD96QJ2wuVnk78q8g3yTcBpoMmN7a9mqHxP5SGvL44lJAH1Xn0LbqXZwdP2ycnF1LAGVr33WOPsl9vAqbFML3O_v_BVZA=w640-h360" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><br><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/69067642022-02-25T00:01:00-05:002022-02-25T03:45:08-05:00Goal Setting Fridays - 5 Ways to Up Your Goals<p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Welcome to Goal Setting Fridays!</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">Why Fridays? <br>So you can ruminate over the weekend & get a fresh start on Monday!</p><p style="text-align: center;">Please subscribe to receive all new posts!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">Don’t forget to check out last week’s post:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2022/02/goal-setting-fridays-smart-goals-saved.html">S.M.A.R.T. Goals Saved My Reading Life</a></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnwI5kzrADNiCnU3pr7KP2iH2VOFbphsSzMI9BhMbw5Crp2G09ZgFXNue6vRgiBxBx-MDBqa87sraXONw-NRR2kdYN96b-ajVaX8N-_zozhl5FAH3dPJQsSPunc9KKp68ZjJnqVGdIL2PtNMmNoqC0_xCMSXOnQGAE-iO_c_BrW_g1J0eP3Yw=s1640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnwI5kzrADNiCnU3pr7KP2iH2VOFbphsSzMI9BhMbw5Crp2G09ZgFXNue6vRgiBxBx-MDBqa87sraXONw-NRR2kdYN96b-ajVaX8N-_zozhl5FAH3dPJQsSPunc9KKp68ZjJnqVGdIL2PtNMmNoqC0_xCMSXOnQGAE-iO_c_BrW_g1J0eP3Yw=w515-h290" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="290" width="515" /></a></div><br><p style="text-align: left;"><br></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2022/02/goal-setting-fridays-smart-goals-saved.html">Last week</a>, I shared a recent journey in my reading life, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and how the S.M.A.R.T. acronym helped me achieve my goal.</div><p></p><p><br></p><p>To remind ourselves, a S.M.A.R.T. goal is:</p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>S</b>pecific<br><b>M</b>easurable<br><b>A</b>ccountable <br><b>R</b>ealistic <br><b>T</b>ime-sensitive</span></p><p><br></p><p>By using the S.M.A.R.T. pattern, I was able to increase my reading from almost no books a year to 24 books a year!</p><p>I completed this goal in 2018 and again in 2019, but then the pandemic hit, and everything changed!</p><p>Reading was one of the things that truly saved me in 2020. I couldn’t bear to read non-fiction, but I devoured books about historical heroines, quirky friends, and faraway adventures.</p><p><br></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In 2020, I had set a goal of reading 24 books. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">By New Year’s Eve, I’d read 42!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>(You can find my 2020 reading list <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2020/12/2020-book-list-part-deux.html">HERE</a>.)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></div><p></p><p>2021 came, and I thought, <i>“Well, that was fun, but it certainly isn't repeatable. This year will be sooooo different!”</i></p><p><i>(Ah, the naiveté of January, 2021…)</i></p><p><i>“24 is obviously too low; 42 is too high. I’ll split the difference and read 36 this year.”</i></p><p></p><div style="text-align: left;">By August, I’d smashed that goal completely! </div><div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">It had become abundantly clear: </div>
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><div style="text-align: left;">It was time to up my goal!</div></span>
</div><p></p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Upping your goals isn’t about creating something new. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Instead, it’s about adding to a goal-already-in-progress. <br>It’s stretching a goal to give yourself an even greater challenge, <br>and potentially, an even greater success!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></p><p>Realizing you’ve outgrown an older goal is a really exciting moment! </p><p>Not only have you succeeded in your original goal, but you’ve grown to the point that you now need a new challenge.</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>How do you know when it’s time to up a goal?</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">It’s no longer a challenge.</p><p style="text-align: center;">It’s become too easy for you to achieve.</p><p style="text-align: center;">You’re achieving the goal much sooner than planned.</p><p style="text-align: center;">You realize you underestimated your abilities.</p><p style="text-align: center;">You’re getting bored!</p><p><br></p><p>I had definitely reached that point with my reading goal. It was glaringly obvious that 24 books had become too easy to achieve. Plus, I’d re-fallen in love with reading! I craved moving stories and inspired writing. 24 books just wasn’t enough to satisfy me anymore. </p><p>Remember, upping your goals isn’t just about doing more for the sake of doing more.<br>It's about realizing growth, and rewarding it with an even greater challenge.</p><p>As our S.M.A.R.T. acronym tells us, we still want to be Realistic. <br>If you have to up your goal, that means you've discovered a whole new level of what’s Realistic! <br>You’ve raised the barre! You’ve stretched and grown your own Circle of Influence.<br>How awesome is that?</p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Here are 5 ways you can up your existing goals:</b></span></p><p><br></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">HIGHER TOTAL</span></b></p><p>Sometimes, it’s as easy as increasing the numbers:</p><p>Want to lose 5 pounds? Try losing 6.<br>Want to run 10 km? Try running 15.<br>Want to write 100 pages? Try writing 200.</p><p><br></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">FASTER TIME</span></b></p><p>Because your goal is Time-sensitive, you’ve set a timeline for your achievement. Maybe you need to shorten that timeline.</p><p>Are you trying to accomplish your goal in 6 months? Maybe you can do it in 5? Or even 4?</p><p>Again, keep it Realistic. The point is to challenge yourself, not give yourself burnout.</p><p><br></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>LONGER TIME</b></span></p><p>Maybe your goal isn’t about achieving something quickly, but about building a longterm habit. Rather than shortening your timeline, maybe you need to extend it.</p><p>If your goal is to walk 20 minutes a day for a month, what about making it two months?</p><p>Or maybe that’s not the time you want to increase. Maybe, instead, you increase your walk from 20 minutes to 25 minutes?</p><p>Either way, play with time to see if you can stretch and grow your habit goal.</p><p><br></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">GREATER COMPLEXITY</span></b></p><p>If a project is coming together easier and faster than anticipated, how can I add to it to make it more dynamic and complex?</p><p>For example, let’s say my goal is to organize a community concert for local bands. Things start coming together really quickly and easily. What can I add to this project that’s still Realistic, but also works towards my goal? </p><p>Maybe I can set up tables for local vendors? Or have the art school create a pop-up gallery? Or add face-painting and a kids stage for our younger audience? </p><p>Each of these ideas adds to the complexity of the original idea: “organize a community concert.”</p><p><br></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">INVOLVE MORE PEOPLE</span></b></p><p>Many goals are solitary pursuits, but sometimes our goals are based in community. <br><i>(Community in this sense could mean your family, your workplace, your church, or any situation that involves a group of people coming together for a common purpose.) </i></p><p>If that’s a key component of your goal, how can you increase the involvement of other people?</p><p>For example, let’s say my goal is to create a community garden. I need six volunteers to get the garden started.</p><p>That first summer, I quickly reach my goal of six volunteers. Excellent! </p><p>So, how can I up this goal?</p><p>Maybe, I can get more volunteers, so we can build a bigger garden?</p><p>Maybe, I decide to make it a multi-generational garden. How can I find some young people to partner with the seniors?</p><p>Maybe, I’d like to have more cultural diversity. Maybe I can start advertising for volunteers in local cultural centres?</p><p>Maybe, I want to make the garden accessible for volunteers in wheelchairs. Is there a local builder who can understand the special requirements of physically challenged gardeners? </p><p><br></p><p>All of these are great ways to up your goals!</p><p><br></p><p>For my growing reading goal, the answer was clear: <b>Higher Total.</b></p><p>I had made the 2021 goal of 36 books, because I was afraid of overcommitting myself. </p><p>But when I reached 36 in August, I realized I was way past the point of no return. I looked at my pace, and realized I could, with a little focus and planning, read 50 books that year.</p><p>50 books! I never would have been brave enough to set that goal in 2018, 2019, or even 2020.</p><p>But I’d outgrown my initial attempts. <b>It was time to up my goal.</b></p><p><br></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">I committed to finishing 50 books in 2021. </div><div style="text-align: center;">By New Year’s Eve, I’d read <b>55 books!</b>
</div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For 2022, I’ve made a solid goal of reading <b>50 books</b> this year! </span></p><p><br></p><p>My goal fits the S.M.A.R.T. profile perfectly. It’ll take some planning to achieve, but I’m so excited about all the gorgeous books I’ll get to read this year!!</p><p>And who knows, maybe in another year or two, this goal might need to be upped again?</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Take a close look at your goals this week:</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Are there any that are becoming too easy?</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Any that leave you bored?</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What are some ways you can up your goals?</span></b></p><div><br></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilTNRnwHvW-g-G-OGASuSRsA7X2lVPfy-bvewhk4Dbl6_rpgAF15HOaPcYagzMyIhu-5KIx0-MGsKm6gpyYfoXBdp0Rg7SbRtz_WFgTI1F_xJ8_Q2xYFwBwpxvnqfezbmtEdVzk41cbScU86Hg5zTuZ2oEDZdYdYsx_u0VsNfGahKU2OxdtR4=s1640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilTNRnwHvW-g-G-OGASuSRsA7X2lVPfy-bvewhk4Dbl6_rpgAF15HOaPcYagzMyIhu-5KIx0-MGsKm6gpyYfoXBdp0Rg7SbRtz_WFgTI1F_xJ8_Q2xYFwBwpxvnqfezbmtEdVzk41cbScU86Hg5zTuZ2oEDZdYdYsx_u0VsNfGahKU2OxdtR4=w640-h360" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><br><p style="text-align: left;"><br></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/69008272022-02-18T00:01:00-05:002022-02-18T00:45:05-05:00Goal Setting Fridays - S.M.A.R.T. Goals Saved My Reading Life<p> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Welcome to Goal Setting Fridays!</span></b></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">Why Fridays? </div><div style="text-align: center;">So you can ruminate over the weekend & get a fresh start on Monday!</div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Please subscribe to receive all new posts!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">Don’t forget to check out last week’s post:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2022/02/goal-setting-fridays-eat-snow-elephant.html">Eat the “Snow” Elephant</a></b></span></p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmq-BFmtekxEe0RsvWTuLiwt4wekqTlNvNFRAzXnshMcKNgubJ3yJxB1VjOE1kyVHd7r-_lgQXTV9a5WbZc267Xnfa2IPSlv127N4inJ-V2pGDDq2pYH8eiiwEodAc49iY_N2lKy1prYPoKtyhe5eR0dpRKt87kNjr1PXzb6sPOk5OGYFmKKE=s1640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmq-BFmtekxEe0RsvWTuLiwt4wekqTlNvNFRAzXnshMcKNgubJ3yJxB1VjOE1kyVHd7r-_lgQXTV9a5WbZc267Xnfa2IPSlv127N4inJ-V2pGDDq2pYH8eiiwEodAc49iY_N2lKy1prYPoKtyhe5eR0dpRKt87kNjr1PXzb6sPOk5OGYFmKKE=w558-h314" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="314" width="558" /></a></div><br><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">In 2017, I made a horrifying personal discovery:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I’d stopped reading.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Not completely, of course, but by any literary standard, I’d shut the book. <br><i>(Insert groan for bad pun here…)</i></p><p><br></p><p>At the end of that year, I couldn’t remember how many books I’d read. Four? Maybe five? I doubted I could count them on one hand.</p><p>My degree is a Double Major in Theatre with a Minor in English. That’s a lot of heady, literary pages. And I didn’t stop there. For years, I devoured books by the shelfful. When Gerald and I got married, our biggest debate was where to put all the books in our new home.</p><p>But then we moved 7 times in 9 years. Boxes of books became harder and harder to lug around the country. Many times, we just didn’t unpack them, or we put them in storage for months on end. We took on new jobs and challenges. Our schedule was filled with new creativity and adventures. </p><p>Somewhere along the way, I found other ways to fill my time. </p><p>My reading life had been sidelined.</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">So, in 2018, I set an ambitious goal for myself:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Read 24 books in a year.</span></b></p><p><br></p><p>This wasn’t just about choosing a random number of books to read. I truly wanted to reset and reenergize my reading life.</p><p>This felt like a huge leap. I knew it would require a shift in my time and my mindset. I wanted reading to be important again. </p><p>Because of everything that was at stake, I really wanted to succeed, so I created a <b>S.M.A.R.T. Goal.</b></p><p><br></p><p>If you’re not familiar with this acronym, it stands for:</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>S</b>pecific</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>M</b>easurable</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>A</b>ccountable </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>R</b>ealistic </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>T</b>ime-sensitive</span></p><p><br></p><p>Depending on where you search, there are some variations on the words, but the intentions are always the same.</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">Here’s why my simple goal - <b>Read 24 books in a year</b> - was a perfect <b>S.M.A.R.T. Goal:</b></p><p><br></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">SPECIFIC</span><br></b>Read 24 <i>books</i>. Not articles, or blogposts, or stories. Read books. 24 of them, please.</p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">MEASURABLE</span><br></b>Read <i>24</i> books. It’s a concrete number, easy to measure.</p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">ACCOUNTABLE</span></b><br>I told Gerald and my parents what I was doing. I knew achieving my goal would require a bit of a lifestyle change as I learned to dedicate more time to reading. I wanted their support and understanding.</p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">REALISTIC</span></b><br>24 books a year, or 2 books a month, sounded like something I could possibly make work. If I’d aimed for 100 books that first year, it would have been completely unreasonable. Chances are, I would have fallen far short of that number, and would have given up on the goal entirely. I knew that 24 books would require some focus and planning, and that it would push my limits, but ultimately, it felt doable.</p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">TIME-SENSITIVE<br></span></b>24 books in a year, or 2 books a month. This gives me a clearly defined schedule of how to achieve my goal. If I could keep that average pace of 2 books a month, I would stand a great chance of success. </p><p><br></p><p>My progress ebbed and flowed throughout the year. Some months, I could only manage one long book, so the next month, I would choose 3 shorter books to keep myself on schedule. I kept a list of all the titles I read so that I could celebrate my monthly success and not lose track of where I was in the 24. Gerald was very supportive any time I claimed a Sunday afternoon as “book time.”</p><p>December was busy, as it often is for musicians, so by the end of the month, I was coming up short. I had to read two books in the final week of 2018. I wrapped up a novel on the 30th, but there was no time to squeeze in the final book. </p><p>Finally, Dad suggested I read “How The Grinch Stole Christmas.” A cheeky suggestion, but as he pointed out, it’s a well-studied seasonal classic, and yes, technically, it’s a book!</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>On the day before New Year’s Eve, <br>I celebrated the completion of my <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2018/12/24-books-for-2018.html">24 Books of 2018!</a></b></p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">As I stated earlier, the main point of this goal wasn’t simply to read 24 books. <br>It was a means to a greater end. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The true goal was to reset and reenergize my reading life, <br>and I’m thrilled to say, it worked!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">I set another goal of <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2020/01/24-books-for-2019.html">24 books in 2019</a> and 2020, but as we all know, <br>everything changed in 2020... </p><p style="text-align: center;">But that’s another <i>story</i>! <br>Stay tuned for <i>Chapter</i> 2, next week…</p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>(And I promise, an end to the booky puns!)</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Look at the goals you’ve created for 2022. <br><b>Are they S.M.A.R.T. Goals?</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What can you do to make them <br><b>Specific, Measurable, Accountable, Realistic, and Time-sensitive?</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhSIm5FqHa9xlpfuYHEqOhOKI41pB5sIViTLMn1wKcg9UqYXUi50_7WhjEQoyLcvklGWVFzrZkWOMThm9SFmKJDOaNtymFAoOqJThX1T2ns_UmUeHZPIT3Zkyort9k0oKp_H0iXLe8hLzswY_8FxU-WoTmkEjFzgNicaIPWLYO61JyV6uJWbQ=s1640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhSIm5FqHa9xlpfuYHEqOhOKI41pB5sIViTLMn1wKcg9UqYXUi50_7WhjEQoyLcvklGWVFzrZkWOMThm9SFmKJDOaNtymFAoOqJThX1T2ns_UmUeHZPIT3Zkyort9k0oKp_H0iXLe8hLzswY_8FxU-WoTmkEjFzgNicaIPWLYO61JyV6uJWbQ=w640-h360" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><br><p><br></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/68947642022-02-11T00:01:00-05:002022-02-11T01:15:07-05:00Goal Setting Fridays - Eat the "Snow" Elephant<p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Welcome to Goal Setting Fridays!</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Why Friday? <br>So you can ruminate over the weekend & get a fresh start on Monday!</p><p style="text-align: center;">Please subscribe to receive all new posts!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">Last week, we revealed</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2022/02/goal-setting-fridays-secret-code-of.html"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Secret Code of Procrastination</b></span></a></p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJZlc9c_TZxBuGkB1cN8web5Bue11N1SsttaID6FkwjmwE_aSE0WA2V2Rhw9NGh_zf3c8PELdx2i1v8lT8oheGj-mhSsxp4zTsGZB8E7eIgEy4QeTJmUTMdm4LE-rLqaEcB5jgwwU5nhE9YrAHAFH1fPDl0sAKNq3eE2MM8HYEMl-QPsM9rMI=s1640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJZlc9c_TZxBuGkB1cN8web5Bue11N1SsttaID6FkwjmwE_aSE0WA2V2Rhw9NGh_zf3c8PELdx2i1v8lT8oheGj-mhSsxp4zTsGZB8E7eIgEy4QeTJmUTMdm4LE-rLqaEcB5jgwwU5nhE9YrAHAFH1fPDl0sAKNq3eE2MM8HYEMl-QPsM9rMI=w479-h269" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="269" width="479" /></a></div><br><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Winter has hit hard here in Niagara. <br>We’ve had a lot of snow. And I mean - A LOT!!! </b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi66WWw5AhJpNmFotb-EAoT9XSCol_i18qxyRnbF-XCquCCV3UHET6Eh-FjZguFm5rnxidBwEP4SMPetJljSUYjwFtOmKrgh0Ok3o07uzHAtOKM-18g-8ZUgNphC7Qe2X_tc8QSV5R2b7DoW_8Tkc0TXpY3Jjc8lIGWd0Lm1ItWKC1vkok-JC4=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi66WWw5AhJpNmFotb-EAoT9XSCol_i18qxyRnbF-XCquCCV3UHET6Eh-FjZguFm5rnxidBwEP4SMPetJljSUYjwFtOmKrgh0Ok3o07uzHAtOKM-18g-8ZUgNphC7Qe2X_tc8QSV5R2b7DoW_8Tkc0TXpY3Jjc8lIGWd0Lm1ItWKC1vkok-JC4=w294-h392" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="392" width="294" /></a></div>It’s the kind of weather where people who’ve been living here for 50 years are saying things like, <i>“We’ve never seen this much snow before!”</i><p></p><p>I’m including my new favourite photo for your amusement! That’s me on the first day of our first storm. Gerald took this from our front porch. I’m standing on the sidewalk.</p><p>On that one day, we had somewhere between 50-60 cm overnight! Forget waking up to a gentle blanket of snow - we were smothered under a full-on double duvet!</p><p>We had to shovel through drifts just to get off the front porch. We live in a downtown area with tall, Edwardian houses and small front lawns. It took a full 10 minutes just to get to the end of our front walk. I made my way to the driveway, where I could finally see the full impact of the blizzard. The entire SUV was missing under a mountain of white stuff. There were several feet piled up in every direction. And the space from the car to road was well above my knees.</p><p> I felt overwhelmed. My mighty shovel suddenly felt like a teaspoon in my mittened hands. </p><p>More snow was in the forecast. If we didn’t clear this out today, it was only going to get worse.</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I suddenly thought,</span><br><span style="font-size: large;"> <b>“Just eat the elephant.”</b></span></p><p><br></p><p>“Eat the Elephant” has become one of my favourite mottos ever. It’s especially fun to mention at parties if you want to get barraged with “<i>What’d she say?”</i> looks.</p><p>Often attributed to Desmond Tutu, the original phrase says this:</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">“There is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time.”</span></b></p><p><br></p><p>So often, we are faced with hugely overwhelming tasks. They can seem insurmountable. But, if we just keep nibbling away at it, eventually, the job will get done.</p><p><br></p><p>My snow drifts definitely felt elephant-sized! There was only one way to clear them.</p><p>I started to dig in, one shovelful at a time. I took deep breaths into my back, stopping often to stretch. Neighbours helped neighbours, clearing walkways and sharing laughs. I took photos of the covered cars and sugar-coated tree branches.</p><p>Several hours later, thanks to lots of little bites, our patch of property was relatively snow-free. <br>At least, for a while…</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">It’s the same when we have any kind of large, overwhelming goal.</p><p style="text-align: center;">The key to accomplishing our huge, Longterm Goals is to take them one bite at the time.</p><p style="text-align: center;">This is where our Habit Goals and <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2022/01/goal-setting-fridays-what-exactly-is.html">Single Moment Goals</a> come in.</p><p><br></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>
<i>Want to write a book? </i><b>Write one page a day.</b>
</li>
<li>
<i>Want to sing an opera?</i> <b>Start learning the first line.</b>
</li>
<li>
<i>Want to read the Bible? </i><b>Read a few verses each day.</b>
</li>
<li>
<i>Want to declutter your house?</i> <b>Empty one drawer.</b>
</li>
</ul><p></p><p></p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">Over time, these tiny “bites” add up!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It may feel small in the moment, but remember: <br><b>Any progress is progress!</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What huge goal do you want to accomplish?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What’s one tiny “bite” you could take today?</b></span></div><p></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmLmgJ0AV1sKHw_6KMYS41bjUMJTAaCHfpHfuijXCsumRXtST-3d-DwNm0yshWRvdOsPR4F-yNbowfeTnpe1HJW6vE6m_XRzUpni4DCyjUudjyaGaIZ7z2eLirukQNwyeyr3Vq_QGbN6SI7SUw1xAXDxPvnbQOiaC-FPaq5HLV2UpXVMll3Rw=s1640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmLmgJ0AV1sKHw_6KMYS41bjUMJTAaCHfpHfuijXCsumRXtST-3d-DwNm0yshWRvdOsPR4F-yNbowfeTnpe1HJW6vE6m_XRzUpni4DCyjUudjyaGaIZ7z2eLirukQNwyeyr3Vq_QGbN6SI7SUw1xAXDxPvnbQOiaC-FPaq5HLV2UpXVMll3Rw=w640-h360" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><br><p><br></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/68883342022-02-04T00:01:00-05:002022-02-04T04:30:12-05:00Goal Setting Fridays - The Secret Code of Procrastination<p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Welcome to Goal Setting Fridays!</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Why Fridays? <br>So you can ruminate over the weekend & get a fresh start on Monday!</p><p style="text-align: center;">Please subscribe to receive all new posts!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">Don’t forget to check out last week’s post:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2022/01/goal-setting-fridays-what-exactly-is.html"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">What Exactly is a “Single Moment Goal”? </span></b></a></p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSKv5Lc1vdlMTPiJtnVdqFOLmh1r35BVoLoS8TDUAaQvMHdRvXj4gRfI0pt-pt-HB8pRGpP5wXwK1DB5fEicosnyBOBAYJKe8cpJR3FGXRkx_VI3--GYILvlhgFpmSGHLtJotX4iam9xo8JNEUj99H44ybLWdOB9tSYAnzuW03FEmRBTkTjKo=s1640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSKv5Lc1vdlMTPiJtnVdqFOLmh1r35BVoLoS8TDUAaQvMHdRvXj4gRfI0pt-pt-HB8pRGpP5wXwK1DB5fEicosnyBOBAYJKe8cpJR3FGXRkx_VI3--GYILvlhgFpmSGHLtJotX4iam9xo8JNEUj99H44ybLWdOB9tSYAnzuW03FEmRBTkTjKo=w503-h283" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="283" width="503" /></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><p style="text-align: center;">If you love to make To Do Lists, you’ve probably noticed an annoying phenomenon:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>As much as you get done, <br>there are still those items that you find impossible to cross off! </b></p><p style="text-align: center;">No matter what you do, you just can’t bring yourself to do them. <br>Sometimes, these pesky items can hang out on your To Do List for weeks, months, or even years!</p><p style="text-align: center;">I’m not a procrastinator by nature. I love checking things off my To Do List! <br>But this nasty phenomenon can strike even the best of us.</p><p><br></p><p>Years ago, I decided to register our original Infinitely More worship songs with CCLI - Christian Copyright Licensing International. </p><p><i>Sidebar for Licensing 101: Have you ever attended a church service where the song lyrics are on a screen or printed on a song sheet? Then, you’ve probably encountered the work of CCLI. Traditionally, when hymnals were printed, part of your purchase price went towards paying the songwriters for use of their creations. But once songs started going on screens and song sheets, songwriters weren’t getting paid. CCLI stepped up as an international licensing service, providing lots of resources for churches and creators, including payment to songwriters for the Sunday morning use of their music and lyrics.</i></p><p>I knew registering our songs would be a great way to help get our music out to churches, as well as providing a potential means of ministry support. I went online, did my research, and requested the registration documents.</p><p>Well, that set of documents sat on my desktop for weeks. Then, months. A year later, I threw them out and requested new ones. That started the cycle over again. Weeks, months, throw them out, request new copies.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>This went on for three years!</b></p><p>You see, the documents were full of tax forms and legalese that felt beyond my skillset. I also needed to visit a notary, and I had no idea what that even meant! And how could I even start to understand “international tariffs”? It was all too much.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I might not be a procrastinator by nature, but boy, <br>I was a Super Procrastinator with CCLI!</span></p><p><br></p><p>Remember last week, when we talked about <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2022/01/goal-setting-fridays-what-exactly-is.html">Risk?</a></p><p><i>Simply put:</i><br><a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2022/01/goal-setting-fridays-what-exactly-is.html">Single Moment Goals</a>, by their very nature, always have Risk involved.<br>To Do List items never do.</p><p><br></p><p>Look at those To Do items that have been hanging out on your list for weeks or months. They can be so deceptively simple - make a phone call, submit the application, donate that bag of old clothes - but for some reason, they hold a lot of power. </p><p style="text-align: center;">May I suggest that they’re not as simple as they might seem?</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Perhaps, your Procrastination is a Secret Code for Risk.</span></b></p><p><br></p><p>Make that phone call? <i>“What if the person doesn’t want to talk to me?”</i></p><p>Submit the application? <i>“What if I get rejected?”</i></p><p>Donate that bag of old clothes? <i>“What if I gain back the weight and need them?”</i></p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">Once you recognize the Code, you must also recognize that this isn’t a simple To Do item.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>This is a <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2022/01/goal-setting-fridays-what-exactly-is.html">Single Moment Goal</a>. </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>It carries Risk. That’s why you’ve been struggling to get it done.</b></p><p><br></p><p>Registering with CCLI definitely had Risk.</p><p>It meant I was putting our songs in the same system as the songs of Chris Tomlin, Bethel Music, and Hillsong. <br>It meant one more administrative task for me to have to manage.<br>And, filling out those forms meant I needed to ask for help - lots of help!</p><p><br></p><p>But after naming the Risk, I took some time to think about the potential rewards.</p><p>I imagined what it would be like to see our songs on that licensing site, alongside the songs of Chris Tomlin, Bethel Music, and Hillsong. <br>I imagined how awesome it would be to tell churches, <i>“Yes, you can license our song.”</i><br>And oddly enough, I imagined how my skills could grow by filling out those complicated forms.</p><p><br></p><p>So, requested the forms - again! - and this time, I added one more step:</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>I called CCLI and asked for help.</b></p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">“Hi, I’m Allison Lynn. My husband and I are songwriters. <br>I’d like to register our songs with you and I have no idea what I’m doing.”</span></i></p><p><br></p><p>In the end, I was able to complete and submit the forms within an afternoon. It also turned out there was a notary about five minutes from our house, right across the street from our regular grocery store.</p><p>I found the Secret Code of my Procrastination, and I was able to accomplish my <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2022/01/goal-setting-fridays-what-exactly-is.html">Single Moment Goal.</a></p><p>As of today, we have almost 50 original worship songs registered with CCLI, and all the potential rewards I imagined that day have come true.</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">I can’t say I haven’t procrastinated since then, but I did learn a valuable lesson:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>When an item is sticking around on my To Do List for too long, I need to take a closer look.</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>I need to look for the Secret Code.</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Find the Risk.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Name it.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Reimagine the item as a <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2022/01/goal-setting-fridays-what-exactly-is.html">Single Moment Goal</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Imagine the potential rewards.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And then, bravely take the steps needed to complete my Goal! </span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What item has been hanging out on your To Do List for too long?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What Secret Code might be hidden in your Procrastination? </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br></b></span></div><p></p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBKM3dV3-Oxck8UoMDE-VNwurebcziriMQlzCHrTQMEjWFXHDX4gQFGoGWGlbD3YmtI2nbZJms5zMIrg5P9vkYLNGKjQ2Qmgb66eAJu2wHPrBE245roox_8xa1jt83fGBJdykhE1LTWzT7HmO2uBfZu-I6MFS9KCt1-q0SpY9WOGkPE2SnpOA=s1640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBKM3dV3-Oxck8UoMDE-VNwurebcziriMQlzCHrTQMEjWFXHDX4gQFGoGWGlbD3YmtI2nbZJms5zMIrg5P9vkYLNGKjQ2Qmgb66eAJu2wHPrBE245roox_8xa1jt83fGBJdykhE1LTWzT7HmO2uBfZu-I6MFS9KCt1-q0SpY9WOGkPE2SnpOA=w640-h360" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><br><p><br></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/68837772022-01-30T09:00:00-05:002022-01-30T10:15:09-05:00Book Review: A Deep Divide, by Kimberley Woodhouse<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgy_t3nJ6nB3t1GPH8L9SfDrgDdl5sLCqfVM-SP5y9Wkz-VWGboEvy7oPaGIdBZmVHZR4PJOJDLKLpPKBHHxOMBYbdqLrmQAV9hnV0wjKFCVn4g2HUe4q5WBGJf9oimZ04Nc9f4PPMqA_1Gv3UR5O8MeoympGwbBWCUmV0jyb-DzO8XOjXx-6Q=s614" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgy_t3nJ6nB3t1GPH8L9SfDrgDdl5sLCqfVM-SP5y9Wkz-VWGboEvy7oPaGIdBZmVHZR4PJOJDLKLpPKBHHxOMBYbdqLrmQAV9hnV0wjKFCVn4g2HUe4q5WBGJf9oimZ04Nc9f4PPMqA_1Gv3UR5O8MeoympGwbBWCUmV0jyb-DzO8XOjXx-6Q=s320" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="207" /></a></div><br><div style="text-align: center;">You know sometimes, you order a book, and by the time to get around to reading it, you can't really remember why you ordered it to begin with? I mean, there must have been a reason you chose it, but you just can't put your finger on it?</div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Well, that was me when I finally sat down to read <b>A Deep Divide</b>. </p><p style="text-align: center;">BUT, by the time I finished the first chapter, I was HOOKED!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p>No spoilers, but the first chapter grabbed me, and the story didn't let go from there. It's not a rip-wild thriller or anything like that - it's a story with great characters, an incredible setting, truly interesting history, and a fast moving plot that keeps moving along at the perfect pace.</p><p>Our heroine, Emma Grace McMurray, is a late-Victorian-era American heiress. Early childhood trauma sets her on a dramatic path that takes her all the way to the "Wild West" of the Grand Canyon.</p><p>Her epic journey involves hiding in plain sight, learning a whole new way of life, and discovering the power of trust and honesty.</p><p><i>(And yes, if you read my recent review for <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2022/01/book-review-every-word-unsaid-by.html">Every Word Unsaid</a>, you'll feel a bit of a crossover theme of travel, adventure, secret identities, and Victorian photography!)</i></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8Ew2WxOLa2V9vyOLU4xXOWYEh8es9cnRBGItO2vncaZ6wqYJ6AgZpQQM5idZLL3Zuk01xS6zjIP_92UXnzQO0vqBW-yBCZLd4Ddxt3IZWIC93-5Qrcr1C87jPi-DYl37oiMZZ-JoJ92Ck9ejpwR0yJUY2D-WF_-k6mC7uLe4TbwVwT0i3WlI=s367" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8Ew2WxOLa2V9vyOLU4xXOWYEh8es9cnRBGItO2vncaZ6wqYJ6AgZpQQM5idZLL3Zuk01xS6zjIP_92UXnzQO0vqBW-yBCZLd4Ddxt3IZWIC93-5Qrcr1C87jPi-DYl37oiMZZ-JoJ92Ck9ejpwR0yJUY2D-WF_-k6mC7uLe4TbwVwT0i3WlI=s320" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Harvey Girls in original uniforms <br>(<a href="https://library.nau.edu/speccoll/exhibits/fredharvey/themes/harveygirls.html" target="_blank">Source</a>)</i><br><br>
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</tbody></table><br><div style="text-align: right;">As always, I love how historical fiction introduces us to fascinating chapters of real life history. In the 1800's, Fred Harvey built a chain of hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality businesses beside railroads across America. He essentially invented the American chain restaurant and helped develop tourism in the "wild" west. In a century where women's roles were limited, the Harvey House hotels and restaurants offered respectable and well-paying work to single women. The "Harvey Girls" were highly trained, with a reputation for impeccable hospitality. They even inspired a Judy Garland musical! Emma Grace finds work and independence as a Harvey Girl at the very real, and still operating, El Tovar hotel. </div><p></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>I really loved this whole story! The setting - both in time and location - were beautiful and fascinating. The history made me dig deeper into the real-life people and places. I loved the characters and was truly rooting for all them. Most of all, the plot kept me guessing, and ended in a very satisfying conclusion. </p><p style="text-align: center;">What else could you want from a novel?</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">Kimberley Duffy is incredibly prolific, with books, blogs, and special offers for book clubs. <br>You can find out more at:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.KimberleyWoodhouse.com"><b><span style="font-size: large;">www.KimberleyWoodhouse.com</span></b></a></p><p><br></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigjT1WIItKE8_ouRUHYSBwLAQVuHIF0NTDQ_U0_xiplaA6OAVO6fQYsYtZCYKIgDl94WRB0eC9R0VmNF3r2zHS0NPviqYzp3D3PWql4XnGlc0b5iJu6H_Iyu4B9FgI2dcVGM4tWc2uIEudEqvou5ywRSAtoCmkdvRpYqksL8ld4O7ChEuzV18=s1800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigjT1WIItKE8_ouRUHYSBwLAQVuHIF0NTDQ_U0_xiplaA6OAVO6fQYsYtZCYKIgDl94WRB0eC9R0VmNF3r2zHS0NPviqYzp3D3PWql4XnGlc0b5iJu6H_Iyu4B9FgI2dcVGM4tWc2uIEudEqvou5ywRSAtoCmkdvRpYqksL8ld4O7ChEuzV18=w540-h363" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="363" width="540" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>El Tovar Hotel, in the early 1900's (source: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Tovar_Hotel" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>) </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-size: small; font-style: italic;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/68830102022-01-29T09:00:00-05:002022-01-29T11:30:04-05:00Book Review: After She Falls, by Carmen Schober<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEanoEFnWA_yz_uwqGDol-lFxftehJo__z-trNS41dL0N9K91Zm2IEOd9q1l9QhnAiPMr1MRs-AJ1ZZi_bqfmWB3-WRWMhm36R-wdp9RzgoMbSRDJkCA-7teabKVTA3mTVthbNmir64RlN3IFiipjce8nIW4-JqYv7D8i8aP1p-mO-5XYhnlk=s400" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEanoEFnWA_yz_uwqGDol-lFxftehJo__z-trNS41dL0N9K91Zm2IEOd9q1l9QhnAiPMr1MRs-AJ1ZZi_bqfmWB3-WRWMhm36R-wdp9RzgoMbSRDJkCA-7teabKVTA3mTVthbNmir64RlN3IFiipjce8nIW4-JqYv7D8i8aP1p-mO-5XYhnlk=s320" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="207" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Okay, stay with me - this is going to be a different one:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Today, I'm reviewing <b>After She Falls</b> - <br>a mixed martial arts (MMA) romance by Carmen Schober.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">You heard that right: an MMA Christian Romance!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Let's start by going back a bit:</div><div><br></div><div>When Gerald and I were first married, we decided we would each <strike>subject</strike> invite the other to watch one of our favourite TV shows, in the interest of sharing our hobbies and interests. </div><div><br></div><div>I chose American Idol - a fairly safe bet given our love of singing. Gerald chose The Ultimate Fighter - an MMA reality show about fighters trying to make it in the big leagues.</div><div><br></div><div>At first, I was horrified! I'm not a fighter, and I hated watching these young men (and eventually, women!) smash each other's faces into the canvas. But my new husband had a 2nd Dan Black Belt in Ishinryu Karate, and an extensive history in martial arts. Where I saw only violence, he saw skill and technique. Over time, I came to appreciate the true sport in the fights, and the incredible spirit of these talented athletes. </div><div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">So, when I saw that a new author had written an MMA Christian fiction romance, <br>I knew I had to review it!</div><div><br></div><div>Our heroine - Adri Rivera - was raised in an MMA family. Her talent and passion had her on the fast track to success, until an abusive husband and unplanned pregnancy set her on a very different path. As our story opens, Adri has returned home to find a new life for herself and her daughter. But you can't escape old dreams and old flames in a small town.</div><div><br></div><div>I read <b>After She Falls</b> really quickly. The plot has a great pace, the characters are really clear, and the story comes to a very satisfying conclusion. </div><div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">But full disclosure with no spoilers - this book isn't going to be for everyone. </div><div><br></div><div>There are detailed descriptions of MMA fights. They're really well done, but I did read some reviews where readers struggled with the violence. There are also descriptions of domestic abuse. These scenes are <u>never</u> gratuitous, and are completely necessary to the plot, but they're definitely difficult to read.</div><div><br></div><div>I'm not sharing this to be negative, but I know that scenes like this aren't typical for Christian fiction. I just think it's fair to warn you, just in case you're sensitive to such things.</div><div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ultimately, <b>After She Falls</b> is a story of redemption, rebuilding, and returning to your dreams, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and we all need more stories like that! </div><div>
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<p style="text-align: center;">Carmen regularly blogs about faith, writing, and fighting at:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.carmenschober.com" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">www.CarmenSchober.com </span></a></p>
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<p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.<br></span></p>
</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/68818892022-01-28T06:00:00-05:002022-01-28T08:00:12-05:00Goal Setting Fridays - What Exactly Is a “Single Moment Goal”?<p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Welcome to Goal Setting Fridays!</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Why Fridays? <br>So you can ruminate over the weekend & get a fresh start on Monday!</p><p style="text-align: center;">Please subscribe to receive all new posts!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">Last week, we talked about how to <br><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2022/01/goal-setting-fridays-sort-your-goals.html">Sort Your Goals for Goal Setting Success</a></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgy3Jts3bQpcoqcGsbvzVx7QX8OIhKaNPCn_hDQ52sNCCjIWH7BpdON270u6x6NxOgXV4BnT5z_0hS2boECvVWm7k1DQEkl1UvNuxNp4Y2T8NJyAlMvexkMunNVPNfC_rM1Ywh-wqjvEzRhLShxDK9XsouMqOmbMIqM8qkYbfPaxTLIHkabHI8=s1640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgy3Jts3bQpcoqcGsbvzVx7QX8OIhKaNPCn_hDQ52sNCCjIWH7BpdON270u6x6NxOgXV4BnT5z_0hS2boECvVWm7k1DQEkl1UvNuxNp4Y2T8NJyAlMvexkMunNVPNfC_rM1Ywh-wqjvEzRhLShxDK9XsouMqOmbMIqM8qkYbfPaxTLIHkabHI8=w473-h266" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="266" width="473" /></a></div><br><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Sorting our goals involves organizing our dreams and aspirations into one of three categories:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Single Moment Goals</li>
<li>Habit Goals </li>
<li>Longterm Goals</li>
</ul><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Today, I want to take a moment and talk about Single Moment Goals.</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Many of us are familiar with Habit Goals and Longterm Goals,<br>but what exactly are Single Moment Goals, and why do they matter at all?</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: left;">A Single Moment Goal has a few qualifications that make it unique:</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>It can be defined in just a few words.</li>
<li>It can be achieved with a few simple actions.</li>
<li>It generally has one singular result.</li>
<li>It can be achieved in a short period of time, generally under a day.</li>
</ul><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: left;"><i>“Wait a second,” </i>I hear you asking,<i> “Is something that small really worthy of the word 'Goal'? Isn’t it just a To Do List item?”</i></p><p style="text-align: left;">Good question!</p><p style="text-align: left;">Your To Do List is probably like mine: full of simple, action-based tasks. Crossing items off your To Do List feels fantastic, but let’s be honest. At the end of the day, do you ever cheer, “<i>Yay, another goal completed!”</i> No, you don’t. You’re just happy to get stuff done.</p><p style="text-align: left;">A Single Moment Goal may be brief, but it's still a proper goal - something worth reaching for, something that takes effort beyond the every day. Any goal - big or small - should require us to reach outside our comfort zone, even just a little. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">How do you tell the difference between a To Do Item and a Single Moment Goal?</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Goals always involve some degree of risk.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: left;">Signing up to receive a newsletter? No risk. Not a goal.<br>Signing up to audition for a play? Risk! Definitely a goal.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Buying a head of lettuce? No risk. Not a goal.<br>Starting your first day as a vegan? Risk! Absolutely a goal.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Ordering a book? No risk. Not a goal.<br>Emailing a publisher? Risk! Total goal!!</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br></p><p style="text-align: left;">Notice that all these actions are small - signing up for something, shopping, sending an email. Each can be completed with a reasonably small investment of time and effort. But once you recognize that element of risk, you can feel the transition from a To Do Item to a Goal!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>When trying to decide if an action should go on the To Do List or the Goal List, simply ask:</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Is there any risk in doing this?<br>Do I get butterflies in my tummy when I think of completing this action?<br>Will this stretch me beyond my comfort zone?</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br></p><p style="text-align: left;">If you can see the risk, fantastic! Name it and acknowledge the emotions spurred by that risk. Take a moment and imagine what it’ll feel like to complete that action. Finally, put it on your list of Single Moment Goals.</p><p style="text-align: left;">If there’s no risk, simply move the item over to your To Do List. Make sure it gets done quickly so you can spend your energy focusing on your actual goals.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Next week, we’ll talk about the "secret message" in those pesky items <br>that stay on your To Do List for weeks, months or even years!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What are some of your Single Moment Goals for 2022?</span></b></p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXctbuNPIrtWIeGBlFO5Nj4VYC4vAx2V-Qz5IWiiMZ1aw1sPF37dKPMFNAMrXBA_1qKz4mpFOlwvlRkIyJ6p1_5VfQMX-NM_LOTMK3UvVuyN96uM4buanHdnqBF9il7qLZSEWXM9kUgolyK9TAXR0pqAklxYRpjNXntEtwByep8iAbRGT04HM=s1640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXctbuNPIrtWIeGBlFO5Nj4VYC4vAx2V-Qz5IWiiMZ1aw1sPF37dKPMFNAMrXBA_1qKz4mpFOlwvlRkIyJ6p1_5VfQMX-NM_LOTMK3UvVuyN96uM4buanHdnqBF9il7qLZSEWXM9kUgolyK9TAXR0pqAklxYRpjNXntEtwByep8iAbRGT04HM=w640-h360" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><br><p><br></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/68808732022-01-27T09:00:00-05:002022-01-27T09:15:10-05:00Book Review: Every Word Unsaid, by Kimberly Duffy<p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Welcome to my first book review of 2022!</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Last year, I read a whopping 55 books! Definitely a record for me. </p><p style="text-align: center;">If you're new to my blog, I regularly review books for Graf-Martin Communications' <a href="https://nutsaboutbooks.ca" target="_blank">Nuts About Books</a> review program. I had three books to read over the holidays, so hold on to your seatbelts - we've got three reviews coming in over the next few days!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivhMozCiGLW__sn6qWrdPiK2EHiK8O9mCytXWm75ZMSSNKIsJ0n-Y6tfbcMxjbTYI7dMbZwMte0fETXjlgoRjblBT4lzsEqBgqp4fr_86zfOjyrkSK2zNZ8RKWyg_Try9Mv57oh3K5dqoIpWnPX1Hz5wlwNlCInxmrCh8XVxm4MnrvHXXwP5Y=s1360" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivhMozCiGLW__sn6qWrdPiK2EHiK8O9mCytXWm75ZMSSNKIsJ0n-Y6tfbcMxjbTYI7dMbZwMte0fETXjlgoRjblBT4lzsEqBgqp4fr_86zfOjyrkSK2zNZ8RKWyg_Try9Mv57oh3K5dqoIpWnPX1Hz5wlwNlCInxmrCh8XVxm4MnrvHXXwP5Y=s320" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="207" /></a></div>Last year, I read and reviewed Kimberly Duffy's <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2021/07/book-review-tapestry-of-light-by.html" target="_blank"><b>A Tapestry of Light</b></a>.<i> </i><div>
<i>(True confession - I was about to write that I read this book in 2020! Pandemic time warp is a real thing!!!)</i><br><p>I loved Kimberly's detailed and engaging approach to historical fiction, so I jumped at the chance to review her latest offering.</p>
<p><b>Every Word Unsaid</b> opens in Deadwood, 1897. If you've ever studied anything about the Wild West (<i>or watched HBO's Deadwood series</i>), you'll know this is a dramatic spot for an opening chapter.</p>
<p>Here we meet Augusta (Gussie) Constance Travers - a New York socialite with a taste for adventure. Her magazine readers know her as Miss Adventuress - a fearless, modern traveler. Her writing and photographs bring tales of exotic lands to housebound American housewives. But not everyone values her work, and when scandal threatens her family, she embarks on a journey overseas. A trip to India and a visit with friends drops her in the midst of a pandemic, a love story, and her greatest adventure yet.</p>
<p>First, can I say how bizarre it is to read a story set in a historical pandemic? Some of our characters are in the medical field, and it's painful watching them struggle with illness and death, knowing the limits of their own scientific knowledge.</p>
<p>Second, I loved these characters! Actually, I pretty much loved everything about this book. It was emotional, fun, heartbreaking, and beautifully descriptive. Gussie's relationship with her uncle might have been my favourite in the whole book.</p>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjF-Dp8fODlJJLMT8nsf_HxU4TADo7Ctm5UMwBCKtNSH4Ud668YMqY63s4qn_Kt_Zrhna-HDh4AG1-9MSIjwUvq4Z96XYiQ2Fo8jPnzlzc0G5oYKLZ8ORVpWVnpqe083Rc_IxP0k1Pt-CC8VQ3iy41SUdB6Lja3GAGD8u8GemSvNz47YeDEXL8=s658" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjF-Dp8fODlJJLMT8nsf_HxU4TADo7Ctm5UMwBCKtNSH4Ud668YMqY63s4qn_Kt_Zrhna-HDh4AG1-9MSIjwUvq4Z96XYiQ2Fo8jPnzlzc0G5oYKLZ8ORVpWVnpqe083Rc_IxP0k1Pt-CC8VQ3iy41SUdB6Lja3GAGD8u8GemSvNz47YeDEXL8=s320" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="215" /></a></div>As always, I loved googling the different locals and historical figures referenced in the story. One of my favourites was the Kodak Girl. As Kodak started to develop portable cameras, they created a savvy marketing campaign targeted at the new, modern woman. The Kodak Girl was a fresh incarnation of the classic Gibson Girl, with smart clothes and an independent spirit. Gussie aspires to be just such a modern woman and references the iconic character several times. </div><div>(<i>Ryerson University in Toronto has a really interesting article about the Kodak Girl</i> <a href="https://library.ryerson.ca/asc/2013/10/the-kodak-girl-women-in-kodak-advertising/" target="_blank">HERE</a>.)<p></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><b><br>What's Left Unsaid</b> is an engaging, dramatic, beautifully written piece of historical fiction. I turned down many page corners and circled many wonderful passages of writing. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I can't wait to see what Kimberly writes next! </p>
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<p style="text-align: center;">Kimberly Duffy's site offers a free short story, as well as a special invitation for all Book Clubs! <br>You can find out more at:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.KimberlyDuffy.com">www.KimberlyDuffy.com</a> </span></p>
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<p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-size: small; font-style: italic;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></p>
</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/68758522022-01-21T06:00:00-05:002022-01-21T09:45:04-05:00Goal Setting Fridays - Sort Your Goals for Goal Setting Success<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Welcome to Goal Setting Fridays!</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Why Fridays? <br>So you can ruminate over the weekend & get a fresh start on Monday!</p><p style="text-align: center;">Please subscribe to receive all new posts!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">Last week, we talked about <br><a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2022/01/goal-setting-fridays-if-resolutions.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>If Resolutions Aren’t Goals, What Good Are They?</b></span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhyB6xTwmlqaS1POvZujg_52Ocq3qPXwUBN7khsQrr6ea_vujoZpRFWc3wb7IhOAYFJxFlafvJpuWsI7VuwECOYR_ZG3k099c2WwxgT6Y_SM1_4ECJ7Ox8THcuL3NfgXHpso0QdfFYh49-ni5W-Dxkj1bW0Ht-a9ANvoH3im729Wp0GYpHdeGE=s1640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhyB6xTwmlqaS1POvZujg_52Ocq3qPXwUBN7khsQrr6ea_vujoZpRFWc3wb7IhOAYFJxFlafvJpuWsI7VuwECOYR_ZG3k099c2WwxgT6Y_SM1_4ECJ7Ox8THcuL3NfgXHpso0QdfFYh49-ni5W-Dxkj1bW0Ht-a9ANvoH3im729Wp0GYpHdeGE=w493-h277" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="277" width="493" /></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><p>In our <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2022/01/goal-setting-fridays-if-resolutions.html" target="_blank">last post</a>, I encouraged you to start writing down your dreams and aspirations for all the different areas of your life.</p><p>By now, you should have a wonderful pile of aspirations for your Relationships, your Profession, your Creativity, your Spirituality … So many wonderful dreams for the year!</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>But now that we have this awesome pile of ambitions, what do we do with them?</b></p><p><br></p><p>The next step is pretty easy, but also really critical. If you’re like me and you love organizing things, this next step is for you!</p><p><i>(And if you don’t like organizing, no worries. It’s a pretty simple step!)</i></p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s time to sort your goals!</span></p><p><br></p><p><i>“Oh,”</i> I hear you saying, <i>“They’re all so important. How can I possibly sort them?”</i></p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">Different dreams have different needs, and that’s what we’re going to figure out next. <br>Some need lots of time, some need an ongoing commitment, and some just need a spark of energy. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>By figuring out which goal has which needs, we give that goal a better chance of success!</b></p><p><br></p><p>We’re going to sort all the aspirations on our page into one of three categories:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Single Moment Goals</li>
<li>Habit Goals</li>
<li>Longterm Goals</li>
</ul><p></p><p><br></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">SINGLE MOMENT GOALS</span></b></p><p>These are small items that can most likely be achieved with a single effort. They might, in the end, become part of a larger project, but for now, let’s just put them in this category. Since Single Moment Goals can be achieved fairly quickly, they give us a swift sense of accomplishment and a strong jolt of motivation to tackle larger projects! </p><p><br></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">HABIT GOALS</span></b></p><p>Habit Goals don’t have end date. Instead, these aspirations are going to become part of your daily, weekly, or monthly routine. For example: "Read 50 books this year” is a Longterm Goal that will take you a year to achieve. While “Read 30 minutes a day” is a Habit Goal, requiring a regular commitment. Success with a Habit Goal comes by living into that commitment. Eventually, succeeding in this Habit Goal will help you achieve your Longterm Goal, but it’s important to differentiate between the two. We’ll discuss this important distinction in more detail in a future post.</p><p><br></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">LONGTERM GOALS</span></b></p><p>This are the big projects that need concerted effort over a significant period of time. As I’ve already mentioned, both Single Moment Goals and Habit Goals can help contribute to achieving your Longterm Goals. For us creative types, a Longterm Goal could be write a book, record a CD, or perform a national concert tour. Other examples could be launch a new business, rebuild a broken relationship, or find and become a regular member of a local church.</p><p><br></p><p>To start this sorting process, let’s first choose one life area from <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2022/01/goal-setting-fridays-if-resolutions.html">last week’s</a> brainstorming session. Since I talked about my walking habit in my <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2022/01/goal-setting-fridays-power-of-gentle.html">first post</a>, let’s look at the area of Health.</p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">Look at all the aspirations you listed under Health.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Now, let's designate each item on your list as a </div><div style="text-align: center;">Single Moment Goal, a Habit Goal, or a Longterm Goal.</div><p></p><p><br></p><p>Which items on your list are achievable in a Single Moment? Which will simply take a phone call, a few hours of research, or an afternoon of creativity to achieve? For example, one of your Health aspirations might be to catch up on overdue medical appointments. In that case, items such as “book my annual bloodwork” or “google local dentists” can go in the Single Moment category.</p><p>Next, which items from your list of aspirations can become part of your routine? Habit Goals are the things that will fall easily into a some kind of regular or semi-regular schedule. For example, my initial <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2022/01/goal-setting-fridays-power-of-gentle.html">walking goal</a> was a 20-minute walk, 5 times a week. It was something I could regularly mark on my calendar, and check off for each day I actually made it out the door.</p><p>And finally, of all your dreams, which are going to take a long time to achieve? Now’s the time to name those Longterm Goals! For many people, their longterm Health goals might look "like lose 40 pounds", "reduce my cholesterol", or "run a marathon". These are goals that will encompass many dedicated steps over a significant period of time. But once accomplished, they can literally become a "dream come true!" Ideally, we should have a least one Longterm Goal for every area of our lives. These are the major aspirations we have for our Spirituality, our Profession, our Family - everything! Do you want to travel to another country? Restore a French chateau? Launch your child into adulthood? Start your own publishing company? This should be an exciting list filled with inspiring dreams for your life.</p><p><br></p><p>Don’t just mentally sort all these aspirations - actually write them down. Maybe you can take your initial brainstorming list, and simply write SMG, HG, or LTG next to each aspiration. Or start a whole new list and colour-code everything. Either way, write it down and let it imprint on your brain.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And once that’s done, take a break. Have a snack. Let things percolate. <br>Goal setting can be overwhelming. <br>Allow yourself time to breathe and reflect.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What are some of your Single Moment, Habit and Longterm Goals for 2022? </span></b></p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlgR6m-HFaCkah8TyLI6hYQC_UL8sjx7ROkTsVxsRtnz3XwxTIpWhpPbJfS9hOGDDyUfVmbQuvjZCLnXSXF3-1wWTzdjgSlQceTrdDbeY2tDtgBf9k_ou2MO8JKVFQQNjxVFvZzstWVvIE5lG05AwFNT2maZfpdlKfl-iFQu_8D8iS9riaxLw=s1640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlgR6m-HFaCkah8TyLI6hYQC_UL8sjx7ROkTsVxsRtnz3XwxTIpWhpPbJfS9hOGDDyUfVmbQuvjZCLnXSXF3-1wWTzdjgSlQceTrdDbeY2tDtgBf9k_ou2MO8JKVFQQNjxVFvZzstWVvIE5lG05AwFNT2maZfpdlKfl-iFQu_8D8iS9riaxLw=w640-h360" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><br><p><br></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/68693632022-01-14T12:42:00-05:002022-01-14T15:30:12-05:00Goal Setting Fridays - If Resolutions Aren't Goals, What Good Are They?<p style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Welcome to Goal Setting Fridays!</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Why Friday? <br>So you can ruminate over the weekend & get a fresh start on Monday!</p><p style="text-align: center;">Please subscribe to receive all new posts!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Last week, we started this series with <br><b><a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2022/01/goal-setting-fridays-power-of-gentle.html" target="_blank">The Power of the Gentle Start</a>.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAsgVTFxWn3isDgUCddJGa6AvKqE6GbgHRsgN3u2o5SFb3RevjRlIcaJiFiokbbsbu5WVAwVrHUNRGsuYhrmaVjYwZ8d6lPjgePttfSnJ6Zmhp_i1g9nU-obAiv-eXysjrWa582ttQ6xuWiOA7tEFVmVu8qPSt6uDNcRT5iJXnYugLR4I1-GA=s1640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAsgVTFxWn3isDgUCddJGa6AvKqE6GbgHRsgN3u2o5SFb3RevjRlIcaJiFiokbbsbu5WVAwVrHUNRGsuYhrmaVjYwZ8d6lPjgePttfSnJ6Zmhp_i1g9nU-obAiv-eXysjrWa582ttQ6xuWiOA7tEFVmVu8qPSt6uDNcRT5iJXnYugLR4I1-GA=w451-h253" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="253" width="451" /></a></div><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">In last week’s <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2022/01/goal-setting-fridays-power-of-gentle.html" target="_blank">post</a>, I made this declamatory statement:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Resolutions aren’t Goals!</b></p><p><br></p><p>Every January 1st, we start claiming our New Year’s Resolutions:</p><p>I’m going to eat better!<br>I’m going to lose weight!<br>I’m going to write more!<br>I’m going to be happy!</p><p>And within a few weeks, or days, or even, let’s be honest, hours, we fall back to eating junk, packing on pounds, and ignoring our writing journal. And with that, the idea of being “happy” starts to feel very far away.</p><p>Why? Because we (<i>unintentionally!</i>) set ourselves up for failure!</p><p>We gave ourselves healthy, positive Resolutions, but as I stated already:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Resolutions aren’t Goals!</b></p><p>In this context, a Resolution is defined as “<i>a firm decision to do or not to do something.</i>”</p><p>So, that sounds good, right? But think about the the word “Decision”:</p><p>A Decision happens in the moment, in the “now". <br>So how do you carry that Decision from the “now” into the longterm?<br>How do you find the strength to make that same Decision day after day?</p><p>It’s one thing to make that positive choice in the rush of New Year’s celebrations, but what happens in a few days when you’re tired, and hungry, and your old habits just seem so comfortable and safe?</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">Resolutions can be turned into Goals, and we’ll talk about that next week, but first let’s ask this:</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">If Resolutions aren’t Goals, what good are they?</span></b></p><p><br></p><p>On the surface, Resolutions are amazing! They speak to the great passion we all have to create a better life for ourselves.</p><p>But the moment we call them Resolutions, we fall back into the bad habits of January-past:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Make it - Break it - Feel bad - Give up until next New Year’s.</span></p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">But, what if we could transform the way we think about Resolutions?</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Instead of Resolutions, what if we called them our <br><b>New Year’s Aspirations</b>?</span></p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aspiration" target="_blank">Merriam-Webster Dictionary</a> defines “Aspiration” as “<i>a strong desire to achieve something high or great.</i>”</p><p>Right away, we see a change. A Resolution was a “<i>decision</i>”, but an Aspiration is a “<i>desire</i>.”</p><p>Desires aren’t limited to a single action. Desires flow through us constantly, pushing us forward from moment to moment.</p><p>Read down a little bit in the dictionary, and you'll also find this interesting definition: “<i>the act of breathing and especially of breathing in</i>”.</p><p>Now, we all know this is a medical definition of the word, but think of it in our context:</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our Aspirations are literally driven by the act of breathing, <br>which is an act of life!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>This month, I suggest you spend some time thinking about your New Year’s Aspirations!</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">At this stage, don’t think about how you’ll achieve them or whether or not they’re practical.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Just breathe - in and out - in and out.</p><p><br></p><p>First, write a list of all the areas in your life:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Family</li>
<li>Profession</li>
<li>Spirituality</li>
<li>Creativity</li>
<li>Volunteering</li>
<li>Community</li>
<li>Health</li>
<li>Education</li>
<li>Add your own areas that make sense to you!</li>
</ul><p></p><p><br></p><p>If you’re like me, you’ll do this on a large sheet of paper with lots of coloured markers!<br>I have friends who do this on apps on their phone, or on a fresh Word Doc.<br>Find the way that works best for you.</p><p><br></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b>After creating your list, start to dream big!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">What are your Aspirations, your desires, for your family, your profession, your spirituality?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Write them out. Be specific, and be bold!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Don’t be afraid to write too many answers!</div><div style="text-align: center;">This is dreaming, brainstorming!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Write down all your ideas!</div><p></p><p><br></p><p>And when you think you’ve written enough, step away for a few hours or even a few days.<br>Take time to breathe in and breathe out.</p><p>Then, come back to your list, and add a few more.<br>Don’t take anything away at this stage.<br>Dare to dream a little bigger! <br>Add a few things that will stretch your comfort zone and really excite you.</p><p>Spend some time looking at your list, thinking about the things you’ve written, and if you’re like me, praying over those desires for your life.</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Next week, we’ll talk about how to turn those Aspirations into Goals.</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But for this week, just breathe and dream…</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What are some of your New Year’s Aspirations?</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDrgEaRIAqfJEYrQw7pD1zmlsCqpBTMDYH8vdKpMSDbV7M8xVFacjvFxfAd7L-qyrV-to-WhFEKre1zFoG0eYUmfcE6SkpomMCqDDjf7EAlCZJ1pSLJaeAchZ8LTtGH6tfU7tRVB3uuSCuIQBWcXQQsa7BUtw2p0EcbQKffspDX5sKFZfb1Os=s1640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDrgEaRIAqfJEYrQw7pD1zmlsCqpBTMDYH8vdKpMSDbV7M8xVFacjvFxfAd7L-qyrV-to-WhFEKre1zFoG0eYUmfcE6SkpomMCqDDjf7EAlCZJ1pSLJaeAchZ8LTtGH6tfU7tRVB3uuSCuIQBWcXQQsa7BUtw2p0EcbQKffspDX5sKFZfb1Os=w640-h360" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><br><p><br></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/68621222022-01-07T14:38:00-05:002022-01-07T15:00:04-05:00Goal Setting Fridays - The Power of the Gentle Start<p style="text-align: right;"><span style="text-align: center;"></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>HAPPY NEW YEAR!<br></b></span>Welcome to <b>Goal Setting Fridays!</b>
</div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Why Fridays? <br></i>So you can ruminate over the weekend & get a fresh start on Monday!</p><p style="text-align: center;">Please subscribe to receive all new posts!</p><p style="text-align: center;">We're kicking off the New Year with:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>The Power of the Gentle Start</b></p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcUvDSU3hz1uzHeQWLQin4QvHPiqlA2MR75BKwvw3-uJx-BvA-VgPQqxdJJgGJ7C-XPCizuz2P4blYRbuIfLKcv6Y5lFOqd5vf5AxFZEHur7BvB6BWp-wzOpWgO7Ga0hzQgt3fg2ebDW0TFfy8ECjBMiEvELl2F5WgYD1QqbSXzUAh_RF45ag=s1640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcUvDSU3hz1uzHeQWLQin4QvHPiqlA2MR75BKwvw3-uJx-BvA-VgPQqxdJJgGJ7C-XPCizuz2P4blYRbuIfLKcv6Y5lFOqd5vf5AxFZEHur7BvB6BWp-wzOpWgO7Ga0hzQgt3fg2ebDW0TFfy8ECjBMiEvELl2F5WgYD1QqbSXzUAh_RF45ag=w513-h288" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="288" width="513" /></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><br><div>
<div>Once, a lifetime ago, I belonged to a gym.</div>
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<div>I joined in the summer and, over the months, I created a strong habit of visiting three times a week. Being self-employed, I could attend during the slower daytime hours. I enjoyed small classes, a quiet locker room, and my choice of machines.</div>
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<div>That first week of January, I showed up for my usual Tuesday afternoon visit.</div>
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<div>I was shocked at the transformation of my quiet neighbourhood gym! Bodies pressed upon bodies as classes were filled to capacity, line-ups wrapped around machines, and the locker room resembled a scene from Blake Edwards' “The Party”. </div>
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<div>I expressed my surprise to the staff, who rolled their eyes and said,<i> “Give it a week.”</i>
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<div>Experience had taught them well. </div>
<div>By the following week, the place had started to settle down. </div>
<div>By the end of the month, I had my quiet gym back to myself.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” </i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">This quote - generally misattributed to Albert Einstein - <br>should be the official motto of New Year’s Resolutions! </div>
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<div>You know the story:</div>
<div>Year after year, people make resolutions to “drink less,” “eat better,” and “lose weight.”</div>
<div>And year after year, they set records for how quickly they break those exact resolutions.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">First, we need to address the biggest problem: <br><b>Resolutions aren’t Goals!</b>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i>(I could talk about this all day, so stay tuned next Friday for a post on how to turn Resolutions into Goals.)</i></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">But for now, let me address a second problem: <br><b>The Gangbuster Approach.</b>
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<div>After the feasting and indulgence of the holiday season, people jump into their New Year’s Resolutions feet first and eyes closed. They throw out all the sweets, lock the liquor cabinet, and yes, sign up for a gym membership. </div>
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<div>For the next week, they are “The New Me!”</div>
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<div>But just as quickly, it all starts to fall apart. That kind of instant and complete lifestyle change just isn’t sustainable.</div>
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<div>This January, may I propose a different approach?</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">May I suggest <br><b>The Power of the Gentle Start?</b></span></div>
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<div>The Gentle Start invites grace into our goal setting.</div>
<div>You need to stretch before you can run. </div>
<div>You need to build your muscles and endurance before you can run your first marathon.</div>
<div>It’s the same thing for setting and achieving goals.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">At the start of the pandemic, I decided to start walking. <br>It was a habit that could potentially fulfil several desires for increasing <br>my overall physical, mental, and emotional health.</div>
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<div>I started with three 20-minute walks a week.</div>
<div> Now, for those of you who work out regularly, that probably seems like a really small commitment. But trust me, for me, it was a challenge! It took genuine focus to prioritize my walks and not let weather, tiredness, or really any excuse, keep me from taking that first step outside. And in the beginning, those 20-minutes felt like forever!!! What was my brain supposed to do with all that time??? </div>
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<div>So, I found my first solution - call Mom and Dad.</div>
<div>Soon, I was having my daily phone call with them during my walk.</div>
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<div>After a few weeks, I decided to increase it to 22-minute walks.</div>
<div>A tiny increment, but it felt like progress.</div>
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<div>Over the months, I increased both the length of the walk and the number of walks per week. </div>
<div>I challenged myself to increase the amount of time spent in the “cardio zone” on my FitBit.</div>
<div>Mom gave me a new pair of sneakers that made me feel like I was bouncing along the sidewalks.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">Now that the physical part was rocking, <br>I started to have fun with it:</div>
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<div>I created fun games for myself, such as discovering the best bakery within walking distance of my house.</div>
<div>I learned which homes had the best gardens, and created routes to visit those throughout the summer.</div>
<div>I always allowed time at the start or end of the walk to have a driveway chat with any neighbour who might be on their front porch.</div>
<div>And on those particularly difficult days we've all had in the pandemic, my walks became Prayer Walks, lifting pleas for my family, our ministry, and our community.</div>
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<div><br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">I actually wrote about my <a href="https://lovestc.ca/pandemic-walking-projects-discovering-my-neighbourhood-in-lockdown/" target="_blank"><b>Pandemic Walking Projects for the St. Catharines Tourism Blog.</b></a>
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<div style="text-align: center;">By the end of 2020, I was walking 5-6 times a week, for a minimum of 35 minutes each time.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">I was able to carry my habit successfully into 2021, and now, into the start of 2022.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>My Gentle Start delivered huge results! </b></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">With a small initial goal, and slow incremental changes, I’d created a sustainable habit that was meeting larger goals for my physical, mental, and emotional health. <br>Success! </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What are your big Dreams for 2022?</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></b></div>
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<div>Maybe, instead of going headfirst into January, you could incorporate the Gentle Start.</div>
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<div>Find a small place to begin.</div>
<div>Choose one tiny, achievable step to get the ball rolling.</div>
<div>And for now, just do that one thing.</div>
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<i>Want to eat better? <br></i>Start with one vegetarian meal a week.</div>
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<i>Want to write a book? <br></i>Start by writing 10 minutes, 3 times a week.</div>
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<i>Want to record an album? <br></i>Set up one cowrite for this month.</div>
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<div>Over time, you can increase what you’re doing. As a matter of fact, studies show that once you start taking tiny steps towards your goals, momentum will kick in and you’ll want to do more!</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>For now, just start. <br>Do something small. <br>Get your energy flowing in the right direction.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Invite a Gentle Start into your Goal Setting...</b></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">And before long, you’ll be on the path to succeeding in your New Year’s Resolutions!</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What’s one thing you can do today to create a Gentle Start? </span></b></div>
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<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhylsiIDKxLshOuyoloNs-gVeu8fzGQbNPGLXcsrqetQ1cH9epw3YfDS4sJXQpQSnsv6-iKAWMYvrHZNBoL3vRXEzX-v1wDT4Ln9mTjdp_1VZWhBLLWwxUbIiu5K7LM_xv9C-LWP2-INGqrBuCbS3UrTbueNQ114ulxHaEgU27Ukbn1uPb87ZI=s1640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhylsiIDKxLshOuyoloNs-gVeu8fzGQbNPGLXcsrqetQ1cH9epw3YfDS4sJXQpQSnsv6-iKAWMYvrHZNBoL3vRXEzX-v1wDT4Ln9mTjdp_1VZWhBLLWwxUbIiu5K7LM_xv9C-LWP2-INGqrBuCbS3UrTbueNQ114ulxHaEgU27Ukbn1uPb87ZI=w640-h360" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/67999082021-11-05T18:43:00-04:002021-11-05T18:45:06-04:00Book Review: Prepare Him Room, by Susie Larson<p></p><div style="text-align: center;">
<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZtGmRwvE1ic/YYLJMUZSo_I/AAAAAAAACT0/Q4qTpf4i6-4Dq6sKyxUWsv-JbXFI-hMAwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1399/Prepare%252BCover.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZtGmRwvE1ic/YYLJMUZSo_I/AAAAAAAACT0/Q4qTpf4i6-4Dq6sKyxUWsv-JbXFI-hMAwCLcBGAsYHQ/w211-h295/Prepare%252BCover.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="295" width="211" /></a></div>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I love the "waiting" seasons.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">In particular today, I'm thinking of Advent and Lent. </div><div style="text-align: center;">These seasons are the perfect time to step away from busyness, make intentional choices, and remind ourselves that we're spiritual beings living an earthly world. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">With that in mind, you can guess how excited I was to be offered</div><div style="text-align: center;">an Advent devotional for review!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Prepare Him Room</b>, by Susie Larson, is a 24 day devotional, designed to change our hearts in preparation for the birth of Christ.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div><br></div><div>First, we have to talk about design! This isn't a flimsy, pocket-sized devotional. The book itself is hardcover, with a gorgeous cover image, complete with raised text. The artwork and colours within the book are simple and beautiful. There's even a lovely ribbon to act as your daily bookmark. Everything about the design lends to a calm, inviting reading experience. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>And second, we have to talk about length! The industry standard for devotionals is 200-500 words per day, not including Scripture. Susie completely breaks the mold with this book! Each entry is 6-7 pages long. This is truly a devotional that invites you to stop and take time to reflect on the journey.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>
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<div>Each day's entry is inspired by a chapter of the Gospel of Luke, and includes additional related quotes and Scripture verses. At the end of each reading, we're offered a prayer and an action item to put the message into practice.</div>
</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>This is a book about letting go. In a season where we're told to do more, buy more, and get more, Susie is encouraging us into a season of less. Less stress, less pressure, less ego, less complaining, less overload. And in discovering less, we actually create more space in our hearts and minds for the things, and the One, who matters most. </div><div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Prepare Him Room</b> is a book you should buy twice - </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">once for yourself, and once as a gift for someone else who could use a little "less" this season. </span></div>
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<br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Susie has lots of great resources on her site, including free email devotionals and blessings, </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>as well as the cute tree ornaments shown in the photo above! </i></div>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.SusieLarson.com"><span style="font-size: large;">www.SusieLarson.com</span></a></p>
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<p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;"><br></span></p></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span><p></p>
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<p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;"><br><br></span></p>
</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/67762822021-10-14T16:49:00-04:002021-10-14T19:15:05-04:00Book Review: The Nature of Small Birds, by Susie Finkbeiner<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Earlier this summer, other reviewers in our <a href="https://nutsaboutbooks.ca" target="_blank">Nuts About Books</a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">review program started swooning over <b>The Nature of Small Birds</b>. </div><div style="text-align: center;">As soon as I got a chance, I requested a copy for myself, and I'm so glad I did!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VUzudm6_vxc/YVs5D95D8vI/AAAAAAAACTQ/7Fs7IufOEbYUFn3azSbAjMS4wpP3aT5DgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/55654862.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VUzudm6_vxc/YVs5D95D8vI/AAAAAAAACTQ/7Fs7IufOEbYUFn3azSbAjMS4wpP3aT5DgCLcBGAsYHQ/w250-h386/55654862.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="386" width="250" /></a></div><div>In 1975, over three thousand children became part of Operation Babylift. These orphans and abandoned children were airlifted out of a fallen Saigon to be adopted into Western homes. </div><div><br></div><div>
<b>The Nature of Small Birds</b>, by Susie Finkbeiner, introduces us to one of these Western families. Our story is told by three members of the family over three significant time periods - when Mindy is adopted, when she and her sister Sonny are teenagers, and when the girls are adults. Mindy has always wondered about her past, but when the internet gives the option of researching her birth parents, she finally has the chance to ask the questions she's always wanted answered.</div><div><br></div><div>The best word to describe this book is <b>Poetic</b>. The writing is lyrical and beautiful. There are times when the characters will actually quote poetry, which set me off on many a google search to find the original poem.</div><div><br></div><div>This family is loving, which is a powerful choice. This isn't the high drama of a broken family. Instead, we're treated to a journey of learning how to love, heal and forgive within an environment of grace. We see the question of "what is a family" explored across generations and perspectives.</div><div><br></div><div>I honestly loved all the characters in this book! They're realistic and relatable. Each of our three narrators has a unique voice and perspective. 80's-era Sonny with her references to scrunchies, Aqua Net, and separating your eyelashes with a pin were particularly fantastic for this 80's-era girl! </div><div><br></div><div>And the references to birds are lovely! I'm a notetaker when I read, and I always love finding references to the title of a novel. There are wonderful quotes and gorgeous thoughts about "the nature of small birds" woven throughout this story. I lost track of how many lines I underlined!</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I can't recommend this gorgeous book enough!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Buy it, find a cozy corner in your backyard or by a sunny window, and enjoy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I highly recommend<b> The Nature of Small Birds!</b></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For a bit of added reading, Susie wrote this piece about the inspiration </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">for the character "Bruce":</span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://susiefinkbeiner.com/2021/06/04/of-birds-and-providence/"><b>https://susiefinkbeiner.com/2021/06/04/of-birds-and-providence/</b></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You can learn more about Susie Finkbeiner and her beautiful writing at</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://susiefinkbeiner.com" target="_blank">www.SusieFinkbeiner.com </a></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/67720182021-10-10T17:25:00-04:002021-10-10T21:00:07-04:00Turnaround Prayers - or How I Found Gratitude in an Awkward Moment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><i>“And, please God, bless Iago…”</i></b></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My heart sank as soon as the words left my lips.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last month, I said good-bye to my beloved pet of 21 years. Iago was a tiny, spotted leopard gecko. I know lizards aren’t everyone’s idea of a loving pet, but Iago was something special. He was sweet and yes, very friendly. He loved being held by people, and we developed a high level of trust over the years. For over two decades, he was my constant companion. Losing him was heartbreaking.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Every night, I pray for our family pets. Last night, I had listed all our puppies, when I found myself adding Iago’s name to the list. </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>“And, please God, bless Iago…”</i></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My breath caught as I realized what I’d done. I suddenly felt awkward, and a little sad. I paused and considered what to say next. My misspoken prayer wasn’t a surprise to God. He’d created Iago. He knew how much he’d meant to me. </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In that moment, I decided to turn the prayer around:</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>“Dear God, thank you for Iago! Thank you for his long, happy life. </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Thank you for allowing me to care for him. He was a precious piece of your creation.”</i></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In that moment, I felt a little weight lift. Sadness was replaced by a warm glow of gentle joy.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">By turning my prayer around, I found gratitude in an awkward, unexpected moment. </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I thought, </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>“What other Turnaround Prayers can I say?”</b></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We’re often encouraged to find gratitude in difficult situations, but what I was considering was much more specific - not just “finding” gratitude, but actively thanking God with prayer!</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">No one has a perfect prayer life. If we’re being honest, we all have prayers that are a little self-centred or potentially inconsiderate of other people. Prayers that start with <i>“Let me get…” </i>or<i> “I want to win…”</i>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We all say prayers that ignore God’s grace or generosity. <i>“Why can’t you just give me…” </i>or<i> “I’m still waiting…” </i>or<i> “That didn’t turn out like I asked for…”</i>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">How can I shift the focus of these prayers from my needs and complaints </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">to a focus on God’s goodness and love?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">How can I make these into Turnaround Prayers?</span></b></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What if I start small?</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>“God, the fridge is a mess - Thank you, God, for a full fridge!”</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>“God, that guy just cut me off - Thank you, God, that I have a car!”</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>“God, the wifi is dragging - Thank you, God, that I have access to technology!” </i></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now, I’m not trying to be naive or over simplistic. I know there are times when finding gratitude in a situation seems impossible. To say “Thanks” in the midst our pain can feel ridiculous. Trust me, I get that.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But as someone who’s gone through immense tragedy, I can honestly tell you there is always a reason to be grateful. Always. I’m not suggesting you should be thankful for the tragedy itself. Instead, I would encourage you to find something in your surrounding circumstances for which you can offer thanks. </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It might be tiny, especially when compared to the magnitude of your pain, but remember: every piece of gratitude is significant. After all, we’re told that we only need faith the size of a mustard seed to move mountains. Imagine how powerful a tiny seed of gratitude might be to our waning faith!</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>If we practice Turnaround Prayers with the small stuff, it’ll stretch our prayer muscles. </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Eventually, we’ll learn to do it with the big stuff.</b></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The apostle Paul wrote:</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>1 Thessalonians 5:16-18</i></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What a set of instructions! </div>
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<b>Rejoice always</b> <i>(Good times and bad!)</i>
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<b>Pray continually </b><i>(When you feel like it and when you don’t!)</i>
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<b>Give thanks in all circumstances </b><i>(ALL of them!)</i>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As I write this, we’re celebrating our 2nd Thanksgiving in the pandemic.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I can’t think of a better time to pray some Turnaround Prayers.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are some I’m lifting this weekend:</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i>“God, I wish we were touring with Infinitely More, </i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i>but I’m thankful we can be home with our family for Thanksgiving.”</i></b></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i>“God, I felt so sick last week, but I’m so grateful for a negative Covid test.”</i></b></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i>“God, the lockdowns are frustrating, but I’m thankful for this time to write and make music.”</i></b></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Start small, and allow your Turnaround Prayers to reveal God’s grace in every situation.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What Turnaround Prayers can you lift this Thanksgiving?</span></b></div>
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CczBdJyKPDY/YWNNAQgBYqI/AAAAAAAACTo/ote5sXiGZgwjC0IMz0yAeAlKZBfYFysWQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2000/Turnaround%2BPrayers%2B-%2BQuote.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CczBdJyKPDY/YWNNAQgBYqI/AAAAAAAACTo/ote5sXiGZgwjC0IMz0yAeAlKZBfYFysWQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h456/Turnaround%2BPrayers%2B-%2BQuote.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="456" width="640" /></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><br><p></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/67486772021-09-16T13:33:00-04:002021-09-16T14:00:20-04:00Book Review: Come Back To Me, by Jody Hedlund<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U8EJoevEzZM/YTowcUK2RlI/AAAAAAAACSw/ScXtijSuQDg15CVzyBss5N_cY8QYjx8lgCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/IMG_0553.WEBP" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U8EJoevEzZM/YTowcUK2RlI/AAAAAAAACSw/ScXtijSuQDg15CVzyBss5N_cY8QYjx8lgCLcBGAsYHQ/w245-h379/IMG_0553.WEBP" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="379" width="245" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Historical Fiction meets Time Travel? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yes, please!</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Welcome to my latest book review:</p><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Come Back to Me, by Jody Hedlund</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></b></div><p><i>By the way, how's your reading going in this season? Some people haven't been able to read a thing since the pandemic hit. Others, like me, can't devour books quickly enough! But, I digress...</i></p><p><i><br></i></p><p><b>Come Back to Me</b> introduces us to Marian Creighton - a super-smart, fact-based, workaholic research scientist. Marian has a limited social life, a sister she adores, and a complicated relationship with her father. Marian's mother tragically died from an incurable genetic condition, the same condition that now ravages her sister's body. Marian's scientist father had abandoned traditional research to pour himself into a search for a mythical cure with ties to a particular stream of holy water and the Biblical Tree of Life. When Marian accidentally ingests a few drops of the water, she finds herself coming face to face with the Middle Ages, the Peasants' Revolt, and a handsome knight.</p><p>This book was so much fun to read! It's actually my first time travel book, and I loved the blending of science fiction with historical fiction. One of the things I love most about historical fiction is leaving the book to deep dive into the real historical facts. I knew very little about the Peasants Revolt of 1381, so it was fascinating digging into that chapter of history.</p><p>I also loved these characters! Seeing modern, scientific, feminist Marian navigate the rough, superstitious, patriarchal world of the Middle Ages was fantastic. The danger and challenges of this fish-out-of-water story always felt grounded and realistic. I don't want to reveal too much about Marian's mysterious knight - Jody does a perfect job of unfolding his story!</p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Come Back To Me</b> blends themes of history, science, faith, romance, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and mystery to create a true romp of a book!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Jody Hedlund is so prolific! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Her website is filled with lots of extras and bonuses for her many novels. </div><div style="text-align: center;">You can find videos and even a free preview of <b>Come Back to Me</b> on her site:</div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://jodyhedlund.com/books/come-back-to-me/">http://jodyhedlund.com/books/come-back-to-me/</a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="553" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZJfDQAfI3IM" width="665" youtube-src-id="ZJfDQAfI3IM"></iframe></div><p></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/67459712021-09-14T16:18:00-04:002021-09-14T17:45:33-04:00I'm a Guest Writer on the Love STC Blog! <p style="text-align: center;">When the lockdowns started in St. Catharines, I started walking my neighbourhood.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Soon enough, I got a little bored, so I created the <a href="https://lovestc.ca/pandemic-walking-projects-discovering-my-neighbourhood-in-lockdown/" target="_blank">Pandemic Walking Projects</a>.</p><p style="text-align: center;">This week, <b>St. Catharines Tourism</b> is featuring my story on their blog!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You can read my story - <a href="https://lovestc.ca/pandemic-walking-projects-discovering-my-neighbourhood-in-lockdown/" target="_blank">Pandemic Walking Projects </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://lovestc.ca/pandemic-walking-projects-discovering-my-neighbourhood-in-lockdown/" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vytSa1-S4ek/YUECHkGhVgI/AAAAAAAACTA/MAZmgb4xEKsrj0dTgEuu5w07F6cOS4uSgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/128947354_112369344035172_6446504713646847185_n%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vytSa1-S4ek/YUECHkGhVgI/AAAAAAAACTA/MAZmgb4xEKsrj0dTgEuu5w07F6cOS4uSgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h264/128947354_112369344035172_6446504713646847185_n%2B2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="264" width="640" /></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><br><p><br></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/67315952021-08-30T18:55:00-04:002021-08-30T23:45:09-04:00Book Review: Writers on Writing, by Kimberley Payne<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oivIWEUUI6E/YS1NT7tcELI/AAAAAAAACSg/iNiacGuEVd85kE8Atj8fPEUrlx8v_187wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Writers%2Bon%2BWriting%2Bcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oivIWEUUI6E/YS1NT7tcELI/AAAAAAAACSg/iNiacGuEVd85kE8Atj8fPEUrlx8v_187wCLcBGAsYHQ/w236-h350/Writers%2Bon%2BWriting%2Bcover.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="350" width="236" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Last year, I joined <a href="https://inscribe.org" target="_blank">Inscribe Christian Writers' Fellowship</a> to be part of a national writing community. </p><div style="text-align: center;">In addition to finding lots of writing opportunities and inspiration, it's also been a great way to discover new books! </div><div style="text-align: center;">When Kimberley Payne started talking about her new book, I knew I wanted to read and review it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><p><b>Writers On Writing - Interviews With Writers of Faith</b> is a collection of writer profiles compiled from the Koinonia community. This Medium-based publication features <i>"stories by Christian writers to encourage, entertain, and empower you in your faith, food, fitness, family, friendship, and fun."</i> The editors have been hosting interviews with their 350+ contributors to provide a <i>"snapshot into the lives of writers of faith."</i> This collection features 35 interviews from this series.</p><p><br></p><p>The writers represent a wide spectrum of ages, backgrounds, nationalities, and experience levels. Their common ground is a love of both writing and the Gospel.</p><p>Each writer was asked such questions as: </p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>- What inspires you? </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>- What do you like most/least about writing?</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>- How do you balance professional time with personal time?</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>- What makes you unique?</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>- How is your faith reflected in your writing?</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">Owing to the original online format, many of the answers to these questions are quite short. This isn't a collection of long form essays on writing. It is, however, a wonderful collection of writer profiles, emphasizing the diversity and passion of Christian writers. The answers are straightforward and honest. You can easily read the whole book in a day, or read an interview a day for a month's worth of inspiration. Some will connect with you more than others<i> (as is the case in any collection)</i>, but every interview has some gem that you'll want to underline and bookmark for further reflection.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>I think this would be an especially fantastic book for the newer writer of faith - </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>either for the writer to buy, or for a supportive friend to offer as a gift! </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You can learn more about Kimberley Payne at <a href="https://www.kimberleypayne.com"><b>https://www.kimberleypayne.com</b></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You can follow the Koinonia community at <a href="https://medium.com/koinonia" target="_blank"><b>https://medium.com/koinonia </b></a></span></p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DiKz-RDF9z0/YS1fM8JY_aI/AAAAAAAACSo/1ozzKxGSduwhnrISl_2s3LfHTwXoFBHaQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1850/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-08-30%2Bat%2B6.42.35%2BPM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DiKz-RDF9z0/YS1fM8JY_aI/AAAAAAAACSo/1ozzKxGSduwhnrISl_2s3LfHTwXoFBHaQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h114/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-08-30%2Bat%2B6.42.35%2BPM.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="114" width="640" /></a></div><p><br></p><p><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">I was offered a complimentary e-copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. </span></i></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/67298702021-08-28T17:16:00-04:002021-08-28T17:45:08-04:00Book Review: On The Cliffs of Foxglove Manor, by Jaime Jo Wright<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0Nke70MvD4A/YSlOlFgW6PI/AAAAAAAACSQ/lQ8qUiSFbMwMTifzeF4nApg2YXEq9cb9QCPcBGAYYCw/s1545/71aBQawBFJS.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0Nke70MvD4A/YSlOlFgW6PI/AAAAAAAACSQ/lQ8qUiSFbMwMTifzeF4nApg2YXEq9cb9QCPcBGAYYCw/s320/71aBQawBFJS.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="207" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">Friends, I have discovered a new genre of novel:</div></span>
</div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Historical-Creepy-Ghost-Story-Sleep-With-Your-Nightlight-On-Christian Fiction!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>On The Cliffs of Foxglove Manor</b>, by Jaime Jo Wright, is spooky, Romantic, and enthralling Gothic tale! </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p>We open in 1885 <i>(I feel like half the books I've read in 2021 open in that decade!)</i> and meet Adria - a broken young woman, sent on an impossible quest by her domineering father. We also meet Foxglove Manor - a haunted, secret-filled mansion perched on the cliffs of Lake Superior. </p><p>Our second timeline is present day. Kailey and her autistic brother, Jude, have their own history with Foxglove Manor. They arrive at the front door to work and live in the private-manor-turned-nursing-home with a secret mission to unravel their own complicated past. </p><div style="text-align: left;">What follows is an epic tale inspired by the real-life legends of missing and smuggled Confederate gold. The past and present storylines weave together to tell a wild and gripping mystery inhabited by engaging characters. Jaime Jo's writing hits a great balance between poetic, romantic descriptions and nail-biting, page turning urgency.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I read this book on our front porch in the middle of a heat wave. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In an ideal reading world, I'd read it by a stormy lake, with a cup of hot tea in my decanter...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wherever you find yourself, pick up a copy of <b>On The Cliffs of Foxglove Manor</b> </div><div style="text-align: center;">and let yourself be swept away!</div><p><br></p><div style="text-align: center;">Jaime Jo is really fun to follow on social media, and her site is filled with all kinds of treasures. </div><div style="text-align: center;">For <b>On The Cliffs of Foxglove Manor</b>, she's created a whole page of videos, image downloads, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and even a FREE book club kit!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">You can access all the freebies here:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.jaimewrightbooks.com/foxglove-manor-club-page"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>https://www.jaimewrightbooks.com/foxglove-manor-club-page</b></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BIfpd88x5OI/YSqjtQd52-I/AAAAAAAACSY/sA59OolkZVwBoLbJ06VRcfymuv0Ut5npACLcBGAsYHQ/s980/banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BIfpd88x5OI/YSqjtQd52-I/AAAAAAAACSY/sA59OolkZVwBoLbJ06VRcfymuv0Ut5npACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h244/banner.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="244" width="640" /></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div><br></div><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></div><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><br></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><br></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><br></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><br></span></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/67178972021-08-15T17:08:00-04:002021-08-15T20:15:21-04:00Book Review: Yours Is The Night, by Amanda Dykes<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cPPc5VtEdTE/YRlndhPAI3I/AAAAAAAACR0/wxkgD_YpmaEGustQ4_BeTbxqme21MBC5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/55654580.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cPPc5VtEdTE/YRlndhPAI3I/AAAAAAAACR0/wxkgD_YpmaEGustQ4_BeTbxqme21MBC5QCLcBGAsYHQ/w241-h373/55654580.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="373" width="241" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I literally turned the final page, </div><div style="text-align: center;">looked at my husband, and said, </div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;">"I want to turn back to page one </span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;">and start this book all over again..."</span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">So, yes, you're about to read a ga-ga lovesick review for</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Yours Is The Night.</span></b> </div><div style="text-align: right;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">I was so excited when I found out Amanda Dykes was about to release a new historical fiction! Her 2020 release, <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2020/10/book-review-set-stars-alight-by-amanda.html" target="_blank">Set The Stars Alight,</a> was one of my favourite books of last year. I also loved her 2019 seaside tale, <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2019/08/book-review-whose-waves-these-are-by.html" target="_blank">Whose Waves These Are</a>. I'm so thankful to the folks at <a href="https://nutsaboutbooks.ca" target="_blank">Nuts About Books</a> for sending me an advance copy of <b>Yours Is The Night</b>!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><p>We open with an unusual ceremony - choosing the casket for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. A fascinating, brief moment in history, that quickly spins us back in time to the trenches of WWI. </p><p>We're introduced to five vibrant and diverse characters who meet in the final year of the war. Matthew - the "horse whisperer" who has never really had a home. Jasper - the professional soldier with a heartbreaking past. Henry - the reporter tasked with sharing the war with the world back home. George - the unspiritual chaplain who would do anything to avoid the front. And Mireilles - the "Angel" who brings hope to the hopeless, while struggling to find a path for herself. </p><p>When Mireilles is found hidden in the depths of the woods, the soldiers are tasked with delivering her to safety. Our friends embark on a journey that will challenge their notions of duty, love, self, God, and friendship. </p><p><b>Yours Is The Night</b> has everything I love about a great novel! Every aspect, from story to characters to dialogue, is fantastic. The history feels authentically researched and executed. Our characters take turns narrating different chapters in first person. Each voice is unique and distinct. It's a wonderful narrative device, giving us a fully-rounded perspective of the story and relationships. </p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Amanda is somehow able to weave together the genres of romance, historical fiction, spiritual journey, road trip, and buddy movie to create a novel that rings true on every emotional level.</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p>And her writing is just breathtaking! I turned down pages and underlined countless sentences simply because I love the way they are written. I read most of the book on my front porch, and I kept having to lift my head to remind myself that I was safe in the sunshine of my neighbourhood and not smothered in the chilly darkness of the trenches. </p><p><br></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b>I wasn't kidding, either - </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>I did finish this book and debated just turning back to page one </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>and starting over again. It's that good! </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Yours Is The Night </b>honours the sacrifice of the men and women </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">who fought in The Great War by telling a fictional story that captures </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">the essence of their very real experience. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's somehow both escapism and realism, and it's truly wonderful. </span></div><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">In addition to her <a href="http://amandadykes.com" target="_blank">site</a>, Amanda has a great social media presence. Her Facebook page is filled with all kinds of images and behind the scenes info from her WWI research. You can check it all out here:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/authoramandadykes"><span style="font-size: large;">https://www.facebook.com/authoramandadykes</span></a></b></p><p><br></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8wo7kW1tlPk/YRl94v5ulzI/AAAAAAAACR8/O-AgEro2TAwdsmvyUedYiJUTjNzm-az1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s920/230679693_521480902175551_6510419138490293848_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8wo7kW1tlPk/YRl94v5ulzI/AAAAAAAACR8/O-AgEro2TAwdsmvyUedYiJUTjNzm-az1gCLcBGAsYHQ/w445-h366/230679693_521480902175551_6510419138490293848_n.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="366" width="445" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Amanda showing some "trench art" - a feature in <b>Yours Is The Night</b>.<br>Taken from her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/authoramandadykes" target="_blank">Facebook</a> page.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br><p><br></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><br></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><br></span></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/67091312021-08-06T12:52:00-04:002021-08-06T15:15:12-04:00Book Review: Redeeming Power, by Diane Langberg<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XVGeYBNW9k8/YQhVhE58S2I/AAAAAAAACRo/2YwoxFGfAZAFV9vGkMylHjdkPBH8JJHjQCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/51GVw7ZzgmL.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XVGeYBNW9k8/YQhVhE58S2I/AAAAAAAACRo/2YwoxFGfAZAFV9vGkMylHjdkPBH8JJHjQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/51GVw7ZzgmL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="207" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Confession time: </i></div><div style="text-align: center;">It took me a long time to read this book, but it was more than worth it. </div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b>"Redeeming Power: </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Understanding Authority and Abuse in the Church" </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>by Dr. Diane Langberg</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><p>What a title! I love the combination of the words <b>Redeeming</b> and <b>Power</b> - it was the rest of that title that I found so intimidating. I don't know anyone working in the Church who hasn't, at one time or another, felt the pain of someone in authority acting abusive, myself included.</p><div style="text-align: center;">I knew this was going to be a hard read. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I was right, but simply put, what an incredible and important book. </div><p>Langberg's focus isn't simply on the abuse of power, but specifically, abuse perpetrated by Christians in leadership and the Church as an institution. These opening lines set the tone:</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">"Power can be a source of blessing, but when it is abused, untold damage to the body and name of Christ, often <i>in</i> the name of Christ, is done."</span></b></p><p> </p><p>From here, Langberg explores three main areas:</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>- Power Defined</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>- Power Abused</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>- Power Redeemed</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">It probably doesn't surprise anyone that <b>Power Abused</b> is the longest and most extensive section of the book. Throughout these chapters, we explore physical, sexual, emotional, and spiritual abuses perpetrated by individuals and systems. All the abuses are based in misused power, and many are defined by gender, race, and economic or social status. These are truly difficult chapters to read. For some, these chapters may trigger difficult memories. For others, the chapters may inspire a "me too" moment of solidarity.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">Langberg's writing is full of compassion and conviction. She pulls no punches. There's no softening to make the truth more palatable. And for her, there's one clear solution: look to God. Not the God of our own making. Not the God in our own image. The One God, who created us all in His image, and Jesus, who modelled how to lead and love without prejudice or restrictions.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">Throughout my personal reading, certain stories resonated with my own experiences. But as someone in church leadership, I also tried to challenge myself: Am I being an empathetic leader? Are my prejudices and privileges affecting my leadership choices? How can I make sure my use of power reflects the love of God?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I highly recommend Redeeming Power, especially to those in church leadership.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It will make a powerful choice for a book club, Bible study, or recovery group. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">I pray this book is both a source of healing and a challenge for each of us.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Diane Langberg's site is full of additional resources, like videos, podcasts, and a blog. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>You can learn more about <b>Redeeming Power</b> and Langberg's valuable work with trauma victims, caregivers, and clergy at:</i></div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.dianelangberg.com"><b><span style="font-size: large;">https://www.dianelangberg.com</span></b></a></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/67049212021-08-02T13:45:00-04:002021-08-02T18:00:10-04:00Book Review: Rocky Mountain Restoration, by Lisa J. Flickinger<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<p>Today, I'm excited to bring you a different kind of book review: </p>
<p><b>I'm reviewing a trilogy!</b></p>
<p>As I've shared on other posts, I'm a member of <a href="https://inscribe.org" target="_blank">InScribe Christian Writers' Fellowship</a>. A few months ago, members were sharing their upcoming summer releases. I don't have a release, so I offered reviews.</p>
<div>Lisa J. Flickinger took me up on my offer. </div>
<div>I didn't know if I had the time to read a whole series, </div>
<div>but she had me at <b><i>"Historical Fiction!"</i></b>
</div>
<div><br></div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;">Today, I'm reviewing Lisa's latest release, </span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Rocky Mountain Restoration</b>, </span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;">from her <b>Rocky Mountain Revival Series.</b> </span></div>
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<p>Our saga begins with <b>Rocky Mountain Redemption</b> and <b>Rocky Mountain Revelation. </b>Both are set in the late 1800's in a Rocky Mountain logging camp. I'd never read a story set in this environment before, so I was excited to learn more about the setting and how it would affect the lives of our characters. I loved the details of the forest, the rhythm of the camp life, and the dangerous work required of the loggers. </p>
<p>Each book of the trilogy is a love story, set against the social challenges and constraints of the late Victorian era. We meet our protagonists early in the stories, so we immediately know who's going to fall in love with whom. What makes it so charming is how Lisa tells the story. She alternates point of view, so in one chapter we feel our heroine's thoughts and actions, and in the next, we feel our hero's. By writing in this style, we get a complete perspective on each character, allowing us to fully understand his and her struggles, challenges, and passions. </p>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MfouwC6SKs0/YQcietK23-I/AAAAAAAACRI/Sy9aKZjAtRs0UaHE1hr3ROXRzwmtjiU9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/Rocky%2BMountain%2BRevelation%2BFinal.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MfouwC6SKs0/YQcietK23-I/AAAAAAAACRI/Sy9aKZjAtRs0UaHE1hr3ROXRzwmtjiU9QCLcBGAsYHQ/w168-h252/Rocky%2BMountain%2BRevelation%2BFinal.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="252" width="168" /></a></div>
<p>You can definitely read each book independently, but if you read all three, you'll meet familiar characters, and better understand some of the social and emotional dynamics.</p>
<div>
<b>Rocky Mountain Restoration</b> is the third chapter of this series, and it takes us on a whole new adventure! This time, we leave the rough and tumble world of the logging camp for the genteel life of steam ship travel. We meet our new cast of characters as they cruise up the coast of British Columbia. This new world is decadent, class-based, and dramatic. Think Downton-Abbey-at-sea!</div>
<p>I love ocean stories, so this new setting was so perfect for me - very different from the logging camp, and so full of wonderful, historical detail. You can fully imagine the world of the ship, the dynamics between the characters, and the tension caused by living in such tight quarters.</p>
<p><br></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">There are two things I particularly appreciate about Lisa's writing:</span></p>
<p>One, she deals appropriately with the restrictions of the era. The Victorian times were strict. Certain etiquette was required of men and women, and those rules were heightened by class. Lisa's characters live and make their choices in that world; we never see them trying to live by today's social rulebook.</p>
<p>And two, her characters aren't afraid of their faith. Some have it, some question it, some have lost it, but none are afraid to talk about it. This is also appropriate to the era, when most people of this particular society would have been raised in church. These books are more overtly "Christian fiction" than most of the books I review, but the scenes of faith were never preachy, and often very moving.</p>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;">If you're looking for a lovely escape to a very different world, </span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;">I recommend tucking yourself away in a cozy reading corner with the whole </span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Rocky Mountain Revival Series</b>! </span></div>
<p>Oh, and make sure you grab a snack! All of our characters are connected to the food and service industry. Between the ship's homemade egg rolls, the logger's bacon-and-egg breakfast, and the constant mention of homemade donuts, these books made me hungry! Oh, did you know loggers get something called <i>"second lunch"</i>??? Me neither, but I'm thinking of starting it as a family practice in our home... </p>
<p><br></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">You can learn more about Lisa J. Flickinger and the<b> Rocky Mountain Revival Series</b> at</span></p>
<p><a href="http://www.lisajflickinger.com"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">http://www.lisajflickinger.com</span></b></a></p>
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P9plVuLwCyg/YQgnH2esAsI/AAAAAAAACRg/VW4FLnIdYu09CswufoosaSEI2EArsVaRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2068/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-08-02%2Bat%2B1.09.04%2BPM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P9plVuLwCyg/YQgnH2esAsI/AAAAAAAACRg/VW4FLnIdYu09CswufoosaSEI2EArsVaRwCLcBGAsYHQ/w631-h219/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-08-02%2Bat%2B1.09.04%2BPM.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="219" width="631" /></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><br> <p></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/66892532021-07-15T17:54:00-04:002021-07-15T19:15:10-04:00No Clear Path to Reopening for Musicians<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For months, I’ve been terrified of <b>“The Gap”</b> - </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;">that time between the world returning to normal and musicians returning to work.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">For the last decade, my husband, Gerald Flemming, and I have toured Canada with our inspirational duo, Infinitely More. Each year, we pack our car with guitars, gear, and CDs to bring live music from St. Catharines, ON, to every corner of the country. We’ve performed thousands of events, recorded 8 studio albums, and racked up a handful of national music awards.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">That was, until 2020. We spent our first weeks of lockdown cancelling concerts, including our 10th Anniversary Cross Canada Tour. Lost income, lost creativity, lost community - it broke our hearts.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We pivoted to creating videos and teaching online lessons. We received a Canada Council for the Arts grant to take our 10th Anniversary Tour online. We partnered with the Anglican Diocese of Niagara to create our “Lenten Musical Calendar”. We started to work on our 9th studio album. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We did our best to stay creative and connected.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">17 months later, lockdowns are lifting. Vaccinations are happening. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Businesses are reopening. Everyone is excited about the return to normal.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But for musicians, we find ourselves firmly in “The Gap”.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>You see, there’s no clear path for a full-time professional musician to “reopen”. </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We’re not like other businesses. There won’t be a day when the government announces, </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">“And today, artists can return to work!” </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The pathway to our re-opening is layered and complicated:</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We need venues to open, but live music isn’t restricted to clubs and theatres. Thousands of performances happen in churches, parks, libraries, seniors homes, and other community spaces. Most of us can’t make a living until all venues open at full capacity.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Did you know that many concerts at churches, community centres, and even theatres are fully or partially staffed by volunteers? Before they can host a concert, venues will need to recruit volunteers, create a safe work environment, and provide special training for ever-changing restrictions and guidelines. </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">For a Christian duo like Infinitely More, we need to follow the lead of local churches. Many of them still aren’t gathering in person. Some have lost members and resources along the way. It will take a period of time for them to regroup and settle into a new normal before they can take on an “extra” event like hosting a concert. </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Most full-time musicians travel. We need to consider the safety of hotels, planes, public washrooms and dine-in restaurants, in Canada and across the border. Many of us find accommodations with friends, family and billets. How comfortable will any of us feel staying in someone else’s home and eating at their table? </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The insecurity of long-range planning is a new issue. Venues of all shapes and sizes had to cancel all their 2020 programming. Many are hesitant to put events on the books until things are easier to predict. As you can imagine, this varies across the country, complicating the already-complicated world of touring. </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There’s the issue of money. How will heavy and unpredictable tour finances play out in a post-pandemic economy? Will venues be able to pay fees or guarantee ticket sales? Will audience members have extra cash for tickets or merchandise? </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">As venues cancelled events last year, many artist bookings were simply deferred to 2021. That means that concert series and other commercial and community venues already have their performers secured for this year, and won't have openings for another full year.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Which leads to the most complicated part of the equation: booking events is a long game. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There’s often a 3-12 month gap between booking a concert and the actual performance. Assuming any of us can get back to our 2019 numbers, both in terms of fees and performance schedule, that still means a 3-12 month gap before we can earn a full-time income.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>This is “The Gap” I fear. </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><br></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>And this is “The Gap” where we, and all full-time musicians, now find ourselves. </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><br></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There are fantastic groups on all levels working to ease this transition, create safe venues, and advocate for financial support. We’re grateful for their commitment.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">As things start to open up, there’s a genuine excitement in the air. People are anxious to leave their homes, travel, and attend events. We’re hoping this means full audiences who are eager to buy tickets and CDs. </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But the simple truth is this: </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Being an artist is hard anytime, and this season has been uniquely difficult. </b></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Every day, social media contains yet another post by a talented musician “announcing” their new career in real estate or bookkeeping. Artists are regularly sharing testimonies of lost creativity and productivity. Our arts community has suffered and is suffering. Many won’t survive. I worry for the career artists who can’t see the next chapter, and the new artists who can’t even write their first page. </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it’s now going to take a village to reopen the performing arts industry. We’ll need financial support for individuals, venues and organizations. We’ll need a vaccinated country that’s not living in fear of disease. We’ll need committed staff and volunteers who can safely support live performances. And we’ll need artists who are physically, emotionally, psychologically, creatively, and financially healthy.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">As artists, all we want to do is make art and share it with the world. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Art is never complete until it’s shared with an audience. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Trust me when I say, we can’t wait to perform for you! </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Let’s hope it can happen soon ... </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Want to help Infinitely More in "The Gap"? </span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Please visit our <a href="http://www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Store" target="_blank">STORE</a> to purchase music or make a donation. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Please <a href="http://www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Contact" target="_blank">CONTACT</a> us to book live or online concerts, workshops, and worship services.</div>
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</div><p></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/66843522021-07-10T11:29:00-04:002021-07-10T15:15:08-04:00Guest Blogger!<p style="text-align: center;">Today, I'm the guest blogger for <b>Inscribe Christian Writers Fellowship.</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You can find my post <a href="https://inscribewritersonline.blogspot.com/2021/07/the-joys-of-summer-reading-guest-post.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://inscribewritersonline.blogspot.com/2021/07/the-joys-of-summer-reading-guest-post.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vGOkfgWBMpQ/YOm8Zae5x3I/AAAAAAAACQM/7GqVjpwzNVgvlGy50Fehy8j6Ett-uhrlACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h237/The%2BJoys%2Bof%2BSummer%2BReading%2B-%2Bimage.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="237" width="640" /></a></div><br><p><br></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/66827992021-07-08T16:44:00-04:002021-07-08T18:30:18-04:00Book Review: A Tapestry of Light, by Kimberly Duffy<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yKvIjAUyTJY/YOdZJ4XWt3I/AAAAAAAACP0/dHKOcZovM7Qu3J77K58_sdjWmhQ5YxlHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s614/0764235648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yKvIjAUyTJY/YOdZJ4XWt3I/AAAAAAAACP0/dHKOcZovM7Qu3J77K58_sdjWmhQ5YxlHgCLcBGAsYHQ/w240-h371/0764235648.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="371" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">One of my 2021 Reading Challenges was to read a book </div><div style="text-align: center;">"based in a country I've never read about."</div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Can you believe I'd never read a novel set in India??</p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm so happy <b>A Tapestry of Light</b> by Kimberly Duffy </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">was the book to fulfil that challenge!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></div><p><b>A Tapestry of Light</b> opens in 1885 Calcutta. Our heroine, Ottilie, has already seen more than her share of hardship, and today is no different. We meet her at her mother's funeral. At only 20, Ottilie now bears responsibility for her grandmother and her young brother. Her physical strength and her faith in God are barely holding up.</p><p>But Ottilie has a special talent - beetle-wing embroidery. Yes, you read that correctly. Actually embroidery with beetle wings! If you love handicrafts like me, all the descriptions of this specialized artistry will make your heart swoon! I spent hours googling and drooling over photos...</p><p>Embroidery becomes a theme and a metaphor throughout this incredibly lush and romantic book. </p><p><br></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3J-wKN_m9M8/YOddSGjpesI/AAAAAAAACQE/3ciFGI6UnYMHQra3d6do8S0LlfrPDGmNACLcBGAsYHQ/s254/Unknown.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3J-wKN_m9M8/YOddSGjpesI/AAAAAAAACQE/3ciFGI6UnYMHQra3d6do8S0LlfrPDGmNACLcBGAsYHQ/w332-h424/Unknown.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="424" width="332" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;">Beetle-wing Embroidery<br>Source: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beetlewing" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a> </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div>Ottilie is both British and Indian, simultaneously belonging to both and neither. When her family's British past shows up in an unexpected way, Ottilie must make hard decisions about her family's future. What entails is a journey through cultures, class, and racial tension. I really don't want to give away any plot points, so I'll just say I loved the way Ottilie's story unfolded! The plot kept me fully engaged, without ever sacrificing detailed descriptions of cities, clothing, and countryside. The characters are engaging and beautifully developed.<p></p>
<p>Kimberly does a great job of putting us in a very tactile world. We can taste the Indian spices, hear the sounds of the neighbourhood, and feel every breath of weather. In full disclosure, I know very little about British/Indian history. I found myself looking up words like "Cawnpore" and "Nana Sahib", but isn't that part of why we love historical fiction? The best historical fiction doesn't just give us a great story - it gives us a unique and personal glimpse into history. More often than not, we get to experience chapters of history - usually about women or the disenfranchised - that rarely make it into the history books.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><br></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">At 400+ pages,<b> A Tapestry of Light</b> is a hefty read, but worth every moment. I loved the world of the book, the characters, the artistry, the Victorian sensibility, and yes, the beetle-wing embroidery!</p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Brew yourself a cup of tea, visit your local Indian bakery for a dish of rasmalai, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and allow <b>A Tapestry of Light </b>to transport you to another time and place. </span></div>
<p><i><br></i></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Here's an offer you don't hear every day: </p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>If your book club is discussing one of Kimberly's books, </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>she'd love to join you via Skype or Zoom! How cool is that???</b></div>
<p style="text-align: center;">For more info, please visit Kimberly's site:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://kimberlyduffy.com/index.php/readers/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">KimberlyDuffy.com</span></a></p>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8abcC8n_SG4/YOdc31Y_u6I/AAAAAAAACP8/TO73ZthSXNkhgj1wwHwj4zf_yaOWPkPAACLcBGAsYHQ/s512/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8abcC8n_SG4/YOdc31Y_u6I/AAAAAAAACP8/TO73ZthSXNkhgj1wwHwj4zf_yaOWPkPAACLcBGAsYHQ/w606-h456/unnamed.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="456" width="606" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This contemporary artist shares details of her creation <a href="http://www.wormspit.com/2006/12/25/beetle-wing-embroidery-second-round-flower/comment-page-1/" target="_blank">HERE.</a> </i></td></tr>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><br></p>
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<p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></p>
</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/66772982021-07-01T20:00:00-04:002021-07-02T14:30:11-04:00A Complicated Canada Day<p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Romans 12:15 NIV</i></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MxD6URkRuNI/YN8qWrYQraI/AAAAAAAACPs/xz7JGyd9R5k4FLug82MP6PNIsIjA8YhhQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0063.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MxD6URkRuNI/YN8qWrYQraI/AAAAAAAACPs/xz7JGyd9R5k4FLug82MP6PNIsIjA8YhhQCLcBGAsYHQ/w501-h298/IMG_0063.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="298" width="501" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Healing Fire at the Niagara Regional Native Centre, Niagara-on-the-Lake</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Today, we’ve held conflicting emotions in our hands:</span></p><div style="text-align: center;">We’ve spent the last decade touring every province in Canada. </div><div style="text-align: center;">We’ve seen firsthand the beauty, grace, and generosity of our diverse and beautiful people.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We also mourn the loss and mistreatment of indigenous children. </div><div style="text-align: center;">We recognize the role of our government in this abuse, </div><div style="text-align: center;">but even worse, we recognize the role of our churches.</div><p><br></p><p>This morning, we visited the Healing Fire at the Niagara Regional Native Centre. We heard singing & drumming. We were invited to add medicines to the fire, and lift our prayers for healing. We gathered to “mourn with those who mourn.”</p><p>In the afternoon, we spent time exploring our beautiful Niagara countryside, soaking in the glorious sunshine. We shared a piece of cake with our neighbours. We connected with family online, counting down the days til we can finally see each other in person.</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mourning. Rejoicing. Conflicting emotions. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></p><p>I wish I could give you some great succinct nugget of wisdom today, but the truth is, there is no simple way to sum up how we feel today. We, as a country, as communities, as individuals, are working through something dark and complicated. </p><p style="text-align: left;">It’s going to be hard. It should be hard. </p><p><br></p><div style="text-align: center;">When we were invited to add medicines to the fire, we asked, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>“As non-indigenous people, is it okay for us to do this?” </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">The fire tender answered, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">“People are people. We all need healing.”</span></b></div><p><br></p><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Oh Canada, may we mourn, may we heal, </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">and may our journey together transform us into something better. </span></i></div><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Amen...</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></i></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/66715652021-06-26T13:47:00-04:002021-06-26T16:00:18-04:00Book Review: The Peace Project, by Kay Wills Wyma<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VDNsF4eeVQ8/YNdaMKwzsBI/AAAAAAAACPU/tWmkw9KJsX0TCvG4zztXYKwoS2q_ls_sgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1545/61q531M3DzS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VDNsF4eeVQ8/YNdaMKwzsBI/AAAAAAAACPU/tWmkw9KJsX0TCvG4zztXYKwoS2q_ls_sgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/61q531M3DzS.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" /></a></div>I don't know about you, but I feel like the last 18 months have been desperately lacking in Peace. Inner peace, community peace, and world peace have been replaced by inner turmoil, community protests, and world unrest. <p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When I saw the title <b>The Peace Project</b>, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I knew this was a book I needed to read right now.</span></div><p>Before even opening the cover (<i>which is so striking, by the way!</i>), I noticed the forward is written by Ron Hall, co-author of <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2015/03/book-review-same-kind-of-different-as.html" target="_blank">Same Kind of Different as Me</a>. I loved that book so much and still highly recommend it! You can read my review <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2015/03/book-review-same-kind-of-different-as.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</p><p>On a busy morning, Kay Wyma backed out of her driveway, only to be met by a rude driver. Kay reacted like many of us do - cursing and swearing at the other driver from the safety of our own car. </p><p>She texted a friend to share the encounter, but her friend's text didn't share her outrage. Instead, she shared a personal story of a time when a bad day made her the "rude driver."</p><p><br></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That perspective started to shift something in Kay's heart. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And that shift birthed <b>The Peace Project</b>.</span></div><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vi6f6onXDRA/YNdg7CxmTBI/AAAAAAAACPc/31yI75RrN7sW_H-5IpMwWgdmwo_bY5a1ACLcBGAsYHQ/s970/96e7c0cf-bbf4-49b2-9d34-3d2c984fac9d.__CR0%252C0%252C970%252C300_PT0_SX970_V1___.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vi6f6onXDRA/YNdg7CxmTBI/AAAAAAAACPc/31yI75RrN7sW_H-5IpMwWgdmwo_bY5a1ACLcBGAsYHQ/w605-h150/96e7c0cf-bbf4-49b2-9d34-3d2c984fac9d.__CR0%252C0%252C970%252C300_PT0_SX970_V1___.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="150" width="605" /></a></div><br><p>Kay discovered that the combination of <b>Thankfulness, Kindness, and Mercy</b> (TKM) brought in waves of inner peace. She invited her friends and family on a 30-day practice to see if they could create more peace in their lives.</p><p>I will admit, this book went in a different direction than I expected. I thought this would be a 30-day guide with practical peace-making steps. I expected exercises and ideas for executing a peace plan.</p><p>Instead, Kay shares the stories of living out TKM in the midst of everyday life. The goal was to find a reason to practice each of the three every day. Some days, they happened naturally. Other times, they had to seek out or create opportunities. Thankfulness and Kindness seemed to be the easiest for Kay and her friends to access. Mercy became the real kicker. </p><p>Kay's writing style is honest, personable, and really fun. Each chapter opens and closes with a quote inspired by the themes, and these alone are worth the price of admission. Most chapters close with a short paragraph written by one of Kay's friends and their own experience of living out one aspect of TKM. There's also space for you to track you own daily progress.</p><p style="text-align: center;">In the end, I'm glad this wasn't simply a "how to". I was inspired and engaged by the stories in this book. I don't think I've ever given so much thought to living out Mercy in my everyday life! And here's the thing, we all say we want Peace, but we define it as an "absence of conflict." How do we ever create an absence of anything??? Finding this TKM combination might just be the the secret formula to creating Peace in our homes, our communities, and maybe one day, in our world.</p><p><br></p><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Kay is offering FREE gifts with pre-orders from her site (the pre-orders were still available as of today's blogpost date). Scroll down her Books page to also find FREE downloadable Bible studies! </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Here's the link:</i></div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://kaywyma.com/books-stuff/"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">https://kaywyma.com/books-stuff/</span></b></a></p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9bazha4C4II/YNdjmXet2CI/AAAAAAAACPk/87HnbmXURaQu3rd0KDCTOFqgaMEARL9TQCLcBGAsYHQ/s970/13e9d488-b660-41e7-b87e-fa874b1b89e3.__CR0%252C0%252C970%252C300_PT0_SX970_V1___.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9bazha4C4II/YNdjmXet2CI/AAAAAAAACPk/87HnbmXURaQu3rd0KDCTOFqgaMEARL9TQCLcBGAsYHQ/w647-h200/13e9d488-b660-41e7-b87e-fa874b1b89e3.__CR0%252C0%252C970%252C300_PT0_SX970_V1___.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="200" width="647" /></a></div><p></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/66560232021-06-10T18:53:00-04:002021-06-10T22:15:19-04:00Book Review: Miriam's Song, by Jill Eileen Smith<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T9X5tGUPCAI/YMJoL6zURII/AAAAAAAACOw/L33MptQb5SooggwFRn1-lhWOjqgV37MXACLcBGAsYHQ/s499/518yJtShCLL._SX322_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T9X5tGUPCAI/YMJoL6zURII/AAAAAAAACOw/L33MptQb5SooggwFRn1-lhWOjqgV37MXACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/518yJtShCLL._SX322_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">I've always held a fascination with the women of the Bible. God chose these diverse women to be part of His story, and yet so often, we're given such tiny slivers of information about them.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b>A few years ago, I was asked to preach a sermon about Miriam </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>for a Women of the Bible sermon series. </b></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>You can watch my sermon on Miriam <a href="https://youtu.be/Vv3kZwPRtxc" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</b></p><p><br></p><p>Sister to Moses and Aaron, Miriam plays a key role in the story of the Israelites. We meet her several times over the full course of her life - from a little girl, putting her baby brother in a basket in the Nile, to a prophetess singing in the desert, to her death as an old woman - yet, in-between these moments, we hear so little about her.</p><p><br></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">That's why I was excited to read <b>Miriam's Song</b> - </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">a new historical fiction by Jill Eileen Smith.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><p>Smith has become an expert on recreating the stories of the women of the Old Testament. She has a passion for discovering the details of everyday life for women of that time. These details create a visceral and compelling world for the characters of <b>Miriam's Song</b>.</p><p><br></p><p>For example, after mixing pitch for Moses's basket, his parents decide,</p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>"'We will bury the bowls, for there is no time to clean them well.' ... Bowls were scarce, and it would take time to make more. But it would be easier to make new ones than try to clean the old."</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></p><p>What a fantastic detail! Living in our own single-use society, I loved this line. What a reminder that things couldn't just be bought or easily replaced. Everything they owned had to be handcrafted in the scarce time that remained after a day of slave labour.</p><p><br></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">From food to clothing to housing, </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Smith gives us a full picture of Miriam's everyday life and duties.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><p>The one challenge with the novel is the original issue with Miriam's story - we know so little about her! In writing Biblical historical fiction, the author always needs to manage a careful balance. Do I simply write within the limited story I'm given, or do I fill in the gaps and run the risk of rewriting the Bible?</p><p>Smith chooses to flesh out the parts of Miriam's story given in the Bible. But rather than invent stories not in Scripture, she fills in the missing pieces by switching over to Moses and telling his story. <i>(She addresses this directly in the "Note to the Reader" at the end of the book.)</i></p><p>The whole story is compelling, but to be honest, I wish she'd stayed with Miriam the whole time. The storyline of the Exodus is difficult and emotional. I really wanted to stay with our heroine and allow her to be our guide through the trials and successes. That said, Smith does a wonderful job exploring the conflict within Miriam's heart - she knows God has called her to be part of His story, yet she feels so restricted in her sidelined role. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>How many people, especially women, can still resonate with this today???</b></p><p>There's such power in creating a novelized form for a woman like Miriam. It's so easy for us to judge the importance of a Bible character by the number of lines dedicated to her in Scripture. </p><p><br></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">By writing this book, Smith has given Miriam a heart, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">a family, and a voice.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Her's is a story worth sharing...</span></div><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/66205872021-05-03T15:19:00-04:002021-05-03T19:45:14-04:00Book Review: That Sounds Fun, by Annie F. Downs<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-raRMNQroLxI/YJAkaU3okSI/AAAAAAAACOY/guoWIaYl3l8tPlhkXRxjNWzPA1iEjKvkwCLcBGAsYHQ/s368/images.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-raRMNQroLxI/YJAkaU3okSI/AAAAAAAACOY/guoWIaYl3l8tPlhkXRxjNWzPA1iEjKvkwCLcBGAsYHQ/w246-h380/images.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="380" width="246" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Since the pandemic hit, I've had no head for reading non-fiction. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm devouring fiction and poetry like they're freshly baked chocolate chip cookies <i>(mmmm, cookies!)</i> but non-fiction has just become a slog. Still, I keep at it. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">When I saw this book for review, I decided to give it a go.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I mean, with a title like this, it has to be fun, right?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Well, I'm thrilled to say I inhaled this book!</span></div><div><br></div><div>
<b>That Sounds Fun</b> is the next step in Annie F. Downs' mission to help us all find the fun in our lives. Based on her hit podcast, <b>That Sounds Fun</b> is an exploration of the many and varied ways we can incorporate joy into the everyday. We all know that something is missing in this world, a brokenness we all struggle to define. For Annie, fun isn't petty or frivolous. What if discovering what each of us, uniquely and individually, finds fun is actually necessary to filling that empty space? What if seeking fun is the pathway back to Eden?</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The book is divided into five main sections: </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">What Sounds Fun To You?</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Joys of Being an Amateur</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Power of Falling in Love</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Why You Need a Hobby</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Chase the Fun</span></b></div><div><br></div><div>Each chapter tells easy, relatable stories of exploring fun in different ways. It's easy to see why Annie is such a successful communicator. I chose not to listen to her podcast until I was finished the book, but even so, I could still hear her voice while I was reading. She really is <i>(to use her own description) </i>"... a friend you can have coffee with and sometimes talk about the Bible."</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">My favourite section was <b>Why You Need a Hobby</b> because a few years ago, </div><div style="text-align: center;">I needed a hobby! </div><div><br></div><div>Somewhere, along the way, probably while moving 7 times in 9 years, my hobbies got sidelined. Not cancelled completely, but tucked away in a box for special occasions. When we bought our house and I realized we weren't going to move for a while, I decided it was time to crack open that box. Over the last 5 years, I've completely re-fallen-in-love with painting, crafting, reading, and gardening. My hobbies bring me joy, and I've found new ways I can use them to bless other people. </div><div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">More importantly, when the world stopped and </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">live performing was banned and we were grounded, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">my hobbies were there to save my life.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We're still in a pandemic. We're still grounded. We're all still struggling.</div><div style="text-align: center;">More than ever, we need to find the things that fill us with joy.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We need to connect with the Creator.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I can't think of a better time for the world to receive the gift of That Sounds Fun.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></b></div><div>
<div style="text-align: center;">So grab a soft blanket, draw an extra-long espresso, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">balance a puppy and a plate of cookies on your lap, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">and dig into this inspiring new book.</div>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Because if you ask me, <b>"That sounds fun..." </b></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br></b></span></p> <div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i2DOsLeQqA8" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div>
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<div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></div>
</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/66095562021-04-20T15:34:00-04:002021-04-20T18:00:17-04:00Book Review: All That We Carried, by Erin Bartels<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dkn_T-rYfVQ/YH3FTt0U5JI/AAAAAAAACNs/jmVsKa3ZzzA1QrD5dLEf9CQN0nWqWVOUACLcBGAsYHQ/s499/513-ljDJpFL._SX322_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dkn_T-rYfVQ/YH3FTt0U5JI/AAAAAAAACNs/jmVsKa3ZzzA1QrD5dLEf9CQN0nWqWVOUACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/513-ljDJpFL._SX322_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">As soon as I saw Erin Bartels had a new book, I knew I needed to read it. Two years ago, I read her historical fiction,<b> <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2019/04/book-review-we-hope-for-better-things.html" target="_blank">We Hope For Better Things</a></b>, and I still recommend it to people! </p><p style="text-align: center;">You can read my original review <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2019/04/book-review-we-hope-for-better-things.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>All That We Carried</b> introduces us to Olivia and Melanie, two adult sisters with a desperately broken relationship. After a decade of near-estragement, Olivia reluctantly agrees to a hiking trip with Melanie, and that's where our adventure begins.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The inexperienced hikers take on the challenging trails of the Porcupine Mountains of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Thanks to a handy map in the front of the book, we're invited to follow the pathway for ourselves. If you're like me, you can't help but google photos of the real life trails and waterfalls, some of which I've included in this post!</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XgNXE0Cysj0/YH8ibOv7OaI/AAAAAAAACN8/dvY4hZixT7UBgV1IepgHHdAZn442yXvLgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Trap%2BFalls.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XgNXE0Cysj0/YH8ibOv7OaI/AAAAAAAACN8/dvY4hZixT7UBgV1IepgHHdAZn442yXvLgCLcBGAsYHQ/w498-h280/Trap%2BFalls.webp" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="280" width="498" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Trap Falls</i></span>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As Olivia and Melanie work their way through the trails, their legacy of family tragedy is revealed. I don't want to share too much of the plot because, like any good hike, it's best enjoyed step by step. The hiking trip brings dangers of its own, and with each new challenge, the sisters are forced to face the broken spaces in their relationship. Tensions grow as Olivia and Melanie wrestle with questions of themselves, their views of the world, and the things they assume to be true. </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Who can we trust?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">How do we forgive?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">How do we rebuild?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">What do we believe in?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Why believe at all?</span></i></b></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ywr64OzYkzQ/YH8iZElKiII/AAAAAAAACN4/YI4cT-bNk00ZEQZepeG93vRnw9bc69IPQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1200/polished-petoskey-stone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ywr64OzYkzQ/YH8iZElKiII/AAAAAAAACN4/YI4cT-bNk00ZEQZepeG93vRnw9bc69IPQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/polished-petoskey-stone.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" width="320" /></a>
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Petoskey Stone (Melanie's town is named for this geological wonder!)</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>All That We Carried</b> reads quickly, but there's still lots of depth in the relationships and the philosophical ideas. I found myself underlining favourite passages and turning down page corners.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And let's not forget the setting! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bartels never lets you forget the glory of nature in the fall, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">while also sharing the tactile truths of wilderness living.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Side Note: </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I miss touring so much! </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>This made my heart <u>yearn</u> for ocean and mountains and waterfalls.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>But in a hotel, please. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>You won't see me sleeping in the woods anytime soon!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Part adventure novel, part "road trip", part spiritual debate, part healing journey, and part parable - </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I loved reading <b>All That We Carried! </b></span></div>
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<b>Bonus: </b>visit Erin Bartels' site <a href="https://erinbartels.com/home/books/all-that-we-carried/" target="_blank">HERE</a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">for interviews & articles about the novel!</div>
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ITOhTAi2xkc/YH8iXEdmj2I/AAAAAAAACN0/mX6V3r-Cby8aR11Wv5Q7lNKrJ4XWert4wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/lake%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bclouds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ITOhTAi2xkc/YH8iXEdmj2I/AAAAAAAACN0/mX6V3r-Cby8aR11Wv5Q7lNKrJ4XWert4wCLcBGAsYHQ/w600-h399/lake%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bclouds.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="399" width="600" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lake of the Clouds</span></i></div></i><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/65936392021-04-04T00:00:00-04:002021-04-04T00:00:16-04:00Impossible Sunrise<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: large;"><b>Happy Easter! </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">This weekend, we’ve reached the grand finale of our Infinitely More </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rLLUUCzBjU&list=PLUfaqNaEtdnf6w0uMK00kRSpfb1qNINk7" target="_blank"><b>Lenten Musical Calendar.</b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We’re thrilled to share our Easter video! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Featuring our very special guest preacher, Bishop Susan Bell of the Anglican Diocese of Niagara.</div><p style="text-align: center;">We’re also debuting a brand new song by Gerald called <b>Impossible Sunrise</b>.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Don’t you just love that title?</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Impossible Sunrise…</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="365" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pPDxBEq9q-U" width="439" youtube-src-id="pPDxBEq9q-U"></iframe></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Lenten Musical Calendar - Happy Easter!</i></p><p><br></p><div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">We created this video in a swirl of emotions. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">Our parents have finally received their first doses of the Covid-19 vaccine! Spring flowers are bursting through the ground. It finally feels like there’s hope on the horizon.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">But case numbers are on the rise here in Ontario. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">We’ve entered yet another lockdown. Medical authorities fear this may not be enough to quell the rise of the variants. We are all exhausted by the isolation, the uncertainty, and the constant stream of bad news.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">For the second year in a row, we’re celebrating Easter - a story of new life - </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">in a season marked by suffering, illness, and death.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">How does any of this make sense?</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And then, I remember that song title again: </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>IMPOSSIBLE</b> Sunrise.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">The angel tells Mary, <i>“For with God, nothing shall be impossible.”</i>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">Jesus says, <i>“... with God all things are possible.”</i>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">God says, <i>“I am the Lord... Is anything too hard for me?”</i>
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<div style="text-align: center;">On Easter morning, the women arrived with spices in their hands.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">They were ready to anoint a body. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Instead, they came face-to-face with the</b> <b>God of the Impossible</b>.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">This is the God who gives knowledge to scientists and medical experts.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">The God who can heal our communities of political and racial strife. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">The God who can revive our struggling arts communities and small businesses. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">The God who can strengthen weary essential workers. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">The God who can rebuild marriages breaking under close quarters, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">and relationships suffering from too much distance. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is the God who can bring gratitude grace, love, and joy </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">into our tired, pandemic-weary hearts.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">Take a deep breath.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">Remember who God is.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">And then remember: this is the God who loves <b><i>YOU!</i></b>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This Easter, more than ever, may we experience the God of the Impossible!</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">“And the world awakes to an Impossible Sunrise!</span></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;"> Yes, we finally believe when we see the love in His eyes.</span></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;"> Yes, the world awakes to an Impossible Sunrise!”</span></b></i></div>
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<div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Impossible Sunrise</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Written by Gerald Flemming</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>CCLI# </i><span style="text-align: left;"><i>7173690</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PJ29G81iDK8/YGj8FD61JmI/AAAAAAAACNY/Nq4OGSPGjvIa6jTyExRIqRSyly-Bg_wxQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Easter%2BStories%2B%2526%2BMore%2BCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PJ29G81iDK8/YGj8FD61JmI/AAAAAAAACNY/Nq4OGSPGjvIa6jTyExRIqRSyly-Bg_wxQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Easter%2BStories%2B%2526%2BMore%2BCover.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" /></a></div>Today’s post is part of a blog-tour to celebrate the release of </span><a href="https://inscribe.org" target="_blank">Inscribe Christian Writer's Fellowship's</a><span style="font-size: large;"> brand new anthology </span>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://infinitelymore.ca/product/638782" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Easter: Stories & More.</b></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Featuring my own real-life story: </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Aunt Pauline and The Little Easter.<br></span></b></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lynn Simpson is also offering her own <a href="https://lynnjsimpson.com" target="_blank">blogpost</a> today. </span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You can purchase your copy of <b>Easter: Stories & More</b> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">on our </span><b><a href="https://infinitelymore.ca/product/638782" target="_blank">SITE</a>.</b>
</div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: x-large;">HAPPY EASTER!</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: x-large;"><br></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: x-large;"><br></span></b></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/65862352021-03-26T17:58:00-04:002021-03-26T21:30:15-04:00Book Review: The Moonlight School, by Suzanne Woods Fisher<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9IL9VZpADZo/YF1HaNM2nII/AAAAAAAACM0/bpXlcK5OumIab_eEiDx9plsCKMwLxhTBQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/54080850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9IL9VZpADZo/YF1HaNM2nII/AAAAAAAACM0/bpXlcK5OumIab_eEiDx9plsCKMwLxhTBQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/54080850.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Okay, I could pretend that I chose this book because it's historical fiction (<i>which I love!</i>) or because it's about a woman breaking the glass ceiling (<i>you go, girl!</i>) or because it's set in a time and place I haven't read about before (<i>always fascinating!</i>), </div><div style="text-align: center;">but no.</div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">This book description contained one line that got me </div><div style="text-align: center;">hook, line, and sinker:</div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">"Brother Wyatt, a singing school master..."</span></i></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">What??? A book about singing schools??? </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">SIGN. ME. UP!!!</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></p><div style="text-align: center;">If you know my story, you know that <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2005/07/nashville-day-10.html" target="_blank">attending a singing school changed my life</a>. </div><div style="text-align: center;">In all the books I've read, I've never encountered singing schools at all, so how could I resist?</div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And to clarify: this isn't a book <i>about</i> singing schools. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></p><p>Welcome to Rowan County, Kentucky, spring 1911. The world is moving from the straight-laced Victorian era into a new century. Cities are vibrant, modern centres, but in the rural mountain communities, tradition still maintains a stronghold. This is the world of<b> The Moonlight School.</b></p><p>Our heroine, the fictional Lucy Wilson, desperately needs to experience a new chapter in life. She leaves the comforts of her affluent city life to work for her cousin in the school system of Rowan County.</p><p>Cora Wilson was a real-life trail blazer. In a time when women struggled for their place in society, she led the way in the field of education. She won her position of school superintendent in a landslide election, and her idea for "moonlight schools" literally transformed literacy in her state.</p><p>Without giving too much away, <b>The Moonlight School</b> is really Lucy's story. It's a story of facing your own preconceived notions, questioning the status quo, and finding your purpose in life. Lucy is a worthy protagonist, forcing us to challenge the prejudices we so often hold when it comes to entering new corners of the world.</p><p>If anything, the title of the book is a bit misleading. This isn't a book about Cora Wilson, and the concept of the moonlight schools doesn't enter the story until at least halfway through the book. That said, Woods Fisher has definitely done her research. I felt fully immersed in the Rowan County's politics, class divisions, and tactile details. I found myself genuinely craving mountain air and an all day church singing.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>A brief side note on shape notes: </i></p><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Shape Notes are a way of teaching music literacy where the shape of the note corresponds to its pitch within the scale. It's not related to the rhythm, as implied in this book. I know most people won't read <b>The Moonlight School </b>for the shape notes, but this distinction is important to me. People who learn shape notes can literally sight-read any song written in shapes, and can easily work out harmony parts. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<i>If you love music, I highly recommend digging into this topic on your own!</i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JWS8JggynTQ/YF1KaO5SlrI/AAAAAAAACNE/799jiODa0Tw_jAUBGTxwN0_fAonfnOSnQCLcBGAsYHQ/s512/unnamed.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JWS8JggynTQ/YF1KaO5SlrI/AAAAAAAACNE/799jiODa0Tw_jAUBGTxwN0_fAonfnOSnQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h89/unnamed.gif" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="89" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Shape notes!</i></div><div>
<br><div><br></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>The Moonlight School is a light, enjoyable read </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>with engaging characters in a dynamic time and place. </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>I recommend reading the book, </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>and then digging into the fascinating real-life history, as seen in the photo below...</b></div>
<p><br></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.appalachianhistory.net/2017/12/kentuckys-moonlight-schools.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oneIqyJkVjA/YF1H08T_YZI/AAAAAAAACM8/ot2gogz0qCk9X5CXB7yjqX7VfI1PD0khgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h506/moonlight-school-1.jpg.webp" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="506" width="640" /></a></div>
<i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A real life Moonlight School.</i></div></i><p></p>
</div>
</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/65840252021-03-24T19:04:00-04:002021-03-24T22:15:06-04:00Book Review: Always Know..., by Melinda Estabrooks<p style="text-align: center;"><b> Full warning: we are about to enter Book Review Season!!!</b></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">I had already signed up to review three - <i>yes, three!</i> - books for Nuts About Books, </div><div style="text-align: center;">when I saw this tempting offer jump on my screen: </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Who wants to join the book launch team for Melinda Estabrooks's latest creation?</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Oh, and several of your friends are contributors??</b></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Easy<i> YES!!!</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">So, for those keeping count, that's four reviews coming to you over the new two months. </p><p style="text-align: center;">So. Much. YAY!!!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CyzulZyUFFg/YFu1hNYdu5I/AAAAAAAACMk/5nCQOE2xeE0li4z01xw8g3H1HY2LCjHGwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_9065.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CyzulZyUFFg/YFu1hNYdu5I/AAAAAAAACMk/5nCQOE2xeE0li4z01xw8g3H1HY2LCjHGwCLcBGAsYHQ/w220-h239/IMG_9065.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="239" width="220" /></a></div>Let me tell you, I always love getting a free book in the mail, but if you really want me to love your book before I even open it, this is the way to send it: bright envelope, fancy magnet, pretty note, and yes, those shiny gold things are candy! <i>*bliss* </i><p></p><p><b>Always Know...</b> is the book-child of <a href="https://seehearlove.com" target="_blank">See Hear Love</a>, Melinda's inspiring talk show for women of faith. After hearing so many incredible stories on the show, Melinda asked 50 of her favourite guests to contribute to <b>Always Know...</b></p><p>The writers range from pastors to artists to community leaders. Their topics cover such areas as worship, leadership, mental health, and racism. The challenge in a book like this is always going to be consistency, but I can honestly say I enjoyed every piece! Some spoke directly into my life and experiences. Those that didn't still provided so much inspiration and empathy.</p><p><br></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4qP1yWPmaPw/YFu5eSILsjI/AAAAAAAACMs/hy-C6zL4jZUwC64uqfAFaiBNof3e-nD5gCLcBGAsYHQ/s763/143687398_115443563811826_2159366107726831443_nfull.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4qP1yWPmaPw/YFu5eSILsjI/AAAAAAAACMs/hy-C6zL4jZUwC64uqfAFaiBNof3e-nD5gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/143687398_115443563811826_2159366107726831443_nfull.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" /></a></div>The format of this book allows you to use it for personal reflection, or in a group setting. You can read it in a single sitting <i>(testify!)</i> or take it day-by-day as a devotional.<p></p><p>Each piece is followed by a "Reflection" and "Takeaway", encouraging you to dig deeper and apply the lessons of the story to your own life. The writer's bio is also on the same page, allowing you to have a bit of context for the author's perspective. I found myself looking up websites and signing up for mailing lists on my favourite pieces!</p><p>I highly recommend reading <b>Always Know... </b>with a pencil! I turned down pages, underlined passages, and took copious notes. I know I'll revisit certain chapters again and again.</p><p>This book was birthed in the pandemic. I couldn't help but wonder how many of the writers wondered if their pieces would still be relevant upon the book's release. And yet, here we are, still struggling through masks and distancing and far-too-many Zoom calls... </p><p><br></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Always Know...</b> arrives just at the right time. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>It's a shot in the arm <i>(groan for the vaccine-pun)</i> of much needed </span><span>hope and encouragement.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I fully recommend getting a copy for yourself, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">as well as stuffing them in a few Easter baskets!</span></div><p></p><br><p></p><div>
<p style="text-align: center;">To purchase you own copy or to learn more about <b>Always Know... </b></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">please visit <a href="https://seehearlove.com/resources/always-know/" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">SeeHearKnow.com</a></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="397" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ax0-1PT5TWI" width="477" youtube-src-id="Ax0-1PT5TWI"></iframe></div>
<br><p><br></p>
<p><i style="caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A copy of Always Know... was provided at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review.</span></i></p>
</div><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/65775312021-03-18T00:00:00-04:002021-03-18T00:30:08-04:00One Year of "Empty" Church Worship<p></p><div style="text-align: center;">The sanctuary echoed around us. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Four people in a space designed to hold 800. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wednesday nights are usually flush with the voices of worshippers, </div><div style="text-align: center;">but that night, we were a humble quartet in an empty church. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">One year ago tonight, we held our first "empty" church service.</span></span><br><br>
</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tEDAvileeng/YFKsc1V4YhI/AAAAAAAACMY/QPfBQomawncaYR-HjU7GBc1iIvYglqeuwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6547.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tEDAvileeng/YFKsc1V4YhI/AAAAAAAACMY/QPfBQomawncaYR-HjU7GBc1iIvYglqeuwCLcBGAsYHQ/w513-h442/IMG_6547.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="442" width="513" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>March 18, 2020 - our first night of "Empty" Church Worship</i></div><p><br></p><p>Lockdown had been mandated across Ontario. That day, a flurry of emails flew amongst our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/adventcafe83" target="_blank">Advent Cafe</a> staff. We made plans to set up our sound system in the large main sanctuary, to take advantage of the live stream set up. All the details started to fall into place. We adjusted leadership roles, arrived early, and lifted extra prayers. Everything seemed ready...</p><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: right;"><br></div></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;">But for the first time ever, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">we would close our doors to our beloved congregation. </div></span><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">That first night, we felt so alone in that cavernous space. But then, we looked into the camera and welcomed those worshiping from the safety of their socially distant homes. We imagined their beautiful faces and loving smiles. We started praying and singing. The praise was rising! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Suddenly, the church didn’t feel empty.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">We’ve all read the passage about “the great cloud of witnesses”, and it can feel metaphorical. But in that moment, it became real for us. We felt surrounded by the generations of worshippers who had filled those pews. We were connected to people across the country who had tuned in to worship with us. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">God was in our praises! <br>Two or three had gathered together, and God was in our midst.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>We've now been gathering this way for a full year. </b></p><p>It's been a varied year for worship settings. Some churches remain physically closed, live streaming from their sanctuaries. Others have managed to have small gatherings within their walls. Others have gone completely online, with preachers and musicians offering leadership from their own homes. </p><p>We know it's going to be like this for a while yet...</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;">But here's what else we know: </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">God is still in our midst. <br>God is in your songs and in your prayers. <br>God is in the way you love your neighbour. <br>God is <u>always</u> around us.</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Wherever you find yourself in this pandemic season, raise your voice in praise. <br>God is singing over you. Worshippers past and present join your song. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>When you worship, wherever you worship, you are never alone. </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br></b></span></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/65558672021-02-22T17:32:00-05:002021-02-22T18:00:08-05:00Book Review: Spur of the Moment, by Marcia Lee Laycock<p style="text-align: center;">Last year, I took a new step in my writing journey when I joined <a href="https://inscribe.org/" target="_blank">Inscribe Christian Writers' Fellowship</a>. This collective is doing fantastic things to connect, equip, and encourage Christian writers across Canada. I'm just started to get involved, and I love getting to know the writers and their creations.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MtHzO6OvNTI/YDQfocXklWI/AAAAAAAACL8/EypYetF7Ea4bHc0lPMafxtoYoD3aOiz0ACLcBGAsYHQ/s499/Spur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MtHzO6OvNTI/YDQfocXklWI/AAAAAAAACL8/EypYetF7Ea4bHc0lPMafxtoYoD3aOiz0ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Spur.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" /></a></div><p><br></p><p>Through our Facebook group, I heard about Marcia Lee Laycock and her beautiful devotional, <b>Spur of the Moment.</b> I was thrilled when she sent me a copy for review!</p><p></p><p></p><p>Marcia is a prolific writer, writing in a variety of styles, but I feel like devotionals might be her speciality. According to her website, <b>Spur of the Moment</b> is Marcia's most popular devotional, already in its "expanded third edition" and winner of the Grace Irwin Prize from <a href="https://thewordguild.com/" target="_blank">The Word Guild</a>. I have a paperback copy, but you can also get an e-book for your Kindle. </p><p><b>Spur of the Moment</b> is a collection of over a hundred devotionals, each inspired by a verse of Scripture. The pieces aren't presented in any particular order, so you can read and digest them at your own pace. They're well suited to both your first-cup-of-coffee inspiration or your final read before bed. </p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">Marcia is a beautiful writer, teasing out the details of any scene to make you feel like you're really there. Her devotions are placed in a variety of locations, allowing you to spend time by the edge of the Lake Superior, at the foot Mt. McKinley, at the start of an Olympic running race, and at a breakfast table in Papua New Guinea. In each story, Marcia finds a perfect moment that ties directly into Scripture, and gives us a new way to discover God in the everyday.</p><p style="text-align: center;">And truly, I think that's the great gift of Marcia's writing. I've never met her in person, but I feel like Marcia could write a devotional about anything! She has a way of finding God in every moment of living. Her devotionals don't just share <i>her</i> stories - they encourage us to find God on every page of our own stories.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I definitely recommend you get your own copy of <b>Spur of the Moment</b>, <br>and enjoy seeing God move in every part of your day.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You can find out more about Marcia and her beautiful writing at </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://marcialeelaycock.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>https://marcialeelaycock.com/ </b></span></a></p><p><br></p><p><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">A copy of Spur of the Moment was provided at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review.</span></i></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/65409542021-02-05T19:33:00-05:002021-02-05T19:45:06-05:00What's Saving My Life Right Now...<p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br>What is saving my life right now?</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What a loaded question! </span><br>We’re now entering Year Two of the Coronavirus Pandemic. Although the vaccine is bringing lots of hope, so much of 2021 is still unknown. For those of us in the arts community, we’re already facing a year of closed theatres and cancelled festivals. There’s no sign of when live performing will make a comeback, and many in our industry are facing challenging questions about their future viability.</p><p style="text-align: center;">And we know we’re not alone. <br>Second year of pandemic, middle of winter, and back in lockdown. <br>Is this really anyone’s favourite moment?</p><p style="text-align: center;">And that’s why the question struck me so profoundly:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What’s saving your life right now?</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r7B_537B2Ak/YB3f1KoQoPI/AAAAAAAACLI/Z1i8yE3VX9gMhPCa6mUbxyaxdThUm9CUACLcBGAsYHQ/s1640/Whats%2BSaving%2BMy%2BLife%2BRight%2BNow.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r7B_537B2Ak/YB3f1KoQoPI/AAAAAAAACLI/Z1i8yE3VX9gMhPCa6mUbxyaxdThUm9CUACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h225/Whats%2BSaving%2BMy%2BLife%2BRight%2BNow.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="225" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><p style="text-align: center;">I’m a superfan of the talented Anne Bogel - author, blogger, book lover, and all around lovely person to follow. She recently wrote her annual “<a href="https://modernmrsdarcy.com/domestic-tasks-saving-my-life/" target="_blank"><b>What’s Saving My Life Right Now</b></a>” blogpost. <br>As stated by Anne, the tradition was inspired by this:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>“The idea comes from Barbara Brown Taylor’s wonderful memoir Leaving Church. In it, Taylor tells the story of when she was invited to speak at a gathering, and her host assigned the topic: <br>'Tell us what is saving your life right now.'"</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">In a time when we can so easily focus on what’s wrong, <br>this simple question asks us to focus on what’s right.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">What are the small but profound things carrying you through this season?</p><p style="text-align: center;">What’s bringing you joy and peace in this moment?</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"> Here are seven things saving my life right now:</span></b></p><p><br></p><p><b>#1. My Home</b></p><p>At the risk of sounding dramatic, I’m IN love with my home. I’m not kidding. I swoon over the stained glass gracing our front window. I sigh every time I realize my 108-year-old kitchen cupboards have fed generations. Even hidden under the snow, my colourful and fanciful garden fills me with unmitigated bliss. The whole house is a palette for all kinds of joy and creativity. I can’t think of any other place I’d rather be in lockdown.</p><p><br></p><p><b>#2. Books</b></p><p>So. Many. Books! Last year, I almost doubled <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2020/12/2020-book-list-part-deux.html" target="_blank">my reading goal.</a> I’m incredibly grateful for the talents of imaginative storytellers, and this generous amount of time to devour their creations. I've created a whole new set of reading goals this year and my To Be Read List is looooong…..</p><p><br></p><p><b>#3. Walks</b></p><p>Not hikes. Just walks. Sometimes in different locations, but mostly around the neighbourhood. Stretching my legs. Breathing fresh air. Smiling at strangers (even through our masks!) Admiring gardens and other front yard artistry. My day is lost without a good walk.</p><p><br></p><p><b>#4. Our Puppies</b></p><p>Unconditional love. Unlimited cuddles. Adorable beyond comprehension. And the way they dance every time it snows. How is anyone getting through this pandemic without pets???</p><p><br></p><p><b>#5. My Techno Parents</b></p><p>My parents are seniors who embrace technology. Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, live streaming, video recording - nothing is keeping them from staying social and connected. I can’t even tell you how incredibly grateful I am for this!</p><p><br></p><p><b>#6. #ShopLocal</b></p><p>One of the things I miss most about touring is stumbling over that amazing little cafe, tasting local delicacies, and coming home with a great story about a hidden treasure. This passion is well satisfied close to home these days. Long drives along the Niagara Parkway, followed by curbside pick-up or delivery are creating fun afternoons of exploration and discovery. We get the delight of new tastes and experiences, while also supporting our local creators and entrepreneurs. </p><p><br></p><p><b>#7. Writing</b></p><p>I listed this as #7, but truthfully, it’s probably #1. Writing is a life source for me this year. It’s become a powerful creative focus, a place to channel so much of my passion for storytelling, planning, and dream-building. I’ve been keeping most of it private, but I’m hoping to share more with you in the coming months. Stay tuned… </p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What are the things saving your life right now? </span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Please share your thoughts in the comments below...</span></p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r7B_537B2Ak/YB3f1KoQoPI/AAAAAAAACLI/3GPEi1iDZewTbL75_HHHEEMGHM5SlvLnQCPcBGAYYCw/s1640/Whats%2BSaving%2BMy%2BLife%2BRight%2BNow.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r7B_537B2Ak/YB3f1KoQoPI/AAAAAAAACLI/3GPEi1iDZewTbL75_HHHEEMGHM5SlvLnQCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h360/Whats%2BSaving%2BMy%2BLife%2BRight%2BNow.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><br><p><br></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/65272932021-01-21T18:34:00-05:002021-01-21T21:30:06-05:00Goal Setting in the Unknown<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Each year, I dedicate a full month to dreaming and crafting my goals for the year. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;">Last January was no exception. I put my imagination in full swing, <br>and planned out a year of touring, music-making, healthy habits, and celebrations. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Each month looked so full of promise and creativity!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">But then, Covid…</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lb2qDKpAaFk/YAn8-Oq922I/AAAAAAAACKk/JyUtjyI6VkwvIIUs1F_U3rzEQBaj05BKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1640/Goal%2BSetting%2Bin%2Bthe%2BUnknown.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lb2qDKpAaFk/YAn8-Oq922I/AAAAAAAACKk/JyUtjyI6VkwvIIUs1F_U3rzEQBaj05BKQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h225/Goal%2BSetting%2Bin%2Bthe%2BUnknown.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="225" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Spring 2020 hit like a maelstrom. <br>Goals, plans, imaginings - all wiped off the table and smashed to the ground.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;">I know you experienced it, too. <br>The cancelled plans. The deferred dreams. The now unattainable aspirations.</p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">We pushed through, revised our plans, reimagined our dreams. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Somehow, we made it through the year.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">Now, we come to January 2021. Our inner clocks tell us it’s time to reset and restart.</p><p style="text-align: center;">But unlike 2020, when the change of fortune was dramatic and obvious, <br>2021 brings a new challenge:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We know we’re not back to “Normal" yet, so what, exactly, is 2021?<br>How do you plan for a year when you literally have no idea what will come next?</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">If 2020 was a tidal wave, 2021 is a desert.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Unknown sameness for as far as the eye can see...</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--sh6CepE72k/YAn9AyI21VI/AAAAAAAACKo/2zb-9up3jxYdSmy3xoJGChYRqoDhUsrXgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1640/If%2B2020%2Bwas%2Ba%2Btidal%2Bwave%2B.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--sh6CepE72k/YAn9AyI21VI/AAAAAAAACKo/2zb-9up3jxYdSmy3xoJGChYRqoDhUsrXgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h225/If%2B2020%2Bwas%2Ba%2Btidal%2Bwave%2B.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="225" width="400" /></a></div><br><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">All month, I’ve struggled to write my annual list of goals. </div><div style="text-align: center;">It’s not business as usual, but it’s not 2020 either. </div><div style="text-align: center;">None of us have any idea what could come up next week or next month.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">How do we plan for the great unknown?</span></b></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">After weeks of struggling, I took a deep breath, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and created a few strategies on how to create goals for 2021.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">I hope these are helpful for you!</p><p><br></p><p><b>#1. Remember Your Intentions</b></p><p>Goal setting is a means to an end. It’s not about working out every day - it’s about getting healthy. It’s not about vocalizing every day - it’s about becoming a better singer. Keep your intentions first and foremost in your mind and in your heart.</p><p><br></p><p><b>#2. Hold Numbers Loosely</b></p><p>Timelines. Number of pages written. How many steps on your Fitbit.<br>Despite your best intentions, something unpredictable is going to come up - another lockdown, a change of employment, or even, God forbid, illness. In these moments, give yourself some grace. You’re not going to keep perfect numbers this year. None of us are. And that's okay. Missing one timeline or threshold won’t destroy your goal. Take a breath, take a break, and pick it up again tomorrow.</p><p><br></p><p><b>#3. Prioritize</b></p><p>Which are the very most important goals on your list? Is it to record that new song? Read the Bible in a year? Walk your dog every day? If you can do everything, fantastic! But if life changes or gets stressful, it’s good to know which goal is your most critical. Focus on the most important, until you have the energy to reengage with the less important.</p><p><br></p><p><b>#4. Incorporate Gentleness</b></p><p>Last year, when things really went haywire, I dug deeply into Hygge - the Danish concept of coziness. Since then, I’ve been prioritizing comfort and gentleness in our home. I don’t over schedule a day or a week. I plan an end time for my workday. I limit my social media. I make sure we have lots of options for hot beverages and warm lap blankets. Candles and mini-lights are now standard in all rooms. We’re all dealing with unprecedented levels of emotional stress. We need to consciously and gently care for ourselves and the ones we love.</p><p><br></p><p><b>#5. Plan to Revisit and Revamp</b></p><p>We have no idea what 2021 will bring to our world or to each of our lives. There’s no way a list of goals created in January will be viable throughout this year. So, I’ve planned days to Revisit and Revamp my goals. These are different from my usual first-of-the-month planning. I’ve chosen three days, one approximately every quarter, and have already booked them into my calendar. On these days, I’ll pull out my list of 2021 goals. I’ll check off and celebrate any goals I’ve already accomplished. I’ll remove any that no longer work. I’ll revamp any that can still be accomplished, but in a different way. And I’ll ask the question, “Are there new goals or dreams that have surfaced in this season?” If the answer is “yes,” I’ll find a way to work them into the plan. </p><p><br></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b>2021 is a mystery, but with flexibility and compassion, we can still do great things!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>More than ever, our world needs great things… </b></div><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What are your dreams and goals for 2021?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What challenges do you anticipate this year?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please feel free to share in the comments below…</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lb2qDKpAaFk/YAn8-Oq922I/AAAAAAAACKs/Zw8Z0ZqBnHYYpN7Etc1yoO2nEcJ6tzR8ACPcBGAYYCw/s1640/Goal%2BSetting%2Bin%2Bthe%2BUnknown.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lb2qDKpAaFk/YAn8-Oq922I/AAAAAAAACKs/Zw8Z0ZqBnHYYpN7Etc1yoO2nEcJ6tzR8ACPcBGAYYCw/w640-h360/Goal%2BSetting%2Bin%2Bthe%2BUnknown.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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</div><p></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/65111322020-12-31T15:59:00-05:002020-12-31T18:45:15-05:002020 Book List - Part Deux!<p style="text-align: center;"><b> Reading seemed to take on one of two roles in people's lives this year. </b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Either:</p><p style="text-align: center;">#1. They couldn't concentrate and, therefore, couldn't finish a single book.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Or:</p><p style="text-align: center;">#2. It was the source of all life and peace and, therefore, they read every moment of the day.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I fell quite firmly into the second group!</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">My normal reading goal is 24 books a calendar year. At 2 books a month, that generally requires a bit of extra focus and planning to accomplish.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>My 2019 Book List is <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2020/01/24-books-for-2019.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">In 2020, it was music, reading and gardening that helped me survive the pandemonium of the pandemic. By July, I had already accomplished my goal of 24 books. When I knew I'd crash my goal, I created a Mid-Year Book List.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>You can find my 2020 Mid-Year Book List <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2020/07/2020-mid-year-book-list.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the end, instead of my normal 24, I read 42 books!!!</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">So with no further adieu, here's the continuation of my 2020 reading adventure!</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zGAtMv72RS0/X-4Cg9n7luI/AAAAAAAACJE/eRqdtsDpVtQUgCIYhHQLOfbxReIv87uEQCLcBGAsYHQ/s475/48855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zGAtMv72RS0/X-4Cg9n7luI/AAAAAAAACJE/eRqdtsDpVtQUgCIYhHQLOfbxReIv87uEQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/48855.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" /></a></div><b>The Diary of Anne Frank</b><p></p><p><b>By Anne Frank</b></p><p>I have no idea why I didn't read this when I was younger, but I'm so glad I finally took the time to dig into it. I read a lot of WWII historical fiction, so reading Anne's words, written in real time, were horrifying and haunting. It was especially poignant to read it during a time of lockdown, when our current whole world is under siege. Very different circumstances, of course, but still some fascinating parallels. What a loss that we don't have a whole lifetime of Anne's writings. She was so gifted.</p><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8TpBRyx78bs/X-4CjC_kVaI/AAAAAAAACKM/XS25hz7-zYI7RkRgYQiUe3lKnEEr2gNKACPcBGAYYCw/s1000/71Zr6izhbTL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8TpBRyx78bs/X-4CjC_kVaI/AAAAAAAACKM/XS25hz7-zYI7RkRgYQiUe3lKnEEr2gNKACPcBGAYYCw/s320/71Zr6izhbTL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" /></a></b></div><p><b><br></b></p><p><b>The Magna Book of Roses</b></p><p></p><p><b>By Mary Lawrence</b></p><p>I needed a tiny book to help reach my goal for the month, so I picked up this pretty tome. A mix of history, poetry, and general love of all things roses. </p><br><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b>Writing Down The Bones</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W6P7w-bhws8/X-4CkD2AKdI/AAAAAAAACKI/Ly95SY2Nc14wjdqHTmSclnyn6XX6w-IuQCPcBGAYYCw/s600/vIE2Dx-knU8C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W6P7w-bhws8/X-4CkD2AKdI/AAAAAAAACKI/Ly95SY2Nc14wjdqHTmSclnyn6XX6w-IuQCPcBGAYYCw/s320/vIE2Dx-knU8C.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>By Natalie Goldberg</b></p><p>A classic and must read for all writers! I created a self-organized writing retreat for myself this summer, and reading this book was part of my daily routine. Short, practical chapters filled with advice and inspiration. If you're a writer, you need to read this book!</p><p><br></p><br><p><br></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W-Su8qHno6o/X-4CghZcs2I/AAAAAAAACKM/mBU2Wtc0lrg6YLqHMKVY3l3eWTq6gJMUgCPcBGAYYCw/s475/43892137._SY475_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W-Su8qHno6o/X-4CghZcs2I/AAAAAAAACKM/mBU2Wtc0lrg6YLqHMKVY3l3eWTq6gJMUgCPcBGAYYCw/s320/43892137._SY475_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" /></a></b></div><b>Clap When You Land</b><p></p><p><b>By Elizabeth Acevedo</b></p><p>A novel written in verse - how could that not be intriguing? After a plane crash, the worlds of two young women both fall apart and are mysteriously drawn together. Marketed as "young adult", but I really enjoyed both the story and the writing. I'm not into audiobooks, but apparently, this one is tremendously read by the author herself.</p><br><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b>The Pull of the Stars</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GzkZcsbcPz0/X-4Ch3bfY3I/AAAAAAAACJ8/YmKnlrrf9ngyyR5AkImZiFzrv4fUt-hlgCPcBGAYYCw/s496/51824630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GzkZcsbcPz0/X-4Ch3bfY3I/AAAAAAAACJ8/YmKnlrrf9ngyyR5AkImZiFzrv4fUt-hlgCPcBGAYYCw/s320/51824630.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" /></a></b></div><p></p><p><b>By Emma Donoghue</b></p><p>The Pull of the Stars tells the story of three days in a maternity ward during the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic. This is a perfect example of art-imitating-life-imitating-art. Donoghue (<i>known for her amazing novel "Room"</i>) wrote this story long before any of us had heard of Covid-19. Props to the publishers for getting it out during this season. Very medical (<i>be warned, oh ye of wobbly stomachs!</i>) but incredibly written, heartbreaking, and poignant. </p><br><p><br></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wUxAiLFGceY/X-4CisPD1_I/AAAAAAAACKI/sJwbaijDYnoU2T09bfz-LBx9Fe5xlSYawCPcBGAYYCw/s475/6469165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wUxAiLFGceY/X-4CisPD1_I/AAAAAAAACKI/sJwbaijDYnoU2T09bfz-LBx9Fe5xlSYawCPcBGAYYCw/s320/6469165.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" /></a></b></div><b>What Alice Forgot</b><p></p><p><b>By Liane Moriarty</b></p><p>One of my favourite books this year! When Alice takes a tumble in spin class, she wakes up thinking she's 29 and happily engaged. The truth is: she has amnesia, she's 39, and life is very different in the "future." Story, characters, writing - I loved everything about this book! Couldn't put it down, but couldn't stop thinking about it either. My first Moriarty book. Won't be my last!</p><br><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p></p><p><br></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lm1JHXuKQhk/X-4ChfZr-GI/AAAAAAAACKE/HfHcKYDEOqoJKAd3Lps1NiVT3VnVO12AwCPcBGAYYCw/s499/51204046._SX0_SY0_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lm1JHXuKQhk/X-4ChfZr-GI/AAAAAAAACKE/HfHcKYDEOqoJKAd3Lps1NiVT3VnVO12AwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/51204046._SX0_SY0_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" /></a></div><b>The Boy From The Woods</b><p></p><p><b>By Harlan Coben</b></p><p>I don't think of myself as a thriller fan, though I loved The River earlier this year! The Boy From The Woods was fast-paced with great characters and a hooky storyline. It become my "just one more chapter" book, leading to several very late nights!</p><br><p><br></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b></b></p><p><b><b><br></b></b></p><p><b><br></b></p><p></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PEwZ_lAdJEY/X2J-oS0xPYI/AAAAAAAACG4/MQqAGJjwn8EvSSif2QAapzU0UCpsZtjMACPcBGAYYCw/s2048/81X895PCGiL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PEwZ_lAdJEY/X2J-oS0xPYI/AAAAAAAACG4/MQqAGJjwn8EvSSif2QAapzU0UCpsZtjMACPcBGAYYCw/s320/81X895PCGiL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" /></a></b></div><b>Stay</b><p></p><p><b>By Anjuli Paschall</b></p><p>I went through several months this year when I just couldn't concentrate on non-fiction. Stay lovingly welcomed me back to the genre. You can read my review <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2020/09/book-review-stay-by-anjuli-paschall.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</p><br><p><br></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><br></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b>The Forgotten Home Child</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CDjgck7enmI/X-4CkOII6oI/AAAAAAAACKM/uBFTkdiFyKYgRUk5rKZuBGULbhZ_IctgACPcBGAYYCw/s2016/the-forgotten-home-child-9781982128951_hr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CDjgck7enmI/X-4CkOII6oI/AAAAAAAACKM/uBFTkdiFyKYgRUk5rKZuBGULbhZ_IctgACPcBGAYYCw/s320/the-forgotten-home-child-9781982128951_hr.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>By Genevieve Graham</b></p><p>Here's the power of great historical fiction: We learn about chapters of history not taught in schools, not glorified in parades, not written about by the "winners." From the mid 1800's to the mid 1900's, over 100,000 children were sent from United Kingdom to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa. These children were orphaned, abandoned, or their families were too poor to care for them. The intentions were generally good, but the results often weren't. Many children were abused or bound in indentured servitude. The children who came to Canada literally helped build and farm our country, but I didn't learn about this in school, and I'm assuming you didn't either. Highly recommend as a great novel, but also as a critical piece of our nation's history.</p><br><p><br></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TSDvTq6a-Yw/X-4CjrEvlDI/AAAAAAAACKI/V2FXcW5SjJQOt5FcjgkSPIn1fy6GMf9HgCPcBGAYYCw/s2048/818bun7eSXL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TSDvTq6a-Yw/X-4CjrEvlDI/AAAAAAAACKI/V2FXcW5SjJQOt5FcjgkSPIn1fy6GMf9HgCPcBGAYYCw/s320/818bun7eSXL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" /></a></b></div><b>The Bookish Life of Nina Hill</b><p></p><p><b>By Abbi Waxman</b></p><p>Earlier this year, I read and raved about The Garden of Small Beginnings, also by Abbi Waxman. Inspired by my ravings, my friend recommended the popular The Bookish Life of Nina Hill. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I loved Small Beginnings more. There's a lot to love about Nina Hill - fun characters, great writing, and lots of book love. But ultimately, I found the love story too obvious and, because I could tell how it would end, I couldn't invest in it.</p><br><p><br></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b><br></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ReLj3HI1Wks/X48yp8Jj0rI/AAAAAAAACHs/tUCWmM9Gew8AHE7fmFtHEO0Mio10YlbCACPcBGAYYCw/s440/9780764232671.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ReLj3HI1Wks/X48yp8Jj0rI/AAAAAAAACHs/tUCWmM9Gew8AHE7fmFtHEO0Mio10YlbCACPcBGAYYCw/s320/9780764232671.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" /></a></div><b>Set The Stars Alight</b><p></p><p><b>By Amanda Dykes</b></p><p>One of my favourite books of the year!! You can read my review <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2020/10/book-review-set-stars-alight-by-amanda.html">HERE</a>.</p><p><br></p><br><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c7bN4BO9Dm4/X-4Cj3D2AVI/AAAAAAAACKA/v8tq9yH8gW4loi449a1mIhpiaPozCRjZACPcBGAYYCw/s475/95693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c7bN4BO9Dm4/X-4Cj3D2AVI/AAAAAAAACKA/v8tq9yH8gW4loi449a1mIhpiaPozCRjZACPcBGAYYCw/s320/95693.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" /></a></b></div><b>The Blue Castle</b><p></p><p><b>By Lucy Maud Montgomery</b></p><p>I bought my first copy of The Blue Castle many, many years ago, probably on my first visit to Green Gables. I distinctly remember having it at our cabin in Ocean Pond, NL, and reading it on my top bunk. It's been long enough that, when I started reading it, I couldn't remember any of the story, which was a lovely way to rediscover it. Wonderful story, fabulous characters, and a great read for a fall afternoon.</p><br><p><br></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b><br></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W63IRSLPzPs/X7bp2urYPqI/AAAAAAAACIQ/rbOiVVbBtHkSnVmjwrYqNNs107F72aFBwCPcBGAYYCw/s309/51eqmmvSnRL._SX260_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W63IRSLPzPs/X7bp2urYPqI/AAAAAAAACIQ/rbOiVVbBtHkSnVmjwrYqNNs107F72aFBwCPcBGAYYCw/s0/51eqmmvSnRL._SX260_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></a></div><b>Home Made Lovely</b><p></p><p><b>By Shannon Acheson</b></p><p>A decadent and well written decorating book! You can read my review <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2020/12/book-review-home-made-lovely-by-shannon.html">HERE</a>.</p><br><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vRP-wS0b-qQ/X-4Ci_jT4jI/AAAAAAAACJ8/sww25KrxY8UOCWaj9PosEP3PZEJGwnyfACPcBGAYYCw/s2048/7107aMSBd9L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vRP-wS0b-qQ/X-4Ci_jT4jI/AAAAAAAACJ8/sww25KrxY8UOCWaj9PosEP3PZEJGwnyfACPcBGAYYCw/s320/7107aMSBd9L.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" /></a></b></div><b>The Skin We're In</b><p></p><p><b>By Desmond Cole</b></p><p>A year of racism in Toronto, through the eyes of an activist and journalist. As Canadians, we like to view our country as not racist, as least, "we're not like America." Cole sets out to challenge that notion with true stories, engaging storytelling, and well researched facts. Each chapter is mini-essay, exploring different aspects of life for Canadians who are black, POC, Indigenous, or somehow marginalized because of race. I found myself feeling heartbroken, infuriated, provoked, inspired, and at times, completely uneasy. An important read and conversation for all Canadians.</p><br><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AgU1GRSLDs8/X-4CjWNNnMI/AAAAAAAACJ8/PiIVQf_cvqsc6WdUmjxi_VwTq-VZgGbKQCPcBGAYYCw/s1360/815u2fi1J7L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AgU1GRSLDs8/X-4CjWNNnMI/AAAAAAAACJ8/PiIVQf_cvqsc6WdUmjxi_VwTq-VZgGbKQCPcBGAYYCw/s320/815u2fi1J7L.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" /></a></div><b>Love Poems</b><p></p><p><b>By John Donne</b></p><p>I needed some more poetry on my list, so I ventured down to our local second hand bookstore. "Where's your poetry section?" "Go down the hall, past all the rooms, turn the corner, past all the other rooms, finally go in the back room, and then go into the back corner. You'll find the poetry there." I'm guessing poetry isn't the hot ticket item I thought it was! In that back section, I found piles of cheap, vintage poetry collections, including this beautiful book of John Donne love poems. Dreamy and decadent.</p><p><br></p><br><p><br></p><p><b><br></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vXtGdisa8Xs/X-4Cj2voh9I/AAAAAAAACKM/Pe7UrN_SDiYJQzp4lIaAJ8nEAJWiEwnUwCPcBGAYYCw/s340/il_340x270.1763169991_oqdx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vXtGdisa8Xs/X-4Cj2voh9I/AAAAAAAACKM/Pe7UrN_SDiYJQzp4lIaAJ8nEAJWiEwnUwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/il_340x270.1763169991_oqdx.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" width="320" /></a></div><b>Nonsense Poems</b><p></p><p><b>By Lewis Carroll</b></p><p>My poetry hunt also uncovered this fun collection of nonsense poems by Lewis Carroll. Silly and imaginative, and most fun when read aloud!</p><p><br></p><br><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><b><br></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--bz8MtZcKG8/X-4CguMyTqI/AAAAAAAACKA/bq-r6XUDteM04JDBaz8Fw9pP7izSq8MLwCPcBGAYYCw/s475/21853621._SY475_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--bz8MtZcKG8/X-4CguMyTqI/AAAAAAAACKA/bq-r6XUDteM04JDBaz8Fw9pP7izSq8MLwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/21853621._SY475_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" /></a></div><b>The Nightingale</b><p></p><p><b>By Kristin Hannah</b></p><p>Another one of my favourites for 2020! A WWII historical fiction, set in Paris and rural France. Telling the story of two very different sisters who are challenged in every way by the Nazi occupation. Our characters are fictional, but inspired by real women of this era. Don't want to give any spoilers, but wow what a story, and so beautifully written!</p><br><p><br></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b><br></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oLoQQKbi5nU/X-4Cgpz6u2I/AAAAAAAACKE/UGFX4tUv7k8nmm8xEaYBeIfuS_pERtx2QCPcBGAYYCw/s424/18932411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oLoQQKbi5nU/X-4Cgpz6u2I/AAAAAAAACKE/UGFX4tUv7k8nmm8xEaYBeIfuS_pERtx2QCPcBGAYYCw/s320/18932411.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" /></a></div><b>Poems</b><p></p><p><b>By Christina Rossetti</b></p><p>Christina Rossetti wrote my all-time favourite Christmas carol: In The Bleak Midwinter. It was wonderful to discover this collection of selected verses and get a broader sense of her writing abilities. Her poems are spiritual, whimsical, lyrical, and romantic. Loved this little collection!</p><br><p><b><br></b></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b><br></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n6D_s04-HKM/X-4Cj4mBnrI/AAAAAAAACKE/C3ko_3tj3nE99ha8JvDV6PgkwS-Sf0SOACPcBGAYYCw/s450/9780679602378.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n6D_s04-HKM/X-4Cj4mBnrI/AAAAAAAACKE/C3ko_3tj3nE99ha8JvDV6PgkwS-Sf0SOACPcBGAYYCw/s320/9780679602378.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" /></a></div><b>A Christmas Memory</b><p></p><p></p><p><b>By Truman Capote</b></p><p>A collection of three holiday stories by the great Truman Capote! A perfect Christmas read, filled with memory, nostalgia, and longing. Sentimental, but never sugar-coated. </p><br><p><br></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jFkfWhAseVU/X9zmKD-lqZI/AAAAAAAACIw/EZ16EjCt3nw5EDWmUAPu6SWv2GZ4JvRRQCPcBGAYYCw/s499/51LnfZfHanL._SX322_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jFkfWhAseVU/X9zmKD-lqZI/AAAAAAAACIw/EZ16EjCt3nw5EDWmUAPu6SWv2GZ4JvRRQCPcBGAYYCw/s320/51LnfZfHanL._SX322_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" /></a></b></div><b>Something Worth Doing</b><p></p><p><b>By Jane Kirkpatrick</b></p><p>Historical novelization of an early American suffragist. You can read my review <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2020/12/book-review-something-worth-doing-by.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</p><p><br></p><br><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b><br></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kGMu0Fp0rh0/X-4CiDZRKhI/AAAAAAAACJQ/kSMwPg7laNw-eWLJwR-Q6PdKBzcN3y7kgCPcBGAYYCw/s500/51r4jyJiI8L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kGMu0Fp0rh0/X-4CiDZRKhI/AAAAAAAACJQ/kSMwPg7laNw-eWLJwR-Q6PdKBzcN3y7kgCPcBGAYYCw/s320/51r4jyJiI8L.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" /></a></div><b>Winter Solstice</b><p></p><p><b>By Rosamunde Pilcher</b></p><p>As I write this post, I'm almost finished this one! I plan to finish it by midnight on New Year's Eve. So if you've read it already, no spoilers please! It has a gentle pace that's been just perfect for the final days of a crazy year. Perfect when paired with a "restorative cup of tea." </p><br><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>What a year of reading!</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What did you read and love this year?</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Please share in the comments below or on our<a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/www.facebook.com/InfinitelyMoreBand" target="_blank"> Facebook page...</a></span></p><p><br></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/65099122020-12-29T17:45:00-05:002020-12-29T21:00:03-05:00Book Review: Something Worth Doing, by Jane Kirkpatrick<p style="text-align: center;"><b> My final book review of 2020!</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">I'm actually just finishing my final read of the year, so stay tuned: <br>in the next day or two I'll share my full <b>2020 Reading List</b>. It's been a great year of reading!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jFkfWhAseVU/X9zmKD-lqZI/AAAAAAAACIs/c2hKzCTDygEorxIth_Sq8shTurjTPBB7wCLcBGAsYHQ/s499/51LnfZfHanL._SX322_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jFkfWhAseVU/X9zmKD-lqZI/AAAAAAAACIs/c2hKzCTDygEorxIth_Sq8shTurjTPBB7wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/51LnfZfHanL._SX322_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" />I</a></div><p></p><p></p>I was excited when I saw <b>Something Worth Doing</b> on my list of potential review books. Jane Kirkpatrick has novelized the life of Abigail Scott Duniway - an early American suffragist. <div><br></div><div>I love reading about life in the 1800's, especially when it explores women who either fought within or pushed against their very rigid roles. <b>Something Worth Doing </b>explores life in the western United States - a world of pioneers, family farms, and growing towns and cities. For those of us who read a lot of Victorian literature, this was a very different take on this era, and a fascinating world to explore.</div><div><br></div><div>Kirkpatrick has thoroughly researched her subject matter, both in terms of character, politics, and setting. Even though written in a novel form, there were times the book took on the feeling of an extraordinarily detailed essay, and that's where my concerns with the book developed. </div><div><br></div><div>There are tremendous details about Abigail's family members - all her siblings, nieces, and nephews - and swaths of information about the family's home life. I would have liked some of those details sacrificed so we could learn more about Abigail's work and passion for the suffragette movement. Don't get me wrong - these things are explained, but I felt I came away knowing more about Abigail's domestic life than her fight for women's rights.</div><div><br></div><div>And then, we actually come to the real problem: Abigail herself. As portrayed in this book, Abigail is a pretty unlikable character. Given Kirkpatrick's extensive research, I have to believe her portrayal is accurate. I have no problem with an unlikable heroine, but at some point, a skilled storyteller always gives us a reason to empathize with such a heroine, such as through a broken past or a moment of redemption. We have no such moment with Abigail. </div><div><br></div><div>She's heartless to her saint of a husband, abandons her dying daughter, and - even with lots of personal tragedy - is completely unsympathetic. I thought it might just be me, but a quick scan of reviews told me I wasn't the only one having this reaction.</div><div><br></div><div>I understand if Kirkpatrick wants to be historically accurate in her portrayal, but it does make it a much harder book to finish and enjoy.</div><div><br></div><div>So, I never like giving a middling review, but I can't give all my love to this one. </div><div><br></div><div>If you're looking for a well researched book on an influential early American suffragist, with great details on domestic life of the era, <b>Something Worth Doing</b> is a great book to read.</div><div><br></div><div>If you're looking for a heroine to inspire you, a detailed look at the suffragist movement, and a real exploration of what it takes to choose passion over expectation, I would recommend looking elsewhere. </div><div>
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<p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-size: xx-small; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></p>
</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/64896512020-12-01T17:05:00-05:002020-12-01T19:30:24-05:00Book Review: Home Made Lovely, by Shannon Acheson<p><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W63IRSLPzPs/X7bp2urYPqI/AAAAAAAACIE/48n_293XVL4Msjqt3p3ysEEtaMW3Fz8-QCLcBGAsYHQ/s309/51eqmmvSnRL._SX260_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W63IRSLPzPs/X7bp2urYPqI/AAAAAAAACIE/48n_293XVL4Msjqt3p3ysEEtaMW3Fz8-QCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/51eqmmvSnRL._SX260_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></a></p><p><br></p><p>I love reviewing books, but as a Christian book reviewer (<i>reviewer of Christian books?? Both apply....</i>) I never thought I'd get this rare treat:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I'm reviewing a decorating book!</span></b></p><p>I loooove decorating! It's a passionate hobby of mine. I love creating beautiful, welcoming spaces that change with the season. So when I had the opportunity to review <b>Home Made Lovely</b>, I jumped at the chance.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Home Made Lovely</b> approaches the art of home decor from three main angles:</p><p><br></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sYwHWLzoJBs/X7bp2UigG5I/AAAAAAAACH8/iYefDkOlp78Mbwo8Mn8McpJ8mDBIWMMogCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/121362378_332623454707593_8215573542417251653_nfull.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sYwHWLzoJBs/X7bp2UigG5I/AAAAAAAACH8/iYefDkOlp78Mbwo8Mn8McpJ8mDBIWMMogCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/121362378_332623454707593_8215573542417251653_nfull.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" /></a></div><br><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">#1. Let's make things beautiful and affordable.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">#2. Let's create spaces that reflect you, your family, and how you want everyone to feel.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">#3. Decorating is a spiritual art that can be both an expression and reflection of your faith.</span></p><p><br></p><p>Not just a picture book (<i>although the pictures are lovely!</i>), this is a decorating book that is meant to be read. Ideally, in a comfortable chair with a delicious hot beverage (<i>very hygge!</i>)</p><p><br></p><p>Shannon's writing is warm and effortless. I've never met her, but I imagine that meeting her in person might have the same energy. Her text is well researched and applicable, yet shared in a way that's invitational and encouraging. Even the experienced amateur will find lots of new ideas and practical tools within these pages. </p><p><br></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pl6nRHg-lcA/X7bp2vX2wHI/AAAAAAAACIA/9xuoDdNe2mk0qHHb7GJdFZl1-Aw-C676wCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/120975260_181198906797988_3471978009018768851_nfull.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pl6nRHg-lcA/X7bp2vX2wHI/AAAAAAAACIA/9xuoDdNe2mk0qHHb7GJdFZl1-Aw-C676wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/120975260_181198906797988_3471978009018768851_nfull.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" /></a></div>Chapter 3 - "As for Me and My House" - will be the deciding factor for many readers. Shannon makes no bones about her Christianity throughout the book, but this is the section where she really lays out faith as a basis for creating a beautiful and comfortable home. This isn't a chapter you'll find in many decorating books. Gerald and I held a house blessing when we moved here to St. Catharines, so I'm no stranger to the idea of weaving faith into your home. But for many this may be a new, or even unusual, approach to home decor. Some people may wonder if this should even be in a decorating book? Shannon handles that question beautifully in her intro to the chapter, where she gently explains her approach, without creating pressure to accept her point of view. If this idea speaks to you, you'll love the ideas and lists included in this chapter. If not, read on, because there's still a tonne you can get from this book!<div>
<br><p></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I can't say enough about how much I loved <strike>reading</strike> devouring <b>Home Made Lovely!</b></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I've spent every day since April digging in my garden, so with the weather turning colder, this book came at just the right time. With each chapter, I had fresh visions of painting my bedroom, organizing my bathroom cupboard, and taking on a few special projects in our main living spaces. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">After turning the final page, I immediately visited Shannon's gorgeous website - <a href="https://homemadelovely.com/" target="_blank">HOME MADE LOVELY</a> - and signed up for her newsletter. If you want a sneak peek of the book, you can even get a free chapter on her site.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">If you're looking for some home inspiration this season, I recommend you brew something hot, grab a cozy blanket, and open your copy of <b>Home Made Lovely! </b></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><br></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">And Shannon, when this world becomes a safer place, you have a standing invitation to come visit my colourful, collected, personal <b>Home Made Lovely. </b></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I'm serious! Come for a mug up! The kettle's always on :)</p>
<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MQP7_nQiZRY/X7bp3NCxfNI/AAAAAAAACII/x8FakmPh2WIjmurWKcDEeGumpZP3qiSogCLcBGAsYHQ/s970/e9a81f0f-bf7d-4b4f-89f8-d2733669d66c.__CR0%252C0%252C970%252C300_PT0_SX970_V1___.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MQP7_nQiZRY/X7bp3NCxfNI/AAAAAAAACII/x8FakmPh2WIjmurWKcDEeGumpZP3qiSogCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h198/e9a81f0f-bf7d-4b4f-89f8-d2733669d66c.__CR0%252C0%252C970%252C300_PT0_SX970_V1___.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="198" width="640" /></a></div></div>
<p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-size: xx-small; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></p>
</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/64607162020-10-21T14:35:00-04:002020-10-21T17:45:15-04:00Book Review: Set The Stars Alight, by Amanda Dykes<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ReLj3HI1Wks/X48yp8Jj0rI/AAAAAAAACHo/h8OeKcWycukOmnPIJiV9d2emKxSvFaaaQCLcBGAsYHQ/s440/9780764232671.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ReLj3HI1Wks/X48yp8Jj0rI/AAAAAAAACHo/h8OeKcWycukOmnPIJiV9d2emKxSvFaaaQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/9780764232671.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">You know when you get to the end of a book, and you know it's ending perfectly, and yet you still wish it could go on for another 100 pages?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That's how I felt at the end of </span></div><div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Set The Stars Alight </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">by Amanda Dykes.</span></div>
<p style="text-align: center;">Last year, I reviewed Amanda's debut novel, <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2019/08/book-review-whose-waves-these-are-by.html" target="_blank">Whose Waves These Are</a>. <br>I found this to be a perfect summer read, so I jumped at the chance to read her latest offering.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Set The Stars Alight</b> hooked me right from the start: <br>Historical fiction, fractured narrative, London setting, nautical themes, and some big-R Romantic scope. All the makings of a great curl-up-with-tea-and-a-snack kind of read!</p>
<p></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">I'm always so hesitant to review novels because I detest spoilers. You can read the publisher's description anywhere online, but here's my wee summary:</div></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><br></div>
<p></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">In the current day, we meet <b>Lucy and Dash,</b> <br>childhood friends raised on stories and folklore. As Lucy's father wows them with mystical fables and riddles, dreams are planted in their hearts. Reunited as adults, Lucy and Dash go on a quest to discover the truth behind the tales.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">In the early 1800's, we meet <b>Frederick Hanford,</b> <br>son of the Master of the land. His curiosity takes him beyond the manor walls where he discovers the power of family, and an adventure for the ages.<br><br></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">With beautiful writing and compelling storytelling, Amanda Dykes weaves these stories together to create a wonderfully captivating book. The theme of stars and light provide both narrative drive and the tiniest of descriptions. Lucy, Dash, Frederick and the whole cast of characters are charming and layered. This isn't magic realism, but it's realism highly seasoned with magic, wonder, and whimsey.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">And, I love any writing that professes the power of storytelling! One of the major themes in this novel is the power of knowing stories, sharing stories, and discovering the profound truth they contain. As a writer of faith, Amanda finds the perfect moments to remind us of the greatest story this world has known - how all great stories lead us back to the manger, and to the true light that was born that night.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I not only <b>highly recommend </b>this book, <br>I also recommend you take the time to read the Author's Note at the end! <br>All on its own, it's worth the price of admission.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><br></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></i></p>
</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/64358012020-09-16T17:42:00-04:002020-09-16T22:00:11-04:00Book Review: Stay, by Anjuli Paschall<div class="separator"><p style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PEwZ_lAdJEY/X2J-oS0xPYI/AAAAAAAACG0/uwBen1OshCkj3z2lAqr3njwXFi78IJBnQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/81X895PCGiL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" /></p></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;">This summer, I made a terrible discovery:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>I couldn't read nonfiction!!</b></p><p>My pandemic-lockdown-coronovirus stressed brain just couldn't handle it. I was devouring fiction like bonbons, but non-fiction just wouldn't stick. </p><p>I know I'm not alone in this. Normal things becoming difficult seems to be one of 2020's most played songs.</p><p>I shunned all the nonfiction choices on the recent <a href="https://nutsaboutbooks.ca/" target="_blank">Nuts About Books </a>review selections. But then I started to read reviews for <a href="https://www.anjulipaschall.com/book" target="_blank">Stay by Anjuli Paschall,</a> and my heart started to flutter. Maybe I could just read this one...</p><p>I curled up with a steamy espresso, a bowl of fresh Niagara peaches, and slowly began to read.</p><p>Yes, this was exactly what I needed.</p><p><br></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Stay is an invitation to be present. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Not fighting the futile fight to be somewhere or someone else. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Be here, in this moment, and be loved.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><p></p><p>Each chapter is an intimate, personal essay, inspired by Anjuli's own experiences. She's honest about her struggles with shame and anxiety. But this isn't a story of wallowing in those feelings or using them as currency. This isn't "stay in the pain because this is what you deserve." Instead, it's about finding authenticity and love in even the most challenging moments. How staying in the pain allows us to heal and be transformed. It's about discovering what grace truly feels like, and how we can be generous in both its giving and receiving.</p><p><br></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y4vxTPJ-zBk/X2KEvQn9LZI/AAAAAAAACHM/-WjjrCrsa-ofpMNVXXOEGfIu59zTW2qawCPcBGAYYCw/s794/il_794xN.2329924799_hzs6.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y4vxTPJ-zBk/X2KEvQn9LZI/AAAAAAAACHM/-WjjrCrsa-ofpMNVXXOEGfIu59zTW2qawCPcBGAYYCw/s320/il_794xN.2329924799_hzs6.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" /></a></div>As much as I love Anjuli's thoughts, I might love her writing even more! She writes with an intimate voice, laced with moments of poetry. She anchors her personal memories with beautiful details. Her description of her beloved campground at the opening of "The Lake" had me craving my own childhood campground in Newfoundland. During a tribute to her lifelong friends, she describes their efforts to help a friend through a suicidal period. Using the metaphor of the men who lowered their friend through the roof to Jesus, Anjuli lovingly and sensitively shares what could only have been a very dark season for them all.<p></p><p>This book can be inhaled in a single day or luxuriated over for weeks (<i>my personal choice!</i>) You'll find yourself drifting over your own memories, exploring your personal moments of discovery, healing and grace.</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I highly recommend Stay! <br></b>Grab a copy, pour a favourite beverage, and enjoy...</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br></p><p><i style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></i><br style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/63963902020-07-29T11:17:00-04:002020-07-29T11:35:32-04:0015 Years of Yes<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>15 years ago today, I said Yes.</b></span></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6meM6c_Gb6Q/XyGKK2vEyhI/AAAAAAAACF8/l6gMD0dWhCMrsf2-D4WzdwNsQGIIcYqRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/15%2BYears%2Bof%2BYes.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6meM6c_Gb6Q/XyGKK2vEyhI/AAAAAAAACF8/l6gMD0dWhCMrsf2-D4WzdwNsQGIIcYqRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/15%2BYears%2Bof%2BYes.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="400" width="400" /></a></div><br><br><div style="text-align: center;">Quite frankly, I never even wanted to be asked the question. </div><div style="text-align: center;">For years, I’d pushed back, given into resistance.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">My Dad was the minister. I saw the tolls of church life, the stresses of church politics, </div><div style="text-align: center;">the frustrations of church prejudices. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Nope. Not me. I didn’t want any part of it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Every time I’d feel God starting to move in around my music, I’d say, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>“Great! Glad you’re here! Here’s what you can do for me…”</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">I had no intention of surrendering. I was in control of <u>my</u> future, <u>my</u> dreams. I could see the kind of glamorous, artistic life that I wanted to live, and it looked nothing, <u>nothing</u> like a churchy life. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">But 15 years ago, I heard God call me into full-time music ministry, and I said Yes.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not just Yes, but </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">I said Yes in a way that completely turned my world upside-down and inside-out. That should be utter confusion and yet, it made more sense than anything I’d ever done in my whole life. All the things I’d ever created or learned or experienced somehow, magically, mysteriously lined up into this perfect moment.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">So the journey began. First, with steps to change the career I’d been building over the previous decade - learning a new kind of artistic expression and a way of bridging my worlds of music and church.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">Second, with moving to Nashville with my incredibly support, brand-new husband. Who knew that by the time we’d come home to Canada, Gerald would have also said Yes to that same calling, sparking the first embers of Infinitely More.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Step by step, song by song, a ministry has grown.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Who knew that Yes could lead to this?</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">8 albums. 15 national nominations. 2 awards. 10 years of touring. Hundreds of songs. Thousands of kilometres. Countless moments of prayers, laughter, fellowship, worship, and beauty.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">It’s not lost on me that I mark this day in the middle of a global pandemic that’s brought our touring ministry to a standstill. What does God have to say to us on this particular anniversary date?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">When I started out as a very young singer and actor, I had all kind of plans and dreams. When I said Yes to God’s calling, I laid all that aside.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">But here’s the amazing thing: </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>I’ve never felt that following God’s path </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>has ever meant giving up my own plans and dreams.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">Don’t get me wrong: I’ve sacrificed a lot for this life of ministry. It’s hard, exhausting, often misunderstood work. We spend months away from family, friends, and all the comforts of home. We live with a higher-than-normal level of insecurity and instability. I can’t think of any part of our lives that is unaffected by this ministry.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And yet, it’s never really felt like we’re giving up anything. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I’ve never felt God saying No to any of my dreams.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Instead, I feel He’s turned me towards a Greater Yes.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">Yes, to traveling, touring, and bringing music and light to all corners of this beautiful country.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">Yes, to worshiping in churches of all shapes and sizes, and seeing the power of God work through a myriad of styles and expressions.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">Yes, to boundless art, writing, beauty, and creativity.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">Yes, to witnessing the transformative, redemptive miracle of God's love and grace moving through ordinary people.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">Yes, to our tiny family of marriage, puppies, and a family who’s willing to postpone holiday celebrations until we’re back in our home province. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">It’s strange how, over the years, so many of my original dreams have come true, just not in the way that I had originally imagined. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">And in many cases, I’ve even had dreams come true that I didn’t even know were my dreams to begin with! Amazing things that happen, and all I can think is, “I wasn’t seeking that, and yet, I somehow think I’ve wanted that my whole life”.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Is this what they mean by “God moves in mysterious ways”?</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">15 Years of Yes.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">I stand here today, so very thankful for every moment of the journey, so far… </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">I’m grateful for every person who has joined me on this adventure, with the most generous gratitude reserved for Mom, Dad, and Gerald. None of this happens or makes sense without the three of you and your love. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">I still have so many dreams, so many goals, so many things I want to create and experience in this world. 15 years in and I’m hungrier than ever for God’s voice, God’s calling, and God’s music. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">So I will continue to say Yes. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And I will continue to give glory to God, trusting that His power, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">working in us, can do Infinitely More than we can ask or imagine.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Amen.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here’s to the next 15…</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>I captured that original night, 15 years ago, right here on this blog. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>You can read my post from that night <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2005/07/nashville-day-10.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>A few years ago, I had the chance to share my story in St. Andrews By-the-Sea, NB. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>You can hear it here:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zT0hMo42OMk" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/63829822020-07-11T12:33:00-04:002020-07-11T12:45:37-04:00Not Seeking Normal<div style="text-align: center;"><b>“I can’t wait for things to return to Normal.”</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We’ve all said it. </div><div style="text-align: center;">In some moment of frustration, in the last few months, </div><div style="text-align: center;">as the world has turned upside-down, we’ve all said it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>“I just need things to be Normal.”</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>It’s an understandable phrase. Everything has changed. From the very simple, like buying groceries, to the very complex, like visiting the hospital - nothing has been unaffected by the coronavirus pandemic.<br><br>Normal makes sense. Normal makes us feel balanced and safe. In recent days, here in Ontario, we’re getting some signs of that return. Businesses are starting to reopen, you can sit on a patio, and you can even form a “social circle” with close family and friends. You can sense a new excitement about these changes.<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>But what about those of us who can’t return to Normal?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What if your Normal no longer exists? </b></span></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--AMjv_izgXU/XwnkG_LQ0tI/AAAAAAAACFw/eZLvrldyTaQi4upULc9HgiiQoAZqH0IZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Not%2BSeeking%2BNormal.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--AMjv_izgXU/XwnkG_LQ0tI/AAAAAAAACFw/eZLvrldyTaQi4upULc9HgiiQoAZqH0IZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Not%2BSeeking%2BNormal.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="335" width="400" /></a></div><br><br>As music artists, we make our living touring the country and performing in front of large groups of people. We cross borders, stay in Airbnbs, billet in homes, and pack the pews with as many people as possible. No social distancing. Lots of hugging. Hours of singing and breathing the same air.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">As I write this, literally none of these things are allowed. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>None of them.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">The very mechanics of how we make our living is banned for now and into the foreseeable future.</div><br>There are practical ramifications to this, but it’s more than that. Creating live music and sharing it with communities is what we do! It’s what we’re built for, how we move through this world. It’s our language for sharing God’s light and love.<br><br>Yes, we can do some things online, and we’re grateful for that, but we all know, it’s just not the same.<br><br>At this point, the arts industry in general isn’t anticipating a return to Normal any time in the near future. When touring and live performances do return, we have no idea how they will look or what changes we may all need to make.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">I’m sure we’re not the only group who can’t see a pathway back to Normal yet. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Let’s be honest, even if you are able to return to your job, </div><div style="text-align: center;">does it really look or feel like it used to?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><br>Many years ago, I lost someone I loved to suicide. Steve’s death completely turned my world upside-down and inside-out. All I wanted was for life to return to Normal - to laugh and joke with and hug the man I loved. But as I swam through the waves of grief, I came to the realization that a return to Normal was never possible.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">Normal, as I had known it, no longer existed. </div><br>From that day on, I realized that I needed to discover a new vision for the future. I was completely unclear as to what that would look like. It took months and even years for it to fully take shape, but letting go of my former view of Normal was the first step. Only then could I start to open my heart to this next chapter that God had prepared for me.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">I’ve thought about that journey a lot during this pandemic season. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Maybe you’ve been through a similar journey yourself.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Normal, as we once knew it, no longer exists.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">And trying to hold this past in our hands is as futile as grabbing sand in the wind.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, I’m<b> Not Seeking Normal</b> anymore.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Instead, with a deep breath, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I’m trying to open myself to God’s next chapter.</span></div><br><br>As a planner, I’ve found this season to be incredibly tough. And yet, more times than I can count, I’ve found my anxiety washed away by a peace I can’t fully explain. A peace that passes all human understanding.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">I can’t see the path forward at all. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I have no idea what the future looks like.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The fear and not-knowing can be overwhelming.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>But I’ve stumbled down the steps of uncertainty before, </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>only to discover sure footing awaiting me.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">So now, more than anything, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I choose to trust the One who created the path.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">I trust that He has plans to prosper, and not harm, me. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I trust His steps are a firm foundation.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And I know that nothing, <u>nothing</u>, can separate me from His love.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">I’m <b>Not Seeking Normal.</b>
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Instead, I’m lifting this prayer.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I invite you to join me…</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Loving God, </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">I have no idea what you have prepared for me. </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">But I know you are the source of all goodness and love. </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Prepare my heart, mind, and talents for this next chapter. </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">If you can’t show me the whole path, just show me the next step. </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">And if that step is to simply rest, </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">please give me the strength to stay still. </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Amen. </span></i></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sBUSoosnxJQ/XweFHV2X8fI/AAAAAAAACFg/a4RVy2GB1ZwWalrEy39bJ98D0aev6rgegCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/For%2BI%2BKnow%2BThe%2BPlans%2B%2528Not%2BSeeking%2BNormal%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sBUSoosnxJQ/XweFHV2X8fI/AAAAAAAACFg/a4RVy2GB1ZwWalrEy39bJ98D0aev6rgegCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/For%2BI%2BKnow%2BThe%2BPlans%2B%2528Not%2BSeeking%2BNormal%2529.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="536" width="640" /></a></div><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/63806172020-07-09T01:01:00-04:002020-07-09T04:45:21-04:00Book Review: Losing Control, by Mark Smeby<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GowLyhEjeCI/XwShX0CAymI/AAAAAAAACFQ/Vs2gURMdyukXs7DWekMWRn1gtzQ-8UFZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/53206328._SY475_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GowLyhEjeCI/XwShX0CAymI/AAAAAAAACFQ/Vs2gURMdyukXs7DWekMWRn1gtzQ-8UFZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/53206328._SY475_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="210" /></a><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>I mentioned in last week's <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2020/07/2020-mid-year-book-list.html" target="_blank">2020 Mid-Year Book List</a> </b></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>that I'd be posting a review soon, and here 'tis</b>!</div><br><br>I first met Mark Smeby when we sang on the same worship team in Nashville. I loved his voice, and since that time, I've come to appreciate the breadth of his talents as a singer, songwriter, performer, and author.<br><br>Earlier this year, he sent out an announcement that he was writing a new book, and seeking volunteers to be part of his reading team. I jumped at the chance! Week by week, our group would receive chapters as they were written. We were invited to share our stories and thoughts in a Facebook group, and would then receive revisions based on that feedback.<br><span style="background-color: white;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white;">Since I was able to see a bit of the "work in progress," I really wanted to share a review and let you know about this new project!</span><br><span style="background-color: white;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Losing Control</b> is written for control freaks <i>(can I get a witness?) </i>and the better life that awaits when we learn to let go and let God. I can't think of a better time to release this book than now. Who hasn't been struggling with a loss of control these days? Health, finances, plans, dreams - everything has been turned upside-down. Wouldn't it be great if we could truly surrender all our stress to God and live in true freedom? </span><br><span style="background-color: white;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white;">Mark defines this process in two steps:</span><br><span style="background-color: white;"><br></span><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>#1. "Accept the Mess - Surrender to life as it is"</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>#2. "Be Willing to Create a New Mess - Use courage to live from the heart"</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><br></b></span></div><span style="background-color: white;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white;">Through personal testimony and studied resources, Mark shares his own journey of <i>"losing control"</i> and finding a more generous and loving way to live. In his own words, </span><span style="background-color: white;"><i>"This book is a giant dose of grace ....",</i> and who couldn't use more of that these days! </span><br><br>Each chapter ends with helpful questions for personal reflection. And remember how I mentioned sharing our stories in the Facebook group? Well, each chapter also ends with a personal story from a group member.<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;">I had two strong impressions when reading <b>Losing Control</b>:</div><br>#1. Mark's ministry has shared a powerful message of "Hope" for many years, and I feel like this book is a natural extension of this ministry. If you enjoy his writing, I recommend you look deeper into his music and, of course, go see him live when artists can tour again!<br><br>#2. About halfway through the book, Mark begins to share stories of his many years working in prison ministry. Honestly, these were my absolute favourite parts of the book! I would love to see Mark's next book explore this challenging and inspiring ministry.<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Thanks, Mark, for sharing your story, </b></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>and for allowing so many of us to be part of your reading team!</b><br><b><br></b>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Losing Control</b> is available as a hardcopy or as an audiobook, </span><br><span style="font-size: large;">and...</span><br><span style="font-size: large;">Mark is very generously offering a <b>FREE PDF</b> of the book!</span><br><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please visit his website for more details:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://livehopenow.com/">LiveHopeNow.com</a></span><br><br>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/q2vBWWeozLQ" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/63767602020-07-05T14:56:00-04:002020-07-05T16:01:16-04:002020 Mid-Year Book List!<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Wow, this has become an epic year for reading!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">As you know, for the last few years, I've given myself a goal of reading 2 books a month.<br>Each year, I celebrate this goal by publishing my reading list.<br><br><span style="font-size: large;">Here are my lists for <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2018/12/24-books-for-2018.html" target="_blank">2018</a> and <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2020/01/24-books-for-2019.html" target="_blank">2019</a>.</span>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'd set the same goal for 2020, but once the lockdown hit, my reading took off like a shot!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not being able to tour or perform for live audiences has been incredibly difficult in every possible way. I'm not exaggerating when I say that music, gardening and reading have kept me feeling sane and peaceful throughout this whole ordeal.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Since the lockdown started, my reading has increased </span><br><span style="font-size: large;">from 2 books a month to 4 or 5 per month!</span>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">At this rate, I'll hit my annual goal of 24 in just a few weeks.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Rather than create an exhaustive list in December, </b></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>I've decided to share a mid-year list with you now.</b><br><br>You'll find a good mix here:<br>fiction and non-fiction, some Canadian and local reads, a few books-in-translation,<br>and of course my favourite: historical fiction.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hopefully, you'll find something that will be an inspiration or diversion for you this season!</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br><br><br>
</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Here's my 2020 Mid-Year Book List!</span></b><br><br><br>
</div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gLQNnSTcMUo/XwDzqVuSFYI/AAAAAAAACDI/oy35RmV4xsAVE4tsqxZIUCX4StDTNYB6wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/51Y8EZc6juL._SX330_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gLQNnSTcMUo/XwDzqVuSFYI/AAAAAAAACDI/oy35RmV4xsAVE4tsqxZIUCX4StDTNYB6wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/51Y8EZc6juL._SX330_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="212" /></a></div><b>The Gown: A Novel of the Royal Wedding</b><br><b>By Jennifer Robson</b><br><br>I started the year with this gorgeous historical fiction, imagining the lives of the women who created Queen <i>(then "Princess")</i> Elizabeth's wedding gown. I loved everything about this book - the characters, setting, and story were all fully engaging. But my favourite part of historical fiction is always taking the deep dive outside of the book itself. Search any of the dresses mentioned in the book, or even the designer himself, and you'll find a plethora of photos and videos that help flesh out the world of The Gown.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3kr1jb8dEgI/XwDzjUfXxPI/AAAAAAAACDE/ah6XpAy0e7ER4Z96zkq4_KXHx3K0XK2SQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3kr1jb8dEgI/XwDzjUfXxPI/AAAAAAAACDE/ah6XpAy0e7ER4Z96zkq4_KXHx3K0XK2SQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/download.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></a><b>Beartown</b><br><b>By Fredrik Backman</b><br><br>My writing friend, <a href="https://marthatatarnic.ca/" target="_blank">Martha Tatarnic</a>, lent me this book last spring, but I really felt a book about hockey should be read in winter. Set in Northern Sweden <i>(this is one of my books-in-translation reads!)</i>, Beartown could easily be set in a small, northern Canada town. This compelling story asks important questions about where we place our values and priorities, especially when the stakes are high.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qIF56kBDsL0/XwDz06tBg8I/AAAAAAAACDM/Ukz9JgFkol0AbjhorHcsHBHzJBAsk7Q1ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/download-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qIF56kBDsL0/XwDz06tBg8I/AAAAAAAACDM/Ukz9JgFkol0AbjhorHcsHBHzJBAsk7Q1ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/download-1.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></a><br><b>All the Light We Cannot See</b><br><b>By Anthony Doerr</b><br><br>Another historical fiction! I think everyone I know had already read this book, so I'm late to the party, but a complete superfan! A literary, layered, and engaging novel exploring the ravages of war through children and teenagers. I couldn't stop thinking or talking about this book.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0BWwLwQwC7Y/XwDz7S2kelI/AAAAAAAACDQ/PA7ALq910WU44XwZTAKeTPerTcTG0gQiwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/51CSpXa-pQL._SX344_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0BWwLwQwC7Y/XwDz7S2kelI/AAAAAAAACDQ/PA7ALq910WU44XwZTAKeTPerTcTG0gQiwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/51CSpXa-pQL._SX344_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="221" /></a></div><b>The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou</b><br><b>By Maya Angelou</b><br><br>This winter, I decided that I wanted to start reading poetry. The idea was sparked late one night, when I wanted to read, but was too tired to delve into a few chapters. <i>"Ah,"</i> I thought, <i>"this would be the perfect time to just read a poem of two."</i> It's really the only genre that's been missing from my reading list, and Maya seemed like the perfect place to start.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tuk8qfAe4zU/XwD0BXS-u-I/AAAAAAAACDU/9neUy7tLS2YRSnZoo8FwQaJS3-f5n3N6QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/81aZeoknKCL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tuk8qfAe4zU/XwD0BXS-u-I/AAAAAAAACDU/9neUy7tLS2YRSnZoo8FwQaJS3-f5n3N6QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/81aZeoknKCL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="211" /></a></div><b>Praying Women: How to Pray When You Don't Know What to Say</b><br><b>By Sheila Walsh</b><br><br>I read this book for review. You can read my thoughts <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2020/03/book-review-praying-women-by-sheila.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qrvl0EyQn-I/XwD0HeHPHrI/AAAAAAAACDc/on6fVKf6WlMpCSAyndNmeqv_6FPTRFz7gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/51yBP16d4qL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qrvl0EyQn-I/XwD0HeHPHrI/AAAAAAAACDc/on6fVKf6WlMpCSAyndNmeqv_6FPTRFz7gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/51yBP16d4qL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="211" /></a></div><b>In Calamity's Wake: A Novel</b><br><b>By Natalee Caple</b><br><br>In our travels, I've started visiting indie bookstores and picking up books by local authors. While visiting St. Catharines' latest indie bookstore, <a href="https://somedaybooks.ca/?q=h" target="_blank">Someday Books</a>, I realized I hadn't read any of our hometown authors yet! Inspired by the wild west, In Calamity's Wake tells the fictional story of Calamity Jane's daughter and her journey to find her mother. Steeped in historical details and wonderfully told - a treasure of a book!<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SIiQzK5yRco/XwD0ONVsnUI/AAAAAAAACDk/h_4vCeAhlDcUsf2LQ8pZKzGaXYFdtcI6ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/41wtxbRD0QL._SX327_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SIiQzK5yRco/XwD0ONVsnUI/AAAAAAAACDk/h_4vCeAhlDcUsf2LQ8pZKzGaXYFdtcI6ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/41wtxbRD0QL._SX327_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="210" /></a></div><b>Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver</b><br><b>By Mary Oliver</b><br><br>I loved reading Maya Angelou, so I did a Facebook poll of friends to find their favourite poets, and Mary Oliver topped the list. I loooooved this collection! Her images of nature and gentleness were exactly what I wanted to read. I think I bookmarked about half the poems for repeated reading!<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y5pU5nWmm0c/XwD0U7O5taI/AAAAAAAACDs/gnPfRY873-kNNw6H1M9dQvcmQpKw20amACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/download-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y5pU5nWmm0c/XwD0U7O5taI/AAAAAAAACDs/gnPfRY873-kNNw6H1M9dQvcmQpKw20amACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/download-2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></a></div><b>The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living</b><br><b>By Meik Wiking</b><br><br>We entered lockdown in March, and this seemed like the perfect time to explore the idea of hygge. This Danish approach to comfort has been trendy for a while, and this is truly the perfect season to put it into practice. Candles, comfort food, soft blankets, quiet time at home - if we have to be in lockdown, we might as well make the most of it.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_R680tKoFsQ/XwD0b1JQ4pI/AAAAAAAACDw/qgS170JSHpMPd8xUBS-WACUZkJHbaXMLgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/40597810._SY475_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_R680tKoFsQ/XwD0b1JQ4pI/AAAAAAAACDw/qgS170JSHpMPd8xUBS-WACUZkJHbaXMLgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/40597810._SY475_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="212" /></a></div><b>Daisy Jones and The Six</b><br><b>By Taylor Jenkins Reid</b><br><br>I'd definitely call this historical fiction a romp of a book! Daisy Jones and The Six tells the story of a fictional 70s rock band. Written in the style of a Rolling Stones interview, we get the story of the band from the varied perspectives and biases of the different band members. I particularly love the time dedicated to exploring the challenges and triumphs of the songwriting process.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xyvqlbccHaw/XwD0jcyFfbI/AAAAAAAACD4/qE79ryMregwFiFz0hWvAVDO4K5W200NewCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/46125027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xyvqlbccHaw/XwD0jcyFfbI/AAAAAAAACD4/qE79ryMregwFiFz0hWvAVDO4K5W200NewCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/46125027.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="207" /></a></div><b>More Than We Remember</b><br><b>By Christina Suzann Nelson</b><br><br>I read this book for review. You can read my thoughts <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2020/04/book-review-more-than-we-remember-by.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_S5g1PmM-4/XwD0sCf9v3I/AAAAAAAACEA/XDqFvQf8Gb48x64xwllt6VCL2Aru1Cz3gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/download-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_S5g1PmM-4/XwD0sCf9v3I/AAAAAAAACEA/XDqFvQf8Gb48x64xwllt6VCL2Aru1Cz3gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/download-3.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></a></div><b>A Moveable Feast</b><br><b>By Ernest Hemingway</b><br><br>The Little Book of Hygge recommended this as a good hygge book. Hemingway's memoir of his years in Paris were a decadent treat, filled with cozy cafes, eclectic bookstores, long walks, and the eccentricities of the writer's life. Although not historical "fiction", it still gave me that great thrill of placing me in a more decadent time and place<i> (such a treat during lockdown!) </i><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zai4ZoKvU14/XwD01IAGeQI/AAAAAAAACEI/5c_OWBqIcTc7_dg7c6Z8F5a7CCqwdSSmACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/81pNuAdjrBL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zai4ZoKvU14/XwD01IAGeQI/AAAAAAAACEI/5c_OWBqIcTc7_dg7c6Z8F5a7CCqwdSSmACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/81pNuAdjrBL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="229" /></a></div><b>Sonnets</b><br><b>By William Shakespeare</b><br><br>My poetry journey continued with Shakespeare! These are poems that were definitely written to be read aloud. Each is like a tiny meal, so I rarely read more than a few a day. And my copy was a sweet little vintage tome with a fabric cover, so the reading experience was satisfying <i>(dare I say, "hygge")</i> in so many ways!<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kl_KOXS8kjY/XwD06wkStAI/AAAAAAAACEM/FgWt6hUbpPQxHtEzp4AH_HuB2384K2uogCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/71HKonZuu3L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kl_KOXS8kjY/XwD06wkStAI/AAAAAAAACEM/FgWt6hUbpPQxHtEzp4AH_HuB2384K2uogCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/71HKonZuu3L.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="216" /></a></div><b>From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way</b><br><b>By Jesse Thistle</b><br><br>I included this in May's "Favourite Things." You can read about it <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2020/05/favourite-things-may-roundup.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l-0F1L07OPE/XwD1AJbZgkI/AAAAAAAACEU/Ydv9zG5ev1MBOYxb5eLwUVrYKFYtcvLiACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/91GpX6UXfLL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l-0F1L07OPE/XwD1AJbZgkI/AAAAAAAACEU/Ydv9zG5ev1MBOYxb5eLwUVrYKFYtcvLiACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/91GpX6UXfLL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="200" /></a></div><b>Saints: Becoming More Than "Christians"</b><br><b>By Addison D. Bevere</b><br><br>I read this book for review. You can read my thoughts <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2020/05/book-review-saints-by-addison-bevere.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zNd5kEU_ZRk/XwD1F9FO2fI/AAAAAAAACEY/xHDfYS-nTxkXenDXuJHjRBIcqcDCdQfqQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/91gfUjv7TSL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zNd5kEU_ZRk/XwD1F9FO2fI/AAAAAAAACEY/xHDfYS-nTxkXenDXuJHjRBIcqcDCdQfqQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/91gfUjv7TSL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="216" /></a></div><b>The River</b><br><b>By Peter Heller</b><br><br>A action adventure novel! Wynn and Jack set out for the long, leisurely canoe trip of their dreams. But the moment they discover a forest fire growing in the distance, everything changes. Very different than what I normally read! Fast-paced, suspenseful, and action packed - I couldn't put this down!<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mZ_uwV9Z0l8/XwD1L62TJ4I/AAAAAAAACEg/Wi4TUFNS3kQukAJk4SxI__nU0HPBmwu0ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/61IT-%252BD%252BnSL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mZ_uwV9Z0l8/XwD1L62TJ4I/AAAAAAAACEg/Wi4TUFNS3kQukAJk4SxI__nU0HPBmwu0ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/61IT-%252BD%252BnSL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="207" /></a></div><b>Don't Overthink It: Make Easier Decisions, Stop Second-Guessing, and Bring More Joy to Your Life</b><br><b>By Anne Bogel</b><br><br>I read this book for review. You can read my thoughts <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2020/05/book-review-dont-overthink-it-by-anne.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fFojtQJP_Us/XwD1UX3EjdI/AAAAAAAACEo/O5Fez3l05soJRiDpea-5mRVaLivn3QnowCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/before-the-coffee-gets-cold-e1568885676576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fFojtQJP_Us/XwD1UX3EjdI/AAAAAAAACEo/O5Fez3l05soJRiDpea-5mRVaLivn3QnowCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/before-the-coffee-gets-cold-e1568885676576.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="210" /></a></div><b>Before the Coffee Gets Cold</b><br><b>By Toshikazu Kawaguchi</b><br><br>Another book-in-translation! What if there was a cafe you could visit that allowed you to time travel? You could go anywhere you wanted in the past, but you could only stay until your cup of coffee gets cold. This imaginative Japanese novel perfectly weaves the supernatural with gobs of humanity. A real find of a book!<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fJ-jSe6yWAg/XwD1a0u0HdI/AAAAAAAACEs/84Czwx4NbgkxNilocwbXpU17aB_zZ0zLACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/81xTAmOkr3L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fJ-jSe6yWAg/XwD1a0u0HdI/AAAAAAAACEs/84Czwx4NbgkxNilocwbXpU17aB_zZ0zLACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/81xTAmOkr3L.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="212" /></a></div><b>The Garden of Small Beginnings</b><br><b>By Abbi Waxman</b><br><br>One of the unforeseen blessings of 2020 has been all the time I've been able to spend in my garden, so I was attracted to a novel with gardening as a theme. As I read the first few pages, I started laughing out loud, and it was then that I realized it: I never read funny books!! So, I need to amend that.... The Garden of Small Beginnings tells the story of Lilian, a widow and single mom of two small girls, whose life is upended when she starts a gardening course. There are no great twists in this story, but I still loved it. It never shies away from exploring the longterm struggles with grief, but still remains genuinely fun and inspiring.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qLPkQ2InxQs/XwD1ickC9iI/AAAAAAAACE0/Tl2APFE0LdYwlXvlZeaFBGr2mb1VaZ-2gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/71qUvStfpHL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qLPkQ2InxQs/XwD1ickC9iI/AAAAAAAACE0/Tl2APFE0LdYwlXvlZeaFBGr2mb1VaZ-2gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/71qUvStfpHL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="207" /></a></div><b>God at Every Gate: Prayers and Blessings for Pilgrims</b><br><b>By Brendan O'Malley</b><br><br>I was chatting with my Dad about a desire to read some Celtic poetry, and he lent me this sweet book of devotions. Each daily reading included poetry and prayers from a variety of authors and sources. It also explored a variety of themes, including elements of nature, and the various ways we can express our own faith. I particularly fell in love with the writings of Hildegard of Bingen, so you can probably expect to see one of her books on my year end list.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uCcbSkAOFfM/XwD1pVb9DkI/AAAAAAAACE4/0DpLawOE6vI1X-_jXDqZfdG4Bb_EitTnQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/51rX35nSOkL._SX326_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uCcbSkAOFfM/XwD1pVb9DkI/AAAAAAAACE4/0DpLawOE6vI1X-_jXDqZfdG4Bb_EitTnQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/51rX35nSOkL._SX326_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="210" /></a></div><b>The Bookshop On The Corner</b><br><b>By Jenny Colgan</b><br><b>AKA: The Little Shop of Happy Ever After</b><br><br>What happens when an introverted but passionate librarian is sacked due to downsizing? The Bookshop on the Corner tells a story of pushing past your comfort zone to discover the dreams you never knew you wanted. This charming book celebrates all things bookish, and left me with a craving to visit Scotland. I struggled with the generic title of the book <i>(no spoilers, but it really doesn't fit the story)</i>. Apparently, this is the North American title. The original UK title - The Little Shop of Happy Ever After - is much more evocative and well suited.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZGrWvUu0oMQ/XwD142iOzsI/AAAAAAAACFE/O-TTNdMVYCYWQWNLGZjSk7lvmqmc6TrPgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/53206328._SY475_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZGrWvUu0oMQ/XwD142iOzsI/AAAAAAAACFE/O-TTNdMVYCYWQWNLGZjSk7lvmqmc6TrPgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/53206328._SY475_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="210" /></a></div><b>Losing Control: Finding Freedom by Letting Go</b><br><b>By Mark Smeby</b><br><br>I first met Mark when we sang on the same worship team in Nashville. I was part of his advance reading team for his latest book, and I'll be posting my review later this week. Stay tuned!<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>There you have it - my 2020 reading, thus far!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What are you reading these days?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'd love to hear your recommendations in the comments! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/63718602020-06-30T18:08:00-04:002020-06-30T21:15:28-04:00Favourite Things - O CANADA EDITION!<div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Welcome to</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Favourite Things - O CANADA EDITION!</span></b></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2E-LwfYjx44/Xvu2QYVq_jI/AAAAAAAACC0/Dhww8_aIOFstpPQNg8cga8AFXKZEvk__ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Favorite%2BThings%2B-%2BCanada.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2E-LwfYjx44/Xvu2QYVq_jI/AAAAAAAACC0/Dhww8_aIOFstpPQNg8cga8AFXKZEvk__ACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Favorite%2BThings%2B-%2BCanada.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>For the last decade, we've spent about half of each year traveling from coast to coast, bringing our music to every province. <i>(We definitely want to sing in the territories - we just haven't been able to make it happen yet!) </i><br><br>Our tours are working trips, but we do all we can to explore and enjoy every corner of this beautiful country.<br><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">For this month's <b>Favourite Things</b>, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I want to share some of the treasures </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">we've discovered in our travels!</span></div><br>I'll warn you upfront: this list is by no means exhaustive!!<br><br>If you were to ask Gerald, or even ask me tomorrow, there might be a whole new list! I could have done a whole list on food or music or art or tourist destinations. And don't get me started on the jaw dropping beauty of mountains, prairies, hoodoos and oceans! Instead, I'm sharing a few hidden gems that I have particularly fallen in love with over the years.<br><br><br><br><div style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;">Here are my</span></span><div><span style="color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Favourite Things - O CANADA EDITION!</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XyO2buz1BjY/XvuuPAq2rVI/AAAAAAAACCo/1DpkOix-m9QbUcL7dABvpAgt_N2g-FIEACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/13235628_1158872994164038_7684189878534958680_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XyO2buz1BjY/XvuuPAq2rVI/AAAAAAAACCo/1DpkOix-m9QbUcL7dABvpAgt_N2g-FIEACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/13235628_1158872994164038_7684189878534958680_o.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="260" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Patridgeberry pancakes!! </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><b><br>NEWFOUNDLAND - <a href="http://www.grosmorne.com/treasurebox/" target="_blank">The Treasure Box in Rocky Harbour</a></b></span><br><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;">Gift emporium, homestyle kitchen, and the best place to find local conversation. I can't tell you how many hours Gerald and I have spent chatting with Boyd while stuffing our guts with Joyce's delectable comfort food <i>(I'm drooling over her partridgeberry pancakes even as I write this...) </i>And I've never left there without boxes and boxes of homemade preserves, hand-painted rock houses, and countless other gifts and souvenirs. </span></span><br><span style="color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"></span></span><br><br><br><br><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CyCDSy1p0Xs/XvurynM4RbI/AAAAAAAACBo/hUlOJZhS4hsSdd0gM53ZSfjopH8FPGmIQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/61445720_2451405928244065_2077961489121017856_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CyCDSy1p0Xs/XvurynM4RbI/AAAAAAAACBo/hUlOJZhS4hsSdd0gM53ZSfjopH8FPGmIQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/61445720_2451405928244065_2077961489121017856_o.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="253" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Halifax Folklore Centre</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><b><br></b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><b>NOVA SCOTIA - <a href="https://halifaxfolklorecentre.ca/" target="_blank">Halifax Folklore Centre</a></b></span><br><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;">If you love stringed instruments, this is your dream store. Set in a 150-year-old house, this beautiful space will have you swooning over vintage finds while imagining yourself as the next great Celtic fiddler. Whenever we visit, Gerald remembers the time <i>(long before we met) </i>that he played one of his original songs in the store, only to be complimented by the great Garnet Rogers <i>(brother to the legendary Stan Rogers). </i>That'll tell you something of the Folklore Centre's clientele and community.</span><br><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><b><br></b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><b><br></b></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q1h3CYlfizw/Xvuti5FyjoI/AAAAAAAACCg/84OQarvmUdEO9bIFff7rgjXYRacfPGtWQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/18814846_1534309833287017_6187641629681761567_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q1h3CYlfizw/Xvuti5FyjoI/AAAAAAAACCg/84OQarvmUdEO9bIFff7rgjXYRacfPGtWQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/18814846_1534309833287017_6187641629681761567_o.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Swallowtail Lighthouse, Grand Manan</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><b>NEW BRUNSWICK - Grand Manan Island</b>. </span><br><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;">People have only two reactions when I mention Grand Manan. They've either never heard of it, or they're madly in love with it. This tiny island is a world of its own. Every restaurant and B&B is filled with local creativity and character. Lighthouses, whales, and dramatic scenery in every direction. You're about to fall in love, so plan one more day than you think you'll need... trust me, you'll want to stay longer....</span><br><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><b><br></b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><b><br></b></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OqJdxuuEMt8/XvusQjks5II/AAAAAAAACCA/pYolrzzJ61oforhw0ld610ynUGi4qZ3fwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/31906833_1890526264332037_1507253428898758656_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OqJdxuuEMt8/XvusQjks5II/AAAAAAAACCA/pYolrzzJ61oforhw0ld610ynUGi4qZ3fwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/31906833_1890526264332037_1507253428898758656_o.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="276" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Anne of Green Gables Museum</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><b>PEI - <a href="http://www.lmmontgomerybirthplace.ca/" target="_blank">LM Montgomery's Birthplace</a></b></span><br><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;">Everyone goes to Green Gables <i>(and you should definitely go there!)</i> but this is a place for the SuperFans <i>(of whom, I am one!)</i> This tiny home gives a sweet history of Lucy Maud and her very humble beginnings. When you're done, drive down the road to the <a href="https://www.annemuseum.com/museum.php" target="_blank">Anne Of Green Gables Museum</a>, a family home where LM gained inspiration for her stories. In both cases, I recommend going when it's quiet and asking lots of questions of the docents. Not only are they knowledgeable of the facts, but if you're lucky, you may end up hearing some family stories!</span><br><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><br><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span></b><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span></b><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span></b><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;">QUEBEC - </span><span style="color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><a href="http://bedandbreakfastquebec.com/basicsite.htm" target="_blank">Maison Historique James Thompson</a></span></b><br><span style="color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;">Old Quebec is probably one of my very favourite places, and this is our go-to place to stay. Originally built in 1793, this charming B&B features cozy unique rooms with onsite parking. That's all great, but what makes it truly special is your host, Guitta, and her fabulous breakfasts! I don't know what it is, but we've had some of our most interesting B&B breakfasts around that table. Her guests come from all over, and Guitta's genuine interest in each one elevates morning chitchat to intriguing conversation. Oh, and did I mention the homemade crepes, French toast, and possibly best croissants in town??</span><br><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;">ONTARIO - </span><span style="color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;">Inukshuks on the side of the road.</span></b><br><span style="color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;">Our first Western Canada Tour was the first time we took the ON-17 route through Ontario. We'd driven east lots of times, so we thought, <i>"No big deal." </i>Wow, were we wrong! Northern and Southern ON are like two different provinces. The culture, the landscape, the art, the history - it's all incredible. I love every moment we get to spend in this part of the country. As we drive north, we start to see inukshuks on the side of the road. Just little ones, left by tourists and hikers. Seeing them, I know we're about to enter this completely different side of Ontario, and I just love it...</span><br><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><b>MANITOBA - Dauphin sunsets.</b></span><br><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;">The first time we traveled west, we realized that we'd be alone for Thanksgiving. A friend on Facebook recommended we visit her friends in Dauphin, NW of Winnipeg. We made great friends that weekend, and it's become one of our must-visit places every tour. I don't even know what to tell you about the sunsets! They literally fill the entire sky. There was one evening when, because of the glorious reflections, it actually looked like the sun was setting in both the east and the west. Amazing...</span><br><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G1vD83LY3ow/Xvus1m47VLI/AAAAAAAACCM/ppSz6x-qfV4VdpZiTm-eIIOfqFPGnewNQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/44151980_2124663754251619_5533029054006951936_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G1vD83LY3ow/Xvus1m47VLI/AAAAAAAACCM/ppSz6x-qfV4VdpZiTm-eIIOfqFPGnewNQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/44151980_2124663754251619_5533029054006951936_o.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="212" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a glimpse of a Dauphin sunset...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><br><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><b>SASKATCHEWAN - <a href="https://www.sttherese.ca/" target="_blank">The St. Therese Institute of Faith and Mission.</a></b></span><br><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;">Gerald will tell you, without reservation, that this is his favourite concert of the year. We discovered this small Catholic school of faith formation through friends in New Brunswick. Students live out the teachings of St. Therese, which translates into a powerful commitment to communal living, community outreach, and daily prayer and worship. Each year, we teach a songwriting workshop and then offer a concert. And every year, we leave even more inspired by these incredible young people. In their own gentle way <i>(or to quote St. Therese herself, "the little way"), </i>they have the power to change the world.</span><br><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DRR2AFU5-NI/Xvus-Pqa5RI/AAAAAAAACCQ/9OOVMMYWQFcgvL-iHSIqpw1vwf7jMN3vQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/44281363_2121283657922962_1586747737334874112_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DRR2AFU5-NI/Xvus-Pqa5RI/AAAAAAAACCQ/9OOVMMYWQFcgvL-iHSIqpw1vwf7jMN3vQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/44281363_2121283657922962_1586747737334874112_o.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="191" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gerald teaching the students at St. Therese.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><b>ALBERTA - <a href="https://www.thevintageverandah.com/" target="_blank">The Vintage Verandah in Cochrane.</a></b></span><br>On your way from Calgary to Banff, plan to spend an afternoon in the beautiful small town of Cochrane. And if you're an antiques lover, go prepared with an empty credit card and lots of space in your trunk. I could live in the Vintage Verandah. I'm not even kidding. Lovingly curated collections of antiques, found objects, vintage treasures, painted furniture. local handicrafts... Seriously, I've never walked out of there empty-handed!<br><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1R9oeLVePlE/XvutJ9zM2TI/AAAAAAAACCU/3Tq8m8XlYVIvP3DNzAcuCoxh9KZGRpuJQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/43083212_2102965516421443_6004981170255691776_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1R9oeLVePlE/XvutJ9zM2TI/AAAAAAAACCU/3Tq8m8XlYVIvP3DNzAcuCoxh9KZGRpuJQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/43083212_2102965516421443_6004981170255691776_n.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="303" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Tiger Ramen!! And now, I'm hungry...</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><b>BRITISH COLUMBIA - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tigerramen/" target="_blank">Tiger Ramen in Kamloops.</a></b></span><br><span style="color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">We've only started to explore BC, and we can't get enough of it! Every turn of the road is more beautiful than the last. But in the theme of "hidden gems", I want to share our favourite noodle house with you! We discovered Tiger Ramen by accident, but we now plan our route intentionally so we can eat here. The food is cheap and the seating is limited, so expect a line up. You won't regret waiting once you're served that overflowing bowl of steamy, spicy, noodley goodness!</span></span><br><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><br></span><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;">We are so blessed to live in such a beautiful, diverse, and glorious country!</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Please stay safe in all your celebrations this year!</b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Physical distance.</b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Wash your hands.</b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Wear a mask.</b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;">We're all in this together!</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">HAPPY CANADA DAY!!! </span></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;">What are some of your favourite Canadian things?</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;">Please share in the comments below...</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/63363052020-05-30T15:28:00-04:002020-05-30T17:00:57-04:00Favourite Things - May Roundup!<div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Welcome to the latest edition of </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Favourite Things!</b></span></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D9EL1uHvJjc/XlgiXgFDMHI/AAAAAAAAB8I/r1mwJQFT1Pw4cJCnmhQ0GCI02OZjIgJpgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Favourite%2BThings.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D9EL1uHvJjc/XlgiXgFDMHI/AAAAAAAAB8I/r1mwJQFT1Pw4cJCnmhQ0GCI02OZjIgJpgCPcBGAYYCw/s640/Favourite%2BThings.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><br><div style="text-align: center;">Wow! What happened to May???</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">April seemed to last forever, but now I'm shocked that June is just around the corner!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fortunately, I still managed to discover a few awesome things over the last few weeks...</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><br></div><br style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;">Here are my<br><div style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Favourite Things - May Roundup!</span></b></div>
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</div><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0TJxmK35rBw/XtFWW2TqqrI/AAAAAAAACAM/NLjjaWfwGTQh_jn3O_fqSv4DybeZyBxYwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/from-the-ashes-9781982101213_lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0TJxmK35rBw/XtFWW2TqqrI/AAAAAAAACAM/NLjjaWfwGTQh_jn3O_fqSv4DybeZyBxYwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/from-the-ashes-9781982101213_lg.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="216" /></a><span style='background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;'><b>#1.</b></span><span style='background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;'><b> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOe_y6KKvS3PdIfb9q9pGug" target="_blank">SGN - Some Good News</a></b> - i</span><span style='background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;'>n a world filled with fear and illness, we all need a little good news! John </span><span style='color: #424242; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;'>Krasinski has brought light into a dark season, and started a worldwide phenomenon with SGN! </span><br><br><b>#2. <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.ca/books/From-the-Ashes/Jesse-Thistle/9781982101213" target="_blank">From The Ashes</a></b> - Jesse Thistle's striking memoir brought to mind Tara Westover's incredible Educated. His childhood of brokenness and addiction filled me with shock and anger. But as I'm reading it, I <i>had</i> to feel hope. After all, I know that this abused child grows up to become this eloquent writer. With each page, I marvelled at both the deep flaws in our society's systems, and the immense resiliency of the human spirit.<br>HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! <br><br><b>#3. Garden Centres Are OPEN!!! </b>- for most people, this is just a normal spring activity, but for me, this is a rare pleasure! Normally, we're on the road right now. In the 5 years since we've owned our home, I've never been able to plant my garden before late June! I'm seeing flowers bloom in my garden that I've literally never been able to witness in person! <br>An unexpected blessing of lockdown...<br><br><b>#4. <a href="https://www.thekitchn.com/easy-crustless-quiche-263460" target="_blank">Crustless Quiche</a></b> - we've managed to avoid the very decadent lockdown-bread-baking trend, but I'm pretty obsessed with this delicious, healthy recipe!<br><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cxXjFvfCq6I/XtFWjocQ15I/AAAAAAAACAQ/s6mINJuNl0krM5wkOa1uvXkNDusbFy6aACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/The%2BBeautiful%2BPromise%2BEP.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cxXjFvfCq6I/XtFWjocQ15I/AAAAAAAACAQ/s6mINJuNl0krM5wkOa1uvXkNDusbFy6aACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/The%2BBeautiful%2BPromise%2BEP.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>#5. <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Store" target="_blank">The Beautiful Promise </a></b>- okay, this one is a bit biased, but it's still one of my very favourite things! We've had so many amazing gifts of ministry support over the last few months, that we decided to create our own gift of thanks! Four very special songs, all sharing the promise of God's love and faithfulness. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Please visit our site to receive your copy of </div><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Store" target="_blank">The Beautiful Promise</a>!</div><br><br><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">These are my <b>Favourite Things</b> for May!</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Have you tried any of these?</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What new things have you fallen in love with this month?</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
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</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please share in the comments below...</span></div><br><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/63299092020-05-25T17:19:00-04:002020-05-25T18:30:31-04:00Book Review: Don't Overthink It, by Anne Bogel<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What?? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Two book reviews in a <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2020/05/book-review-saints-by-addison-bevere.html" target="_blank">week</a>?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>And <i>now</i> you know how I'm spending my time in lockdown...</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pCh5TvsQ9Qc/XswlGZ-aJaI/AAAAAAAACAA/NN4jgGWbl5089loPTFAqfWRualo9ut8FwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Dont-Overthink-It-lower-res-cover-e1563885766463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pCh5TvsQ9Qc/XswlGZ-aJaI/AAAAAAAACAA/NN4jgGWbl5089loPTFAqfWRualo9ut8FwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Dont-Overthink-It-lower-res-cover-e1563885766463.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="207" /></a><br>As I've recently shared with you, I've been reading a LOT this season! I'm really leaning into fiction, but I couldn't resist the chance to read Anne Bogel's new nonfiction: <b>Don't Overthink It.</b><br><br>I've been a superfan of Anne's since I reviewed her charming book, <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2018/12/book-review-id-rather-be-reading-by.html" target="_blank">I'd Rather Be Reading</a>. Since then I've become an avid reader of her <a href="https://modernmrsdarcy.com/" target="_blank">blog</a>, and a lover of her fantastic book lists!<br><br>In the era of Covid-19, overthinking has almost become a national pastime. Who among us has not obsessed over daily stat-checking, worst case scenarios, and the constant worrying of an uncertain future?<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This book wasn't written in the pandemic, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">but I think it landed at just the right time.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you don't consider yourself an overthinker, Anne opens with this idea to ponder:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">"When we talk about overthinking, we're talking about those times when we lavish mental energy on things that don't deserve it." </span></b></div><br><br>Overthinking can look like worry, fretting the small stuff, second guessing, and indecision. Chapter by chapter, Anne looks at all the different facets of overthinking, exploring causes and discovering solutions.<br><br>Anne's topic is well researched, with scientific references and a great suggested reading list. Each page is filled with helpful suggestions, and each chapter ends with questions for personal reflection. But even with all that practicality, this is still a charming and personable book. Anne is honest about her own struggles with overthinking, sharing examples from her life. She communicates her ideas in the way that a warm, smart friend might share her thoughts over coffee.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">I was struck by the idea of how much mental energy we waste on overthinking. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">The very first lines of the book are a quote from Proverbs:</div><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Proverbs 4:23</i></div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">In this global pandemic, it's easy for our thoughts to be ones of worry, stress, and fear. </div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Don't Overthink It</b> offers us a different choice.</div><div style="text-align: center;">As the lockdown is forcing us all to slow down, let's use this time to choose a new normal.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Let's choose something better for ourselves...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>If you love added content, visit Anne's page </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>where you can get discussion guides, digital bonuses, </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and info on purchasing autographed copies!</i></div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://modernmrsdarcy.com/dont-overthink-it/">https://modernmrsdarcy.com/dont-overthink-it/</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><br><br><i style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></i><br><br><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/63216522020-05-18T17:01:00-04:002020-05-18T21:15:36-04:00Book Review: Saints, by Addison Bevere<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-__lRGTRs11g/XsLokhzoH0I/AAAAAAAAB_g/1CN02D4ez5Qlwm91XClhb06zvDaoCTirACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/91GpX6UXfLL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">"</a><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">So, who else is devouring books these days?</span></b></div><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-__lRGTRs11g/XsLokhzoH0I/AAAAAAAAB_g/1CN02D4ez5Qlwm91XClhb06zvDaoCTirACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/91GpX6UXfLL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-__lRGTRs11g/XsLokhzoH0I/AAAAAAAAB_g/1CN02D4ez5Qlwm91XClhb06zvDaoCTirACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/91GpX6UXfLL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="400" width="250" /></a>I started the year (<i>remember January, when we thought we could make plans?</i>) with a goal of reading 2 books a month, but I've quickly doubled that to 4!<br><br>Navigating lockdown has occupied a lot of my practical brain, so I'll admit that fiction is truly capturing my imagination right now. But that said, I'm so excited to share this brand new nonfiction with you today!<br><br>"Saints" is a word that brings up lots of images - holy people, living stained glass lives, very separate from us "normal" people. We imagine Victorian paintings, glowing halos, and gruesome martyr deaths.<br><br>Not really something most of us aspire to live out...<br><br>Addison Bevere thinks that, not only should we want to be <b>Saints</b>, but it's really the most authentic path of faith we could be following.<br><br>Did you know the word "Christians" is only used three times in the New Testament? But over 60 times, these new followers are called "Saints," which simply referred to those whose relationship with God is maintained through faith in Jesus.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">By that definition, we're all saints.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">But how do we reclaim a word with so much weight and history?</div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Saints</b> is a brave new message to abandon our own ideas of goodness and faith, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and ask the deeper questions of grace and glory.</span></div><br>I underlined half of this book and turned down so many pages I almost cracked the spine! Addison is calling us to rediscover who we truly are in Christ, and to create a new language for the living out of our faith. <b>Saints</b> captures a great balance between deep, meaty ideas and a relatable writing style. Before hearing the interview linked below, I'd never heard Addison speak, and yet, reading <b>Saints</b> felt like being in an inspiring conversation over frothy cappuccinos (<i>anyone else missing cafes these days?</i>)<br><br>There are so many great ideas in this book! I love Addison's thoughts on salvation as a "change of identity," holiness as otherness, and how we "undersell" grace. I actually couldn't stop thinking about this idea of a limited, "sloppy" grace, "devoid of imagination" that shortchanges both people and God.<br><br> But this is probably my favourite sentence in the whole book:<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">"The greatest injustice facing our world today </span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">is </span></b>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">our refusal to become the expression of Christ on the earth. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Period." </span></b></div><br><div style="text-align: center;">Whoa... What a challenge to all of us, both as individuals and as communities of faith. </div><div style="text-align: center;">What would the world look like if we changed our idea of how we express Christ? </div><div style="text-align: center;">How would our priorities shift if we chose to fully express God's grace to a broken world? </div><div style="text-align: center;">How many lives would be transformed if we simply reimagined who we are in Christ?</div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is the challenge of Saints. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Addison recently did a great interview with</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> Johnny Rocket and Hollie Taylor of the Why Me Project. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>You can find the whole interview <a href="https://www.faithstrongtoday.com/johnnyandhollie/the-beauty-of-faith-with-addison-bevere?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-beauty-of-faith-with-addison-bevere&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-beauty-of-faith-with-addison-bevere" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</b></div><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.faithstrongtoday.com/johnnyandhollie/the-beauty-of-faith-with-addison-bevere?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-beauty-of-faith-with-addison-bevere&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-beauty-of-faith-with-addison-bevere" target="_blank"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c4yWCR3wX88/XsLqGaHwKeI/AAAAAAAAB_s/Mrb5MPeSI600PBxligJLsOX5M0QNsLyhgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-05-18%2Bat%2B4.01.00%2BPM.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="363" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br style="caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; text-align: start;"><i style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></i>
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br></span></i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/62999232020-04-30T07:00:00-04:002020-04-30T11:30:33-04:00Favourite Things - April Roundup! <div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Welcome to the latest edition of </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Favourite Things!</b></span></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D9EL1uHvJjc/XlgiXgFDMHI/AAAAAAAAB8I/r1mwJQFT1Pw4cJCnmhQ0GCI02OZjIgJpgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Favourite%2BThings.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D9EL1uHvJjc/XlgiXgFDMHI/AAAAAAAAB8I/r1mwJQFT1Pw4cJCnmhQ0GCI02OZjIgJpgCPcBGAYYCw/s640/Favourite%2BThings.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><br><div style="text-align: center;">Did anyone else feel like April had 92 days?</div><div style="text-align: center;">This month was loooooong!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fortunately, there were some awesome things to inspire us in this difficult season.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><br><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Here are my </span><br><b><span style="font-size: large;">Favourite Things - April Roundup!</span></b>
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</div><br style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">#1.</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"> <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdmPjhKMaXNNeCr1FjuMvag" target="_blank">Free Musicals</a> - </b>Few things make me happier than musicals!! Every Friday, Andrew Lloyd Webber is posting one of his famous shows for free. They only stay up for 48 hours, so pop some corn and enjoy...</span><br><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br></b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br></b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>#2. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A92wZIvEUAw" target="_blank">Free Sondheim</a> - </b>Stephen Sondheim's 90th birthday celebration is a glorious collection of songs, stories and performances. The performers are home with no fancy lighting, no props, sometimes just sitting on their bathroom floors, and yet the songs are still deeply moving. Must see for any music theatre fan!</span><br><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>#3. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/stratfordfestival" target="_blank">Free Shakespeare</a> - </b>Ontario's world renowned Stratford Festival is offering free Shakespeare plays! Filmed in their wonderful theatres with their incredible cast of talent. The company has recently cancelled their entire 2020 season, so please support them any way you can.</span><br><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br></b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br></b></span><b>#4. <a href="https://jessicainthekitchen.com/how-to-make-whipped-coffee-dalgona-coffee-tips/" target="_blank">Whipped Coffee</a> -</b> Need to stay awake for all these awesome performances? I recently jumped on the bandwagon and tried this new coffee trend. Too much sugar for my everyday beverage, but wow, what a kick!<br><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br></b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br></b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>#5. <a href="http://mydowntown.ca/support-downtown-businesses/" target="_blank">Takeout Night </a>- </b>Even with tightening our bootstraps, we're still enjoying takeout once a week! We're sticking to indie restaurants only, so it's a fun treat that's also serving our community. Our St. Catharines Downtown Association has a great list of local businesses and their current delivery options. I'm sure your community has a similar list. Shop local and support your neighbours!</span><br><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br></span><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;">
<i>On a personal note:</i><br><b>We are one of many music groups affected by the closure of churches </b><br><b>and banning of community gatherings. </b><br><b>As you can imagine, this is having a serious impact on our creativity and livelihood.</b>
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<b>We'd love for you to please partner with</b><b style="font-size: 14.85px;"> our ministry this season:</b>
</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2020/04/5-ways-you-can-support-our-ministry.html" target="_blank">5 WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT OUR MINISTRY!</a></b></span></span></div><br style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">These are my <b>Favourite Things</b> for April!</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;">Have you tried any of these?</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;">What new things have you fallen in love with this month?</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;">Please share in the comments below...</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><br></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/62970612020-04-28T12:54:00-04:002020-04-28T13:01:31-04:00Book Review: More Than We Remember, by Christina Suzann Nelson<br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IgcyJLMkXMs/XqhW2EHCQ3I/AAAAAAAAB_A/uM2_lNlsZx875pGyspKL_JPt3IMQrn_mQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/46125027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IgcyJLMkXMs/XqhW2EHCQ3I/AAAAAAAAB_A/uM2_lNlsZx875pGyspKL_JPt3IMQrn_mQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/46125027.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="400" width="258" /></a><br><div style="text-align: center;">I don't know about you, but since the lockdown started,<br>I've been reading like a maniac. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">In March, I read 5 books. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">FIVE BOOKS!!!</span></b></div><br>I know for some of you, that's an average month, but for me, that was huge! I haven't been reading this much since university. This month, I'm on track to finish 4 books, including a sweet vintage copy of Shakespeare's Sonnets.<br><br>Our current environment can't help but shape our reading experiences, and that's why I'm really happy to share this novel with you today.<br><br><b>More Than We Remember </b>is a portrait of crisis in a small town. On a quiet summer's evening, a car veers into the wrong lane, killing a single mother and leaving an entire town shaken and divided.<br><br>We follow the stories of three women - Emilia, Addison, and Brianne. Neither are friends before this moment, but the accident weaves their stories together in unexpected and powerful ways. Unravelling their secrets takes us on a journey through family dynamics, illness, suicide, and lies. The story is compelling with a great twist and a satisfying conclusion.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Ultimately, this is a story about the <i>choices</i> we make in crisis.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">How do we treat those who are on our side and those who are not? </div><div style="text-align: center;">How do we care for others when we're in deep pain? </div><div style="text-align: center;">How do we love someone who seems to have changed?</div><div style="text-align: center;">How do we choose compassion when anger and blame are so much easier? </div><div style="text-align: center;">How can we help others find the truth they so desperately need, </div><div style="text-align: center;">even if that truth is painful for us?</div><br>As I was reading this, I couldn't help but let my thoughts drift outside my home and into my own neighbourhood. We are in unprecedented times. Our entire world is in pain. No one is unaffected.<br><br>The women of <b>More Than We Remember</b> discover the power of loving others through the most difficult of circumstances. And, in doing so, we are gifted with a story of mercy, grace, and inspiration.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is one of those wonderful times when fiction can serve up a good dose of truth:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Love one another.... </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">with good meals, a open mind, your gentle presence, </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">and above all, a generous heart.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Stay safe, everyone! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><br><i style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></i><br><i style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br></span></i><i style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br></span></i>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/62858652020-04-17T17:31:00-04:002020-04-17T19:45:25-04:00Between Gratitude and Grief<div style="text-align: center;"><b>I shouldn't be writing today. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">I should be packing CDs, getting an oil change, confirming concert details, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and making a checklist that includes "don't forget socks!"<br><i>(a detail learned from experience...)</i>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">I should be getting ready to pack the car for our two-month, five-province </div><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2020/04/east-coast-tour-cancelled.html" target="_blank">10th Anniversary East Coast Tour</a>. A time of music, celebrating and joy!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">But that was before the world fell apart.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Instead, I'm home. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">My fridge is full, my family is healthy, and I have a comformable roof over my head. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I have a lot to be thankful for. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">But I also have an empty tour calendar, an unclear vision of the future, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and unexpected waves of anxiety over the safety of our world.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">My emotions are a mess these days.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Can anyone else relate?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>These days, I'm swimming between Gratitude and Grief.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KfpTC6faCC4/XpoZT_JClXI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/DyJC2lcwBVMRYKLQrAET-c3bwkxp_RGSwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Gratitude%2B%2526%2BGrief.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KfpTC6faCC4/XpoZT_JClXI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/DyJC2lcwBVMRYKLQrAET-c3bwkxp_RGSwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Gratitude%2B%2526%2BGrief.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="335" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Many psychiatrists have spoken about this season as being one of grief and trauma. </div><div style="text-align: center;">No two mourning experiences are ever the same. Our symptoms come from the same list, but we're each having our own unique struggle.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">For some, it's the loss of human connection and the everyday movement of society. For others, it's a loss of work, productivity, and purpose. And for far too many, it's the nuts and bolts grief of losing loved ones to a deadly virus, coupled with the pain of mourning in isolation.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our talented friend, <a href="http://www.drewbrownmusic.com/" target="_blank">Drew Brown</a>, recently wrote about the pandemic bringing up "<i>new waves of grief</i>" as we all find cancelled events and holidays popping up on the calendar. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">This resonated deeply with me. Our East Coast Tour has become a treasured part of our year. We love - and I mean, LOVE!!! - this annual tour. It grounds and spiritually renews us.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yes, there's the <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2020/04/5-ways-you-can-support-our-ministry.html" target="_blank">financial loss</a>, and that's difficult and significant. But there's more than that.<br>We're missing brunch with my family, my cousin's graduation, and galavanting about town with my childhood BFF. I can't quantify that loss, and I know I'm not alone in this. Many of you are missing weddings, reunions, and all kinds of special occasions. This is the stuff of life! Real, in the flesh, hug your loved ones kind of life. It's great to connect online, but certain moments are built for human contact. We need to acknowledge these losses, and take the time to mourn them. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">But in saying that, I'm so thankful for technology! I'm thankful for churches who are struggling with a learning curve to connect us in worship and prayer. I'm grateful for open-minded senior parents who are trying Skype and Facetime for the first time <i>(I'm looking at you, H&H!)</i> I'm grateful for musicians, writers, and theatres who are finding new ways to uplift us with their inspiring art.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">And once I get thinking about it, I start to feel a rush of gratitude: for neighbours, who offer to pick up necessities on their grocery run. For our Canadian leadership, and the countless ways they're working to provide us with clear information and financial support. For the beauty of spring and its promise of new life...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">But then, right there, I get hit by the wave again:<br><i>We're in lockdown. </i><br><i>This is not normal. </i><br><i>A deadly illness is attacking our world. </i><br><i>People are dying....</i>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>And just like that, once again, </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>I find myself swimming between Gratitude and Grief.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">This mess of feelings that doesn't make sense, doesn't feel good. </div><div style="text-align: center;">These emotions that clash against one another in an endless cycle.<br>It's exhausting.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">But maybe... what if... just for now... </div><div style="text-align: center;">What if living in this clash, in this mess of feelings, is our new normal? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">After all, isn't the mess where most great things happen?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We all love the boldness of the grand finish. We all appreciate the clarity of an obvious loss. </div><div style="text-align: center;">But isn't it in that in-between space where most of life actually happens? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Struggle and overcoming happens in the mess. </div><div style="text-align: center;">It's where we grow, expand our perspective, and discover new views of the world. </div><div style="text-align: center;">It's in the mess where we learn compassion, empathy, and generosity.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Maybe this mess of Gratitude and Grief is exactly where we need to be right now?</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Maybe it's only in this space where we can gain the fullest and most loving perception of our reality?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's good and right to mourn with those who mourn. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's also good and right to give thanks in all things.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">So, today, I invite you to take a deep breath. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Recognize the things you've lost. </div><div style="text-align: center;">And then, give thanks for the blessings around you.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Please join me, in the space between Gratitude and Grief. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * <br><br>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Like many artists, our livelihood has been decimated by COVID-19.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Please consider partnering with us in this difficult season:</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2020/04/5-ways-you-can-support-our-ministry.html" target="_blank">5 Ways You Can Support Our Ministry!</a></b></span><br><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O_-wN6SgDT8/XpoapmouKyI/AAAAAAAAB-k/TJkUYNBt1a8GKdJSrpAXNIV9hTLFh1tHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Dad%2527s%2BQuote.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O_-wN6SgDT8/XpoapmouKyI/AAAAAAAAB-k/TJkUYNBt1a8GKdJSrpAXNIV9hTLFh1tHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Dad%2527s%2BQuote.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="335" width="400" /></a></div>
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</div><br><br><br><br><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/62790012020-04-10T15:35:00-04:002020-04-10T19:15:28-04:00Our Good Friday Choice... <div style="text-align: center;"><i>"Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard of the palace; and they called together the whole cohort. And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. And they began saluting him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him. After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Then they led him out to crucify him." </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(Mk 15:16-20)</i></div><br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;">They called together “the whole cohort.” </div><div style="text-align: center;">A group of people have come together to beat and mock a single man.</div><br>And the irony? These are the people he came to save. “For God so loved the world” – the whole world. When Jesus preached, he didn’t sort the crowd into those worth saving and those not. His message of love and grace was for everyone. It was a gift, freely offered.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">These men are literally touching the messenger of love, and all they can feel is violence and vitriol. </div><div style="text-align: center;">They’re missing the whole point.</div><br>Most of us, if we were in Jesus’s position, would glare up at these men with anger glinting in our eyes, but not Jesus. Not long after this, in his dying moments, he’ll look at these same, hate-filled men and forgive them.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Right up 'til his final breath, Jesus is offering love. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not just to those deemed worthy, but to everyone.</span></div><br>In this difficult season of pain, are we allowing anger or fear rule our hearts, to make our decisions for us? Because it’s tempting and understandable to do that. But what if we make a different choice? What if we follow the example of Jesus? What if, in this dark season, we choose to be light, God’s light?<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">Where are the moments when we could choose patience over frustration? </div><div style="text-align: center;">Where could we offer more gratitude to those caring for us? </div><div style="text-align: center;">And where are the people whom we might consider to be less than worthy of resources or protection? </div><div style="text-align: center;">How can we be generous with them in this season of scarcity?</div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">In his greatest moment of suffering, Jesus responded with love. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Now, it’s our turn.</span><br><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
</div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fxQ0NuIYxOQ/XpDHy2fNEAI/AAAAAAAAB-M/e-2HKoWGOhYT8DwInwhBJunwz6sENUmvwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Good%2BFriday%2BChoice.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fxQ0NuIYxOQ/XpDHy2fNEAI/AAAAAAAAB-M/e-2HKoWGOhYT8DwInwhBJunwz6sENUmvwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Good%2BFriday%2BChoice.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="400" width="400" /></a></div><br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>I shared this reflection as part of today's Good Friday Ecumenical Prayer Service, </b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>here our hometown of St. Catharines.</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>You can find the full service <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVZoJmKdlmE" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</i></b><br><b><i><br></i></b><b><i><br></i></b>
</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/62734912020-04-06T12:29:00-04:002020-04-06T15:00:45-04:00East Coast Tour - Cancelled! <div align="center" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I hope this finds you keeping safe and well! </div>
<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gerald and I been following the Coronavirus situation across the country. </div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Originally, we cut the first four weeks of our upcoming East Coast Tour, </div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">in the hopes that things would start to return to normal by late May. </div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Unfortunately, all governments are giving longer and increasingly more intensive directives </div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">for social distancing and self isolating. </div>
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<strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="font-size: large;">We have made the heartbreaking decision to cancel</span></strong><br><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="font-size: large;">our <u>entire</u> East Coast Tour. </span></strong>
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<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hx24N6Rab1I/XotWn5degRI/AAAAAAAAB-A/5WrbiQqYQW8F73xdzTDRXYNuNeBxteSUwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Cancelled%2BECT%2B2020.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hx24N6Rab1I/XotWn5degRI/AAAAAAAAB-A/5WrbiQqYQW8F73xdzTDRXYNuNeBxteSUwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Cancelled%2BECT%2B2020.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="335" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Even if things start to clear up by late May, we recognize that churches will have lots of rebuilding to do in their communities, and advertising a concert won't and shouldn't be at the top of that list.</div>
<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><div style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Right now, our plan is to put all touring on hold, </span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">until things start to change across the country.</span></div>
<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our prayer is that we can hit the road again in the fall.<b> </b></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We won't make any plans until we feel it will be </div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">safe and practical for everyone. </div>
<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><div style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We ask you to please lift a prayer for our ministry. </div>
<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><div style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">With this decision, we have <u>no income</u> for the foreseeable future. </div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We're pursuing all options available to us. </div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Please pray for discernment, resources, and peace.</div>
<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><div style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">We'd love for you to please consider supporting </strong></div>
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<strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">our ministry </strong><strong>in this difficult time. </strong>
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<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 12pt;"><br></strong></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="font-size: large;">We've created 5 ways you can partner with us<span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2020/04/5-ways-you-can-support-our-ministry.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></span></strong></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"></span></div>
<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><div style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We will continue to create music and find ways to spread the Gospel through song! </div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We're looking into new ways to share our ministry in a virtual setting, </div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">as well as creating new resources for churches. </div>
<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><div style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Now more than ever, we all need the power of God's music and love.</div>
</div><div align="center" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: verdana, geneva, arial, helvetica, sans-serif, serif, emojifont; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">Stay home. Stay safe.</div><div align="center" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: verdana, geneva, arial, helvetica, sans-serif, serif, emojifont; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<div style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We love you and are praying for you...</div>
<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><div style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Blessings,</div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Allison + Gerald</div>
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</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/62712872020-04-03T21:39:00-04:002020-04-03T22:30:33-04:005 Ways You Can Support Our Ministry! <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Like many artists, </b></span><br><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>our livelihood has been decimated by the Coronavirus pandemic.</b></span>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We've had to cancel all our live events, including our 2-month East Coast Tour.<br><br>This means we have <u>no income</u> for the foreseeable future.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We would love for you to please consider offering some support to our ministry. </div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span style="font-size: large;">Below, you'll find 5 ways you can help support us </span><br><span style="font-size: large;">during this challenging season.</span>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We're lifting you all in prayer! </div><div style="text-align: center;">We can't wait to get back on the road, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and bring a message of hope and joy to your community.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you! We love you and are praying for you...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Blessings,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Allison + Gerald</div><div style="text-align: center;">Infinitely More</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>5 Ways You Can Support Our Ministry:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We would love for you to please consider supporting our ministry </div><div style="text-align: center;">in some small way:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">#1. Donations.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">We've just added a <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Store" target="_blank"><b>Donate</b></a> button to our website. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Please consider a donation to support our ministry. </div><div style="text-align: center;">All donations will receive an e-gift!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Store"><b>www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Store</b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">#2. Purchase Music. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Downloading songs or purchasing CDs directly from our site </div><div style="text-align: center;">is a great way to add to your playlist, while also supporting our ministry. </div><div style="text-align: center;">CDs can also be shipped as gifts!</div><div style="text-align: center;">You can purchase our music here:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Store"><b>www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Store</b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">#3. Book a Fall or Christmas Concert.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">We'd love to bring our music to your community this year!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Please email Allison for more info...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Contact"><b>www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Contact</b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">#4. Take an Online Lesson!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Why not take this quiet time to write some songs and learn a few new skills? </div><div style="text-align: center;">We're offering lessons via Skype!<br><br>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Gerald is teaching Songwriting. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Get feedback on your latest creations,<br>prepare your songs for recording,<br>or if you're a beginner, </div><div style="text-align: center;">learn the basics of crafting your first song!<br><br>
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<b>Allison is teaching </b><b>Singing for Beginners,</b><br><b>and Performance Coaching for All Levels.</b>
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Learn healthy vocal technique,<br>or new skills to help best communicate the message of your songs. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Perfect for singers, musicians, or worship leaders.<br><br>
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Please email Allison for more info...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Contact"><b>www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Contact</b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">#5. Pray for us.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">We believe in the power of prayer! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Please pray for our practical needs, </div><div style="text-align: center;">but also for our spiritual and emotional needs during this time. </div><div style="text-align: center;">We're also keeping you in prayer!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you for helping us during this difficult season!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Please feel free to contact us with any questions...</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Contact">www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Contact</a><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mIzc41RXThA/XnudACpf6GI/AAAAAAAAB9s/HrPNnbgAvkoSzXyAtoCzJR5KSMPIIK8ZwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Thank%2Byou.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mIzc41RXThA/XnudACpf6GI/AAAAAAAAB9s/HrPNnbgAvkoSzXyAtoCzJR5KSMPIIK8ZwCPcBGAYYCw/s640/Thank%2Byou.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="536" width="640" /></a></div>
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</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/62668432020-03-30T17:11:00-04:002020-03-30T21:30:28-04:00Favourite Things - March Roundup!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Welcome to the latest edition of </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Favourite Things!</b></span></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D9EL1uHvJjc/XlgiXgFDMHI/AAAAAAAAB8I/r1mwJQFT1Pw4cJCnmhQ0GCI02OZjIgJpgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Favourite%2BThings.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D9EL1uHvJjc/XlgiXgFDMHI/AAAAAAAAB8I/r1mwJQFT1Pw4cJCnmhQ0GCI02OZjIgJpgCPcBGAYYCw/s640/Favourite%2BThings.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Wow! What a difference a month makes...</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">When I started this series in <b><a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2020/02/favourite-things-february-roundup.html" target="_blank">February</a></b>, I thought my <b>Favourite Things</b> for March<br>might include a few new books and perhaps an early "tasting" of Easter chocolate.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Who knew we would find ourselves in the middle of a worldwide pandemic?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">None of us are unaffected.<br>We're all suffering in some way.<br><br>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And yet, in the midst of it all, </span><br><span style="font-size: large;">there is still beauty and grace and wonder.</span>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">More than ever, we need to take a moment of gratitude<br>and recognize a few of our Favourite Things.</div><div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here are my </span><br><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Favourite Things - March Roundup!</span></b><br><b><br></b>
</div><br><b>#1.</b> <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/StGeorgesAnglicanChurch/live" target="_blank">Live Streaming Worship</a> </b>- Raise your hand if you're thankful for technology these days! For those of us who love connecting with our church community, live streaming worship has been a godsend (<i>pun completely intended!</i>) A big SHOUT OUT to all the church tech staff and volunteers! We're so thankful for your ministry. This Wednesday and Good Friday, we'll be live streaming worship services from our hometown of St. Catharines. You can find the details on our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/infinitelymoreband" target="_blank"><b>Facebook page</b></a> and the live link will be <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/StGeorgesAnglicanChurch/live" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a>. Please join us!<br><br><br><b>#2.</b> <a href="https://www.countryliving.com/life/a41187/what-is-hygge-things-to-know-about-the-danish-lifestyle-trend/" target="_blank"><b>Hygge</b></a> - The Danish concept of coziness and intimacy has recently gained legions of fans around the world, and I'm now officially on board! Hygge (pronounced "hoo-ga") inspires us to slow down, enjoy the quiet things, and find comfort in everyday living. I feel like these days of self-isolating and social distancing are just crying out for this kind of philosophy. There are lot of articles, social media groups and other resources online. I've found this little <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Little-Book-Hygge-Danish-Secrets/dp/0062658808" target="_blank">book</a></b> particularly helpful.<br><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4KnjtCiuKBQ/XoJZxItJomI/AAAAAAAAB90/brQ_BOiJIIA0fUJ3TDczNk-LSK9kGCaggCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/thumbnail_IMG_6521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4KnjtCiuKBQ/XoJZxItJomI/AAAAAAAAB90/brQ_BOiJIIA0fUJ3TDczNk-LSK9kGCaggCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/thumbnail_IMG_6521.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="289" width="320" /></a><b></b><br><b>#3. Signs of Spring</b> - My gardening heart is finding so much bliss right now! Every day, I'm out searching for new shoots in the dirt. My crocuses had a glorious display and as I'm writing this, my daffodils have just started their bright parade of colour. I know many of you are still buried in snow! But please know that the world continues to turn in the right direction. Spring is our Season of Hope! I pray you're seeking joy and new life in the world around you...<br><b><br></b><b><br></b><b>#4.</b> <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Devotions-Selected-Poems-Mary-Oliver/dp/0399563245" target="_blank"><b>Poetry</b></a> - I love reading fiction and non-fiction alike (<i>you can find my 2019 reading list </i><a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2020/01/24-books-for-2019.html" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a>), but I recently decided to expand my repertoire with poetry. I thought I'd be alone in this venture, but simply asking for a few recommendations on Facebook inspired a long list of passionate suggestions! Reading poetry during this time is encouraging me to slow down and be mindful of the beauty around me. I've particular fallen in love with the writings of <b><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Devotions-Selected-Poems-Mary-Oliver/dp/0399563245" target="_blank">Mary Oliver</a></b>. I'd love to hear your suggestions!<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">
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<i>On a personal note:</i><br><b>We are one of many music groups affected by the closure of churches </b><br><b>and banning of community gatherings. </b><br><b>As you can imagine, this is having a serious impact on our creativity and livelihood.</b>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>We would love for you to please consider offering some support to our ministry this season:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2020/03/how-you-can-help-our-ministry.html" target="_blank">HOW TO HELP OUR MINISTRY...</a></span></b></div><br><br><br><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">These are my <b>Favourite Things</b> for March!</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;">Have you tried any of these?</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;">What new things have you fallen in love with this month?</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;">Please share in the comments below...<br><br><br><br>
</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/62617042020-03-25T14:11:00-04:002020-03-25T16:03:37-04:00How You Can Help Our Ministry...<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WUEgH13fnvk/XnIzT9idxpI/AAAAAAAAB9U/bnyf3ZzxqbUVFxAEzDbZddIkKJiMhllZQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/UPDATED_%2B10th%2BANNIVERSARY%2BEAST%2BCOAST%2BTOUR.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WUEgH13fnvk/XnIzT9idxpI/AAAAAAAAB9U/bnyf3ZzxqbUVFxAEzDbZddIkKJiMhllZQCPcBGAYYCw/s400/UPDATED_%2B10th%2BANNIVERSARY%2BEAST%2BCOAST%2BTOUR.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="335" width="400" /></a><b><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></b><br><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Last week, we announced an important and difficult update </b><b><span style="font-size: medium;">about our upcoming </span></b></span></b><br>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">East Coast Tour.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">You can read the whole update <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2020/03/east-coast-tour-important-update.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Losing our April and May events<br>means we have no income for this season.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We would love for you to please consider offering some support to our ministry. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span style="font-size: large;">Below, you'll find 5 ways you can help support us </span><span style="font-size: large;">during this challenging season.</span>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We're lifting you all in prayer! </div><div style="text-align: center;">We can't wait to get back on the road, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and bring a message of hope and joy to your community.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you! We love you and are praying for you...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Blessings,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Allison + Gerald</div><div style="text-align: center;">Infinitely More</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">How You Can Help Our Ministry</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We would love for you to please consider supporting our ministry </div><div style="text-align: center;">in some small way:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">#1. Donations</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">We've just added a <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Store" target="_blank"><b>Donate</b></a> button to our website. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Please consider a donation to support our ministry. </div><div style="text-align: center;">All donations will receive an e-gift!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Store"><b>www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Store</b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">#2. Purchase Music </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Downloading songs or purchasing CDs directly from our site </div><div style="text-align: center;">is a great way to add to your playlist, while also supporting our ministry. </div><div style="text-align: center;">CDs are also great Easter gifts! </div><div style="text-align: center;">You can purchase our music here:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Store"><b>www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Store</b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">#3. Book a Summer or Fall Concert.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">We'd love to bring our music to your community this year!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Please email Allison for more info...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Contact"><b>www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Contact</b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">#4. Take an Online Lesson!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Why not take this quiet time to write some songs and learn a few new skills? </div><div style="text-align: center;">We're offering lessons via Skype!<br><br>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Gerald is teaching Songwriting. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Get feedback on your latest creations, prepare your songs for recording, or if you're a beginner, </div><div style="text-align: center;">learn the basics of crafting your first song! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Allison is teaching Performance Coaching. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Learn new skills to help best communicate the message of your songs. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Perfect for singers, musicians, or worship leaders.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Please email Allison for more info...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Contact"><b>www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Contact</b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">#5. Pray for us.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">We believe in the power of prayer! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Please pray for our practical needs, </div><div style="text-align: center;">but also for our spiritual and emotional needs during this time. </div><div style="text-align: center;">We're also keeping you in prayer!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you for helping us during this difficult season!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Please feel free to contact us with any questions...</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Contact">www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Contact</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mIzc41RXThA/XnudACpf6GI/AAAAAAAAB9o/BFdOUwwEUkMt2houC6rRN2mko3EJU8UGwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Thank%2Byou.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mIzc41RXThA/XnudACpf6GI/AAAAAAAAB9o/BFdOUwwEUkMt2houC6rRN2mko3EJU8UGwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Thank%2Byou.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="536" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/62535812020-03-18T10:52:00-04:002020-03-18T11:15:52-04:00East Coast Tour - IMPORTANT UPDATE<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;">
<span style='color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;'>Like all of you, we’ve spent the last few weeks glued to the news about the Coronavirus. </span><span style='color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;'>In our efforts to “flatten the curve”, we’re staying indoors, not socializing, and endlessly washing our hands.</span>
</div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;"><span style='color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;'><br></span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;"><span style='color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;'>With increasing restrictions of live events, we’ve had to face some very difficult decisions around our ministry. We’ve lost most of our Easter performances, which is very upsetting. But the hardest challenges have been around our upcoming 10th Anniversary East Coast Tour.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;"><span style='color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;'><br></span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;"><span style='color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;'><b>With a heavy heart, we’re cutting our tour from 7 weeks down to 3.</b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;"><span style='color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;'><br></span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;"><span style='color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;'>Unfortunately, to give us the tightest tour route possible, <br>this means cancelling all events in Newfoundland, Quebec, and PEI.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;"><span style='color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;'><br></span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;"><span style='color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;'>We can’t tell you how much it hurts us just to write this.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;"><span style='color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;'><br></span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;"><span style='color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;'>Our new plan is to offer a 3 week tour of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, starting after the May 24th weekend. Our prayer is that social distancing will do its job, and by that time, we’ll all be ready to gather together for a night of singing and praise.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;"><span style='color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;'><br></span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;"><span style='color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;'><b>We’re currently booking concerts, worship services, and music team workshops for churches of all sizes and denominations across Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. <br>We’d love to bring our message of hope and joy to your community!</b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;"><span style='color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;'><br></span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;"><span style='color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;'>As a freelance duo, these tours provide approximately four months of income for our family and ministry. Cancelling any event is always a last resort for us! We’re booking events now because, if we wait until May when things start to clear, we won’t have enough time to put everything together. We would love for churches to please keep working with us in this regard, booking events, and planning for a more social spring season.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;"><span style='color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;'><br></span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;">
<span style='color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;'>And we promise you: <b>we won’t risk your church finances or your community’s health!</b></span><br><span style='color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;'>We’re closely monitoring the situation across the country. If we need to make adjustments closer to the tour dates, we’ll work with your church leadership to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone!</span>
</div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;"><span style='color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;'><br></span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;"><span style='color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;'>We know the communities of the East Coast are resilient, with a deep tradition of caring for one another. This is the spirit that runs in our veins, and we’re thankful for this heritage.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;"><span style='color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;'><br></span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;">
<span style='color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;'>Planning anything in these uncertain days feels like a leap of faith, <br>but isn’t that the stuff that God is really good at? </span><br><span style='color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;'><br></span>
</div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;"><span style='color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;'>As our inspiration verse tells us, <br><i><b>“God’s power, working in us, can do Infinitely More than we can ask or imagine.”</b></i></span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;"><span style='color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;'><br></span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;"><span style='color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;'>Please join us in this leap of faith and hope this spring.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;"><span style='color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;'><br></span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;"><span style='color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;'>Blessings and peace,</span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;"><span style='color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;'>Allison and Gerald</span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;"><span style='color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;'>Infinitely More</span></div><div class="text_exposed_show" style='background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'>
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</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/62471262020-03-12T17:16:00-04:002020-03-12T19:30:37-04:00Film Review: I Still Believe<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I love storytelling. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Gerald and I mostly express our passion for story through our <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/">music</a>, </div><div style="text-align: center;">but in our early careers, we loved creating plays and films.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">So today, I'm excited to offer a review of a new film: </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I Still Believe</b>.</span></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PPeuw3Z7Sow/Xl8YwbM3kaI/AAAAAAAAB8Q/fUcjXTAX3U8o5cIR7ool6TzySK-tuQ_5gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/FF-banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PPeuw3Z7Sow/Xl8YwbM3kaI/AAAAAAAAB8Q/fUcjXTAX3U8o5cIR7ool6TzySK-tuQ_5gCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/FF-banner.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="265" width="640" /></a></div><br><br>In the world of Christian music, Jeremy Camp is a superstar. Millions of albums sold, gold records, sold out tours, shelves of awards - the stuff of music career dreams. We see him and hear him, and we think we know him. But do we ever really know someone else's story?<br><br><b>I Still Believe</b> introduces us to a young Jeremy, leaving his loving family for his first week of college. He's passionate about music, and, like most people in college, he discovers first love.<br><br>Melissa is smart and quick, and full of a beautiful faith. On their first date, she takes him to a planetarium to witness the beauty of the stars. As they gaze at the wonders of the galaxy, she says,<br><i><br></i><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">"This is the definition of wonder... </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">The God of a trillion stars knows my name, </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">and He has a destiny just for me."</span></i></div><br>Jeremy and Melissa are played by KJ Apa and Britt Robertson. They're natural and charismatic, with lots of chemistry. The filmmakers did a lovely job of capturing first love - flirting to test the waters, wanting to know exactly how the other person feels, weighing every word the other person says, and losing hours to just spending time together.<br><br>The supporting cast is also fantastic. It's great to see a bit of "Canadian Content" with superstar Shania Twain as Jeremy's mother. The always wonderful Gary Sinise is understated perfection as Jeremy's Dad.<br><br>And, of course, the soundtrack is fantastic! Music plays a key role, and the performances are beautifully woven into the storyline.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">Because I love good storytelling, I'm not giving you any spoilers, </div><div style="text-align: center;">but I will say this: </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>wear your waterproof mascara!! </b></div><br>I love stories that show people of faith who aren't weird. You now what I mean? So often, Christians are portrayed as 2-dimensional. We're either demonic villains or Bible-thumpers.<br><br>The families in this film are just normal people who are also Christian. I truly appreciated seeing people of faith going through the stuff of life without perfection or pat answers.<br><br>The film's website describes this as a story <i>"of love and loss that proves there is always hope in the midst of tragedy and that faith tested is the only faith worth sharing.”</i><br><br><div style="text-align: center;">Trust me: they don't shy away from the tragedy or the testing. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Waterproof mascara. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm not kidding...</div><br>Before watching <b>I Still Believe</b>, I thought the target audience was teens and young adults, but I'd definitely broaden that demographic now. Without revealing too much, this story resonated with my own story, and I found myself deeply moved by so many scenes. If you've also experienced <i>"love and loss,"</i> and wondered where God is in it all, you'll definitely be moved by this film, too.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you're interested, here's the trailer, as well as a special video from Jeremy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2yn_zPs4SKQ" width="560"></iframe> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Have you seen<b> I Still Believe</b>?</span></div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What did you think?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Leave your thoughts (<i>but no spoilers!</i>) in the comments...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C5K054G55nI" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><br><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/62398992020-03-06T14:22:00-05:002020-03-06T15:45:22-05:00Book Review: Praying Women, by Sheila Walsh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Yay! Time for a new book review!</span></b></div><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gLMUIAtF3v8/Xl8pz-uSHQI/AAAAAAAAB8k/7gpdCvCVHXIqgebawaxU6xbqISWJoLilACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Sheila%2BCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gLMUIAtF3v8/Xl8pz-uSHQI/AAAAAAAAB8k/7gpdCvCVHXIqgebawaxU6xbqISWJoLilACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Sheila%2BCover.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="206" /></a><br>A few years ago, I reviewed Sheila Walsh's inspiring <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2018/11/book-review-its-okay-not-to-be-okay-by.html"><b>It's Okay Not To Be Okay</b></a>. I loved it, so I was super excited when offered the chance to review<b> Praying Women</b>.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">First let me say this: </span><br><span style="font-size: large;">If you're a notetaker, </span>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">you'll want to read this book with your pencil!</span></div><br>Even though I occasionally read an e-book, I'll always have mad love for proper paper books. My copy of<b> Praying Women</b> is completely marked up. Pages are turned down, passages underlined, and notes in the margins. It's not a journal, but my copy kind of became one.<br><br>The images in this post are just a few of many provided to me as a review resource, but seriously - it was tempting to skip the review and just post quotes from the book. So many wonderful thoughts!<br><br><b><br></b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s8rc7gzUCHM/Xl8pz_dHI7I/AAAAAAAAB8g/h7PUEngYmHM6KcwbW9g13Z_D7R6DYERkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/325227_Walsh_Praying%2BWomen_Social%2BMedia%2BGraphics12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s8rc7gzUCHM/Xl8pz_dHI7I/AAAAAAAAB8g/h7PUEngYmHM6KcwbW9g13Z_D7R6DYERkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/325227_Walsh_Praying%2BWomen_Social%2BMedia%2BGraphics12.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="320" /></a><b>Praying Women</b> in organized into ten chapters, each exploring a different challenge to prayer, such as:<br><br><ul>
<li>Pray When You Don't Know What To Say</li>
<li>Pray Hardest When It's Hardest To Pray</li>
<li>Pray When God Seems Silent</li>
<li>Pray When You Need a Breakthrough</li>
</ul><div><br></div><div>And perhaps my favourite chapter in the book:</div><div><br></div><div><ul><li>Pray with the Power of the Word of God - <i>an inspiring dive into the Psalms, and literally praying Scripture directly back to God. This chapter alone is worth the price of admission!</i>
</li></ul></div><br><br>Sheila is honest about her own story and struggle, but never makes it "all about her." Her stories share her heart and her sensitivity to the pain of others, all of which create a great feeling of trust between writer and reader.<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--cgKCp0KTbM/XmKfprI9D-I/AAAAAAAAB84/PAJhfIXt3RoAMi17fzI0-NcVbzH1_eY7ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/325227_Walsh_Praying%2BWomen_Social%2BMedia%2BGraphics%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--cgKCp0KTbM/XmKfprI9D-I/AAAAAAAAB84/PAJhfIXt3RoAMi17fzI0-NcVbzH1_eY7ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/325227_Walsh_Praying%2BWomen_Social%2BMedia%2BGraphics%2B%25281%2529.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Each chapter is also supported by Scripture, meaningful quotes, and Sheila's own wonderful thinking. Her writing is focused and thoughtful, with lots of practical ideas for enhancing and strengthening your prayer life.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">At end of each chapter, you'll find a 3-point summary, as well as a prayer for that particular chapter's focus. I can see these prayers being particularly special to people, and heavily bookmarked for future use.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you're a fan of <b>free bonus content</b> (<i>and who isn't??</i>), Sheila offers lots of resources on her site, including a Bible study and videos.<br>You can find it all here:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://sheilawalsh.com/pray/"><b>https://sheilawalsh.com/pray/</b></a><br><br><br>So much of <b>Praying Women</b> resonated with me personally,<br>and I can already feel it making a difference in my prayer life.<br>I hope this book is a blessing for you, too!<br><b><br></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Have you read Praying Women?</span></b><br><b><br></b><b>If so, please leave your thoughts in the Comments...</b>
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>BONUS REVIEW!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love reviewing books, but every once in a while, I get to review a movie!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Stay tuned to the blog for my review of Jeremy Camp's story:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>I Still Believe</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Coming next week...</div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PPeuw3Z7Sow/Xl8YwbM3kaI/AAAAAAAAB8U/8PJXo0vDLXw8YTZdgjAyAJOEXR_VFIUTgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/FF-banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PPeuw3Z7Sow/Xl8YwbM3kaI/AAAAAAAAB8U/8PJXo0vDLXw8YTZdgjAyAJOEXR_VFIUTgCPcBGAYYCw/s320/FF-banner.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="133" width="320" /></a></div><br><br><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.</span></i>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/62344382020-03-02T10:00:00-05:002020-03-02T11:30:36-05:00Turn Around - A Lesson from Niagara Falls...<div style="text-align: center;">My totally expert opinion:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The best time to visit Niagara Falls is in the winter!</b></span></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kMr_ZO4oFxo/XlLiRoxz_sI/AAAAAAAAB7w/Rek_Ws_7RpE1uwe7m4rjRADL9FioGVRMACEwYBhgL/s1600/thumbnail_IMG_6350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kMr_ZO4oFxo/XlLiRoxz_sI/AAAAAAAAB7w/Rek_Ws_7RpE1uwe7m4rjRADL9FioGVRMACEwYBhgL/s640/thumbnail_IMG_6350.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br><br>The subzero temperatures and constant mist create the most beautiful ice formations! Imagine if Elsa's dream castle had a raging Wonder-of-the-World waterfall, and you have a hint of what the Falls look like in the depths of winter.<br><br>And not just the Falls: when it's super cold, the surrounding hillsides, trees, and buildings are all covered in shimmery splendour.<br><br>There's also that perk of the tourists!<br><br>The summer is a crowded time in Niagara Falls. Millions of people cram around the edge of the water to get that perfect honeymoon selfie.<br><br>In the winter, you get a sparse, more reserved crowd. And if polled, you'll probably find more locals like me.<br><br>Last week, I took advantage of a quiet Sunday to enjoy a stroll by the Falls. It was breathtaking! The sun was bright on the water, and the cascading mist formed billows of brightness.<br><br>As usual, I was struck by the diversity of the crowd. All ages; all races; all abilities. All gathered to look at one majestic sight.<br><br>All eyes were glued on the Falls in their winter glory. All cameras pointed in one direction. All attention stage right...<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I took my fair share of photographs, too, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">but then, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>something told me to turn around...</b></span></div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">I pointed my camera in the opposite direction, </div><div style="text-align: center;">away from the attention-grabbing noise and wonder of the Falls, and that's when I saw this...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jWSfOw7yCA8/XlLiTb_j0PI/AAAAAAAAB70/7BTUgESFOacWSnD8vI8hAlvGhN7Qzl9BQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/thumbnail_IMG_6352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jWSfOw7yCA8/XlLiTb_j0PI/AAAAAAAAB70/7BTUgESFOacWSnD8vI8hAlvGhN7Qzl9BQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/thumbnail_IMG_6352.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="640" width="416" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The</b> <b>rainbow</b>.</span><br><br><br>Not in the churning of the Rainbow Falls, but clinging against a wall.<br><br>Nestled on a bit of ice, out of sight for most people.<br><br>I wanted to scream, <i>"Turn around! Look at what's right here! Isn't it fantastic! So unexpected..."</i><br><br>I didn't, of course. Not just because it would have surpassed my own weirdness comfort level, but because, somehow, I felt it had to be discovered to be admired.<br><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are things like that, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">aren't there?</span></div><br>Sometimes, we get into a truly amazing, spectacular place, full of noise and busyness and wonder. There's so much to see and take in, and we find ourselves transfixed by the big, loud stuff right in front of us.<br><br><br><br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">But what happens if we slow down, </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">turn around, </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">and just for just a moment, </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">look in the other direction?</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">What quiet, beautiful wonders will we find hiding in the corners?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">What miracles are happening, not centre stage, but just at the edge of the wings?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">And how might we be blessed by seeing the things that other people miss?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>I snapped a photo of my secret rainbow. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">I wonder how many other people turned around and noticed it? </div><div style="text-align: center;">I wonder how many other people would call it their favourite photo of the day?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Today, I encourage you to take a moment to <b>turn around</b>.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Discover the beauty in all corners of your home, your community, our world.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Let's share that beauty with one another...</div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/62316312020-02-28T16:05:00-05:002020-02-28T16:30:30-05:00Favourite Things - February Roundup!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Welcome to my new blog feature:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Favourite Things!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D9EL1uHvJjc/XlgiXgFDMHI/AAAAAAAAB8E/LNGuXrGHB28-YjQy6oFFPyuEQJ4WhpmjACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Favourite%2BThings.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D9EL1uHvJjc/XlgiXgFDMHI/AAAAAAAAB8E/LNGuXrGHB28-YjQy6oFFPyuEQJ4WhpmjACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Favourite%2BThings.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Gerald and I are blessed to travel each year to every province in Canada. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Even though our tours involve lots of work, we always try to take time to explore the sights, sounds, and, perhaps most importantly, tastes of the places we visit!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Because of that we get lots of requests for referrals:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>What's your favourite cafe in Fredericton?</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Where should I stay in Old Quebec?</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Where's the best noodle house in Kamloops?</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">And, of course, we also get regular requests for help with songwriting, guitar, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and worship resources from all kinds of musicians.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">So, at the end of each month, I'll be sharing my<b> Favourite Things</b> I discovered in the last few weeks!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">These lists will be ranging and eclectic. The only theme is "I like this!" or "I found this useful!"</div><div style="text-align: center;">And, hopefully, you'll find something useful or fun on the list, too! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Click on the names to find links to each resource. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Stay tuned at the end of each month for the new list.<br><br>And in full disclosure: I'm not receiving any compensation for sharing these links.<br><b>I just truly love this stuff! </b>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And now, here's the first edition of </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Favourite Things - February Roundup!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br></b></span></div><br><b>#1. <a href="https://modernmrsdarcy.com/" target="_blank">Modern Mrs. Darcy</a></b> - It's only fair to give Anne Bogel the honour of being my first <b>Favourite Thing</b>, since her "Links I Love" blogposts inspired this new feature! I reviewed Anne's book - <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2018/12/book-review-id-rather-be-reading-by.html" target="_blank">"I'd Rather Be Reading" </a>- last year and, since then, I've become a huge fan of her blog. She write about all things reading, including themed booklists to help you find the perfect tome for each season!<br><br><br><b>#2. <a href="https://comefromaway.com/" target="_blank">Come From Away</a></b> - We cried, laughed and cried again. My theatre heart swooned and my Newfoundland soul felt 10-feet tall. Run to see this show!<br><br><br><b>#3. <a href="https://michaelhyatt.com/leadtowin/" target="_blank">Michael Hyatt "Lead To Win" Podcast</a></b> - my favourite podcast for productivity that supports a healthy balance of work, home, and spirituality.<br><br><br><b>#4. </b><a href="https://neobniagara.com/product/massuet-pillow-spray-50ml" target="_blank"><b>Lavender Pillow Spray</b> </a>- we never leave home without it! Made right here in beautiful Niagara...<br><br><br><b>#5. <a href="https://theworshipvocalist.com/" target="_blank">Worship Vocalist</a></b> - our go-to vocal training site! Great for all levels of singers.<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">These are my <b>Favourite Things</b> for February!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Have you tried any of these?</div><div style="text-align: center;">What new things have you fallen in love with this month?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Please share in the comments below...</div><br><br><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/62080862020-02-07T12:54:00-05:002020-02-07T17:30:23-05:003 Acts of Love - Join Our Valentine's Day Challenge! <div style="text-align: center;"><b>February is definitely the Month of Love in our family!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our wedding anniversary, Valentine's Day, and our sweet puppy </div><div style="text-align: center;">Sebastian's birthday all land in the same week!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">That said, like many of you, we're feeling a lack of love in our world these days. </div><div style="text-align: center;">It seems like we're all more divided than ever, and that those with the ugliest opinions </div><div style="text-align: center;">often hold the loudest microphones.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">BUT, we all have the power to choose what <u>we</u> put into this world.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>We have the power to choose LOVE!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">In the spirit of this truth: </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We're inviting everyone to take part in our </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>3 Acts Of Love</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>Valentine's Day Challenge 2020!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b><br></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">This week, we encourage you to share a simple & selfless act of love with three people:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">#1. A family member</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">#2. A neighbour (in your office/school, or on your street!)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">#3. A stranger</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We encourage you to be creative! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Perhaps you'll choose a Valentine's tradition, such as giving out heart-shaped chocolates </div><div style="text-align: center;">(who doesn't love getting chocolates??) </div><div style="text-align: center;">Or maybe you'll perform a much-needed act of service for someone? </div><div style="text-align: center;">Or pay for someone's coffee?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Or send someone a word of encouragement?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Or ... or ....</div><div style="text-align: center;">the possibilities are endless! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Bonus points if your Act of Love is anonymous! </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">All we really ask is that your 3 Acts of Love are simple and tangible.</div><div style="text-align: center;">If we all join in, imagine the power of hundreds of Acts Of Love </div><div style="text-align: center;">moving through our families and communities this week...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #a64d79;">We can't all change the World, </span></b><b><span style="color: #a64d79;">but we can all change our Corner of the World!</span></b>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #a64d79;"><br></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">So please join us this week for the </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>3 Acts of Love</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>Valentine's Day Challenge 2020!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We'd love for you to share your experiences with us on:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/infinitelymoreband" target="_blank">Facebook</a> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/infinitely_more" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Twitter</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">#3ActsOfLove</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">#ValentinesDayChallenge</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Let's fill our world with countless acts of love this Valentine's Week!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bJKZNC5mfnw/XjxnmxAcbAI/AAAAAAAAB7Y/koJica7a6cIRICqSYXRPWzU2HnIigWwiwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/51747280_2295542287163764_7829642096897163264_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bJKZNC5mfnw/XjxnmxAcbAI/AAAAAAAAB7Y/koJica7a6cIRICqSYXRPWzU2HnIigWwiwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/51747280_2295542287163764_7829642096897163264_n.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="371" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/60556992020-01-01T21:25:00-05:002020-01-02T00:45:31-05:0024 Books for 2019<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What a year for reading! </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">In 2018, I set a New Year's resolution to read <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2018/12/24-books-for-2018.html" target="_blank">24 books</a> - a huge increase from my meagre 2017 reading. </div><div style="text-align: center;">For me, 2 books a month is the perfect number. It's not unattainable, but it does require me to be intentional about it. Carving out more time for reading has been a welcome lifestyle change, and my only complaint is that I can't read even more books! My "To Read List" grows daily!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't pick my books with any specific theme or plan. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Sometimes, they came from recommendations, some I received for review, and sometimes, one book will naturally lead to another. I aimed for a mix of fiction and non-fiction, with mostly first-time reads.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">That said, two interesting themes evolved from this year's book choices:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>#1. Local Authors</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">In our touring, I started to ask for local books and added them to my list. Seriously, this was our 5th year touring Canada (9th year touring the East Coast!) Why didn't I start this sooner?? I wasn't looking for travel books. I really wanted either real life stories, or locally inspired fiction. I highly recommend adding this to your reading practice!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>#2. Authors I Know</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm blessed with lots of talented friends! Most of them are musicians, but this year, I read 4 books by authors that I know personally. In most cases, what followed were interesting discussions and a greater sense of friendship. Added reading perk!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Here are my 24 books of 2019.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What did you read this year?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Leave your top picks in the comments below...</span></div><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gjVwbJ-HPJM/Xg1GocTLyqI/AAAAAAAAB48/vkX2Ew5nvIEio7bi6jnhyDYVlrMO7eDggCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gjVwbJ-HPJM/Xg1GocTLyqI/AAAAAAAAB48/vkX2Ew5nvIEio7bi6jnhyDYVlrMO7eDggCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/1.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="208" /></a><br><br><b><br></b><b>THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS</b><br><b>By M. L. Stedman</b><br><br>I grabbed this book while traveling through Jasper, and I'm so glad I did! Its January setting and themes of trying to see the past and future in the turns of our lives made it the perfect book for the New Year. Add in a lighthouse, a dramatic setting, and all the emotions and you're in for a fantastic<br>read!<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UfFnMUGKh-4/Xg1Go0g4kYI/AAAAAAAAB5I/KVKeHRduVL4h8dk5mNNyjUmqba_DpX0GQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UfFnMUGKh-4/Xg1Go0g4kYI/AAAAAAAAB5I/KVKeHRduVL4h8dk5mNNyjUmqba_DpX0GQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="212" /></a><br><b><br></b><b><br></b><b><br></b><b>LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE</b><br><b>By Celeste Ng</b><br><br>I read this captivating book our on flights to and from Edmonton to attend the Covenant Awards. An engaging story rife with family drama, small town politics, long held secrets, and the various faces of true maternal love.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-paJopz-hNI0/Xg1GtQQvueI/AAAAAAAAB6Q/04K-OatX2HQ_gRm_U0LuuSrcdqzFniqEgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-paJopz-hNI0/Xg1GtQQvueI/AAAAAAAAB6Q/04K-OatX2HQ_gRm_U0LuuSrcdqzFniqEgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/download.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></a><br><b><br></b><b><br></b><b><br></b><b>THE TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ</b><br><b>By Heather Morris</b><br><br>A fascinating and compelling memoir. There are scenes that will turn your stomach, and others that will have you cheering out loud. And if you can believe it, it has one of the most beautiful love stories I read all year!<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KX4BZjF5mGQ/Xg1GpFonJ2I/AAAAAAAAB6Y/G9fxP31XNkU1-ZiGThOtC_gOcpy2huwRgCEwYBhgL/s1600/51CTshbwqeL._SX314_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KX4BZjF5mGQ/Xg1GpFonJ2I/AAAAAAAAB6Y/G9fxP31XNkU1-ZiGThOtC_gOcpy2huwRgCEwYBhgL/s320/51CTshbwqeL._SX314_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="202" /></a></div><b><br></b><b><br></b><b>EDUCATED</b><br><b>By Tara Westover</b><br><br>This was on everyone's 2018 reading list, and I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!! Tara Westover is a marvel, and her story is beyond amazing. I can't recommend this enough!! The book stands on its own, but due to its popularity, there are lots of fascinating interviews with Westover online if you like to do follow-up reading.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ODWTjMv8-6g/Xg1GpJI1T_I/AAAAAAAAB6c/qmzrXhRHmWYPuQsrJdF_i8RswGtEYeYiACEwYBhgL/s1600/51dB0rpsXoL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ODWTjMv8-6g/Xg1GpJI1T_I/AAAAAAAAB6c/qmzrXhRHmWYPuQsrJdF_i8RswGtEYeYiACEwYBhgL/s320/51dB0rpsXoL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="206" /></a></div><b><br></b><b><br></b><b>YOUR BEST YEAR EVER</b><br><b>By Michael Hyatt</b><br><br>This was a reread, and there's a good chance it might be on my 2020 list too. Probably the best book I've read on goal setting. HIGHLY recommend!!<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><b><br></b><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B8G0bj1dMHs/Xg1GpsoVaOI/AAAAAAAAB6Y/Gm8nqPIZ1UsM_6ibY6CocOrDPgJZPk4GwCEwYBhgL/s1600/51yLYLftQrL._SX322_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B8G0bj1dMHs/Xg1GpsoVaOI/AAAAAAAAB6Y/Gm8nqPIZ1UsM_6ibY6CocOrDPgJZPk4GwCEwYBhgL/s320/51yLYLftQrL._SX322_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="207" /></a></div><b><br></b><b><br></b><b>THE PASSION OF MARY MARGARET</b><br><b>By Lisa Samson</b><br><br>Even though I'm a Christian who makes my living making Christian art, I <u>never</u> read Christian fiction! Someone once told me she loved Christian fiction because it's "safe", and I could never get over that saccharine impression. So, I was quite shocked when another passionate reading friend recommended I read this "Christian fiction". The book was well written, engaging, with a wonderful protagonist! It led to some great post-book discussions, too!<br><br><br><b><br></b><br><b><br></b><b><br></b><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3ZXpg90SGtI/Xg1GpTARnTI/AAAAAAAAB6c/CGVMb3wCZt0ik4ns5ciUq2cbHhE5LB9MACEwYBhgL/s1600/51w39cHTvdL._SX322_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3ZXpg90SGtI/Xg1GpTARnTI/AAAAAAAAB6c/CGVMb3wCZt0ik4ns5ciUq2cbHhE5LB9MACEwYBhgL/s320/51w39cHTvdL._SX322_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="207" /></a></div><br><b><br></b><b>THE LIVING DIET</b><br><b>By Martha Tatarnic</b><br><br>I was so excited when my dear friend, <a href="https://marthatatarnic.ca/" target="_blank">Martha Tatarnic</a>, launched her first book! I wrote a review of it for the Niagara Anglican newspaper that you can read <a href="https://niagaraanglican.news/2019/05/25/jesus-food-and-a-way-of-life-eating-played-a-powerful-role-in-the-shared-journey-of-jesus-and-his-followers/" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jTDabWHyIZM/Xg1Gp14gC1I/AAAAAAAAB6g/h9xQS0feDyAwLK7H1MN2W2Y4I5StyyqiwCEwYBhgL/s1600/71aBGfUzmAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jTDabWHyIZM/Xg1Gp14gC1I/AAAAAAAAB6g/h9xQS0feDyAwLK7H1MN2W2Y4I5StyyqiwCEwYBhgL/s320/71aBGfUzmAL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="207" /></a></div><b><br></b><br><b>WE HOPE FOR BETTER THINGS</b><br><b>By Erin Bartels</b><br><br>I loved this book! You can read my review <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2019/04/book-review-we-hope-for-better-things.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L3ESfxtdBrI/Xg1Gsc3pUvI/AAAAAAAAB6A/Mb-101Hyi8ct_wPdyznItuURS95LAgv_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/81TNGSHDkgL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L3ESfxtdBrI/Xg1Gsc3pUvI/AAAAAAAAB6A/Mb-101Hyi8ct_wPdyznItuURS95LAgv_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/81TNGSHDkgL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="212" /></a><br><br><b><br></b><b><br></b><b>THE ISLAND OF SEA WOMEN</b><br><b>By Lisa See</b><br><br>Lisa See is possibly my favourite author ever! She always opens up a new page of history for us, and fills it with engaging and heartbreaking stories and characters. Her latest novel introduces us to the all-female fishing community of Jeju island (Korea) and takes us on a journey of friendship that will tear you apart. I love this book in so many ways!!<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sui2h0Wme88/Xg1GqMshbAI/AAAAAAAAB6c/eKL1cqaflJ4WDA0-8ALtbGsTPOa2Jg-XgCEwYBhgL/s1600/71kI-0sqE%252BL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sui2h0Wme88/Xg1GqMshbAI/AAAAAAAAB6c/eKL1cqaflJ4WDA0-8ALtbGsTPOa2Jg-XgCEwYBhgL/s320/71kI-0sqE%252BL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="207" /></a></div><b><br></b><br><b>LOVING MY ACTUAL NEIGHBOR</b><br><b>By Alexandra Kuykendall</b><br><br>Loved this challenging and inspiring book! You can read my review <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2019/06/book-review-loving-my-actual-neighbor.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e9iof9jBZ-c/Xg1GrcyD4xI/AAAAAAAAB50/QFoNWRxo6cA3odJJwAVQkDUXVLLSWyj0ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/81JiHAHeixL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e9iof9jBZ-c/Xg1GrcyD4xI/AAAAAAAAB50/QFoNWRxo6cA3odJJwAVQkDUXVLLSWyj0ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/81JiHAHeixL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="210" /></a><br><b><br></b><b>SEARCHING FOR SUNDAY</b><br><b>By Rachel Held Evans</b><br><br>I'd heard of RHE, but really knew her by reputation only. I knew she spoke out about her evangelical experience, and was considered controversial by many. But her sudden and tragic passing brought messages of love and respect from both her supporters and her detractors. That had to mean something, right? I turned to her writing to see what all the fuss was about. I can see why she would have offended many people, and I'm not here to challenge those feelings, but at the core of it all, I read a story of grace, redemption, faith in the face of doubt, and unconditional love. If that isn't the Gospel, I don't know what is...<br><br><br><br><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VOfz4GNdl3M/Xg1GqqJumxI/AAAAAAAAB5w/r18wWD6arbc-vYD5U-jakowsfTGRrb4KwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/81ACnE4b-aL._AC_UL436_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VOfz4GNdl3M/Xg1GqqJumxI/AAAAAAAAB5w/r18wWD6arbc-vYD5U-jakowsfTGRrb4KwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/81ACnE4b-aL._AC_UL436_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="204" /></a><br><br><b>JESUS DOESN'T FIX EVERYTHING</b><br><b>By Mark Smeby</b><br><br>I met my talented friend, <a href="https://marksmeby.com/" target="_blank">Mark Smeby</a>, when we were on the same worship team in Nashville. He has a fantastic voice and a powerful message of hope. This short book is full of honest, inspiring thoughts on moving with God through the challenging seasons.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><b><br></b><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0FnWPM82kWE/Xg1GpqMAurI/AAAAAAAAB6w/J5aJV70eI58ePOFWiYeuV1Z47j63wqjVACEwYBhgL/s1600/61uhbk%252BShuL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0FnWPM82kWE/Xg1GpqMAurI/AAAAAAAAB6w/J5aJV70eI58ePOFWiYeuV1Z47j63wqjVACEwYBhgL/s320/61uhbk%252BShuL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="207" /></a></div><b><br></b><b><br></b><b>WHOSE WAVES THESE ARE</b><br><b>By Amanda Dykes</b><br><br>Such a great summer read! You can read my review <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2019/08/book-review-whose-waves-these-are-by.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br><br><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f7y88b3LzEA/Xg1Go_d4DqI/AAAAAAAAB6w/pf0Ca4T3Jc0NYmZyULEz3T-5yMgYMvvBACEwYBhgL/s1600/41IPIFPbQBL._SX322_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f7y88b3LzEA/Xg1Go_d4DqI/AAAAAAAAB6w/pf0Ca4T3Jc0NYmZyULEz3T-5yMgYMvvBACEwYBhgL/s320/41IPIFPbQBL._SX322_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="207" /></a></div><b><br></b><b><br></b><b>VIOLA DESMOND: Her Life and Times</b><br><b>By Graham Reynolds, with Wanda Robson</b><br><br>Every since she graced our new $10 bill, I've been wanting to know about the elegant Viola Desmond. Hailed as "Canada's Rosa Parks," Desmond's role in our own civil rights movement was almost forgotten until her face appeared on our currency. I was thankful to find this book in a Lunenburg bookstore (thank you, indie bookstores, for still hosting a "local authors" section!) I encourage all Canadians to learn about Viola Desmond, and to continue the ongoing discussion of civil rights in Canada.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zy4sG3eRMpI/Xg1GtOGuWaI/AAAAAAAAB6I/Dv1qYecZK_QLEXUN7-axvKOpqxvsQ26tQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/916lkdEa2vL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zy4sG3eRMpI/Xg1GtOGuWaI/AAAAAAAAB6I/Dv1qYecZK_QLEXUN7-axvKOpqxvsQ26tQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/916lkdEa2vL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="212" /></a><br><b><br></b><b>THE ENSEMBLE</b><br><b>By Aja Gabel</b><br><br>Another great recommendation from a book-loving friend. Follows the journey of a chambre quartet from their shaky start through decades of friendship, rivalry, and music. Fantastic book, especially relatable as a music-maker myself.<br><br><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dKXZSopNjlI/Xg1GskWG_yI/AAAAAAAAB6E/hNXAh1flmXwfahF3ilmVUbGy3AFenvk3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/81yNcIwrmYL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dKXZSopNjlI/Xg1GskWG_yI/AAAAAAAAB6E/hNXAh1flmXwfahF3ilmVUbGy3AFenvk3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/81yNcIwrmYL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="209" /></a><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><b><br></b><b>BEING LENA LEVI</b><br><b>By Bobbie Ann Cole</b><br><br>I met Bobbie Ann several years ago when we sang a concert in her church in Pennfield, NB. She's since moved to England, which provides part of the backdrop for her latest novel. You can read my review <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2019/10/book-review-being-lena-levi-by-bobbie.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7vNcdMDqckI/Xg1GpCR5J8I/AAAAAAAAB5Q/9qqyGEEE5SUQ8wDie_9JJK8j__TfOjniQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/517PDSZWGYL._SX293_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7vNcdMDqckI/Xg1GpCR5J8I/AAAAAAAAB5Q/9qqyGEEE5SUQ8wDie_9JJK8j__TfOjniQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/517PDSZWGYL._SX293_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="199" /></a><br><b><br></b><b>TOMORROW IS SCHOOL... And I'm Sick To The Heart Thinking About It</b><br><b>By Don Sawyer</b><br><br>At our neighbourhood Canada Day party, I discovered that the couple across the street had started their teaching careers in a remote community in Newfoundland! They weren't from there, but since I am, we shared a great conversation. A few minutes later, he ran across the street to give me a copy of this book, a memoir of their exciting NL adventure. A great read about the power of creative teaching.<br><br><br><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZAOrTFnAOZw/Xg1GtWxJK-I/AAAAAAAAB6M/t1nEKyEw_P86veqHfQq89sJNrSIW6BSuwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/91PZ3vHEnfL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZAOrTFnAOZw/Xg1GtWxJK-I/AAAAAAAAB6M/t1nEKyEw_P86veqHfQq89sJNrSIW6BSuwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/91PZ3vHEnfL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="218" /></a><br><br><br><b>BEARS IN THE ALLEY... Among Other Places</b><br><b>Compiled By Val Delill</b><br><br>After 10 years of touring across Canada, Gerald and I finally had our first shared bear sighting! I celebrated by buying a few bear-inspired treasures in Jasper, including this charming little volume. A compilation of local stories, primarily ranging from the 1930's-1960's when bears were as common in Jasper as squirrels in Toronto.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tOuxjdRU5Vg/Xg1GsX-txpI/AAAAAAAAB58/Wt2x04eBTgYJSZUjnA4cgGGMkFTQo5tzgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/81WWiiLgEyL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tOuxjdRU5Vg/Xg1GsX-txpI/AAAAAAAAB58/Wt2x04eBTgYJSZUjnA4cgGGMkFTQo5tzgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/81WWiiLgEyL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="212" /></a><b></b><br><b><b><br></b></b><b><b><br></b></b><b>WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING</b><br><b>By Delia Owens</b><br><br>If you haven't read this yet, get it tonight, cancel all your plans, and prepared to be fully engrossed by this awesome tale. Seriously. I'm not kidding. Do it now!! Coming soon as a movie, but of course, read the book first...<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HLNfigCzWXQ/Xg1OI_17l1I/AAAAAAAAB64/XTJFqoMciV0kYc9gUaSxiiO4FdApbJz0gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Uncommon-Reader-Alan-Bennett.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HLNfigCzWXQ/Xg1OI_17l1I/AAAAAAAAB64/XTJFqoMciV0kYc9gUaSxiiO4FdApbJz0gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Uncommon-Reader-Alan-Bennett.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="207" /></a></div><b><br></b><b><br></b><b>THE UNCOMMON READER</b><br><b>By Alan Bennett</b><br><br>What if an unidentified queen (who happens to own corgis...) discovered a passion for reading? A charming and enjoyable quick-read from the creator of stage and film hits "The History Boys" and "The Madness of King George III".<br><br><br><br><b><br></b><b><br></b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SaY-6WFcdXM/Xg1GovuMe2I/AAAAAAAAB5A/AUgDSxn-Z1kzQ7ZeDXpIRm5kC31Fk0xCwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/23590725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SaY-6WFcdXM/Xg1GovuMe2I/AAAAAAAAB5A/AUgDSxn-Z1kzQ7ZeDXpIRm5kC31Fk0xCwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/23590725.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="209" /></a><b><br></b><br><b><br></b><b><br></b><b><br></b><b><br></b><b><br></b><b><br></b><b>THE THREE SISTERS BAR AND HOTEL</b><br><b>By Katherine Govier</b><br><br>This was another travel find, this time recommended to me in the absolutely gorgeous <a href="https://www.cafebooks.ca/" target="_blank">Cafe Books</a> in Canmore. A sweeping historical fiction, inspired by the sites and history of Canmore, Banff, the original trail guides, and the birth of Parks Canada. As bonus, you can visit the bar and hotel that inspired the title just a few doors down from the bookstore...<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tatsF4j9BaQ/Xg1Go8bSwzI/AAAAAAAAB5M/k4VleS270m0LoLVZfEz8urXd2XiukzOHwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/44318414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tatsF4j9BaQ/Xg1Go8bSwzI/AAAAAAAAB5M/k4VleS270m0LoLVZfEz8urXd2XiukzOHwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/44318414.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="212" /></a><br><br><br><b>THE DUTCH HOUSE</b><br><b>By Ann Patchett</b><br><br>I'm a big Ann Patchett fan (her heartbreaking "Truth & Beauty" was a favourite <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2018/12/24-books-for-2018.html" target="_blank">2018 read</a>), so I snapped this up as soon as I saw it on the shelf. We follow three generations, and their relationship with the imposing Dutch House, in their discovery of home, family, and place. This one took me a while to get into, but once I got into it, I was hooked.<br><br><br><b><br></b><b><br></b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pFEbBhzMF_0/Xg1GtZS511I/AAAAAAAAB6U/YG6tIwWvL9clvTFuwjcrn-8Ouu7gjZ7rgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/9781950435098_p0_v2_s1200x630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pFEbBhzMF_0/Xg1GtZS511I/AAAAAAAAB6U/YG6tIwWvL9clvTFuwjcrn-8Ouu7gjZ7rgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/9781950435098_p0_v2_s1200x630.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="212" /></a><b><br></b><br><b><br></b><b><br></b><br><b><br></b><b>LITTLE WOMEN</b><br><b>By Louisa May Alcott</b><br><br>I read this when I was a little girl, and in my excitement for the upcoming film, I decided it was time to read it again. What a book! I think I love it now more then I get when I was a child. The characters and relationships are bold, relevant, and completely endearing. It's both of-its-time and timeless. From what I hear, the film is true to the spirit of the book, so I can't wait to see it!<br><br><br><br><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8DHInhXwWX8/Xg1GsGQrrkI/AAAAAAAAB54/rvTQ0VG2Cr4MIepkSPhM2bs9HM_0uezvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/81JxMNgymZL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8DHInhXwWX8/Xg1GsGQrrkI/AAAAAAAAB54/rvTQ0VG2Cr4MIepkSPhM2bs9HM_0uezvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/81JxMNgymZL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="263" /></a><br><br><br><br><b><br></b><b>GRACELACED</b><br><b>By Ruth Chou Simons</b><br><br>What a lovely book to round out the year! Gracelaced takes us on a journey through the year, with gentle and inspiring thoughts on God's faithfulness in all seasons. Light on text, the book encourages a slow pace, with page upon page of Simons' stunning artwork, filled with Scripture and nature images.<br><br><br><br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: x-large;"><br></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: x-large;"><br></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: x-large;">So, there were my 24 books for 2019!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Did I read any of your favourites this year?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And I'm making up a list for 2020... </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Let me know if you have any recommendations! </span></div><br><br><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/59545772019-11-08T16:42:00-05:002019-11-08T19:30:34-05:00Why I Remember...<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">This is my maternal grandfather, Charles (Charlie) Ryall.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hMHkjdo0p5g/XcXZtL99e0I/AAAAAAAAB4M/AK4G2teSXegaUCI0N1FjbY2GaSVwfSQKwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_2295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hMHkjdo0p5g/XcXZtL99e0I/AAAAAAAAB4M/AK4G2teSXegaUCI0N1FjbY2GaSVwfSQKwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_2295.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="400" width="297" /></a></div><br>He served in the 166th Newfoundland Regiment.<br><br>When he came home, he didn't talk about the war much, or the things he saw.<br><br>The closest he would come was when my Mom or my Aunt would leave food on their plates.<br><br><i>"I wish I could pack that up and send it to the starving children in Italy,"</i> he would say.<br><br>There was no lack of poverty in Newfoundland, so I can't imagine what he saw in Italy that would have prompted such a consistent response.<br><br>I never met my grandfather. He died just before I was born. But I know I would have loved him. He loved the outdoors, a great time, and a good laugh. He was beloved by everyone who knew him.<br><br><br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">And he's why we are free.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">He, and the thousands of men and women who fought for our freedom during WWII,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and countless conflicts before and since that time.</div><br><div style="text-align: center;">They looked at what was happening and thought, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>"Nope. This is not the world I want for my children and my grandchildren."</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">For my Mom and my Aunt.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">For me.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">He didn't know me, didn't even know I was going to be born, </div><div style="text-align: center;">yet he fought and suffered for me.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><br>My story is not unique. There are thousands of us who have war heroes in our families. Some can remember the coming home stories. Some, sadly, don't have those stories to tell.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">And yet, because of their bravery, </div><div style="text-align: center;">to fight for the future of unknown generations, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">we are free.</span></div><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TY2VyYw9ydc/XcXZtJPEroI/AAAAAAAAB4Q/zcXqmL57PQs7pwCx-UgBU-9KoZ722G-QgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_1524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TY2VyYw9ydc/XcXZtJPEroI/AAAAAAAAB4Q/zcXqmL57PQs7pwCx-UgBU-9KoZ722G-QgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_1524.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="242" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>Charlie Ryall and two of his fellow soldiers.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br><br>I can't help but think about the parallels to the cross. How Jesus bled, died, and sacrificed it all so that unknown generations could also be free.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">Most days, I wear a <b>cross</b> </div><div style="text-align: center;">to remind me of that gift.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">This week, I'm wearing my <b>poppy,</b>
</div><div style="text-align: center;">as a simple and public declaration: </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We remember your service.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We give thanks for your sacrifice.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We honour your gift to us all.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">And in addition, I'll be praying...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>... in thankfulness, for all who have gone before, risking and sacrificing in countless ways for our freedom.<br><br>... for all those who continue to put themselves in harm's way for our safety and security.<br><br>... for those in power, that they may be wise and compassionate in all their decisions.<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;">And my loudest prayer of all:</div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br></b></span><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Bring peace in our time, O Lord!</b></span></div><br><div style="text-align: center;">This Remembrance Day, please join me in wearing a poppy, </div><div style="text-align: center;">giving thanks to our men and women in uniform, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and praying for a peace that will transform our world.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Amen.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Aj_fPZZd_CE" width="560"></iframe> <br><br><br><br>
</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/59366472019-10-23T13:22:00-04:002019-10-23T17:01:13-04:00Thankful For My Journey Of Pain<div style="text-align: center;"><b>I only left the worship because of my allergies.</b></div><br>I never leave church mid-service, but something in the fall air had me sneezing. Thankfully, it was a rare Sunday where I was in the pew and not leading worship. As a matter of fact, I wasn't even in my home church. I was attending with a friend in a different province. The worship was beautiful but I was sniffling and needed a tissue, so off I snuck to the ladies room.<br><br><div style="text-align: left;">When I opened the door, I found that I wasn't alone. A young woman turned into one of the stalls. I could hear her sniffling, but not from allergies. She was crying. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not just crying...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Weeping.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-81mHM2yhc5c/XbCJjXZimjI/AAAAAAAAB4A/GzfIDMkX2bgvdAVhrJPjrAHYW6ocozLbACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Moun%2Bwith%2Bthose%2Bwho%2Bmourn.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-81mHM2yhc5c/XbCJjXZimjI/AAAAAAAAB4A/GzfIDMkX2bgvdAVhrJPjrAHYW6ocozLbACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Moun%2Bwith%2Bthose%2Bwho%2Bmourn.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="335" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">I was a guest in this church. I knew from the morning's prayers that they had just lost a senior member of the congregation, but I didn't know the depth or extent of the loss. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">I wanted to step lightly...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">"Worship songs make me cry sometimes, too..." I shared softly.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">She turned to face me.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">"Are you okay?"</div><br>With that, her floodgates opened. The senior church member was her grandfather. He'd been sick for a while, and was quite old, but the loss was still so powerful. She shared the difficulties of sitting in church this morning - the same space where, just a few days ago, she and her family had gathered for the funeral. Her eyes overflowed as she talked about seeing her strong tough uncles break down in tears, and the heartbreak of watching her grandmother bury the only man she'd loved.<br><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I wanted to step lightly, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">but so often when we're with someone in grief, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>stepping</i> is barely needed.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Just <i>standing</i>...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Standing, listening, being present.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">I listened to this young woman pour out her pain.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">But I also listened for God.</div><br><i>"Okay Lord, I'm here in the ladies room, with a worship service happening just on the other side of the door. I know you brought me in here for a reason. What do you want me to do? Is there anything I can say that will help? If not, please keep me quiet. Just don't let me say anything that will make it worse!"</i><br><i><br></i><br>As she spoke, my heart was taken back to my own experiences with grief. I thought about the recent loss of my beautiful aunt, and the pain that moved through my family. I remembered my own grandmother's funeral. I was just a teenager when it happened, and I also remember being shaken by the tears and grief of the "strong tough" men in my family.<br><br>So, when I felt she needed a breath, I gently shared a bit of my story.<br><br><br>We talked about things that can make grief harder, like holidays or familiar spaces.<br><br>We acknowledged the very real hurt of loss, and the heartrending struggle of watching those you love in pain.<br><br>And we also talked about Heaven. How it doesn't erase the pain of losing someone, but that the promise of seeing one another again brings hope into the most unbearable of seasons.<br><br><br>And after a while of chatting, her tears lightened, and I was able to see her beautiful smile.<br><br>As I returned to my pew, I lifted a quiet prayer.<br><br>First, I prayed for this young woman and all those grieving in the church that Sunday.<br><br>And second, I lifted a prayer of gratitude for my own pain.<br><br>I've had some very dark seasons of grief in my life. And this particular year, I've experienced two terrible losses, both tragic in their own ways.<br><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I will never be thankful for the loss of someone I love. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">But today, I was thankful for the lessons that I've learned in my grief.</span></b></div><br>I'm thankful to know what it is to be in pain, so that I can empathize with someone whose heart has been broken by loss.<br><br>I'm thankful that I've had terrible things said to me in my grief, because it's taught me to be gentle in my own choice of words.<br><br>I'm thankful that I've had people ignore me in my grief because they "didn't know what to say," because it's taught me that it's okay to be be present but silent with someone who's hurting.<br><br>And I'm thankful that I don't need to rely on my own limited strength or wisdom in these moments. I can be still, and listen for the One who always responds in love, and encourages us to do the same.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Being grateful for our own pain doesn't come easy. It's been a long journey for me. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>But today, I felt the fulfilment of that journey, and I am thankful for every step.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NxtTHmwSuCk/XbCIIZEthzI/AAAAAAAAB30/MVOqigYIlc8UtZB0oFl_Wcpy4D55aGL4ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Mountain%2BTravel%2BFacebook%2BPost.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NxtTHmwSuCk/XbCIIZEthzI/AAAAAAAAB30/MVOqigYIlc8UtZB0oFl_Wcpy4D55aGL4ACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Mountain%2BTravel%2BFacebook%2BPost.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="536" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><br><br><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/59162942019-10-05T00:39:00-04:002019-10-05T02:15:20-04:00Book Review: Being Lena Levi by Bobbie Ann Cole<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">One of the perks of being an artist is enjoying the art of your talented friends. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Today's review falls into that category!</div><br>I first met Bobbie Anne Cole when she attended our <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/" target="_blank">Infinitely More</a> concert in Pennfield, NB. At that time, she gave me her inspiring first book,<a href="https://www.bobbieanncole.co.uk/#MyBooks" target="_blank"> She Does Not Fear The Snow.</a> Since then, Bobbie has moved to England and continues to write and teach.<br><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XtCcUIn1yLE/XZe86EF8YBI/AAAAAAAAB3Q/iZKTSWHRLKot9JYzvZPn5ZUW7qaeIFVzgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/71494097_897413233975853_5561309429376221184_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XtCcUIn1yLE/XZe86EF8YBI/AAAAAAAAB3Q/iZKTSWHRLKot9JYzvZPn5ZUW7qaeIFVzgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/71494097_897413233975853_5561309429376221184_n.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="210" /></a>When I saw she had written a new novel, I jumped at the chance to review it. If you saw my<a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2018/12/24-books-for-2018.html" target="_blank"> reading list from 2018</a>, you'll know that WWII became an unexpected theme in my choices of fiction. Well, it seems to be a theme I can't escape! <i>(Or maybe, a theme I keep pursuing? I'll let the psychology students hash that one out...)</i><br><br><b>Being Lena Levi </b>starts five years after WWII. Young Marlene returns home from school one day to find her mother acting uncomfortably and a strange woman in their living room. When Marlene asks about the stranger, her mother tells her, "She's your mother."<br><br>Marlene, born Lena, discovers she's not a born-and-bred English schoolgirl. Instead, she's German Jew, who had been sent to England on a Kindertransport to escape the horrors of Hitler and the Holocaust. Her birth mother, her "Mutti," has finally returned to bring her home.<br><br>What ensues is a romp through England and Israel as Lena takes on the challenge of discovering her true identity. Who is her "real" mother? How can she reconcile her Christian faith with her Jewish heritage? And what is the real country that shapes us?<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">Lena, Mum and Mutti are all strong and wonderful characters. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Through each, we see different versions of passion, family, and independence, </div><div style="text-align: center;">all reflecting their unique upbringing and life circumstances. </div><br>One of the reasons I love historical fiction is the opportunity to learn about little known chapters of human history. With all my WWII reading, I'd never heard of the Kindertransport and its legacy on the lives of German and English families. To save their children, German parents put their children on trains and sent them off to England, with the hopes that they'd be safe through the war. The initial separations caused tremendous pain to German families. Over the years, many children, especially young ones, made deep bonds with their English foster parents. Reunions were often complicated, especially as German parents struggled with the physical, emotional, and financial toll of the war and the Holocaust. Many parents never returned, leaving a lifetime of unanswered questions for their children. Bobbie uses detailed research to share a fascinating piece of history with heart and passion.<br><br><b>Being Lena Levi </b>is categorized as "young adult" or "adult fiction" and I think it works for both age groups. The fast pace makes it a quick and engaging read for adults. I think teenagers, in particular, will identify with Lena and her fierce independence in the face of a such a life-changing discovery.<br><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">I encourage you to pick up your copy of <b>Being Lena Levi</b> </div><div style="text-align: center;">and discover this charming heroine and her fascinating journey!</div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You can learn more about Bobbie and her beautiful writing at </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.bobbieanncole.co.uk/"><span style="font-size: large;">https://www.bobbieanncole.co.uk/</span></a></div><br><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/58505222019-08-07T12:15:00-04:002019-08-07T14:45:38-04:00Book Review: Whose Waves These Are, by Amanda Dykes<div style="text-align: center;">Lghthouses, lobsters, poetry, and just the right bit of romance...</div><div>
<div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br></div>
<div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Whose Waves These Are </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">is the perfect summer read!</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BNfxtyEbzt8/XUnxBe3PKpI/AAAAAAAAB2s/OxWM7s9G0egdtSPgpowUDTc8FqUBBKrCgCLcBGAs/s1600/42196507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BNfxtyEbzt8/XUnxBe3PKpI/AAAAAAAAB2s/OxWM7s9G0egdtSPgpowUDTc8FqUBBKrCgCLcBGAs/s320/42196507.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="206" /></a>Amanda Dykes takes us to the fictional Maine town of Ansel-by-the-Sea - a sleepy cove where everyone knows everyone, and community ties run deep.</div><div><br></div><div>After losing his brother in the horrors of WWII, Bob, a great fisherman but an unlikely poet, writes an inspired verse. Its clarion call: send me a rock for the person you lost, and let's create a tribute to their lives. Only meant for his grieving community, the poem takes on a life of its own, and his world begins to change.</div><div><br></div><div>By the time his great-niece, Annie, discovers the odd treasure trove of stones, a lifetime of hurt and secrets have passed. One fateful summer, the waves bring new stories, and all is revealed in this epic tale of love, loss, family, and redemption.</div><div><br></div><div>So many things I enjoyed about this book:</div><div><br></div><div>- I love the ocean, and if I can't be there myself, reading a tale inspired by the waves is the next best thing! The only way to make it better would be to actually read it by the sea. </div><div><br></div><div>- I'm always excited by fractured narrative, multiple time periods, and historical fiction. Amanda handles all these techniques beautifully to tell a story that's engaging and emotionally satisfying.</div><div><br></div><div>- Technically, this falls under the category of "Christian fiction". If I'm being completely honest, that phrase can scare me. I'm wary of books that will get too preachy, or will start to feel too agenda based. The people of Ansel-by-the-Sea remind me of Christians I know. Just normal people, who happen to believe in a loving God. They have doubts and imperfections, but they're on the path of love. Faith is simply woven into the story and characters in the same way that's it's woven into most of our lives: a prayer or quote when needed, a doubt or question in the tough times, and a reminder of the Creator when amazed by His creation.</div><div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh, and one more fun thing: if you visit Amanda's site, she's created the quiz, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>"Which Ansel-by-the-Sea Locale Are You?" </b></div><div style="text-align: center;">You know, if you just need to dig in a little deeper!</div><div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://amandadykes.com/which-ansel-by-the-sea-locale-are-you-quiz/" target="_blank">http://amandadykes.com/which-ansel-by-the-sea-locale-are-you-quiz/</a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">If you're looking for a great summer read, I highly recommend <b>Whose Waves These Are</b>! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">Grab a spot by the ocean, and enjoy...</div>
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<div><i style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">I received this book to review from the <a href="http://nutsaboutbooks.ca/how-it-works/" style="color: #699dcd; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Nuts About Books Blogger Program</a> and Graf-Martin Communications Inc. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.</span></i></div>
</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/58060702019-06-27T11:56:00-04:002019-06-27T13:30:29-04:00Book Review: Loving My Actual Neighbor, By Alexandra Kuykendall<div style="text-align: center;">When I read this title on the list of books for possible review, I knew I had to grab it:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Loving My Actual Neighbor </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>By Alexandra Kuykendall</i></div><i><br></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xNHWS2G6lqA/XRTkQsF6kgI/AAAAAAAAB2I/qvBxq7ACZQAGHSTajUcChe8adwArp-zyQCLcBGAs/s1600/9780801075377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xNHWS2G6lqA/XRTkQsF6kgI/AAAAAAAAB2I/qvBxq7ACZQAGHSTajUcChe8adwArp-zyQCLcBGAs/s320/9780801075377.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="207" /></a></div><br>In a world where most of our "friends" are represented heavily curated profile pictures, could there be any more timely book for us to read?<br><br>Don't get me wrong. I love social media. I'm sort of active on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/infinitely_more" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, and completely active on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/infinitelymoreband" target="_blank">Facebook</a>. I'm thankful that I can keep in touch with friends from across the country with a simple login.<br><br>But when we moved to St. Catharines, things started to change. We bought a house. We had no plans to move in the next year. Suddenly, my neighbourhood became a much more important place. Who lived near me? What does my community value? How can I be part of the larger picture of caring for my neighbours?<br><br>Alexandra Kuykendall presents a thoughtful, practical, and generous approach to changing your relationship with those around you. This isn't about your friends and family. As the Sesame Street song taught us all: "these are the people in your neighbourhood." The people who live near you, the colleagues at work, the staff at your local store, and the members of your community group. Inspired by the first chapter of 2 Peter, Alexandra creates a 7-step system for getting to know and love your neighbours.<br><br>Each chapter combines relatable stories with easy practical advice. What are the simple things we can do? After these become second nature, what are the bigger things we can do to get into deeper relationship with those around us?<br><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Steps are reinforced with "Questions for Reflection," </div><div style="text-align: center;">"Practicing the Practice" list of tips, and "Scripture to Digest." </div><br>Alexandra also has a beautiful and inspiring concept called "Saturday Living." It's that tension we feel when we strive to live an earthly life with a spiritual focus. The name references the first Holy Saturday, that day when the cross was reality, but Sunday was coming. Grief on one side, freedom on the other. Finding ways to love those who are different than us, to communicate with those who speak a different language or have an opposing worldview, or remaining humble when making bold steps. Saturday Living is how we take the theory of love and live it out in a practical way.<br><br>As people of faith, we are particularly called to love our neighbour. When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment, he very boldly stated "Love your neighbour" right after "Love God." Not only are we called to do it, but we're designed to do it. We love because we are loved.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wouldn't it be awesome if Christians and the Church were known </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">by our generous, creative, limitless love for all humanity? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is our call to live out that love.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Buy this book! Read it. Share it with your neighbours. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Let's change our communities, one step at a time...</div><br><br><br><i style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">I received this book to review from the <a href="http://nutsaboutbooks.ca/how-it-works/" style="color: #699dcd; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Nuts About Books Blogger Program</a> and Graf-Martin Communications Inc. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.</span></i>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/57573672019-05-16T18:13:00-04:002019-05-16T18:45:26-04:00When Was Your Last Day Off?<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today, I found myself looking at painted furniture online.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now, this isn't unusual for me. I'm happy to spend hours looking at before-and-after shots, learning new skills, and dreaming of my own projects.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">As any crafter will tell you, the dreaming is almost as good as the doing!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">But this wasn't normal looking. I was looking a lot. Like, a lot! I kind of couldn't stop. </div><div style="text-align: center;">And then I realized it. I wasn't just looking at furniture...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I was procrastinating.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ugh.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">I've got lots of faults, but I'll admit: I'm not a procrastinator. </div><div style="text-align: center;">For me, one of the keys of being successfully self-employed is self discipline. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm good at making my list, sitting down, and doing the work.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>But not today. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Today, I dreamily drifted over photos of chalk paint and thrift store finds while my To Do List sat abandoned.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">I was a little taken aback when I realized what I was doing. Why was I procrastinating? There's nothing too intimidating or burdensome on my list right now. Everything's pretty straightforward. We did a concert last night, but I got a good night's sleep. I should be good. Wait, we've been on the road for a while now...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>When was my last day off?</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">So, I pulled out my calendar and started scrolling back. Back through the ten days in New Brunswick, back through East Coast Music Week, back through the final days of tour prep, back through our busy Easter season, and then I found it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>My last day off was SIX WEEKS AGO!!!</b></span></div><br><div style="text-align: center;">And if I'm really honest, my day off six weeks ago was technically a sick day, so not a proper day off at all...</div><br><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dEyKAC92DuM/XN3bStJxHjI/AAAAAAAAB1o/0l4kMF81DCMtYiIWtTGDeybQikSh_WNRQCLcBGAs/s1600/Day-Off-Snoopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dEyKAC92DuM/XN3bStJxHjI/AAAAAAAAB1o/0l4kMF81DCMtYiIWtTGDeybQikSh_WNRQCLcBGAs/s320/Day-Off-Snoopy.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="320" /></a>Many years ago, when we were working on staff at a church, I started insisting on taking Mondays off. I realized that, if we didn't claim a day, everyone else would claim our time for us. Now, in freelance ministry, we continue to recognize the need for time off, so Monday is our day. I'm pretty strict about it. I keep it free of appointments, set up a vacation reply so I don't check email, and hide my phone.<br>Monday is our day...<br><b><br></b><b>Until it isn't.</b><br><br>I could tell you all the reasons why my busyness has been justified over the last few months - full performance schedule, tour planning, grant writing, and just to complicate things, a puppy in need of medical treatment and surgery.<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>But the fact is, I needed to take time for myself, and I didn't do it.</b></div><br>So, now I find myself on the road, which is always the busiest time of our year. On any given day, we're either rehearsing, planning, booking, performing, interviewing, driving, or some combination of these. For these two months, we'll drive across six provinces, sleep in about 50 different beds, and interact with thousands of people.<br><br>Don't get me wrong: it's amazing and we love it and we wouldn't give it up for anything! I love working hard, and I love what I do. My lifelong dream was to be a touring artist, and here we are, making that dream come true.<br><br>But the artist life is intense. Touring is especially intense. We need to be open and present at all times, and that takes energy and focus.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">So today, I found myself feeling a little worn, and needing to look at furniture.</div><br>As soon as I realized what was happening, I took a deep breath. In the past, I might have reprimanded myself for procrastinating.<br><br>Today, I chose gentleness. I reminded myself of how often Jesus took time to rest. He also lived life on the road, traveling and sharing the Gospel. His work was much more intense and important than mine.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>If Jesus could take time to rest, </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>surely the world can turn without me for a day.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(And if you caught the Jesus Christ Superstar reference in there, you are truly my people!)</i></div><br>This weekend, most of Canada will take a break as we celebrate Victoria Day. We're leading worship, and we can't wait to share Sunday morning with the wonderful people of <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/calendar" target="_blank">Shediac Cape</a>.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>But Tuesday, we're taking a day off.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>A full, proper day off.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div>On Tuesday, we'll be in beautiful Lunenburg. I'm going to sleep late, walk by the water, eat seafood, and visit gift shops. Or curl up in a cafe and read a book. Or maybe tour a museum. Or maybe, just do nothing.<br><br>We'll wait and see what the day holds...<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">That's the beauty, and necessity, of a day off.</span></b></div><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-55zj95uP2iQ/XN3bO3q-8cI/AAAAAAAAB1k/ZL7eT61J1GQt5no-yA6gG-OpMB6Ukd0EgCLcBGAs/s1600/bc7a53fe46f33f1953476f23590b1c15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-55zj95uP2iQ/XN3bO3q-8cI/AAAAAAAAB1k/ZL7eT61J1GQt5no-yA6gG-OpMB6Ukd0EgCLcBGAs/s640/bc7a53fe46f33f1953476f23590b1c15.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="640" width="640" /></a></div><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/57415952019-05-03T09:01:00-04:002019-05-03T12:15:26-04:00"You Should Be Dead" - 10 Years Later...<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">10 years ago today, this happened:</span></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KUl64yHvswY/XMut-cuPaZI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/36lYaG-484w0H0QblHYTeUt7ztMjJZhpACLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-05-02%2Bat%2B11.55.01%2BPM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KUl64yHvswY/XMut-cuPaZI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/36lYaG-484w0H0QblHYTeUt7ztMjJZhpACLcBGAs/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-05-02%2Bat%2B11.55.01%2BPM.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="358" width="640" /></a></div><br><br><div style="text-align: center;">You can see the original post <a href="https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2009/05/please-pray.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</div><br>We had been leading worship in a little church in Kingston Springs, just west of Nashville. It had been a great morning. We were having that typical Sunday drive home from church, talking about the sermon, and deciding where to go for lunch.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A tractor trailer changed lanes and smashed into our little Toyota Corolla.</span></div><br>He hit us so hard we crashed into the right-side guard rail and spun out in front of his truck, where he began to push us down the highway at 70 miles an hour.<br><br>We took another hit and spun around to the left side of his truck where we were trapped between his wheels and the guardrail, being dragged backwards down the highway.<br><br>We spun again, this time with the hood of our car spinning under the bed of his truck, and his wheels coming up on the hood of our car.<br><br>At that point, the guardrail ended, so instead of crushing us, his wheels pushed us off the road where we flipped, rolled, and landed upside down on the side of the highway.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And we walked out of the car.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>With a little help...<br><br>There had been a light rain, and the final landing was oddly soft, like the slow-down at the end of a roller coaster ride. We had landed just inches from a stone outcropping which, had the car shifted just a bit in that final spin, would have given us a different ending.<br><br>The first person to approach our car was a vacationing paramedic from New Orleans. He talked us out of our seat belts and helped us open a door so we could walk back to the road.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">Did we mention our guitar was in the backseat? </div><div style="text-align: center;">The same guitar Gerald plays in every concert today. </div><br>The car was crushed beyond recognition. Even the veteran tow truck driver had to ask the make and model of our super common Corolla. But somehow, Gerald and I (and the guitar) walked out.<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;">That day, we heard the same words over and over:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>"You should be dead."</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">The paramedics, state trooper, tow truck driver, witnesses. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Over and over:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>"You should be dead."</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Those words will play on your heart and your mind.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>The months and years that followed were filled with all kinds of struggles - physical, emotional, financial, and spiritual.<br><br>We sued the second largest trucking company in the United States. After years of depositions and negotiations, we finally settled for a pitiful amount, sparking a new family debate. Which was worse - the accident or the lawsuit?<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And now, it's 10 years later.</span></div><br>10 years today, we stood on the side of the road, shocked and amazed that we were simply alive, with no idea what was coming next.<br><br>In those first few years, pain and healing were prominent themes in our lives and in our marriage.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The accident is a before and after moment, shaping us in countless ways.</b></div><br>As we started our journey of healing, we lost all tolerance for petty annoyances. "Life is short." "Don't sweat the small stuff." "Be thankful you're alive." All those cliches became powerfully true.<br><br>Family, faith, and purpose became even more important, and we discovered a sharper focus for our art and calling.<br><br>As fairly newlyweds (we had only been married three years at the time), we learned to trust in a new way, leaning into our marriage and each other through some truly difficult times.<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">But as the years went on, the accident took on a different place in our lives.</span></div><br><b>It's become a source of strength.</b> We conquered a beast of a struggle, and came out stronger and healthier than before. When we doubt ourselves, we remember that journey.<br><br><b>It's a reminder of priorities.</b> I wish I could say that I'm still immune to petty annoyances. Truth be told, I give them far too much attention some days. But when I think back to that fateful day, priorities line up pretty quickly.<br><br><b>It's a source of shared pain and healing.</b> For ourselves and our family, but also for others. We've shared our story in our concerts. We've also spent hours post-concert, holding someone's hand as they share their accident story. Some of these stories have been victories, but many have been tragic. But somehow, sharing them allows each of us to feel seen and loved, and it adds to the healing.<br><br><b>It's become an inspiration for gratitude.</b> When we think back to that day, we're reminded that it could have ended very differently. We will never complain about getting older, because we know that, in a different version of the story, we might not be here to celebrate that next birthday. We are thankful for our whole bodies and our emotional healing. We're overwhelmingly grateful for our amazing family and friends, who fed us, cared for us, prayed for us, and surrounded us with patient and generous love.<br><br><br>I'd be remiss if I didn't name our parents, Helen and Hollis, Sandy and Gerry, and our amazing friends, Tara and Kyle. Words can't express our love and gratitude for how you brought us through that season.<br><br>And we are eternally thankful to God. Not only did He see fit to bring us through such an ordeal, but what a plan He had in store for us!<br><br>And as Gerald alway says, "It's not lost on us that the God who saved us on the highway is the same God who called us into a nationally touring music ministry!"<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">So today, I'm going to take a deep breath, and give thanks.</span></b></div><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">For the struggle, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">the healing, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">the journey, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">the lessons, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">the love </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and the Spirit.</span></div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>"Praise God, from whom all blessings flow..."</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/57109742019-04-07T17:17:00-04:002019-04-07T19:00:56-04:00Book Review: We Hope For Better Things, by Erin Bartels<div style="text-align: center;">Every once and a while you pick up a book to review, and you forget that your job is to review it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>That's this book for me.</b></div><br><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hAw6ofkqh6A/XKkeKP35vOI/AAAAAAAAB1E/m_Z5DT_5NYki87B2EgmBDhl2jDTVAvQLwCLcBGAs/s1600/71aBGfUzmAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hAw6ofkqh6A/XKkeKP35vOI/AAAAAAAAB1E/m_Z5DT_5NYki87B2EgmBDhl2jDTVAvQLwCLcBGAs/s320/71aBGfUzmAL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="207" /></a>Elizabeth Balsam is a fast moving reporter on the verge of her biggest story. She gets annoyed when a stranger asks her to deliver a box of old photographs to a distant aunt. But that one task starts to unravel a family story interwoven with race relations, local history, and the power of secrets and truth.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Quite simply: I loved everything about this book.</b></div><br>Erin Bartels is a great writer, creating scenes and characters that are captivating and compelling. Set in Detroit, we experience Elizabeth and two other women of her family in three distinct generations: present day, the 1967 Detroit Riots, and the American Civil War. Each story line is told in revolving chapters, with dialogue and details to create an immersive environment.<br><br>Through these three interwoven stories of Elizabeth, Nora, and Mary, we see one family's struggle with racism. Where are our prejudices born, and can they ever be shut down? How do love, hatred, secrets and truth weave themselves into a family history? How can we learn from the past if we never share our stories?<br><br>Once I locked into this book, I couldn't put it down. More than once, I was up late, using my iPhone light to brighten my page and not wake my husband. <b>We Hope For Better Things</b> wrestles with vast and complicated ideas but in the context of intimate family relationships. We journey with three women who choose love and family, even when challenged with heartbreak and prejudice. The way the story is revealed kept me turning the pages and riding the emotional roller coaster of this amazing family.<br><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>Prejudices of any kind are always based on hating a group, but time and time again we see how hatred can break down when we get to know people as individuals.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Jesus asked us to "love our neighbour." Doesn't loving our neighbour start with getting to know our neighbour? Not as part of a group, with all our biases and assumptions attached, but just as a person, created in the loving image of God? </b></div><br>I recommend this book as a compelling novel, but more than that, I encourage it as a spark for conversation.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">Let it challenge your heart. Learn your own history. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Tell your own stories. We can always do better. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>We must always hope for better things...</b></div><br><br><br><i style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">I received this book to review from the <a href="http://nutsaboutbooks.ca/how-it-works/" style="color: #699dcd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Nuts About Books Blogger Program</a> and Graf-Martin Communications Inc. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.</span></i>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/56078832019-01-22T19:43:00-05:002019-01-22T19:45:48-05:00Why You Can't See My 10-Year Challenge...<div style="text-align: center;">By now, we're all familiar with the infamous 10-Year Challenge:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>"Let's see how much you've aged! </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Post a photo of yourself from 10 years ago and one from today."</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nQG1nareH_g/XEepIE8aAyI/AAAAAAAAB0g/jHD9vA0BDjIhhYpQSDbdT1P-Ruih0O5kgCLcBGAs/s1600/Unknown.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nQG1nareH_g/XEepIE8aAyI/AAAAAAAAB0g/jHD9vA0BDjIhhYpQSDbdT1P-Ruih0O5kgCLcBGAs/s640/Unknown.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="236" width="640" /></a></div><br>Some are funny - people posting their crazy teenage hairstyles, or folks substituting their face for a celebrity doppelgänger.<br><br>A few are inspiring - men and women celebrating a substantial weight loss or surviving a challenging illness.<br><br>Some groups are using the challenge to show the lack of change in important areas of our world, such as race relations, gender representation, or the environment.<br><br>But for the most part, it's people either complaining about their own aging or, even worse, people sharing highly photoshopped versions of their current faces.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">Ugh, do we really need to create more opportunities to competitively obsess on appearance?</div><br><br>As I looked at these posts, I couldn't help but think back to where I was 10 years ago - living in Nashville with my still-relatively-new husband, making music, and about to go through some of the most vibrant years of my life.<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;">I thought about what picture I could find to capture who I was then, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and how I could even encapsulate who I am now. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">And the more I thought about it, the more I realized that it couldn't be done.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Because, you see, you can't see my 10-Year Challenge.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">There's no way a photo can show you how much I've changed in 10 years.</div><br><br>You can't see how Gerald and I were almost killed by an 18-wheeler, ten years ago this May, and the pain, grace, courage, and healing I experienced in the years that followed.<br><br>You can't see every time I've chosen faith over frustration, and how that choice has shaped my heart and my patience.<br><br>You can't see the way both my literal and my creative voices have become stronger, more authentic, and more expressive.<br><br>You can't see how I'm surrounded by friends and family who really know and love me, and how their love makes me a better person.<br><br>You can't see the thousands of kilometres I've driven on our Infinitely More tours, and how I've fallen so deeply in love with this country, our churches, and the diverse people of faith who fill the pews.<br><br>You can't see the time I was hurt by people I loved, and the immense struggle it took to forgive friends who never asked for my forgiveness.<br><br>You can't see the times I've had to stretch my skills outside my comfort zone, and the way that's made me a better manager and administrator.<br><br>You can't see the hundreds of times I've tried and failed and tried and failed, and yet somehow become even more eager to try and fail again.<br><br>You can't see the way I've grown into my marriage, working through the challenges, dancing through the good stuff, revelling in the blessings, and loving my husband more and more each year.<br><br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;">I've changed a lot in 10 years. You might not see it. But I can. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And for me, I'm more beautiful and more interesting than ever.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Covered in battle scars you can't see. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Filled with more love and gratitude than I could ever express.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>And most of us are probably the same. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">The world may see your wrinkles, weight gain, or the way bodies just change over time.</div><div style="text-align: center;">But I hope you see your true strength and beauty.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Forget the photos. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Look at You.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">You've lived. You've survived. You've risked. You've grown.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">You. Are. Awesome!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">So, forget the 10-Year Challenge. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Instead, I hope you have 10-Year Celebration of all the wonder of you.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">You've earned it.</div><br><br><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/55869302019-01-08T14:27:00-05:002019-01-08T18:15:37-05:00I Have Laryngitis ... and I'm Thankful!<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">"Laryngitis"</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What singer wants to hear their doctor say this word?</span></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UZVAG7GUqCk/XDT2hMzaTAI/AAAAAAAAB0U/4M8SrPr_K8gP81VfgO6WpylgZyiaVnObwCLcBGAs/s1600/Untitled%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UZVAG7GUqCk/XDT2hMzaTAI/AAAAAAAAB0U/4M8SrPr_K8gP81VfgO6WpylgZyiaVnObwCLcBGAs/s640/Untitled%2B6.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="212" width="640" /></a></div><br><br>I was tired yesterday, and after our busy December, that just made sense. But this morning, when I woke up with that telltale grip on my throat, I knew something was wrong. Gerald called our doctor. He saw me right away, and sent me home with the diagnosis.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>"Laryngitis"</b></div><br>Ugh. Not from overuse or mistreatment of the vocal chords. This is a straight up proper infection. Germs on parade. Symptoms include sore throat, loss of voice, and, if you're a singer, potential crankiness (<i>or at least, that's what Gerald diagnosed</i>...)<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;">I need to sing by the weekend, so I went to bed this afternoon with tea, honey,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> and my own personal pity party.</b></div><br><div style="text-align: center;">I was listing my various and well-earned complaints, when</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>I started to feel a little tug on my heart ...</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><br>I remembered a friend of mine, about my age, who just today shared news about his ever-worsening cancer diagnosis.<br><br>And my thoughts went to my friends in Nashville, who just last night, lost a sister and cousin who was far too young.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">"<i>Well</i>," I thought, "<i>Maybe my complaints are starting to sound a bit selfish...</i>"</div><br>Don't get me wrong, vocal problems are terrifying for singers. They can get us into all kinds of fits and worries. (<i>And right about now, I'll take all the prayers I can get for a swift and complete healing!</i>)<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">But as things fell into perspective, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>a whole new wave of gratitude started to wash over me:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br></b></span></div><br>Yes, I have laryngitis, but I also have the self-employment power of flexibility that will give me time to rest.<br><br>I have a loving husband to care for me, puppies to cuddle, and money to buy medication.<br><br>I'm too sick to celebrate my Mom's birthday, but I have my Mom, she's healthy, and we have a fantastic relationship.<br><br>Not only was I able to see my doctor today, but I live in a country where my healthcare isn't tied into my job or my bank account.<br><br>As my voice suffers, I'm reminded how blessed I am to be able to make a living in music, a rare feat in our industry.<br><br>And in a world, or let's face it, in a country, province, or city, where many people don't know if they'll eat tonight, I was able to find all the ingredients in my fridge to make nourishing chicken noodle soup - the exact meal I want right now.<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, I won't go so far as to say I'm thankful for my laryngitis, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">but the pity party is over.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Instead, I'm sipping my tea and honey, </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">awash in gratitude, </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">and excited to sing again ...</span></b></div><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T0Q7nxQAS7Y/XDTzgtAQ1sI/AAAAAAAAB0E/xFT4Z3FziB8UjkKfPHCorl6Pq5yBO-7-gCLcBGAs/s1600/1_OgKHyU5VMu9tBE5uEbCi1g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T0Q7nxQAS7Y/XDTzgtAQ1sI/AAAAAAAAB0E/xFT4Z3FziB8UjkKfPHCorl6Pq5yBO-7-gCLcBGAs/s640/1_OgKHyU5VMu9tBE5uEbCi1g.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="426" width="640" /></a></div><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/55743122018-12-30T11:26:00-05:002018-12-30T14:15:17-05:0024 Books for 2018<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">One of my 2018 resolutions was a simple one: </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Read more!</span></b></div><br>When I looked back on 2017, I realized I'd spent too much time with my nose in the screen instead of in the pages, so I set a goal for the new year:<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"> <b>I decided to read 24 books in 12 months.</b> </div><br>It seemed like an easy number to track, but not quite easily attainable. In 2017, I'd read less than one book a month, so I knew this goal would require a bit of planning and pushing.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(On a side note, telling people I wanted to read two books a month was an interesting experience. For some people, this number was far lower than their regular reading rate, and for others, it felt quite unattainable. Just another lesson in choosing personal goals that are reasonable for you, but also push you to do better.)</i></div><br>It was a fascinating experience! I didn't start out with any kind of reading list or design. It could be a mix of old and new, fiction and non-fiction. Some were given by friends, some written by friends, some were books I reviewed, and others were just finds along the way. As I went through, I realized that length had to be a factor. When a month included one long book, I also needed to read a short book to squeeze them both into four short weeks.<br><br>Reading on tour proved to be a bit of a challenge, too. Even though I'll always be a paper girl, e-books became an easy way to lighten our luggage and read at night.<br><br>As the year unfolded, certain books would spark others. When I read "The Happiness Project," I was so inspired by Rubin's excitement for St. Therese that I then picked up "Story Of A Soul". And someday I'll need to write about the intriguing connections I discovered between St. Therese and, of all people, Anne of Green Gables. Unusual themes also unfolded. Without planning it, I read three very different books on World War II, all from different voices and with different insights.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>It was such a powerful experience that I've already set my 24-in-12 goal again for 2019!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">So what are your reading plans for 2019? </div><div style="text-align: center;">Have you read any on my list? </div><div style="text-align: center;">What books would you recommend? </div><div style="text-align: center;">Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Here are the 24 books I read in 2018:</span></b></div><br><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2r3yMCzrEGQ/XCZQYAv0fVI/AAAAAAAABzc/EZZBa0wQaEkEqC2shOq5_-QWZ6QlkVlogCLcBGAs/s1600/your%2Bbest%2Byear%2Bever%2Bmichael%2Bhyatt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2r3yMCzrEGQ/XCZQYAv0fVI/AAAAAAAABzc/EZZBa0wQaEkEqC2shOq5_-QWZ6QlkVlogCLcBGAs/s320/your%2Bbest%2Byear%2Bever%2Bmichael%2Bhyatt.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="206" /></a><br><div style="text-align: left;">
<b><br></b><b><br></b><b>Your Best Year Ever</b>
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>By Michael Hyatt</b></div><b><br></b><br><div style="text-align: left;">This was an awesome book to kick off 2018. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Actually, I'll probably read it again in January 2019. </div><div style="text-align: left;">An easy and powerful approach to goal setting for the New Year.</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br></div><div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eGtnb_kDbY0/XCZQVQuryWI/AAAAAAAABy0/dj-HxKtODd8dnSuFTulnQvqyFvG2GCQnACLcBGAs/s1600/71DfTJ-70fL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eGtnb_kDbY0/XCZQVQuryWI/AAAAAAAABy0/dj-HxKtODd8dnSuFTulnQvqyFvG2GCQnACLcBGAs/s320/71DfTJ-70fL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="207" /></a><b><br></b>
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<b><br></b><b>Free Of Me</b>
</div><b>By Sharon Hodde Miller</b><br><br>This was a book I received for review.<br>You can read my review <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2018/02/book-review-free-of-me-by-sharon-hodde.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--HMMrt27HDE/XCZQTqZfqfI/AAAAAAAAByY/UwJOcN205x0vQDJdsa84GEkHM8OZE4j8wCLcBGAs/s1600/41hM%252BLf2pLL._SX311_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--HMMrt27HDE/XCZQTqZfqfI/AAAAAAAAByY/UwJOcN205x0vQDJdsa84GEkHM8OZE4j8wCLcBGAs/s320/41hM%252BLf2pLL._SX311_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="200" /></a><br><b><br></b><b><br></b><b>The War Of Art</b><br><b>By Steven Pressfield</b><br><br>If you're going to achieve anything creative, you'll need to overcome Resistance.<br>Pressfield's classic is a powerful and practical book on conquering the things that hold you back, and helping you to achieve your dreams.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VkGLXzNbDAk/XCZQWf2Rc9I/AAAAAAAABzE/ioE9-QWEwpoUlYqzkP2uFO6B3kqQP8RuACLcBGAs/s1600/91jj%252BOWbC1L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VkGLXzNbDAk/XCZQWf2Rc9I/AAAAAAAABzE/ioE9-QWEwpoUlYqzkP2uFO6B3kqQP8RuACLcBGAs/s320/91jj%252BOWbC1L.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="208" /></a><br><b><br></b><b><br></b><b>I Am Malala</b><br><b>By Malala Yousafzai</b><br><br>A Christmas gift from my sister-in-law, Kristi. I'd wanted to read this book for a while, and it was fantastic. It gave so much more insight to a story we all think we know. A moving and challenging book that will leave you inspired.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YDP0J0xyFdY/XCZQTsSPr9I/AAAAAAAAByc/QfMrKwVrDDwMb5j3bR4sSuxvic9BK0sCwCLcBGAs/s1600/515ta228TrL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YDP0J0xyFdY/XCZQTsSPr9I/AAAAAAAAByc/QfMrKwVrDDwMb5j3bR4sSuxvic9BK0sCwCLcBGAs/s320/515ta228TrL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="206" /></a><br><br><b>The Hiding Place</b><br><b>By Corrie ten Boom</b><br><br>I'd seen lots of quotes by Corrie ten Boom floating around the internet, but it wasn't til I watched an episode of <a href="https://seehearlove.com/" target="_blank">See, Hear, Love</a> that I was inspired to pick up this book. When a table full of women are calling it one of the most influential books they've ever read, you want to pay attention.<br><br>I devoured this book. The true story of a Christian family that literally hid Jews in their house during WWII. I can't recommend this book enough! Difficult and fascinating and surprisingly inspiring!<br><br><br><br><br><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JCizMW4nEXQ/XCZQTogK2wI/AAAAAAAAByg/-w-Q0nqe9fMW9dbR29sUmsiQHFwA9JuvgCLcBGAs/s1600/51ELxlhSDbL._SX322_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JCizMW4nEXQ/XCZQTogK2wI/AAAAAAAAByg/-w-Q0nqe9fMW9dbR29sUmsiQHFwA9JuvgCLcBGAs/s320/51ELxlhSDbL._SX322_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="207" /></a><br><b><br></b><b><br></b><b><br></b><b>Paul: Apostle of Christ</b><br><b>By Angela Hunt</b><br><br>This was a novelization of the movie by the same name.<br><br>I reviewed the movie <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2018/03/movie-review-paul-apostle-of-christ.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> and the book <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2018/04/book-review-paul-apostle-of-christ-by.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_M9BOTvK-BY/XCZQR65yFHI/AAAAAAAAByE/-4Y7WUhMfgQP6va1t6Br2HvSBSBpN_KgQCLcBGAs/s1600/41AhTx7iYUL._SX311_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_M9BOTvK-BY/XCZQR65yFHI/AAAAAAAAByE/-4Y7WUhMfgQP6va1t6Br2HvSBSBpN_KgQCLcBGAs/s320/41AhTx7iYUL._SX311_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="200" /></a><br><b><br></b><b><br></b><b>Do The Work</b><br><b>By Steven Pressfield</b><br><br>The follow up to The War Of Art. You'll notice several of Pressfield's books on this list. I can't recommend him enough!<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Z_sa5ibBn4/XCZQW8-DmSI/AAAAAAAABzQ/vNmmYo60KSwm3VkVI2gRr6E98HYAuNXHQCLcBGAs/s1600/9780800735036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Z_sa5ibBn4/XCZQW8-DmSI/AAAAAAAABzQ/vNmmYo60KSwm3VkVI2gRr6E98HYAuNXHQCLcBGAs/s320/9780800735036.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="207" /></a><br><br><b>I Will Not Fear</b><br><b>By Melba Pattillo Beals</b><br><br>Written by one of the Little Rock Nine.<br><br>I reviewed this book <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2018/04/book-review-i-will-not-fear-by-melba.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h7L2QZEo_ws/XCZQSxrRjKI/AAAAAAAAByQ/icGqCCQGxGozK3-haJm9d0w0decdiYbQACLcBGAs/s1600/41bO2i4hh7L._SX340_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h7L2QZEo_ws/XCZQSxrRjKI/AAAAAAAAByQ/icGqCCQGxGozK3-haJm9d0w0decdiYbQACLcBGAs/s320/41bO2i4hh7L._SX340_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="219" /></a><br><b><br></b><b>The Happiness Project</b><br><b>By Gretchen Rubin</b><br><br>What if you spent an entire year trying to increase your overall sense of happiness?<br><br>This was the challenge taken on by Gretchen Rubin. A fun, smart, easily devoured book that can either be simply read or practically applied.<br><br>One of the side perks for me was the chapter on spirituality that sparked my reading of Story Of A Soul...<br><br><div><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fjkB7f019rg/XCZQWJLZURI/AAAAAAAABy4/1ljyj-PT18Y1VshqUtFpE2UN_hNI8I0ZwCLcBGAs/s1600/827837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fjkB7f019rg/XCZQWJLZURI/AAAAAAAABy4/1ljyj-PT18Y1VshqUtFpE2UN_hNI8I0ZwCLcBGAs/s1600/827837.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><b><br></b><b><br></b><b><br></b><b><br></b><b>Truth & Beauty: a friendship</b><br><div><b>By Ann Patchett </b></div><div><br></div><div>Known for her fiction, Ann Patchett opens a vein and shares with us her beautiful, difficult, and passionate friendship with poet Lucy Grealy. I couldn't put this one down. My own dear friend, Martha Tatarnic (also a <a href="https://medium.com/@mtatarnic" target="_blank">writer</a>!) lent me this, and I'm forever grateful. Patchett is a glorious writer, and I've already added several of her titles to my 2019 list.<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pl6z6Ob_VoY/XCZQTyHoGvI/AAAAAAAAByk/XF2sRY4GklQU11BP54lN2WheRT2vppfxgCLcBGAs/s1600/51TqWaQ33hL._SX327_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pl6z6Ob_VoY/XCZQTyHoGvI/AAAAAAAAByk/XF2sRY4GklQU11BP54lN2WheRT2vppfxgCLcBGAs/s320/51TqWaQ33hL._SX327_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="210" /></a><b></b><br><b><b><br></b></b><b>Story of a Soul</b><br><b>By St. Therese of Lisieux</b><br><br>This is a book that kept coming to me, so I had to read it. St. Therese passionately tells the story of her short life, and her desire to live our her faith in her "Little Way". Gerald and I have had the chance to sing for the staff and students at the <a href="https://www.sttherese.ca/" target="_blank">St. Therese Institute of Faith and Mission </a>in Bruno, SK, and see the Little Way in action. This April, I'll be sharing a message on St. Therese during an <a href="https://infinitelymore.ca/calendar" target="_blank">Advent Cafe</a> preaching series, so I imagine I'll be digging back into this book over the next few months...<br><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J9-WDD0Sc64/XCZQXZ_VY-I/AAAAAAAABzU/iusu0BCpiEkQnBuP8t-LT4WvIABkivrBgCLcBGAs/s1600/Montgomery_Anne_of_Green_Gables.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J9-WDD0Sc64/XCZQXZ_VY-I/AAAAAAAABzU/iusu0BCpiEkQnBuP8t-LT4WvIABkivrBgCLcBGAs/s320/Montgomery_Anne_of_Green_Gables.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<b><br></b><b>Anne of Green Gables</b><br><b>By L.M. Montgomery</b><br><br>The one, the only, the original! I picked up this special Canada 150 edition at L.M. Montgomery's birthplace in PEI this spring. What a gorgeous story and beautiful writing! I read the books as a little girl, and re-reading as an adult was wonderful. A perfect summer book!<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qbPyCsRRJIo/XCZQXhbVnTI/AAAAAAAABzY/Ip17s4KU5pwADx_aDW0IBy-swOGD9AnZACLcBGAs/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qbPyCsRRJIo/XCZQXhbVnTI/AAAAAAAABzY/Ip17s4KU5pwADx_aDW0IBy-swOGD9AnZACLcBGAs/s320/image.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="240" /></a><br><br><b>Life Happens</b><br><b>By Stacy and Derrick Mueller</b><br><br>Written and given to me by my friend, Stacy Mueller. Stacy and her husband, Derrick, tag-teamed this short book to share their stories of abuse, brokenness, and healing. Written with bold rawness and honesty.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-li2JjXMf6fE/XCZQSY7HK6I/AAAAAAAAByU/tqUlzPxmbRss143ACs8yfNIjpaR-2R4hQCLcBGAs/s1600/41LmZ4yuqHL._SX331_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-li2JjXMf6fE/XCZQSY7HK6I/AAAAAAAAByU/tqUlzPxmbRss143ACs8yfNIjpaR-2R4hQCLcBGAs/s320/41LmZ4yuqHL._SX331_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="213" /></a><br><b><br></b><b>The Prophet</b><br><b>By Kahlil Gibran</b><br><br>Probably the 3rd time I've read this? We had the chapter "On Marriage" read at our wedding. There's always something new to discover in this classic.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sgrPT8XoQwk/XCZQWVxIW2I/AAAAAAAABy8/J--qrvd-Oz4fSJj1dWQS7uXo3IRO_SLDQCLcBGAs/s1600/9780394280134-l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sgrPT8XoQwk/XCZQWVxIW2I/AAAAAAAABy8/J--qrvd-Oz4fSJj1dWQS7uXo3IRO_SLDQCLcBGAs/s320/9780394280134-l.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="208" /></a><br><b><br></b><b>The English Patient</b><br><b>By Michael Ondaatje</b><br><br>When this was awarded the Golden Man Booker prize this summer (best novel in the past 50 years), I decided to pick it up for a re-read. Definitely the most involved book I read this year. A slow detailed read worth every minute.<br><br>My second WWII book of the year...<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_3V-_uh1wE/XCZQV8FaGnI/AAAAAAAAByw/8X0y5DPAjEwyPxVZ-SoH1VtPbzJFc7d3ACLcBGAs/s1600/8110V2WqqLL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_3V-_uh1wE/XCZQV8FaGnI/AAAAAAAAByw/8X0y5DPAjEwyPxVZ-SoH1VtPbzJFc7d3ACLcBGAs/s320/8110V2WqqLL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="202" /></a><br><b>The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society</b><br><b>By Mary Ann Shaffer and Anne Barrows</b><br><br>I picked this up (also a re-read) after the movie was announced. Still haven't seen the movie, but I devoured the book. This is probably one of my all-time favourites. The writing, characters, and storytelling are so lovely. Told in a series of letters, this is a uniquely told bit of WWII history.<br><br>And yes, that marks my third WWII book of the year! An unplanned theme, but interesting to see one period shared from three very different perspectives...<br><br><br><br><br><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BJHUTMohAKw/XCZQUpiYQYI/AAAAAAAABys/GL4Z8pMfv_s_npcamvvLBFcv5rFfMTYiACLcBGAs/s1600/51gxW8uQEKL._SX331_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BJHUTMohAKw/XCZQUpiYQYI/AAAAAAAABys/GL4Z8pMfv_s_npcamvvLBFcv5rFfMTYiACLcBGAs/s320/51gxW8uQEKL._SX331_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="213" /></a><br><br><b>Every Hallelujah</b><br><b>By Sue C. Smith</b><br><br>Written by my mentor and (I hope I can say) my friend, Sue C. Smith. This is a great book for Christian songwriters, calling on inspiration from the Book of Psalms. This book is personal, inspiring, and incredibly practical.<br><br>Sue runs an amazing songwriting conference called <a href="http://www.writeaboutjesus.com/" target="_blank">Write About Jesus</a> and is also Gerald's cowriter on our radio single, <a href="https://youtu.be/EB9cqMnnkzg" target="_blank">My Soul Is Spoken For</a>.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WA1dNvESQD8/XCZQUS6T4II/AAAAAAAAByo/rVy4XJm8Hq4mh3UptnRyEF0qmbq7oZeCwCLcBGAs/s1600/51e0rpC4oML._SX331_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WA1dNvESQD8/XCZQUS6T4II/AAAAAAAAByo/rVy4XJm8Hq4mh3UptnRyEF0qmbq7oZeCwCLcBGAs/s320/51e0rpC4oML._SX331_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="213" /></a><br><br><b>7 Essential Habits of Christian Writers</b><br><b>By InScribe Christian Writers Fellowship</b><br><br>It was interesting to read two books on Christian writing back-to-back. Unlike Sue's book with her singular, personal perspective, this book is a collection of essays, stories, and poems by the writers of the InScribe Christian Writers Fellowship. The pieces were widely varied on themes and approach, but all aimed to provide inspiration, encouragement, and practical support.<br><br>Our talented friend, <a href="https://sallymeadows.com/store" target="_blank">Sally Meadows</a>, is one of the contributors!<br><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DWgWwJWcAkc/XCZQW07iTSI/AAAAAAAABzM/45kypiAqf7w8x4TLNNKmmHJiRPBBVtB4wCLcBGAs/s1600/Johnathan_Livingston_Seagull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DWgWwJWcAkc/XCZQW07iTSI/AAAAAAAABzM/45kypiAqf7w8x4TLNNKmmHJiRPBBVtB4wCLcBGAs/s320/Johnathan_Livingston_Seagull.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="187" /></a></div>
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s9ifpYVLOFQ/XCZQSUKXtOI/AAAAAAAAByM/RAVS4Biu8xMJ2MqDA0aUs4pEhyrrwifDwCLcBGAs/s1600/41ItuKMnaKL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s9ifpYVLOFQ/XCZQSUKXtOI/AAAAAAAAByM/RAVS4Biu8xMJ2MqDA0aUs4pEhyrrwifDwCLcBGAs/s320/41ItuKMnaKL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="199" /></a><br><br><b>Jonathan Livingston Seagull</b><br><b>By Richard Bach</b><br><br>I read this for very practical reasons - I needed a short book on my iPad that I could quickly read on tour. Again, I've probably read this book about three times, but there's always something interesting and inspiring to be found within its sparse pages.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><b>The Artist's Journey</b><br><b>By Steven Pressfield</b><br><br>His latest and my third for the year! This books encourages the artist to step back and take a wide-angle view of your creative life. As always, inspiring and must-read for anyone on the artistic path.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w_CIlK5oCwo/XCZQR4SbImI/AAAAAAAAByA/ZQcZYl9dhmQWnpfjfOOezb9p_T_XvK6gACLcBGAs/s1600/0801072921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w_CIlK5oCwo/XCZQR4SbImI/AAAAAAAAByA/ZQcZYl9dhmQWnpfjfOOezb9p_T_XvK6gACLcBGAs/s320/0801072921.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="228" /></a><br><br><b>I'd Rather Be Reading</b><br><b>By Anne Bogel</b><br><br>I read this book for review which you can read <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2018/12/book-review-id-rather-be-reading-by.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br><br>Probably one of my favourite review books ever! I would have grabbed this from a bookstore any day. A love letter to books and "the reading life."<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MRyabuVSLo8/XCZQR4ul8EI/AAAAAAAAByI/w0wcvmUPuCkFJpzaL2hiWJ_IdhMDcNNwwCLcBGAs/s1600/1524763136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MRyabuVSLo8/XCZQR4ul8EI/AAAAAAAAByI/w0wcvmUPuCkFJpzaL2hiWJ_IdhMDcNNwwCLcBGAs/s320/1524763136.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="210" /></a><br><br><b><br></b><b>Becoming</b><br><b>By Michelle Obama</b><br><br>I've always been a fan, but my admiration for Michelle grew through reading her inspiring story. Her writing is beautiful and engaging, and her transparency is startling. It's a book about family, values, finding your path, and lifting others up.<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nYmoQhVjMK8/XCZQW-JxkCI/AAAAAAAABzI/D5WUBkuV5PUTXwfY-gSnJmuXYymAwrs6wCLcBGAs/s1600/9781407143644_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nYmoQhVjMK8/XCZQW-JxkCI/AAAAAAAABzI/D5WUBkuV5PUTXwfY-gSnJmuXYymAwrs6wCLcBGAs/s320/9781407143644_1.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="209" /></a><br><br><b>A Christmas Carol</b><br><b>By Charles Dickens</b><br><br>Tis the season! I've seen lots of movie adaptations, but I don't know that I'd ever read the book? After sharing that I'd be reading it during Christmas week, my Dad also decided to pick up a copy. Even if you think you know the story, Dickens is such an engaging writer that it's well worth making an eggnog latte and spending an evening with this classic.<br><br><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k6Wgx-Yx8aQ/XCZQWV87rzI/AAAAAAAABzA/RNahPb6B6P0OGx-dARoIf_64G0B-sM_QQCLcBGAs/s1600/9780394800790.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k6Wgx-Yx8aQ/XCZQWV87rzI/AAAAAAAABzA/RNahPb6B6P0OGx-dARoIf_64G0B-sM_QQCLcBGAs/s320/9780394800790.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="235" /></a></div>
<br><br><b>How The Grinch Stole Christmas!</b><br><b>By Dr. Suess</b><br><br>Okay, not a full novel, I know! I found myself at 23 books for the year with only a few days to go. I thought I'd cut myself a break and read one well-written, substantial seasonal story to round out my 24.<br><br>And what a perfect choice! Writing, characters, story, voice - brilliant in every aspect.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">So those are my 24 Books for 2018!</span></b></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">Please share your thoughts, or your book suggestions, in the comments below...</div>
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</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/55660232018-12-22T15:47:00-05:002018-12-22T16:45:22-05:00Book Review: I'd Rather Be Reading, by Anne Bogel<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cS8RJl0oYKo/XB6fk3GtIKI/AAAAAAAABxw/RnKhCTGM_EkI-smBdzTsDzSYTR3CgEwewCLcBGAs/s1600/IdRatherBeReadingBogel_3Dalt_web.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cS8RJl0oYKo/XB6fk3GtIKI/AAAAAAAABxw/RnKhCTGM_EkI-smBdzTsDzSYTR3CgEwewCLcBGAs/s400/IdRatherBeReadingBogel_3Dalt_web.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="400" width="308" /></a><b><span style="font-size: large;"></span></b><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I'd Rather Be Reading </b></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><b>- The Delights And Dilemmas </b></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Of The Reading Life</b></span></b></div><br><br><div style="text-align: center;">With a title like this, how could I resist?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><br>As soon as I saw<b> I'd Rather Be Reading</b> on the review list, I ordered my copy. I've been dipping my toe into the e-book world over the last few years, but something told me that this one would be best read in hardcopy, and it was definitely the right call.<br><br>This sweet collection of essays is written by a reader, for readers. If you love books, reading, bookstores, libraries, book clubs, book shelves and all aspects of literary life, this wee tome is for you.<br><br>I wasn't familiar with Anne Bogel's work before this, but I'm curious to look into her blog, podcast, and other writings.<br><br>It can be quickly read in one sitting, or devoured over a few days in bite-sized portions.<br><br>I started it last week, but finally finished it by sitting up late this week, reading well past midnight by the light of the Christmas tree. Somehow, I felt Anne might approve...<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">If you love books, you'll love <b>I'd Rather Be Reading</b>. I might even recommend buying several copies - one for yourself, and ones to give your other reading friends. </div><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-34YoBiVFdvM/XB6fhDB54EI/AAAAAAAABxs/DTFQXwD2NEEdNOhc6QuiSzTfcBfXOqGcgCLcBGAs/s1600/book%252Bquote.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-34YoBiVFdvM/XB6fhDB54EI/AAAAAAAABxs/DTFQXwD2NEEdNOhc6QuiSzTfcBfXOqGcgCLcBGAs/s640/book%252Bquote.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="640" width="640" /></a></div><br><br><br><br><i style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">I received this book to review from the <a href="http://nutsaboutbooks.ca/how-it-works/" style="color: #699dcd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Nuts About Books Blogger Program</a> and Graf-Martin Communications Inc. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.</span></i>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/55183582018-11-17T15:57:00-05:002018-11-17T20:00:34-05:00Book Review: It's Okay Not To Be Okay, by Sheila Walsh<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HvLQNc9vbsw/W-8SbpfPcRI/AAAAAAAABxY/pnRQ5OrIfycAlPFeWRIB4D4BJ-Mqkf3aACLcBGAs/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HvLQNc9vbsw/W-8SbpfPcRI/AAAAAAAABxY/pnRQ5OrIfycAlPFeWRIB4D4BJ-Mqkf3aACLcBGAs/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></a>Two <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.com/2018/11/book-review-battle-ready-by-kelly.html" target="_blank">book reviews</a> in one week!<br>Looks like my New Year's goal to read 2 books a month is paying off...<br><br>Today, we're looking at<b> It's Okay Not To Be Okay,</b> by acclaimed speaker, musician, and author, Sheila Walsh.<br><br><i>"It's easy to fall; it takes courage to rise up and take the next step."</i><br><br>This quote from Sheila's dedication really sets up the heart of this book: taking the next step. We all fall in life, and pretending we won't doesn't fix things; it actually makes them worse. You can't fake yourself well.<br><br>Sheila calls for an honest, open-hearted pouring out before God. Only then, can we begin to find healing. And the goal is never to depend on ourselves alone.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">This is a process that is God-based, God-centred, and God-filled. </div><br>What I really loved about this book is Sheila's compassionate, authentic voice. While sharing wisdom, she's also sharing her story and her heart. At one point I actually thought, <i>"Yes, I'd love to hang out with this woman!"</i> Her humour and transparency help guide you through a challenging but ultimately uplifting journey.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">This is a practical and inspirational book, but it's also an intimate journey of the heart. </div><br>Many years ago, I experienced a long and difficult journey with grief that left me "not okay" for a long time. I think this would have been a great book for me to have read during that time.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">Right now, I know there are woman going through a similar time of "not okay." </div><div style="text-align: center;">I pray this book will find them now...</div><br><br><br><i style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">I received this book to review from the <a href="http://nutsaboutbooks.ca/how-it-works/" style="color: #699dcd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Nuts About Books Blogger Program</a> and Graf-Martin Communications Inc. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.</span></i>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/55154952018-11-15T17:23:00-05:002018-11-15T17:45:37-05:00Book Review: Battle Ready, by Kelly Balarie<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sjC70mQZt40/W-3r-cLPhtI/AAAAAAAABxM/4wCpZNbiB6Ma_76PcJ8M89Pfq_nWkV7hQCLcBGAs/s1600/71IzwZRlQwL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sjC70mQZt40/W-3r-cLPhtI/AAAAAAAABxM/4wCpZNbiB6Ma_76PcJ8M89Pfq_nWkV7hQCLcBGAs/s320/71IzwZRlQwL.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="207" /></a>It's been a while since I've reviewed a book!<br><br><b>Battle Ready: Train Your Mind to Conquer Challenges, Defeat Doubt, and Live Victoriously</b> starts with a bold intention, to <i>"...train our minds to conquer uncertainty, beat insecurity, and step past the tragedies of yesterday."</i><br><br>This book isn't meant for speed reading. It's actually a beautifully laid out, 12-step plan to literally change the way you think and approach the world. Kelly's writing is steeped in Scripture, so you never doubt her source or her focus.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">I have to say:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>I love a book with a beautiful table of contents! </b></div><div style="text-align: center;">There's something about great chapter names </div><div style="text-align: center;">that gets me excited to read on... </div><br>Kelly lays out her plan using her table of contents, step by step and topic by topic. "Possibility," "Identity," and "Sensitivity" are just your starting points. Make sure you take a few moments to read these pages and prepare your heart for what's to come. And as you work your way through the book, this table of contents can serve as a reference for quick reminders and recaps of lessons learned.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">And I love how at the end of your journey,</div><div style="text-align: center;">after starting with "Possibility," </div><div style="text-align: center;">your final step is "Impossibility."</div><br>Each chapter takes you through the topic, giving you a greater understanding of how to change your negative thinking into a positive, Scripture-strenghtened mindset. You'll be supported in your journey by themed prayers, application questions, and even special activities for group study. Online, you can access videos and other free downloadable resources.<br><br>Kelly delivers heavy material in a light and accessible way. Recognizing the weight of the work, she actually gives you several "Intermissions", so you can take a moment to breathe and rest. Like a "selah" in the Psalms.<br><br>One quick caveat: this is definitely a book written for a female audience. Although I appreciate the desire for a focused audience, I really feel the material could be applicable for anyone. In some ways, I wish the book had been written in a gender-neutral style.<br><br>That said, Battle Ready is an inspiring book that, when properly digested, could be a powerful force for change in your life.<br><br><br><br><i style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">I received this book to review from the <a href="http://nutsaboutbooks.ca/how-it-works/" style="color: #699dcd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Nuts About Books Blogger Program</a> and Graf-Martin Communications Inc. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.</span></i><br><br><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/53476712018-07-15T18:10:00-04:002018-07-15T23:01:15-04:00WORLD PREMIERE of our NEW RADIO SINGLE!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Monday, we're releasing our new radio single: </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">MY SOUL IS SPOKEN FOR</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B5qIRJ0TrQE/W0u918xtrzI/AAAAAAAABxA/gGRnZnkoo2Mc2rxFbjGgaH_hKCObH_omgCLcBGAs/s1600/MY%2BSOUL%2BFB%2BCOVER.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B5qIRJ0TrQE/W0u918xtrzI/AAAAAAAABxA/gGRnZnkoo2Mc2rxFbjGgaH_hKCObH_omgCLcBGAs/s640/MY%2BSOUL%2BFB%2BCOVER.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="241" width="640" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We're so excited about this song!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gerald cowrote this soulful tune with GRAMMY Nominee, Sue C. Smith, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and the track has a fantastic guest performance by Juno Nominee, Drew Brown.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">For the official release, we're excited to partner with our friends at</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Joy 1250</b> in Toronto for a <b>New Music Monday!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The world broadcast premiere will happen on </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Drive with James Kurtis.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tune in at 3:00pm EST to hear <b>Behind The Music</b> - </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">featuring our new album, The Beauty Of The One, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and the stories behind our latest songs.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then, catch the single one more time during your afternoon drive </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">on <b>The Rush with Davina Japaul</b>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Joy 1250 is also featuring three <b>CD Giveaways! </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Listen for your chance to call in and win a FREE copy of </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Beauty Of The one.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Broadcasting in Southern Ontario at 1250 on your radio dial, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">or listen online at <a href="http://joyradio.fm/">JoyRadio.fm</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We're releasing worldwide, so please call or email </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">your local Christian radio station and request </span></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>My Soul Is Spoken For</b> by</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Infinitely More!</span>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>My Soul Is Spoken For</b> is available for purchase or download at</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Store">www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Store</a> </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">or<b> <a href="http://www.itunes.com/infinitelymore" target="_blank">iTunes</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You can hear a preview of the song <a href="https://infinitelymore.ca/track/1424486/my-soul-is-spoken-for-feat-drew-brown" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you're a radio station and would like to play </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>My Soul Is Spoken For</b>, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">please<b> <a href="https://infinitelymore.ca/contact" target="_blank">CONTACT</a> </b>us for the official download link.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you for supporting our new music!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/53375142018-07-09T13:16:00-04:002018-07-09T13:45:33-04:00Happy Summer! Time To Make Your New Year's Resolutions... <style type="text/css">p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px} span.s1 {letter-spacing: 0.0px} </style> <br><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy July! We’re six months into 2018…</span></span></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div><div class="p2" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span></span></b></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Have you broken your New Year’s resolutions yet?</span></b></span></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3Dnj4CO5NZE/W0OUhOP_STI/AAAAAAAABwk/BQjNn-K133Ak_A92FLQHEoD3veYInxBqQCLcBGAs/s1600/f3d569_9fe98eec58bb446c808a836e53098b53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3Dnj4CO5NZE/W0OUhOP_STI/AAAAAAAABwk/BQjNn-K133Ak_A92FLQHEoD3veYInxBqQCLcBGAs/s400/f3d569_9fe98eec58bb446c808a836e53098b53.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="301" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></b></span></div><div class="p2" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I can hear the collective guffaw. Maybe you lasted 'til just after the ball dropped? Or perhaps you were strong enough to make it to breakfast. After all, how can you give up sweets when your house is still filled with holiday baking?</span></span></div><div class="p2"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">So many of us start the year with great expectations, only to have them fall by the wayside before we’ve even taken down our Christmas tree.</span></span></div><div class="p2"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">So let me lay this out there: </span></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Why do we only make "New Year’s" resolutions?</span></b></span></div><div class="p2"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, I get the power of making a fresh start at the top of the year, but as we all know, this doesn’t guarantee success.</span></span></div><div class="p2"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br></span></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: x-large;">What if, instead, we made </span></span></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>New Year’s</b> resolutions<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>in the <b>summer</b>?</span></span></div><div class="p2"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br></span></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Here are 3 reasons why I think we should all start </span></span></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">our New Year’s resolutions in the middle of the year:</span></span></div><div class="p2"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br></span></div><div class="p2"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br></span></b></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: large;">#1. No Holiday Craziness.</span></b></span></div><div class="p2"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The holidays are awesome, but let’s be honest: they can be wild! Weeks of parties, shopping, activities, visitors, entertaining, and overeating. Those of us who work in entertainment, ministry, or retail work double time. And then there are days off and vacations and all kinds of other things that knock our standard routines out of whack.</span></span></div><div class="p2"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Right now, you’ve got a good sense of your 2018 routine. You’ll probably have some change over the summer, but you should still have a good sense your flow. This is a great time to evaluate what’s working and what’s not.</span></span></div><div class="p2"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br></span></div><div class="p2"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br></span></b></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: large;">#2. Six is Easier than Twelve</span></b></span></div><div class="p2"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The idea of creating a 12-month plan is intimidating to most people, so why do we insist on doing it? Tony Robbins famously said that most people will <i>“overestimate what they can accomplish in a year.”</i> Overestimating can leave you feeling discouraged and can shut down your energy.</span></span></div><div class="p2"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Instead, just look at the next six months. Even better, break it down into two 3-month periods or three 2-month periods. What are the things that are important in this upcoming season? How can you make goals and resolutions to enhance and support these projects? What is a reasonable change you can implement in this time?</span></span></div><div class="p2"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br></span></div><div class="p2"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br></span></div><div class="p1">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6djKZMLtM90/W0OUtO0h2PI/AAAAAAAABwo/-D_bt0KXswIb8FGeApJ_VTeSEJ0_rTmrwCLcBGAs/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6djKZMLtM90/W0OUtO0h2PI/AAAAAAAABwo/-D_bt0KXswIb8FGeApJ_VTeSEJ0_rTmrwCLcBGAs/s400/download.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="265" width="400" /></span></a><span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: large;">#3. No One is Talking About Goals Right Now</span></b></span>
</div><div class="p2"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">What are we all asking on January 1? <i>“What are your resolutions?”</i> and <i>“Have you broken your resolutions yet?” </i>That's fun fodder for jokes, but let’s be honest - they’re not great questions for serious goal setting.</span></span></div><div class="p2"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">This is the perfect time to set your goals in quiet. Derek Sivers actually suggests that keeping your goals to yourself will increase your change of success (<i>See his fantastic TED Talk <a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_keep_your_goals_to_yourself" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</i>) Sketch out your ideas and write out a plan (<i>studies also show that writing down your goals gives you a greater chance of success.</i>) Start implementing your changes in private, away from the jokes and discouragement of well-meaning friends. Once you get a few steps made, share your plans with supportive friends and family members who can help you in your success journey.</span></span></div><div class="p2" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></b></div><div class="p2" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></b></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: large;">*BONUS REASON* </span></b></span></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">The World is Reborn</span></b></span></div><div class="p2"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">January 1st has the power of a new year, and we love harnessing that energy for change. But as we’ve seen, that date alone doesn’t always have the power to help us keep our goals. After the rush of champagne and confetti, it’s still the dead of winter.</span></span></div><div class="p2"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Spring and summer is a true time of rebirth. Every day, there are new plants sprouting and blooming. Animals are having babies and teaching them how to thrive. The world is literally birthing and growing all around us.</span></span></div><div class="p2"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">What an amazing time to grow ourselves!</span></span></div><div class="p2"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br></span></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: large;">This month, I encourage you to start a New Year. </span></b></span></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Create some goals and start some positive changes. </span></span></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Write them down and share them selectively. </span></span></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Take it one step at a time and celebrate your success.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div><div class="p2" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"></span><br></span></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Now is the time to make 2018 the year you’ve always wanted it to be!</span></span></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yM59PdJbpUw/W0OVP1wa6LI/AAAAAAAABw0/jCOiMrGNduYj9jRHSUdpgh5mKtucSShfgCLcBGAs/s1600/Good-Time-To-begin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yM59PdJbpUw/W0OVP1wa6LI/AAAAAAAABw0/jCOiMrGNduYj9jRHSUdpgh5mKtucSShfgCLcBGAs/s640/Good-Time-To-begin.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/52104542018-04-30T15:29:00-04:002018-04-30T19:30:26-04:00Book Review: I Will Not Fear. By Melba Pattillo Beals<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bsni1lh00OQ/WudmNQyktYI/AAAAAAAABwI/5lCgrTGORtYMYotz-TKoxvok3ftcwmX-QCLcBGAs/s1600/9780800729431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bsni1lh00OQ/WudmNQyktYI/AAAAAAAABwI/5lCgrTGORtYMYotz-TKoxvok3ftcwmX-QCLcBGAs/s400/9780800729431.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="400" width="258" /></a><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">"You're not doing this for yourself. </span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">You are doing this for generations yet unborn."</span></b></i></div><br>These words of encouragement, spoken directly to Melba Beals by Dr. Martin Luther King, became her mantra, her guiding light for the challenges yet to come.<br><br>In 1957, Melba was a young African American student, craving a better education. She bravely volunteered to be one of the Little Rock Nine - a small group of African American students chosen to integrate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.<br><br>On the first day of school, the children were met by a mob fuelled by hatred and racism. Over the next few days, the eyes of the nation turned to Little Rock, and to the Little Rock Nine.<br><br>The Little Rock integration brought Melba's face into the limelight, but this is just one chapter in this courageous woman's extraordinary journey. <b>I Will Not Fear</b> chronicles her life of challenges and the faith that carried her through it all. She bravely shares her stories of racism - not just the prejudice shown to her, but her own struggles in overcoming her fear of white people.<br><br>Despite her rough years in high school, Melba was a passionate learner and earned several degrees. She built a career as an NBC television news reporter, a magazine writer, and a professor. As she narrates the story of her life, she is open and honest about her deep faith in God. Every chapter ends with a prayer or Scripture verse for inspiration. She shares the challenge of finding and trusting God, even in her darkest moments.<br><br>My one critique of<b> I Will Not Fear</b> is that it's actually too short! Melba has led a truly inspiring life, and it felt like many of the stories were told too quickly. I know she's written another memoir on her high school years <i>(which I'm hoping to read next)</i>, but her adult life is also amazing. I wish she had spent more time telling these stories, and sharing those extraordinary experiences with each of us.<br><br>I loved reading Melba's story and hearing her heart for God. I'm so moved by her courage, and I love that she has shared her faith in such an intelligent and heartfelt way.<br><br>I wish we could say that the civil rights struggle was simply a chapter in history books, but every day, the news tells us otherwise. Our current North American society still struggles with racism and the ugly rise of white supremacy.<br><br>More than ever, we need to hear stories like Melba's. We need to hear about the battles that have been fought if we're ever to understand the weight of the challenges ahead. And we need leaders who are willing to be honest about their faith, and the power it has in creating social change.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">As Melba's beloved Grandmother would say, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">God is always present with us, even "as close as your skin."</span></div><br><br><br><i style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">I received this book to review from the <a href="http://nutsaboutbooks.ca/how-it-works/" style="color: #699dcd; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Nuts About Books Blogger Program</a> and Graf-Martin Communications Inc. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.</span></i><br><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/51647552018-04-04T15:51:00-04:002018-04-04T20:00:50-04:00Book Review: Paul: Apostle of Christ, by Angela Hunt<div style="text-align: center;"><b>A few weeks ago, I shared my review of the film, </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2018/03/movie-review-paul-apostle-of-christ.html" target="_blank">Paul: Apostle of Christ</a>. </span></b></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_hVM11uId54/WsUkFcyDM1I/AAAAAAAABvw/NCw9e_u40_IQFTWabmoVqKvIV79f9cKWACLcBGAs/s1600/51ELxlhSDbL._SX322_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_hVM11uId54/WsUkFcyDM1I/AAAAAAAABvw/NCw9e_u40_IQFTWabmoVqKvIV79f9cKWACLcBGAs/s400/51ELxlhSDbL._SX322_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="400" width="258" /></a></div><br>To coincide with the release of the movie, Andrew Hyatt's screenplay has been transformed into a novel by writer, Angela Hunt.<br><br>In full disclosure, I have to admit that I've never read a novelization of a screenplay. I've read lots of novels that have been made into films, but never the other way around.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I couldn't help but wonder what it might be like to read a </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>novel</b> based on a <b>film</b> based on <b>Scripture</b>? </span></div><br>As I started reading the novel, the first difference that struck me was Paul's prison cell. In the movie, it's a dark subterranean room, entered by a narrow staircase, and punctuated by shafts of light from above.<br><br>In the novel, the full scope of Paul's desperate situation becomes clear to us. His cell isn't a room, but hole in the ground. Instead of stairs, the only point of entry is a rope, which is raised and lowered only at the will of his guards. We're given vivid descriptions of the darkness, dankness, and sheer torture the room provides.<br><br>As with any novel, Hunt is able to investigate the details of the world in ways that film can't do. For example, we learn more about Nero, Rome, and the political tensions of the day.<br><br>At the end of the novel, Hunt provides an "interview" with some interesting behind-the-scenes info, including some of the research she poured into the book. As with any artistic interpretation of Scripture, the novel has some stretches of imagination. Hunt also addresses these in her interview, sharing her reasoning behind these choices.<br><br>I think, ultimately, there's a real value in creating novelized or filmic versions of Bible stories. Sometimes, we can get so lost in the familiar words that we forget the humanity of the stories. We can lose sight that, just like us, these people had to cook dinner, make a living, care for family, and maybe even have a laugh at the end of the day. Translating these stories through art helps to make these details vivid and real. We are able to see God working in the every day, calling ordinary people to extraordinary things.<br><br>It's hard to know whether I'd recommend the film over the novel or visa-versa? I think the advantage of having both is that it makes the story available to so many people. You can approach this story in the vividness and immediacy of a film, or you can curl up with the book and spend hours chewing over every detail.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Both versions remind us that, for all of his legendary reputation, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Paul was still simply a human being, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">which makes his ministry all the more amazing. </span></div><br><div style="text-align: center;">As the tagline for the novel reminds us, <b>"His story will change the world..." </b>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"Book has been provided courtesy of </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/51438562018-03-23T09:00:00-04:002018-03-23T10:00:54-04:00Movie Review: Paul, Apostle Of Christ<div style="text-align: center;"><b>There's a new tradition in Hollywood - the annual onslaught of Easter Christian movies!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's brought mixed results artistically speaking, but as a person of faith, it's great to see movie studios recognizing the market potential for such films. In times as divisive and disturbing as these, we need as many stories of hope as we can get.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">And that leads to a film opening this weekend: </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Paul, Apostle Of Christ</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3npn5cmsjJ8/WrRwRAY8TBI/AAAAAAAABvY/e0HaJ55j7JkbunC5Hb2iDvnT37ntR-cvQCLcBGAs/s1600/Header_PAUL_ALT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3npn5cmsjJ8/WrRwRAY8TBI/AAAAAAAABvY/e0HaJ55j7JkbunC5Hb2iDvnT37ntR-cvQCLcBGAs/s640/Header_PAUL_ALT.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="172" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><br>The story opens in dark and dangerous Rome. Nero has watched the city burn, and blames the Christians for the destruction. It's a precarious time to be a follower of Jesus. To add to the tension, Nero has arrested Paul, leader of the Christian community, and sentenced him to death. His friend, Luke the Physician, has come to Rome to help.<br><br>The film is weighted with some great and recognizable talent with James Faulkner <i>(Downton Abbey and Game Of Thrones)</i> as Paul and Jim Caviezel <i>(The Passion Of The Christ)</i> as Luke. The look of the film is beautiful, even when dark, and the locations feel visceral and grounded.<br><br>It would be easy for a story like this to fall into the trap of melodrama. And let's be honest, it's what we associate with the worst of Christian movies - the overwrought wailing and gnashing of teeth as actors in old bathrobes play out a timeworn drama.<br><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The filmmakers instead have chosen a more subtle way of telling this story - </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">through friendships. </span></div><br>There's the deep brotherhood of Paul and Luke, two men who have forged a bond through years of protecting each other and growing in faith. There's the loving couple Aquila and Priscilla, who have a shared purpose, but very different ideas on how to live it out. And then there's the unlikely connection between Paul and his captor, Mauritius.<br><br>Perhaps most interesting is the relationship between Paul, the imprisoned Christ-loving martyr, and Saul, his former Christian-killing self. Paul is haunted by his past - experienced by recurring dreams and visions - and desperately seeks the forgiveness and peace promised by Jesus.<br><br>One of my favourite themes in the film is the counter-cultural nature of the early Christians. Jesus had called them to take a path of peace and forgiveness. This is a city where Christians are openly and brutally persecuted. Any day might be their last. There is no grace or justice for followers of The Way <i>(the early name for the Christian path)</i>. As humans, their instincts tell them to respond with more violence, but as followers of Christ, they're called to turn the other cheek and love their neighbour. As Paul is in prison and life for the followers gets more dangerous, we see this struggle playing out and threatening to divide the group.<br><br>I can't think of a more pertinent theme for this day and age. As Christians in North America, we are constantly being drawn into the public debate. Are we seen as counter-cultural, or just another group with our screaming, signs, and slogans?<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">And so the question remains for us today: </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">As we gather in the public square - be it real or online - </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">will we meet violence with violence or will we respond with forgiveness and grace? </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Will they know we are Christians by our love?</span></b></div><br>If anything, I think this theme could have been explored even further and more explicitly in the firm. It's really a debate we need to be having in our churches and faith communities.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">When I watch an overtly Christian film, I always ask myself two questions: </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">How will Christians respond? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">How will non-Christians respond? </span></div><br>I don't know how much this would resonate with a non-Christian? The film lacks obvious tension and drama; it's really more of a character piece. I feel like you need to have some sense of the story to really understand the weight of what's happening.<br><br>However, I think a person who knows the story will be deeply moved by the portrayal of Paul and his journey. Paul was subject to years of pain and suffering for his faith, yet his responses are always generous, patient, and loving.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">If that's not an Easter challenge, I don't know what is...</span></div><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LyOqQZUDdO4" width="560"></iframe></div><br><div style="text-align: center;">There is also a novelization of the film, written by Angela Hunt.<br>I'll be reviewing this in a few weeks. Stay tuned!<br><br><br>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"Film has been provided courtesy of Sony Entertainment Releasing Canada (Affirm Films) and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc." </i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/50740172018-02-11T13:58:00-05:002018-03-26T04:48:42-04:00Book Review: Free Of Me by Sharon Hodde Miller<div style="text-align: center;">Kicking off the first post of 2018 with a book review!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This year, I've added two things to my Goals List:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>#1. READ MORE!</b> </div><div style="text-align: center;">I was shocked at how few books I read last year! In 2018, my goal will be to read two books a month. I won't review them all, but I'll do my best to share some of my favourites with you.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>#2. WRITE MORE!</b> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Just like with the reading, I let my writing fall by the wayside last year. Yes, it had a lot to do with the massive undertaking of recording a <a href="https://www.infinitelymore.ca/new-cd" target="_blank">New CD</a>, but there are always excuses not to write. My goal this year: one solo writing date each week. Generally in a cafe, and always with a big mug of foamy caffeine!</div><br><br><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0POZiWra2kY/WoCP25CC3AI/AAAAAAAABuo/v2VWRmbwYcceu6-XSNCMHMbe1GVQD6aRwCLcBGAs/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0POZiWra2kY/WoCP25CC3AI/AAAAAAAABuo/v2VWRmbwYcceu6-XSNCMHMbe1GVQD6aRwCLcBGAs/s320/images.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="206" /></a>Today's book review is <b>Free Of Me</b>, by<b> Sharon Hodde Miller</b>. The premise of this book is pretty simply laid out in the subtitle: <b>"Why Life Is Better When It's NOT ABOUT YOU."</b><br><br>Like many simple ideas, however, the living out of this mantra is a more challenging matter.<br><br>Miller breaks the concept down into two basic components. The first are all the things we try to make about us and in the image of us: God, church, our family, our friendships, to name a few. As she details each aspect, there will be things that will seem obvious - yes, we try to make our families about us - but others that will surprise you. How can we make our calling, our passions, or even our physical appearance not about us? There were definitely ideas in these chapters with which I didn't personally agree. However, I think just the process of evaluating these parts of your life in this light could be extremely valuable.<br><br>The last part of the book explores practical ways to take the focus off of ourselves. How can we turn our point of view outwards, towards God and towards others? This is a great section to take notes and mark down ideas to integrate into your personal life.<br><br>The structure of this book leans towards practical application, and maybe even group discussion. Each chapter ends with a focus Scripture verse, a prayer, and a series of personal questions. The prayers, in particular, are beautiful, and would be a great addition to your personal prayer journal.<br><br>In a selfie-obsessed world, we need a message like <b>Free Of Me. </b><br><br>One of my favourite themes that runs throughout these chapters is the idea that "_____" is created <i>for</i> us, but that doesn't mean it has to be <i>about</i> us. <div><br></div><div>Imagine how that one shift alone could change everything...<br><br><br><i style="color: #424242; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">I received this book to review from the <a href="http://nutsaboutbooks.ca/how-it-works/" style="color: #699dcd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Nuts About Books Blogger Program</a> and Graf-Martin Communications Inc. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.</span></i>
</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/49737562017-12-12T10:52:00-05:002019-12-27T01:46:09-05:00Book Review: Christmas: Stories & More, by Inscribe Christian Writers' Fellowship<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Christmas book reviews continue!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">A few days ago, I shared with you my favourite new children's book, </div><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2017/12/book-review-beneath-that-star-by-sally.html" target="_blank">Beneath That Star</a>, by Sally Meadows.</div><br><i>(Full disclosure, as revealed in my previous <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2017/12/book-review-beneath-that-star-by-sally.html" target="_blank">review</a>: Sally and I are friends, but I also promised her an honest review. Thank you for trusting me with that, Sally!)</i><br><br>Sally gave me her book when we visited her as part of our latest <a href="https://www.infinitelymore.ca/" target="_blank">Infinitely More</a> Western Canada Tour. As we chatted about our recent projects, she showed me a copy of a Christmas anthology that features two of her stories. Of course, my heart leapt when I saw a whole book filled with Christmassy things, so I asked if I might review that one as well!<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u53lBoMB69Q/WioMZSMUneI/AAAAAAAABtw/tqTffMpCrAQbXPCT_tWQ61ADp0e0yTJDACLcBGAs/s1600/ChristmasStories%2526MoreCover1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u53lBoMB69Q/WioMZSMUneI/AAAAAAAABtw/tqTffMpCrAQbXPCT_tWQ61ADp0e0yTJDACLcBGAs/s640/ChristmasStories%2526MoreCover1.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="640" width="426" /></a></div><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>I know you can't judge a book by its cover, but look at that face!! </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>How could I not be excited to read <a href="https://inscribe.org/press/christmas-anthology-2017/" target="_blank">Christmas: Stories & More</a>??? </b></div><br><a href="https://inscribe.org/" target="_blank">Inscribe Christian Writer's Fellowship (ICWF)</a> exists to "stimulate, encourage and support Christians who write, advance effective Christian writing, and promote the influence of all Christians who write." It has members from all provinces, writing at all levels and in all genres.<br><br><a href="https://inscribe.org/press/christmas-anthology-2017/" target="_blank">Christmas: Stories & More</a> features over 40 ICWF writers sharing their thoughts, memories, and dreams for the Christmas season. Because of the range of storytellers, each piece is unique in scope, subject, and voice. The "Stories" include both fiction and real life accounts, giving sweet, and sometimes bittersweet, insight into different festive moments. The "More" is what really makes this anthology special - a collection of devotions, poems, recipes, gift ideas, and even dramatized readings!<br><br>What I love most about this anthology is how it's structured and organized. This isn't a book you sit down and read in one sitting. It's a lovely collection of festive bon-bons, designed to be tasted and treasured one at a time. (<i>Of course, if you like to indulge in a whole box of bon-bons in one sitting, be my guest! I'm certainly not the one to judge... </i>)<br><br>Each piece is short enough to be read on your afternoon break, or as you take the subway, or just before bed. It would make a lovely book to include in your Advent devotions, or to read one story a day during the 12 Days of Christmas. Even the recipes include a bit of family history to give them a personal perspective.<br><br>Sometimes, it can be a challenge to get people excited about reading a book by unknown writers. Let me ask you to get excited! Not only is this a lovely book, but it's so refreshing to read stories about Christmas told by Canadian voices.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://inscribe.org/press/christmas-anthology-2017/" target="_blank">Christmas: Stories & More</a> is a charming and beautiful addition to your Christmas reading list.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>I hope it finds a spot under your tree this holiday season!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P8AorHfeUsg/WioO9LKgJDI/AAAAAAAABt0/3A6qWfGP9Q4zlVd4pGK3TGOQeYZRjzxTwCLcBGAs/s1600/inscribe-Press.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P8AorHfeUsg/WioO9LKgJDI/AAAAAAAABt0/3A6qWfGP9Q4zlVd4pGK3TGOQeYZRjzxTwCLcBGAs/s1600/inscribe-Press.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></a><br><br><div style="text-align: left;">To learn more about ICWF and Christmas: Stories & More, please visit </div><a href="https://inscribe.org/press/christmas-anthology-2017/" target="_blank">https://inscribe.org/press/christmas-anthology-2017/ </a><br><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><br><br><br><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/49679472017-12-07T22:16:00-05:002018-08-03T07:56:06-04:00Book Review: Beneath That Star, by Sally Meadows<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Today's book review combines two of my favourite things: </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Christmas and a children's picture book!</span></b></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://sallymeadows.com/store" target="_blank"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L5PeJUZQpck/WioAVwJlj0I/AAAAAAAABtU/6hztBc1n2Z8AaAyPPscpDL2VTlHgo1pcACLcBGAs/s400/beneath%2Bthat%2Bstar%2BHR.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="400" width="392" /></a></div><br>I have a long held love of children's literature. As a child, I wore out my parents' car driving back and forth to the Arts & Culture Centre Library. As an adult, I spent many years teaching music and creative arts to young children, and I loved poring over their books to help translate the stories into songs and art projects.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>I was thrilled when I received the opportunity to review <a href="https://sallymeadows.com/store" target="_blank">Beneath That Star</a>, </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>written by Sally Meadows and illustrated by Sarah E. Nickel.</b></div><br>In full disclosure, I have to confess that Sally is a good friend of mine. I offered to review her book because I believe in her talents. That said, I wouldn't have made the offer if I didn't feel I could offer an honest review!<br><br>Beneath That Star has an interesting origin story. When the idea first came to Sally, she wrote it into a song, which she recorded on her Christmas album. Sally shares, "<i>It was when I was in the studio recording my Christmas CD, <a href="https://sallymeadows.com/store" target="_blank">Red & White</a>, when the idea of expanding on the song’s story through a children’s picture book came to me.</i>"<br><br>I love this idea! In song form, the story can reach the adults who bought the CD, but in book form, we have the chance to inspire young readers with a new Christmas tale.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The heroine of our tale is Saray - a young girl living in Biblical times with her loving family. Saray has big dreams, but her family sees only her limitations. A tragic accident has left her dependent on a cane, and as a girl, her path in life is firmly set.</b></div><br>But Saray loves God and seeks his presence in her life. One night, she hears a strange voice calling to her. Was is God or a dream? Then, she sees a star in the sky and dares to follow it. What happens next changes her life forever.<br><br>Sally's attention to detail paints a engaging portrait of what happens when the divine enters the everyday. Sarah's beautiful illustrations highlight the story, and would easily allow even the non-reading child to follow along.<br><br>There are two added bonuses at the end of the book. One is a set of questions, designed to spark conversation and allow you apply the themes of the book to real life. The second is a Sally's behind-the-scenes account of creating Saray and Beneath That Star. (<i>The keen reader will also notice that she includes the inspiration behind our <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/" target="_blank">Infinitely More</a> name!</i>)<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Beneath That Star is an uplifting and inspiring story for any child (or adult) who has felt invisible to God. </b><b>I hope you'll consider sharing it with a child you love this Christmas!</b>
</div><br><br><a href="https://sallymeadows.com/store" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V6vVrXQUoBE/WioAbCiR5dI/AAAAAAAABtY/AtTkiN5UkZ4esDbDXAbhGrD7a43a0dO9wCLcBGAs/s320/P3266514.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="244" width="320" /></a><br><br><br><br><br><br>To learn more about Sally Meadows' books and music, please visit <a href="http://www.sallymeadows.com/">www.SallyMeadows.com</a><br><div><br></div><div><br></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/49154672017-11-01T15:04:00-04:002020-06-10T16:00:32-04:00Say Goodbye, Say Hello - a World Vision story...<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Five years ago, Gerald and I decided to start something new - we wanted to sponsor a child.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R2zAeHPcoe4/WfoSWW3dB8I/AAAAAAAABsc/EQucCq30SEwZuQMkoxez45DMrfpiIdh3ACLcBGAs/s1600/175154-4204.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R2zAeHPcoe4/WfoSWW3dB8I/AAAAAAAABsc/EQucCq30SEwZuQMkoxez45DMrfpiIdh3ACLcBGAs/s320/175154-4204.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="240" /></a><br>We'd fallen in love with Costa Rica on our honeymoon, so we picked a little girl from there named Keilyn. I knew most people would probably pick the cute little babies, so I decided to pick an older child. At 11 years old, Keilyn would be entering those always challenging preteen years. I thought it would be wonderful to offer her friendship and support during this phase of her life.<br><br>Keilyn came from a small family - just her and her Mom, Maria. In a way, it felt like we weren't just sponsoring a little girl, we were sponsoring a whole family.<br><br>Over the years, we exchanged letters and photos. At Christmas, I would send her a package of small gifts. Through words and images, we watched our little girl grow up.<br><br><br><br>Then, this summer, we got amazing news from World Vision. Keilyn's community no longer needed outside support! They had become fully self-sufficient. They could raise their own food, educate their children, and create their own jobs.<br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kIKmsfzQuzQ/WeBGdEZ0bII/AAAAAAAABrs/gntWdTI1P1I-ZBXy_DwZdNV2Nwn5Tj0vwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kIKmsfzQuzQ/WeBGdEZ0bII/AAAAAAAABrs/gntWdTI1P1I-ZBXy_DwZdNV2Nwn5Tj0vwCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_0887.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="240" /></a><br>Our little girl didn't need us anymore.<br><br>It was time to say goodbye.<br><br>This summer, we exchanged our final letters with Keilyn, sharing how much we'd come to mean to one another, and how we would keep praying for one another.<br><br>She told us that this year, she'll graduate from high school! I beamed when I read that. And then, I started to tear up:<br><i><br></i><i>"Because of the programs, my Mother, Maria, was able to go to school. This year, we're going to graduate from high school together."</i><br><br>We'd read all the updates about the work World Vision had done in the community, but there was something about this image that made it all seem so realistic and powerful.<br><br>A mother and daughter, accomplishing this great feat together, ready to change the world.<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>So this fall, we're starting something new: we're sponsoring a new child.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">This time, we're sponsoring Carlos, a 4-year-old boy from Columbia.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JGGl31sAQUk/WeBGag5Y7cI/AAAAAAAABro/H0orCDvvL8MMRmF2c_qpb4zwnihKSmneQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JGGl31sAQUk/WeBGag5Y7cI/AAAAAAAABro/H0orCDvvL8MMRmF2c_qpb4zwnihKSmneQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_0888.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="240" /></a>Many years ago, I was on a cruise with my parents. It was a glorious week of entertainment, midnight buffets, and exotic day trips.<br><br>On one of those day excursions, we stopped in Cartagena, Columbia. In the midst of this gorgeous day, we turned a corner to come face to face with a child soldier. He was in a line up with all the adult soldiers. He wore full military regalia, had bullets draped across his chest, and carried a gun the size of my arm. His face was like stone.<br><br>It's one thing to read about child soldiers, but to see one in the flesh was shocking. Fifteen years later and I can still see his face.<br><br>It broke my heart because I couldn't help him.<br><br><br><br><br>But we can help Carlos.<br><br>We can give one child a different chance in life.<br><br>This fall, I hope you'll consider starting something new, and sponsoring a child with us.<br><br><br>As Gerald's favourite quote confirms:<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z0WjZMfRfeQ/WfoXcj5BqyI/AAAAAAAABs0/_C5-F68fPwIU5Gkva8FcwpeF4RtWVSV2ACLcBGAs/s1600/1568437.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z0WjZMfRfeQ/WfoXcj5BqyI/AAAAAAAABs0/_C5-F68fPwIU5Gkva8FcwpeF4RtWVSV2ACLcBGAs/s400/1568437.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="400" width="355" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Want to save a life?</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Please contact us to sponsor a child today!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Contact"><span style="font-size: large;">www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Contact</span></a></b></div><br><br><br><br><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/49056222017-10-25T00:03:00-04:002018-04-26T04:51:00-04:00Book Review - Doing Busy Better, by Glynnis Whitwer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LQCEgL7xdCc/We_E3apYTBI/AAAAAAAABsE/siGfujL8C9MohF7KsEOlP_EyXa5qey8JwCLcBGAs/s1600/Doing-Busy-Better-Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LQCEgL7xdCc/We_E3apYTBI/AAAAAAAABsE/siGfujL8C9MohF7KsEOlP_EyXa5qey8JwCLcBGAs/s400/Doing-Busy-Better-Cover.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="400" width="258" /></a></div>As someone who loves to take on ambitious projects and fill my life with a plethora of activities, I jumped at the chance to review this beautiful new book, <b>Doing Busy Better - Enjoying God's Gifts of Work and Rest</b>, by <a href="http://glynniswhitwer.com/" target="_blank">Glynnis Whitwer</a>.<br><br>I should also point out that I received this book months ago! I started it some time in June. I finished it today. Why? I've been too busy to read it.<br><br>No, the irony is not lost on me...<br><br>Once I <strike>had</strike> made the time to dig into it, Doing Busy Better is an engaging and practical book about reevaluating the ways we approach busyness and relaxation.<br><br>Whitwer doesn't just want you to manage your calendar better (although there are tips for that). This is about studying and using God's model for work and rest as a guideline for healthy, balanced living.<br><br>Two chapters in particular resonated with me:<br><br><b><i>Hurry Is A Heart Condition</i></b><br><br>As I finished this book, Gerald and I are on our annual Western Canada Tour. We're driving roundtrip through five provinces over seven weeks, singing concerts, leading worship services, and logging in countless admin hours along the way. The schedule is tight! <i><span style="color: #073763;">"You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life"</span></i> has become a potentially life-changing mantra for us.<br><br><i><b>How To Be Peaceful and Productive</b></i><br><br>This should be the goal of every super-productive person. Oh, to get it all done and still feel calm at the end of the day! Whitwer writes, <i><span style="color: #073763;">"I don't want to get more done. I want to get more of the right things done."</span></i> Yes, please!<br><br>This is the kind of book I read with a pencil in hand. I can't tell you how many corners I turned down and how many notes I made in the margins. I hope to revisit my favourite ideas and find ways to make them practical in my own life.<br><br>There is so much good work to be done and so much good rest to be enjoyed. This book will help you find the value and God-connection in both.<br><br><br><br><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">I received this book to review from the <a href="http://nutsaboutbooks.ca/how-it-works/" target="_blank">Nuts About Books Blogger Program</a> and Graf-Martin Communications Inc. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.</span></i><br><br><br><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/48872292017-10-11T13:36:00-04:002017-10-11T15:45:27-04:00Our New CD - An Important Announcement...<div style="text-align: center;">Last week, we shared important news through our mailing list. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Today, we wanted to bring you all into the loop...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">As you know, we've had a very full season of <a href="https://infinitelymore.ca/new-cd" target="_blank">recording</a>, as we create a brand new album of original music. It's been a lot of work, and we're incredibly excited about sharing this new project with you.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">This August, however, we faced a difficult time in our family when Gerald's mother, </div><div style="text-align: center;">Sandy Flemming, passed away.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sandy had battled heath issues for years, but her death very sudden and unexpected. We stopped all recording for several weeks as we prepared for her funeral and spent much needed time with Gerald's Dad and our family.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Many of you heard the news on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/infinitelymoreband" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and we are so grateful for your prayers and messages of love. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Needless to say, this put us far behind on our recording. We could have rushed the process, but to be honest, what's happening in the studio has been so exciting, and we're committed to making the best recording possible for you!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">For this <a href="https://infinitelymore.ca/new-cd" target="_blank">New CD</a>, we sat down and thought, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">"Who would be our dream duets for this album?"</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We thought of four amazing Canadian artists whom we admire and love. </div><div style="text-align: center;">In a bold move, we invited each of them to sing on the project, hoping one of them might say Yes.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We can't tell you how humbled we felt when </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>ALL FOUR SAID YES!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">For this new album, we're thrilled to sing 'duets' with:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>Drew Brown - Juno nominee</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>Ali Matthews - 20 time GMA Covenant Award Winner</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>Hiram Joseph - Juno nominee</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>Kevin Pauls - 100 Huntley Street musical host</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">All four artists gave incredible performances on their songs!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Just before we left home to start our Western Canada Tour, we completed recording all the performances for the album! As we travel, our producer, Andrew Horrocks, is mixing the tracks and adding more instrumental parts. Then, he'll master the album to give it a beautiful, finished sound. While that's happening, we'll have the graphics designed. Then, the CDs will be manufactured and prepared for shipping!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">The final CDs will now be available in mid to late November.<br>We are so grateful for all of your support with this new album!<br><br>The only question left is:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><a href="https://infinitelymore.ca/new-cd" target="_blank">Do you have your copy reserved yet?</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Preordering your CD guarantees you get one of the very first copies available.<br>Also, your preorder helps us with the financial challenges of creating the final parts of the album.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">As our THANK YOU for preordering, </div><div style="text-align: center;">we want to give you some FREE GIFTS! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Please visit this page to preorder your CD:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="https://infinitelymore.ca/new-cd" target="_blank">https://infinitelymore.ca/new-cd </a> </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Thank you for all you do to support our Infinitely More ministry!</b></div><br><br><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/48819512017-10-07T19:04:00-04:002017-10-07T21:00:43-04:00Thanksgiving With Strangers <div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">This weekend, we'll do something that has become a bit of a quirky tradition:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">We'll spend Thanksgiving with strangers.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br></span></b></div><br>The first time we did this was in 2007, during our first year of living in Nashville. October approached, and we realized we would be away from our families for Thanksgiving. We were still new to the city, but everyone there celebrated Thanksgiving in November. We made plans for Skype calls to family and a quiet dinner at home.<br><br>The last weekend of September, we attended a songwriter party and met a woman originally from Nova Scotia. As we chatted, she said, "<i>You know, I'm attending a Thanksgiving dinner with some other Canadian friends next week. If you want, I'm happy to get you an invitation.</i>"<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">And that was our first Thanksgiving with strangers. </div><br>We gathered, ate heartily, laughed boisterously, and far from our families and country, we shared our blessings.<br><br>Once we returned to Canada, our Thanksgiving became a movable feast. For a few years, we celebrated with our immediate family. As we began our fall concert tours, we were blessed to celebrate with our extended family in Newfoundland.<br><br>But then a few years ago, our touring schedule changed. Instead of traveling east each fall, we started to travel west. That first tour was an epic feat to plan - four very large provinces with lots of driving and absolutely no friends or family between home and Alberta. We were literally on the road for over a month before we saw a familiar face!<br><br>As we got closer to the holiday weekend, I realized that I had completely forgotten about Thanksgiving! We were destined to spend this great day of celebration alone, in a hotel room, searching for a 24-hour roadside stop to feed us... The whole thing just felt too depressing for words...<br><br>So, I did what we do in the modern age - I turned to social media!<br><br><i>"Hey everyone! We're going to be alone in Manitoba for Thanksgiving. Does anyone know of a church or community dinner we could attend?"</i><br><br>What happened next was more than we could "ask or imagine" ...<br><br>The host of our Winnipeg concert came to me, "<i>I realized you're going to be around for the long weekend. Would you like to stay an extra night and join us for Thanksgiving dinner?</i>"<br><br>Amazing. We gathered with almost a dozen people who, a day before, had been complete strangers to us. In a wonderful twist, the host family was from Newfoundland, so the dinner was filled with familiar traditions and delicacies.<br><br>Then, I got a note on Facebook. "<i>I have friends with a ministry retreat in Dauphin. They'd love to have you for Thanksgiving!</i>"<br><br>So Monday morning, we drove to Dauphin to find a beautiful house on the edge of the lake. Again, we met strangers who welcomed us into their home for a wonderful night of feasting.<br><br>In gratitude to the family, we sang a short concert for their guests and, wouldn't you know it, there were Newfoundlanders at that table, too!<br><br><br>As we tour this beautiful country, we continue to marvel at this great truth:<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">The family of God is a real thing. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">In every community, we arrive as strangers, </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">and yet, we are bonded by a love far greater than ourselves. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><br></span></b></div><br>So this Thanksgiving, I encourage you to welcome strangers to your table, and to celebrate with those who might be far from home. In this way, let's show the love of God to one another, and truly celebrate the blessings of our "home and native land."<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Hebrews 13:2 ESV</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;">Happy Thanksgiving! </span></b></span><br><span style="text-align: start;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;"><br></span></b></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zCnSM1nx4MQ/Wdle0dPyXUI/AAAAAAAABrU/ZN6cGrSkZoUH-PS6ZsoVFgxq05ilQNNvwCLcBGAs/s1600/Happy-Thanksgiving-Images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zCnSM1nx4MQ/Wdle0dPyXUI/AAAAAAAABrU/ZN6cGrSkZoUH-PS6ZsoVFgxq05ilQNNvwCLcBGAs/s640/Happy-Thanksgiving-Images.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="344" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: start;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;"><br></span></b></span>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><br><br><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/48122322017-08-12T11:13:00-04:002017-08-12T14:45:20-04:00Scribbles of Harmony...<div style="text-align: center;">This summer, everyone in our area is complaining about the non-summery summer weather.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Truth be told, we haven't noticed the weather a bit. </div><div style="text-align: center;">We've been indoors for most of it, either in the <a href="https://infinitelymore.ca/new-cd" target="_blank">studio</a> or rehearsing the songs for when we're in the <a href="https://infinitelymore.ca/new-cd" target="_blank">studio</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Long days, but super creative and satisfying. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yesterday, we spent the better part of the afternoon creating harmony parts, </div><div style="text-align: center;">so I thought you'd appreciate this little behind-the-scenes glimpse...</div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JUwErvQ0_qs/WY4m1Gwe49I/AAAAAAAABqw/J1ZEz5eaHBgPvOdaijG8C6VbAyg_Qc0dwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JUwErvQ0_qs/WY4m1Gwe49I/AAAAAAAABqw/J1ZEz5eaHBgPvOdaijG8C6VbAyg_Qc0dwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_0840.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="194" width="640" /></a></div><br><br><div style="text-align: center;">Right now, you're thinking, "Um, secret language? Morse code? Just plain messy??"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This, my friends, is harmony!</span></div><br>What you're looking at is the bridge for our song <b>Through The Dark</b>. Gerald wrote it about a year and a half ago, so some of you have already heard this haunting and moving song in our concerts.<br><br>Gerald takes the lead on this tune, so when we arrived at the studio, he jumped in the booth and sang his part.<br><br>Next, it was my turn. On this song, I sing a few different types of harmony parts. Some are "oohs" that drift under the lyric. Others are various kinds of echoes to enhance the melodic line. Others are straight up harmony lines where I sing the lyrics an interval from Gerald's lead.<br><br>When we got to the bridge, I sang my part as I've always sung it. <a href="http://www.amerecordingstudio.com/" target="_blank">Andrew Horrocks</a> (our amazing producer!) wondered if I might want to switch up a few notes to give the part more presence and impact. So I pulled out my pencil and started to make the little dots and short dashes that you see. They indicate where the notes are different from what I sang before. The up and down nature reflect the same up and down movements you'd see on a piece of sheet music.<br><br>The point of these markings isn't to transcribe an actual part onto the page. I learned the part by ear and memorized it as we went along. The dots, dashes, and doodles are there to guide my memory as I'm working through the recording. They trigger my ear and voice to lock into the harmonic groove of the new part.<br><br>When it was just one note that changed, I add the arrow or check mark to show the direction of the new note. When the new note was held long with no or few changes, I drew the longer lines, like the ones after "fear."<br><br>The "echo" was always part of the song, but because we were adding so many new bits to the part, I wanted to put it in my notes to remind myself of taking a deep breath and showcasing that moment.<br><br>We spent a good amount of time creating this part, rehearsing it, and then doing several takes to make sure it wasn't just note perfect, but that I also gave it the right kind of performance and energy.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Making music should never be just about hitting the right notes. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We're there to share a message and an emotion. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Notes are important, but communicating is <b>EVERYTHING</b>!</span></div><br>So, after I laid down the harmony line, Andrew said, "I hear some third harmonies, too."<br><br>This is where the circled words come in. Each word with a circle had an additional harmony part added to it. Since they were all higher parts, I didn't have to add a lot of direction for myself, except where I added in the extra long line after "fear."<br><br>A few weeks ago, we had a tremendous band come in to record the tracks for this song. Then, Gerald created his guitar part. Now, we've got lead vocal, harmony line, and extra harmony parts created. And the song is still a work in progress. It's only going to get better from here!<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">It's always amazing to see how a simple guitar-vocal song can build into a vibrant, exciting album track. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Stay tuned to hear what happens next with our new CD...</div><br><br><div style="text-align: center;">* * * * * * * * </div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Are you excited about our <a href="https://infinitelymore.ca/new-cd" target="_blank">New CD??</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You can <a href="https://infinitelymore.ca/new-cd" target="_blank">preorder</a> your copy now! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">All preorders include free shipping & bonuses.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you'd like to give a little extra support, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">we've got an awesome thank you gifts for you!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Visit <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/New-CD">www.InfinitelyMore.ca/New-CD</a> for all the details!</span></b></div><br><br><br><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/47979042017-07-31T13:39:00-04:002017-07-31T16:09:14-04:00Help Us Make Our New CD!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This week, we launched a new page on our website! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">It looks like this:</div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://infinitelymore.ca/new-cd" target="_blank"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Y-LGHuHlZc/WXut_A7JjdI/AAAAAAAABok/WuyUSk5psnQSw3KqY_zxwt3-L63i-QZogCLcBGAs/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-07-28%2Bat%2B5.33.10%2BPM.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="353" width="640" /></a></div><br><br>It’s been three years since we’ve felt called to record. Three years of travelling coast to coast, playing for hundreds of churches, and writing sixty new songs. God has filled the well with both your and our stories. We have listened and transcribed those moments into beautiful new musical acts of worship. And paring those sixty down to twelve was also helped by you. After each performance we took notes…<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Did they love “My Soul Is Spoken For”? </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Were they singing along on “Crown Him Lord Of All”? </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Were they moved by the faith filled challenges in “Where Are You Hiding Today"?</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><br>We've partnered with 3-time GMA Producer of the Year, Andy Horrocks. Andy brings his extraordinary heart for worship and his remarkable abilities, as well as a band of world class Christian musicians. We're also thrilled to welcome the voices and creativity of some incredible guest artists to this album! <b><i>(Stay tuned for announcements about all our guest artists!)</i></b><br><br>God willing, we are two months away from our CD release date! We're still in the thick of the project, and each day, the vision for the album becomes clearer and more exciting.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">In the beginning, we asked you to join us by choosing the songs.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Now, we ask you to come on board again!</span></b><br><b><br></b>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://infinitelymore.ca/new-cd" target="_blank"><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RNUNx61PAF4/WX9i1x7bkqI/AAAAAAAABp8/3_D0zI2HMPYkmmO4W3Bg65oU19_kiBKuACLcBGAs/s400/teamwork-quotes-and-pictures.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="400" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><br>As you can imagine, making a CD is far beyond the skills and resources of any two people. We often joke that "<b>It takes a village to raise an album</b>" and it's so true!<br><br>We have an amazing team of highly acclaimed, uniquely creative, and deeply spiritual musicians on this project. The "skills" part is well in hand!<br><br>We would love to have your help with the "resources" end of things.<br><br>Every few years, we self-fund a new CD. Our budgets generally range from $15,000 to $20,000 per album. For that season, not only are we paying all that money out in just a few months, but we're also committing hundreds of hours of our own unpaid time to the process.<br><br>Imagine buying a new car every few summers, but in addition to paying for the car in cash, you also need to take the time to build the car yourself.<br><br>It's kind of like that.<br><br>"Wow," I can hear you say, "That's kind of crazy!"<br><br>We get that, and yet, every few years, we do it again.<br><br>Why?<br><br>Because we LOVE what we do and we LOVE you! We love that you continue to show up for our concerts and worship services. We love that you listen to our CDs and give them as gifts. We want to keep creating beautiful and inspiring music for you to enjoy. We are so passionate about these songs and the messages they share - God's unconditional love and grace, walking through this life of faith, and finding light shining in the darkest places.<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://infinitelymore.ca/new-cd" target="_blank"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dwJfav2zl84/WX9i9NPjHwI/AAAAAAAABqA/l3GsWYglovMwCMYEZuyWxJkG9AvEx5jiQCLcBGAs/s400/inspirational-teamwork-poems.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="400" width="400" /></a></div><br><br>We have such exciting plans for this CD. We have songs that we want to release to radio. We have songs that are perfect for you to use in your church on Sunday morning. And, of course, we want this to be an inspiring and uplifting album for your CD player and iPod!<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">Great things happen when we all work together, and this is no exception.<br><br>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">We want you to be part of this new project! </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">We need your help to get this CD made, so we can get it into the hands of those who need it most.<br><br>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Would you please consider supporting our CD through our new <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/new-cd" target="_blank">webpage</a>?</span></b><br><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></b>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We've securing most of the funding ourselves, </div><div style="text-align: center;">but our goal is to raise $3000 to help bring us over the finish line.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">In gratitude for your support, we have lots of wonderful gifts, including copies of the new CD, our own photo calendar, house concerts, and even an espresso maker!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Please visit <a href="https://infinitelymore.ca/new-cd">https://infinitelymore.ca/new-cd</a> to read about the project, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and how you can help in this new ministry venture.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/New-CD"><b>www.InfinitelyMore.ca/New-CD</b></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you!! </span></b></div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://infinitelymore.ca/new-cd" target="_blank"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QBr1RL0iq9o/WXu29OX7yUI/AAAAAAAABpc/nOI5sl0P2y4E6rTigxR3D-Uiq4hghnojQCLcBGAs/s400/4b384e4899c10c0f4a6f0742bb253828--helen-keller-quotes-inspiring-quotes.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="400" width="400" /></a></div><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/47545672017-06-22T18:01:00-04:002017-06-22T23:18:23-04:00Book Review: Between Heaven & the Real World, by Steven Curtis Chapman, with Ken Abraham<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-way0uLq2Y8Y/WUw2hZX7HgI/AAAAAAAABoM/dTzbJJgpzUAnSjocxjMdagEjdPLTwwAwwCLcBGAs/s1600/51bfK5UydIL._SX329_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-way0uLq2Y8Y/WUw2hZX7HgI/AAAAAAAABoM/dTzbJJgpzUAnSjocxjMdagEjdPLTwwAwwCLcBGAs/s400/51bfK5UydIL._SX329_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>When you admire a songwriter, you get both excited and apprehensive when you see their name on a book cover. You want to hear what they have to say, but can their style successfully make the leap from 3 minutes to 300 pages?<br><br>In the hands of a master storyteller like Steven Curtis Chapman, the answer is a resounding "yes!"<br><br>I've long been a fan of Steven's writing, and this book was an absolute pleasure to read. I actually read it while we were on our recent <a href="https://infinitelymore.ca/east-coast-tour-2017" target="_blank">East Coast Tour</a>. I devoured pages in hotel rooms, on ferries, and even in the midst of a freak snowstorm on the May 24th long weekend. Reading about Steven's start in the music business and his approach to songwriting seemed all the more powerful in the midst of our own music making.<br><br>But I knew the real story was coming.<br><br>In 2008, Steven and Mary Beth Chapman faced a parent's worst nightmare when one of their children accidentally caused the death of one of their other children. We were living in Nashville when this happened, and the whole city reeled from the shock of the tragedy. It was like it happened to a family member. Steven's music had blessed so many of us, and in that season, we all mourned for this beautiful family.<br><br>I can't imagine the strength it took to put these particular chapters into print, both for Steven and for the whole family. He tells the story with raw emotion and absolute transparency. I wept through these pages, reliving my own experiences with grief, and marvelling at this story of grace and forgiveness.<br><br>There are so many who will enjoy and value this book. It's for fans of Steven Curtis Chapman's music. It's for those who love autobiographies, and for those with an interest in songwriting and the music business. It's a story about falling in love, and building that love into a family. But it's also a testimony about facing the unimaginable, wrestling with the pain, and finding God in the midst of it all.<br><br><br><i>Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for a review. Viewpoints are all my own.</i><br><br><br><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/46722512017-04-15T09:30:00-04:002018-06-15T07:52:46-04:00What Happened After The Crucifixion, and Why Does It Matter?<div style="text-align: center;">Yesterday, Gerald and I led the annual St. Catharines Good Friday Walk. Hundreds of people followed a large wooden cross down the street. At each of the six downtown churches, the minister read a piece of the Good Friday story from Luke. I gave a reflection, and we shared a song. </div><div style="text-align: center;">It was an honour to lead our city in this beautiful event.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Today, I'm posting my final reflection of the walk: </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-large;">What happened after the crucifixion, and why does it matter?</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SiJdusr3dVI/WPIbXcKyO0I/AAAAAAAABnc/fLzKKqjQInsFyC7uZqto-h0ueKy2crE1gCLcB/s1600/IMG_0236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SiJdusr3dVI/WPIbXcKyO0I/AAAAAAAABnc/fLzKKqjQInsFyC7uZqto-h0ueKy2crE1gCLcB/s640/IMG_0236.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The crowd gathers at our final stop on the annual St. Catharines Good Friday Walk...</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">What a change from just a few days ago, when Jesus entered Jerusalem to praises of "Hosanna." </div><div style="text-align: center;">In just a few short hours: an arrest. A public trial. Flogging. A crucifixion. </div><div style="text-align: center;">And now, Jesus is laid in a tomb. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">I often think about that time right after the crucifixion. How his friends and followers must have felt. How they gathered and what they talked about. How much they must have cried and just been shocked. Jesus had spoken about his death, but how much had they really understood, and how did it line up with the horrors they had just experienced? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">I can only imagine the flood of emotions they must have felt - </div><div style="text-align: center;">grief, anger, fear, shock, disbelief, and maybe even betrayal. </div><div style="text-align: center;">They had given up everything for this cause. </div><div style="text-align: center;">They had left their families and their livelihoods. They’d trusted in Jesus. </div><div style="text-align: center;">How could he bring them to this?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">And haven’t we been there? Those moments of shock and despair and grief. Those moments when we turn to God and say, “Where are you? How can you allow this to happen? Why won’t you stop it? I trusted you. Why aren’t you here for me?”</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #3d85c6;">But remember, it's only Friday. Sunday is coming...</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #3d85c6;"><br></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">God is still at work. On a supernatural level, he is still at work. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>It was true that first Good Friday. And it’s true today.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">God is still at work. Fighting battles we cannot see or understand. He knows your pain, and cares about everything you’re going through. He will walk with you through it all. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He will be your rock, your salvation, your peace. He never sleeps. He is relentlessly working all things together for the good of those who love him. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>And we can see all of this, at the foot of the cross.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><br></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Wait on the Lord. Be strong. Take heart.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><br></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><b>Sunday is coming...</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><br></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><br></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><br></b></span></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/45323802016-12-31T14:51:00-05:002016-12-31T18:33:08-05:0010 Favourite Moments of 2016<div style="text-align: center;"><b>What a year!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm always surprised when we reach the end of another year. </div><div style="text-align: center;">It's amazing how much we can pack into a mere 12 months! </div><div style="text-align: center;">This week, I've spent some time browsing the many, many, many photos I took this year.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">In no particular order, here are 10 of our favourite moments from 2016:</span></div><br><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nx5RadUxnVo/WGfkOJiqdiI/AAAAAAAABls/OsbCba-cZfUxYzpd4vvjAa8xaCjSdalRQCLcB/s1600/12733517_717787974989940_6910119732710173646_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nx5RadUxnVo/WGfkOJiqdiI/AAAAAAAABls/OsbCba-cZfUxYzpd4vvjAa8xaCjSdalRQCLcB/s320/12733517_717787974989940_6910119732710173646_n.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="226" /></a><b>#1 - OUR 10TH ANNIVERSARY</b><br><br>We kicked off the year with a very special family milestone - our 10th wedding anniversary! It's amazing to think about all that has happened in the last decade. If you had told us 10 years ago that we'd now be touring the country with our own music ministry, we would have not-so-discreetly smirked behind your back. We're so thankful for every moment - the challenging and the triumphant. In February, we gathered with family to renew our vows and enjoy an intimate celebration in our new hometown. Just perfect...<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><b>#2 - CHANGING LIVES WITH WORLD VISION</b><br><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qb4n_NpEv-w/WGfkOApm0NI/AAAAAAAABlo/gA68FVmGZ9kAtjj_3OfUB6PBYctrEY8zACLcB/s1600/12524256_1099872110064127_3230082040813613335_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qb4n_NpEv-w/WGfkOApm0NI/AAAAAAAABlo/gA68FVmGZ9kAtjj_3OfUB6PBYctrEY8zACLcB/s320/12524256_1099872110064127_3230082040813613335_n.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="306" width="320" /></a>2016 marked our first year partnering our ministry with <a href="http://artistcollective.ca/artists/infinitely-more/" target="_blank">World Vision</a>. In our concerts, we shared the story of our own sponsored child, Keilyn, and it was amazing to see how you responded. There was the woman who found a little boy with the exact same birthday as her grandson, and the man who found a child from the country of his youth. There was the church who decided to share their blessings and sponsor 5 children! And finally, there was the woman who broke our hearts with her powerful story of infertility, but through World Vision, she could finally have the son she always wanted. Each story was unique and beautiful, but the most wonderful thing is knowing how many lives have been changed by your generosity.<br><br><br><br><b><br></b><b>#3 - OUR FIRST YEAR IN ST. CATHARINES</b><br><br><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U9GsRATcBG0/WGfkPIyw0_I/AAAAAAAABl4/IuKbzL9dGrcfMgZ6fdcwaeczHqofnseMwCLcB/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U9GsRATcBG0/WGfkPIyw0_I/AAAAAAAABl4/IuKbzL9dGrcfMgZ6fdcwaeczHqofnseMwCLcB/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="240" /></a>After moving 7 times in 9 years, we finally bought a house in our new hometown of St. Catharines! We quickly fell in love with our century home, and we've loved working on projects and seeing our landscape change through the seasons. We've spent countless hours exploring our neighbourhood, our city, and the glorious Niagara region. The most wonderful thing, however, is how much we've been embraced by the local churches. Through worship services, concerts, and the Good Friday Walk, we've truly had a chance to minister to our city.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><b>#4 - EAST COAST TOUR</b><br><br><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gwsz4UGsuVA/WGfky27UakI/AAAAAAAABmQ/FgCP59HOhJM5xceDB2y39Q5CK0qWo5aTwCLcB/s1600/IMG_9021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gwsz4UGsuVA/WGfky27UakI/AAAAAAAABmQ/FgCP59HOhJM5xceDB2y39Q5CK0qWo5aTwCLcB/s320/IMG_9021.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="224" width="320" /></a>Touring the East Coast provinces has become one of our favourite parts of the year! This spring, we spent 2 months on the road singing in churches throughout Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and for the first time ever - PEI! And no trip to PEI would be complete without a visit to the beautiful Green Gables. One of the perks of traveling off season - this is one of the biggest tourist sites in Canada, and we practically had the whole place to ourselves!<br><br><br><br><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kwyXmHtPKVg/WGfkQlrVPRI/AAAAAAAABmE/Yff1u4Yh83A034XZjkCW7RZJBevd7JgSQCLcB/s1600/IMG_9150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kwyXmHtPKVg/WGfkQlrVPRI/AAAAAAAABmE/Yff1u4Yh83A034XZjkCW7RZJBevd7JgSQCLcB/s320/IMG_9150.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="240" width="320" /></a><b>#5 - TARA JACKSON VISIT</b><br><br>In the summer, we hosted a visit from our sweet friend, <a href="http://tarajacksononline.com/" target="_blank">Tara Jackson</a>! We explored the St. Catharines and Toronto areas, and yes, stocked up on Costco-sized maple syrup. Some of the most special times were sitting around the dining room table, with Gerald on guitar and the three of us singing in harmony. Hoping for more of this in 2017... hint, hint....<br><br><br><br><br><br><b>#6 - ADVENT CAFE</b><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Aj1nNL8gBnI/WGgHwCdrwuI/AAAAAAAABmg/n7GORtXsLC06GtABuNqHj6GAJn34B66MQCLcB/s1600/IMG_8538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Aj1nNL8gBnI/WGgHwCdrwuI/AAAAAAAABmg/n7GORtXsLC06GtABuNqHj6GAJn34B66MQCLcB/s320/IMG_8538.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="261" width="320" /></a></div>People sometimes question the idea of "God's timing", but I truly believe it was only through God's timing that we were able to join <a href="https://www.facebook.com/adventcafe83/" target="_blank">Advent Cafe</a> this year! Advent Cafe is a weekly contemporary worship service in the coffee lounge of St. George's Anglican Church in St. Catharines. Utilizing a rotating roster of worship leaders, we've been blessed to lead worship once a month for this wonderful group. In the summer, we moved the service outside and worshipped right on the main street. I even had the chance to preach at one of these outdoor services. A new challenge, but I must have done alright because I've been asked to do it again in February!<br><b><br></b><b><br></b><b>#7 - THE FOOD</b><br><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oPDelYZP6O8/WGfkQr5b2VI/AAAAAAAABl8/X-Pn5JR15aMaDxvsyLvug6d4SuRjxqipwCLcB/s1600/IMG_8924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oPDelYZP6O8/WGfkQr5b2VI/AAAAAAAABl8/X-Pn5JR15aMaDxvsyLvug6d4SuRjxqipwCLcB/s320/IMG_8924.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="260" /></a><br>As we travel, one of our favourite things to discover is culinary delights we could never have at home. In the east, we indulged in fried clams, toutons, fish & brewis, and Jigg's dinner. Traveling west, we tried elk, bison, deer, and birch syrup. Closer to home, we explored the local market scene with fresh produce and homemade grape pie. In this photo, we're enjoying partridgeberry pancakes at the Treasure Box in beautiful Rocky Harbour, NL. So thankful for everyone who hosted us for a meal, and those who birth wonderful little restaurants with local creations.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><b>#8 - ALL 10 PROVINCES!!</b><br><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t-BGj84KVEU/WGfkSBfWtTI/AAAAAAAABmM/xnYX6No5NW8CnWT_7UKvVlet-LU-ekuJwCLcB/s1600/IMG_9279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t-BGj84KVEU/WGfkSBfWtTI/AAAAAAAABmM/xnYX6No5NW8CnWT_7UKvVlet-LU-ekuJwCLcB/s320/IMG_9279.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="240" width="320" /></a><br>This fall, we headed west for our 2nd annual Prairies Road Trip concert tour. We sang in churches of all sizes and denominations throughout Northern Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. But at the end of October, we had the pleasure of arriving in British Columbia for our first concerts in that province. This marked the completion of a long held dream - to sing in all 10 provinces! I even blogged about it <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2016/10/when-dream-comes-true.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>, as a reminder to all of us to keep pursuing your dreams, no matter how long they may take to come true.<br><br><br><br><br><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CBPhcERW0LU/WGfkPOSy5uI/AAAAAAAABl0/YMkaZde6lEI-RmhFbGqTAu-TLPT6GKbzgCLcB/s1600/IMG_1866.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CBPhcERW0LU/WGfkPOSy5uI/AAAAAAAABl0/YMkaZde6lEI-RmhFbGqTAu-TLPT6GKbzgCLcB/s320/IMG_1866.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="197" width="320" /></a><b>#9 - WORKING WITH OTHER ARTISTS</b><br><br>There are few things more special than working with other talented people. This year, we had the chance to make music with some of our very favourite and super talented friends, including a concert with <a href="http://www.planbmusicbyrhonda.com/index.htm" target="_blank">Rhonda Louise</a>, a song session with <a href="http://sallymeadows.com/" target="_blank">Sally Meadows</a>, and an inspiring Gaither Homecoming night with our friend & mentor, <a href="http://www.allisonspeer.com/" target="_blank">Allison Speer</a>. In this photo, we're participating in a vocal masterclass with acclaimed singer-songwriter, <a href="http://www.markmasri.com/" target="_blank">Mark Masri</a>. A reminder to us all that "iron sharpens iron" ...<br><br><br><b>#10 - TRAVELING OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY</b><br><br><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DrCkKIKDzsc/WGfkPGrbzmI/AAAAAAAABlw/eLZfC3JEIgkTvMgsOh2Z4VadQ17FGMpNwCLcB/s1600/IMG_3173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DrCkKIKDzsc/WGfkPGrbzmI/AAAAAAAABlw/eLZfC3JEIgkTvMgsOh2Z4VadQ17FGMpNwCLcB/s320/IMG_3173.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="240" width="320" /></a>If you haven't seen all of Canada yet, please plan a trip for next year! From the majesty of the Rockies to the wild scope of the Atlantic, we live in a pretty glorious country. The more we see, the more we want to see. The natural wonders are amazing, but the best thing is to get off the highway, explore the towns, meet the people, and hear their stories. We are so blessed to live in the "true North, strong and free."<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;">We are so grateful for every moment this year - far too many to capture in one blogpost!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">A sincere and generous THANK YOU to each and every person who joined our adventures this year.</div><div style="text-align: center;">For those who invited us into your homes and churches, and those who follow and support us online -</div><div style="text-align: center;">we truly couldn't do any of this without you!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We're looking forward to connecting with you all in <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/calendar" target="_blank">2017</a>!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!</b></span></div><br><b><br></b><b>BONUS MOMENT - STONEBRIDGE VIDEOS</b><br><br><div style="text-align: center;">Last year, we were blessed to become a Stonebridge Guitar artist. On a sunny day this fall, we visited Brickhouse Guitars in Kitchener to record some acoustic videos, featuring our beautiful Stonebridge. Since we're still celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas, here's the Christmas one...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">And stay <a href="http://youtube.com/infinitelymoreband" target="_blank">tuned</a> for 2 more videos to come in 2017!</div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MNlb5W3CsuE" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Tonight, Everywhere Is Bethlehem</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Written & performed by Allison Lynn & Gerald Flemming</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><br><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/44462722016-10-31T15:27:00-04:002016-10-31T20:32:58-04:00When a Dream Comes True...<div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">"You gotta have a dream. If you don't have a dream, </span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">how you gonna have a dream come true?"</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Rogers & Hammerstein, South Pacific</div><br><br>Many years ago, when I first started taking my singing seriously, I attended a church with two opera singers. Eva and Stephanie were mother and daughter - wonderful women with amazing voices. They became mentors to me, and I was so encouraged by them.<br><br>One day I was talking to Eva about her career, and she said to me, "<i>You know, my music has taken me to every province in Canada</i>."<br><br>"<i>Wow</i>," I thought, "<i>I want that too.</i>"<br><br>So that day, I set it as a goal for myself:<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sing in every province in Canada.</span></b></div><br>Not just visit and sing in my hotel, but have an actual professional performance in every province.<br><br>Well, for many years, it seemed like I'd never get farther than Ontario. Many, many years...<br><br>But then, this unexpected thing called "<b><a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/" target="_blank">Infinitely More</a></b>" was born, and suddenly, we started to travel. And 'my' dream became 'our' dream...<br><br>We started touring the East Coast annually, and then last year, we made our first venture into the Prairies.<br><br>But this weekend, here in British Columbia, our dream came true:<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Infinitely More has now sung in every province in Canada! </span></b></div><br>I can't tell you how blessed we are to share our music in so many wonderful communities across our beautiful country. There's no better example of "the family of God" than showing up in a town you've never visited, starting a concert, and feeling like you're already home.<br><br>The world is a better place when we follow our dreams. I meet so many people who become discouraged because their dreams haven't come true. But you know, dreams are funny things. Sometimes things take a long time to happen, or their 'coming true' form might look differently than we imagined. Or they might morph and change and transform into something else altogether.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">I encourage you to follow your dreams and to enjoy the journey. </div><div style="text-align: center;">And when one finally does comes true: </div><div style="text-align: center;">Enjoy the moment. Celebrate it. Give thanks. </div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>And then the next morning, find a new dream, and start all over again... </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/42861282016-07-19T16:29:00-04:002016-07-19T21:17:25-04:00Summer Concerts!<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">We love touring, but this summer, </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">we're excited to have lots of close-to-home concerts!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Please come join us for a concert or worship service near you.</span></b></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kWAp3L-jaXY/V46Ng9Ena8I/AAAAAAAABlA/TimPwx3TFMosaGBlF6eN3j7JnHdF6ZnUACLcB/s1600/Summer%2BConcerts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kWAp3L-jaXY/V46Ng9Ena8I/AAAAAAAABlA/TimPwx3TFMosaGBlF6eN3j7JnHdF6ZnUACLcB/s640/Summer%2BConcerts.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="616" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Full details at <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Calendar">www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Calendar</a></span></b><br><b><br></b><b><br></b>
</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/41119772016-03-30T01:01:00-04:002018-05-24T10:56:34-04:00Worship Wednesdays - FREE Song!<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">To celebrate the Easter season, we're giving away a <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/store" target="_blank">FREE SONG</a>:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/store" target="_blank">There's A Light At The End Of The Tomb</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FjL8JbTySms/Vvsq-4IUW_I/AAAAAAAABkc/w8g8-WJ0G4keB5t0amxGLDZvOKjycJW5g/s1600/Easter_2013_Web_Banner%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FjL8JbTySms/Vvsq-4IUW_I/AAAAAAAABkc/w8g8-WJ0G4keB5t0amxGLDZvOKjycJW5g/s320/Easter_2013_Web_Banner%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="216" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Gerald was inspired to write this anthemic song by this photo he saw of a stone tomb, flooded with light. As soon as I heard his first verse and chorus, I declared,<i> "I need to cowrite this!" </i>We loved crafting a song that celebrates the promise and power of that first Easter morning.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We debuted it on Easter Sunday,<br>and it quickly became a year-round favourite.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">In that first year, I wrote a blogpost about the natural evolution of the song's vocals and arrangement. You can read that post <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2014/04/worship-wednesdays-evolution-of-song.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">And we recorded a live performance for the tv show Artisans of Charlotte County during our musical residency in <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/st-andrews-2013" target="_blank">St. Andrews, New Brunswick</a>:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C2qj6_vZgrk" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">But the final thrill came when we brought it into the studio. Denny Martin and his amazing band of Nashville musicians created a powerful soundtrack, and Carmon Barry of Toronto captured our vocals.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>There's A Light At The End Of The Tomb</b> was included on our </div><div style="text-align: center;">ECMA and Covenant Award nominated CD, <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/store" target="_blank">How The Light Gets In</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">To get your free song, please visit our <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/store" target="_blank">Store</a>:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/store" target="_blank">http://www.infinitelymore.ca/store </a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We're offering this for a limited time, but we want to give away lots of downloads! </div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Please feel free to share this link with your friends and family...</b><br><b><br></b>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Bookmark this page and visit us every Wednesday!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/40574802016-02-24T01:01:00-05:002016-02-24T09:46:41-05:00Worship Wednesdays - We're Heading East!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>We're so excited to plan our 6th annual East Coast Tour!</b></span></div><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8ImfuduSwPA/Vs0yILztjlI/AAAAAAAABj8/5nI58p_5TV0/s1600/IMG_6534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8ImfuduSwPA/Vs0yILztjlI/AAAAAAAABj8/5nI58p_5TV0/s640/IMG_6534.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="344" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mapping out the route...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br>Our tours to Canada's beautiful East Coast have become a very special tradition for us. Each year, we visit churches throughout Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland. We sing concerts that help raise funds for local outreach projects. We lead worship for weekend conferences and Sunday mornings. We even work with bands and choirs to teach workshops on worship leading and songwriting.<br><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7gmyMxlAnJs/Vs0yBOXS-hI/AAAAAAAABjw/AQz9QbnR4c8/s1600/IMG_6822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7gmyMxlAnJs/Vs0yBOXS-hI/AAAAAAAABjw/AQz9QbnR4c8/s320/IMG_6822.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="300" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Mary The Virgin Church, St. John's, NL</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br>The relationships we make on these tours are amazing! There are some churches we visit year after year, building friendships and creating music with their bands and choirs. And on each tour, we visit new areas, ministering to churches for the first time. We love learning how each church works within their community. There are so many incredible outreach projects happening in towns across this country. These are stories that never make the news, and yet these volunteers are making a profound difference in their corner of the world. <b>It's an honour to meet so many people who are bringing the Gospel to life - feeding the poor, caring for the outcast, loving their neighbour as themselves... </b><br><br><br><br>These travels are also a time for great creativity. Many of the songs on<b> <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/album/62812/infinitely-more-covenant-award-nominee?autostart=true" target="_blank">Infinitely More</a></b> and<b> <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/album/211663/how-the-light-gets-in?autostart=true" target="_blank">How The Light Gets In</a></b> were either written on these tours, or inspired by stories shared with us after concerts or during our teaching.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We feel blessed to explore this amazing part of the country - making music, meeting people, learning about local history, and feasting on some of the best seafood ever!</span></div><br><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6qudzT9eIL4/Vs0yAuI77DI/AAAAAAAABjs/pe6pELg-fdU/s1600/IMG_1868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6qudzT9eIL4/Vs0yAuI77DI/AAAAAAAABjs/pe6pELg-fdU/s400/IMG_1868.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="326" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peggy's Cove, NS</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br><div style="text-align: center;">This year, our tour will start after Easter and will keep us on the road </div><div style="text-align: center;">throughout April, May, and into early June.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We're currently booking concerts, worship events, and music team workshops in </div><div style="text-align: center;">Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">And for the first time ever, we're hoping to visit Prince Edward Island!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>We'd love to bring our music to your community! </b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Booking a fundraiser concert is easier than you may think. </div><div style="text-align: center;">To reserve a date, or just to ask questions, please visit our <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/contact" target="_blank">Contact</a> page and send us an email.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Contact">www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Contact</a></b></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LZl-4gG8evo/Vs0z9HWJGoI/AAAAAAAABkI/iNONwD67ALo/s1600/IMG_1911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LZl-4gG8evo/Vs0z9HWJGoI/AAAAAAAABkI/iNONwD67ALo/s640/IMG_1911.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="225" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. James' Drop In, Rosemere, QC</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Bookmark this page and visit us every Wednesday!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/40099512016-01-27T01:01:00-05:002017-01-13T19:03:03-05:00Worship Wednesdays: Guest Post by Rev. Hollis Hiscock<div style="text-align: center;">Today, I'm welcoming a very special guest writer to the blog: Rev. Hollis Hiscock.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>AKA: My Dad!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Dad was a full-time minister in the Anglican Church for over 40 years. In retirement, he took on the ministry of editor of the Niagara Anglican Newspaper.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Dad has always loved the Peanuts comics. Inspired by the 50th anniversary of A Charlie Brown Christmas, he wrote some thoughts about the Peanuts gang and their unique approach to theology.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love this whole article, but the last line is something we should all take to heart...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;">You can read the full issue</span><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://niagaraanglican.ca/newspaper/docs/2016/feb.pdf" target="_blank">HERE</a>, </span>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">including some powerful stories of churches bringing Syrian refugees to Canada.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Charlie Brown, Life and the Bible is on <a href="http://niagaraanglican.ca/newspaper/docs/2016/feb.pdf" target="_blank">page 3</a>.</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://niagaraanglican.ca/newspaper/docs/2016/feb.pdf" target="_blank"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-YP1yXqLhE6g/VqhBAZR0Q9I/AAAAAAAABjc/cIJI0VKBTws/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-01-26%2Bat%2B10.56.14%2BPM.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="380" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Bookmark this page and visit us every Wednesday!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/39978742016-01-20T01:01:00-05:002017-01-13T19:03:03-05:00Big News: Infinitely More Joins The World Vision Artist Collective! <div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">We're thrilled and humbled to announce that </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Infinitely More is the newest member of the </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://artistcollective.ca/" target="_blank">World Vision Artist Collective</a>!</span></b></div><br><br><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UqoWv0_aX14/Vp6lcom2uDI/AAAAAAAABjM/6yB_4K_9kmo/s1600/175154-4204.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="//3.bp.blogspot.com/-UqoWv0_aX14/Vp6lcom2uDI/AAAAAAAABjM/6yB_4K_9kmo/s320/175154-4204.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="240" /></a><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Keilyn is one of the most important people in my</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> life, and yet, we've never actually met in person...</span></div><br><br>A few years ago, as we approached November, my family started asking the inevitable, <i>"What do you want for your birthday?"</i> I really wasn't seeking another gift, but then it struck me: Every day, there are children in this world who can't get an education, medical care, a decent meal, or even a clean drink of water. I couldn't think about it without my heart breaking...<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">What I really wanted was to help a child.</div><br>So for my birthday, I asked my family to help me start sponsoring a child through World Vision.<br><br>I smiled when I saw Keilyn's photo, and her gentle face. She lived alone with her mother, who couldn't find employment. She wanted to learn a foreign language; her favourite chore was washing dishes.<br><br>Within months, we were exchanging letters and photos. It's wonderful to know that our support gives this sweet girl healthy food, clean water, medical care, and an education. But the letters are the best part. She tells me about her community and how they celebrate holidays. She lets me know about her favourite subjects in school, and how much she likes to dance. All her letters are handwritten with a typed translation. I can't read the original Spanish, but she draws flowers and animals around the edges. As a fellow doodler, this makes my heart sing.<br><br>One of the most powerful moments in our sponsorship occurred a few months in when I received a letter from her Momma. I really know didn't much about her. I knew she lived in a community so impoverished that a relief organization had to drill a well and provide a health clinic. I can't even imagine what it must be like to be a single mother under these circumstances. She let me know that they pray for us every night. This just broke my heart - we'd been praying for them every night as well. I realized that we weren't just sponsoring Keilyn; we were helping this young mother as well. I imagined our shared prayers for each other reaching God's ears at the same time. I marvelled more and more at how we are all interconnected when we live out God's love and grace.<br><br><br>Last year, Gerald and I started praying that God would find a way for us to partner with World Vision. Our prayers were answered by an amazing invitation. The <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_993623351"></span>Artist Collective<span id="goog_993623352"></span></a> is a diverse group of musicians, actors, athletes, and speakers who are using their talents to tell the stories of the marginalized and oppressed. Through concerts and other events, we hope to motivate the incredible compassion and generosity of folks across Canada. We want to show them how rewarding it can be to reach out to families living in extreme poverty, and help save lives through child sponsorship.<br><br>We feel humbled and challenged that we've been asked to join this incredible group of servant hearts.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>"How can I help?"</b></div><br>We would love for you to pray for this new phase of our ministry! We pray that we will continue to create engaging music, minister the Gospel, and act out God's unconditional love and compassion through this outreach.<br><br>If you feel called to personally sponsor a child, we would love to help you! Please <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/contact" target="_blank">contact</a> us so we can connect you with a child in need.<br><br><b>We would also love to bring the World Vision message to your church!</b> It's really very simple: when you host us for a concert or worship service, we ask for a few minutes to share our personal story of getting to know and sponsor Keilyn, and allow folks the chance to learn about other children who are still in desperate need of sponsorship.<br><br>We know this won't be a fit for every church or event, and that's okay. If you're not able to include World Vision in your event, you can still book us for a regular concert or worship service. Infinitely More will continue to make it as easy as possible for you to host our music and ministry.<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please feel free to contact us through </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">our <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/contact" target="_blank">Website</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/infinitelymoreband" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, or <a href="http://www.twitter.com/infinitely_more" target="_blank">Twitter</a> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">to ask any questions, or to book us for a concert or worship service! </span></div><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Bookmark this page and visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/39868522016-01-13T01:01:00-05:002016-01-13T16:02:59-05:00New Video! Psalm 8...<div style="text-align: center;">On last fall's <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/prairies-road-trip-2015" target="_blank">Prairies Road Trip</a>, we took a few days to visit gorgeous Lake Louise, Alberta. The day we toured the lake, the weather was overcast, yet the glorious colour of the water shone through the grey. The mountains and the surrounding woods were breathtaking. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We were so overwhelmed by the beauty and majesty, we turned to Psalm 8. We recorded it for ourselves, but we loved this moment so much we decided we wanted to share it with you as well...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4C_qM0LgeXI" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br></i><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters.</i>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Bookmark this page and visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/39769172016-01-06T01:01:00-05:002017-01-13T19:03:03-05:00Worship Wednesdays - Epiphany Thoughts...<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Epiphany - the final day of the Christmas season!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's the day we celebrate the arrival of the Three Wise Men, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and the amazing gifts they brought the baby Jesus:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Gold, a gift for a king.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Frankincense, a gift for a priest.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Myrrh, a gift for one who is to die...</div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CzUDWUIdtJI/Vo07qZEztdI/AAAAAAAABi8/xGIAUdDAX1A/s1600/epiphany_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//4.bp.blogspot.com/-CzUDWUIdtJI/Vo07qZEztdI/AAAAAAAABi8/xGIAUdDAX1A/s400/epiphany_01.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="170" width="400" /></a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>I've been thinking a lot about the Three Wise Men this year. Historians and theologians tell us that they were scholars, possible royalty. They traveled for years from a far off land to the east, probably with a large caravan. Their only guide: a star that they believed would bring them to the Messiah. In a world with no GPS and where travel could cost you your life, what an amazing undertaking.</div><div><br></div><div>I've often been taught that the Wise Men are important because they represent the universality of the newborn Saviour. Jesus wasn't just for a specific group of people - He came to save the world.</div><div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">This year, I had a new thought about them:</div><div><br></div><div>Think about that first Christmas for a moment, and all the different people who witnessed the arrival of the baby Jesus. For most of them, the miracle took them by surprise. Sure, in a scholarly and religious sense, they'd been told to await the coming of the Messiah, but most of them didn't know it would happen that night in their own backyard. It was shocking, and overwhelming in its unexpectedness.</div><div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">But the Wise Men were different.</div><div><br></div><div>
<b>They knew this was happening.</b> They had been following the star. They had intention. As they got closer, the time and the location of the birth became ever clearer. When they met the baby for the first time, they were ready. They had gifts. They were prepared to worship. They had arrived at their destination, and they would never be the same again.</div><div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Are we the same? </div><div style="text-align: center;">Are we actively seeking God in this world? </div><div style="text-align: center;">Are we focused on finding the miraculous, </div><div style="text-align: center;">despite the challenges and distractions that may come our way? </div><div style="text-align: center;">Are we ready to worship when we finally meet Him face to face?</div><div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Wise Men remind us that, no matter how far we need to travel, </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">or how long it takes us to get there, there is alway room for us at the manger.</span></b></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">I pray that, as you make your goals and resolutions for 2016, you will choose to seek the newborn King.</div><div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Tonight, we'll celebrate Epiphany by leading worship at a brand new weekly service called Advent Cafe in St. Catharines, Ontario. You can find the full details <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/event/1416079/211484067/advent-cafe" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Happy Epiphany!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Bookmark this page and visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>
</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/39720522015-12-31T14:50:00-05:002016-01-04T15:47:49-05:00Our Top 10 Moments of 2015!<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7;">"How was your year?"</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's the question we all ask each other in these final days of December. </div><div style="text-align: center;">As 2015 comes to a close, Gerald and I have been reflecting on the last 12 months with great thanksgiving. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't mind saying: it's been a really special year.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And now, in no particular order, here are our </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;"><b>Top 10 Moments of 2015:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(I've put in lots of links to bring you to photos & the original stories)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div><br></div><div><b><a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2015/08/big-news-our-new-house.html" target="_blank">#1. Our New House</a></b></div><div><br></div><div>Nine years ago, we sold our marital home to fund our dream of moving to Nashville. This summer, after years of renting and moving, a long held dream was fulfilled to buy a house again! Gerald spent hours digging through real estate listings til he found our beautiful century home in St. Catharines. We've only been in here a month, but to see our Christmas tree in the corner and our puppies on the couch, well, it's just about perfect...</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b><a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2015/01/our-first-ecma-nomination.html" target="_blank">#2. Our First EMCA Nomination</a></b></div><div><br></div><div>As a proud Newfoundlander, this was particularly special. Our latest CD - <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/album/211663/how-the-light-gets-in?autostart=true" target="_blank">How The Light Gets In</a> - was nominated for Gospel Recording of the Year at the 2015 East Coast Music Awards. We traveled to my hometown of St. John's to celebrate in all the festivities, including performing at the Gospel Showcase. As we say on the Rock, "Twas a time!"</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b><a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/east-coast-tour-2015" target="_blank">#3. The 5th Annual East Coast Tour</a></b></div><div><br></div><div>Our tours of the East Coast become more special every year. This past spring, we spent 9 weeks travelling and singing throughout Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, and eastern Ontario. We revisited favourite spots, and even had the chance to bring our music to new and wonderful places. Truly a blessing in so many ways!</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b><a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2015/06/infinitely-more-named-stonebridge.html" target="_blank">#4. Stonebridge Artist Deal</a></b></div><div><br></div><div>In the spring, we started an epic hunt for a new guitar that led to an amazing conclusion: we were offered an Artist Deal from <a href="http://stonebridgeguitars.com/" target="_blank">Stonebridge Guitars</a>! We're so honoured to represent these amazing instruments, and love having this stunning guitar as our new 'band member.'</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b><a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/prairies-road-trip-2015" target="_blank">#5. Our First Prairies Road Trip</a></b></div><div><br></div><div>For the first time ever, we headed west! This fall, we traveled over 7200 KM over 6 weeks to sing in western Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Every single venue was new to us, and we felt welcomed wherever we went. As an added bonus, we had the chance to sing with several other Christian singer-songwriters, such as <a href="http://alimatthews.com/" target="_blank">Ali Matthews</a>, <a href="http://slip19.weebly.com/" target="_blank">Natalie B</a>, <a href="http://www.planbmusicbyrhonda.com/" target="_blank">Rhonda</a>, and <a href="http://sallymeadows.com/" target="_blank">Sally Meadows</a>! </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b><a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2015/09/big-news-our-covenant-award-nominations.html" target="_blank">#6. Covenant Award Nominations</a></b></div><div><br></div><div>To be recognized by the Gospel Music Association of Canada is to be recognized by our peers, so it was a double honour to receive not one, but two nominations for the 2015 Covenant Awards! <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/album/211663/how-the-light-gets-in?autostart=true" target="_blank">How The Light Gets In</a> was nominated for Folk Album of the Year, and <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/album/212092/tonight-everywhere-is-bethlehem?autostart=true" target="_blank">Tonight, Everywhere Is Bethlehem</a> was nominated for Seasonal Song of the Year. It was amazing to visit Edmonton for GMA Week, where we celebrated the vast and richly creative Canadian Christian music scene. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b><a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2015/07/worship-wednesdays-10-years-ago-today.html" target="_blank">#7. Ten Years of Yes</a></b></div><div><br></div><div>This July, I celebrated 10 years since I said "yes" to God's calling on my life. When I first experienced that powerful moment, neither Gerald nor I had any idea where it would lead, but we are so incredibly thankful that it has led to our <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/" target="_blank">Infinitely More</a> adventure! </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b>#8. Most Denominations Ever</b></div><div><br></div><div>Infinitely More feels called to cross denominational lines, and encourage others to do the same. This has been an incredibly diverse year of ministry, singing concerts and leading worship in a wide range of churches, such as Anglican, United, Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Church of God, Baptist, Christian Assembly, Christian Alliance, and many churches and ministries with no obvious denominational association. The more we do this, the more we recognize how much we have in common, and how we are all part of the family of God. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b>#9. Great Health for Everyone</b></div><div><br></div><div>As I read the Facebook statuses of friends, and especially those who also have aging parents, I'm reminded how blessed we are to have such good health in our family. We faced a rough month in July. It started with an allergy attack for me, and continued as extended family, and even our sweet puppy Sebastian, faced challenges. But as we close out 2015, it feels like everyone is on the right path. Help is in place where needed, and we're all able to enjoy an active lifestyle. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b>#10. A Surprise for 2016</b></div><div><br></div><div>In the last month, we've been offered and accepted a truly special opportunity. We'll be making a big announcement about it in the New Year, so we still want to keep it under wraps until we work out the details. But trust me, this will be a new level of ministry for<a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/" target="_blank"> Infinitely More</a>, and we're truly excited it about it!</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">As we move into 2016, we feel so encouraged. Only two years ago, we took the leap from church staff to a full-time touring ministry. It's definitely had challenges, but this year in particular, we've really felt a wonderful sense of growth and momentum in our music and ministry. On a personal note, I also feel it's been a really special time for growing relationships, both in our family and in our friendships.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">For each of us, I pray we can look back at 2015 with gratitude and peace. I pray we can leave any struggles and bad habits behind us, and move into the New Year with lessons learned, new optimism, the joy of discovery, and an openness to God's plan for our lives. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: large;">Glory to God, whose power working in us can do </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: large;">Infinitely More than we can ask or imagine!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: x-large;">Happy New Year!!!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">All the best in 2016...</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/39565272015-12-09T01:01:00-05:002017-01-13T19:03:03-05:00The Blog Is Back! <div style="text-align: center;">We're back! After a hiatus during our Prairies Road Trip, we're back and blogging.</div><div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">It's been an amazing season. Our first <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/prairies-road-trip-2015" target="_blank">Prairies Road Trip</a> was an incredible experience!</div>
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<div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qhaB-u23XNs/VmetUA08YEI/AAAAAAAABio/QiYdUtabYUw/s1600/IMG_8165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//4.bp.blogspot.com/-qhaB-u23XNs/VmetUA08YEI/AAAAAAAABio/QiYdUtabYUw/s400/IMG_8165.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="400" width="387" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/prairies-road-trip-2015" target="_blank">At the Covenant Awards!</a></td></tr>
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<div>We spent 6 weeks driving over 7200 KM across 4 provinces. We sang in churches, colleges, cafes, and living rooms. We made many new friends, and had the unique pleasure of meeting people we'd only ever known on social media. We attended the inspiring GMA Week and we celebrated our <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2015/09/big-news-our-covenant-award-nominations.html" target="_blank">GMA Covenant Award nominations</a>. The entire tour was rich in blessings, and we are so grateful to everyone who supported us in any way. We can't wait to head west again in 2016!</div>
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<div>You can see photos on our <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/prairies-road-trip-2015" target="_blank">SITE</a> and <a href="http://facebook.com/infinitelymoreband" target="_blank">FACEBOOK</a> page.</div>
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<div>We've also moved into our <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2015/08/big-news-our-new-house.html" target="_blank">new home</a> in St. Catharines! We've already sung at two churches in the area, and we're excited to explore our new city. It'll take a while to unpack during this busy month, so we're seriously debating wrapping the piles of boxes in mini-lights to make them look festive...</div>
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<div><div style="text-align: center;">And now, it's our favourite season of the year: Christmas! </div></div>
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<div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">As our gift to you, we've decided to offer <b><a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/store" target="_blank">FREE SHIPPING</a></b>* for all CDs!</span></div></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/store" target="_blank"><img src="//4.bp.blogspot.com/-H6mrH02ue6c/VmesjrW0u9I/AAAAAAAABig/x_5pWhKFnMc/s400/Artwork%2B-%2BCover.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div><div style="text-align: center;">This applies to any and all CDs purchased up til Christmas Eve.</div></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please visit our <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/store" target="_blank">Store</a> to purchase CDs & Christmas cards, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">or to download albums and mp3s.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Store%C2" target="_blank">www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Store </a></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">We have lots of great Christmas <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/calendar" target="_blank">events</a> lined up this month. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">Stay tuned for more news, photos, and Christmas stories...</div>
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<div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>It's good to be back! </b></div></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>*Free shipping within Canada. CDs only. A small surcharge will be added for international orders.</i></span></div>
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</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/38995732015-10-15T16:43:00-04:002017-01-13T19:03:03-05:00Worship Wednesdays on Hiatus...<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We're on our first, awesome Prairies Road Trip!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lI_o6bd1qqE/ViAPsRAluRI/AAAAAAAABiQ/1E8kOmTM5_A/s1600/IMG_7890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-lI_o6bd1qqE/ViAPsRAluRI/AAAAAAAABiQ/1E8kOmTM5_A/s400/IMG_7890.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's been a busy time on the road, so I'll be posting as I have time, and not on a weekly basis.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>We're posting daily updates on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/infinitelymoreband" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://www.twitter.com/infinitely_more" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Please Like & Follow to join in our Prairies adventure!</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/38640472015-09-23T01:01:00-04:002017-01-13T19:03:03-05:00Worship Wednesdays - Concert This Weekend!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This Sunday, we'll have our final Ontario performance until November!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Come join us at First Baptist Church, Ingersoll, for a great night of music. </div><div style="text-align: center;">We'll even debut a <b>brand new song!</b>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">All the details are<b> <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/event/1310604/169540420/infinitely-more-concert" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</b>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Next week, we leave for our <b>Prairies Road Trip </b>concert tour!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Comm4O7k5j0/VgIB5MePxeI/AAAAAAAABiA/MTM-i6uaZ7U/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-07-07%2Bat%2B4.00.08%2BPM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-Comm4O7k5j0/VgIB5MePxeI/AAAAAAAABiA/MTM-i6uaZ7U/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-07-07%2Bat%2B4.00.08%2BPM.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="353" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We're so excited for our first visit to the prairies provinces. We'll sing our way across Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. The first week of November, we'll connect with other Canadian Christian artists at <a href="http://www.gmaweek.com/" target="_blank">GMA Week</a>. We'll also celebrate our recent nominations at the <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2015/09/big-news-our-covenant-award-nominations.html" target="_blank">Covenant Awards</a> gala!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Please visit <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/">www.InfinitelyMore.ca</a> for all the details...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Stayed tuned to this blog as we share this next adventure with you!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Bookmark this page and visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/38575372015-09-16T01:01:00-04:002017-01-13T19:03:02-05:00BIG NEWS: Our Covenant Award Nominations! <div style="text-align: center;">We woke up yesterday morning to amazing news:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>We've received 2 Covenant Award Nominations!!!</b></span></div><br>Each year, the Gospel Music Association (GMA) of Canada gives out the Covenant Awards to celebrate the best in Canadian Christian music. Yesterday, they released the list of nominees, and we found ourselves on the list not once, but twice!<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our latest CD - <b>How The Light Gets In</b> - is nominated for <b>Folk Album of the Year!</b></span></div><br><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Earlier this year, How The Light Gets In was also nominated for the <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2015/01/our-first-ecma-nomination.html" target="_blank">East Coast Music Award (ECMA)</a> for Gospel Recording of the Year.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can hear samples <b><a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/album/211663/how-the-light-gets-in?autostart=true" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</b>
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NKGgcTiYWcw/Vfi3MnhicUI/AAAAAAAABho/Xo_c5iiELuw/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-09-15%2Bat%2B10.47.33%2BAM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//2.bp.blogspot.com/-NKGgcTiYWcw/Vfi3MnhicUI/AAAAAAAABho/Xo_c5iiELuw/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-09-15%2Bat%2B10.47.33%2BAM.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="268" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The title track of our Christmas album - <b>Tonight, Everywhere Is Bethlehem</b> - </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">is nominated for <b>Seasonal Song of the Year!</b></span></div><br><div style="text-align: center;">You can hear the song <b><a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/album/212092/tonight-everywhere-is-bethlehem?autostart=true" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</b>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N_jf5pYA22Y/Vfi3MsD22OI/AAAAAAAABhs/KdLlCtFetKM/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-09-15%2Bat%2B10.19.16%2BAM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//3.bp.blogspot.com/-N_jf5pYA22Y/Vfi3MsD22OI/AAAAAAAABhs/KdLlCtFetKM/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-09-15%2Bat%2B10.19.16%2BAM.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="268" width="640" /></a></div><br><br><br>I can't tell you how excited and honoured we are by this news. If you're familiar with Canadian Christian music, you'll see that we're nominated with some amazing talent. Steve Bell, Carolyn Arends, and Jacob Moon have decades-long careers and shelves of awards. Pretty rarified air...<br><br>We're also incredibly excited for all our friends and colleagues who have received nominations! It's so satisfying to watch a friend work hard to create beautiful, interesting, inspiring art, and then see it recognized by the industry in this way.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The full list of nominees is <a href="http://www.gmacanada.ca/covenant-awards-nominees/" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><br>We're so grateful to everyone who has and continues to join us on this musical and spiritual journey. Thank you to all the musicians and producers who helped us create these projects! And a huge Thank You to each of you who has supported our music by buying CDs, hosting concerts, or attending any of our live events. You keep us going...<br><br>Next month, we leave for our <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2015/09/worship-wednesdays-prairies-road-trip.html" target="_blank">Prairies Road Trip</a> concert tour. Throughout October, we'll sing our way through Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Please <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Contact" target="_blank"><b>Contact</b></a> us to book a concert on this tour! The first week of November, we'll be in Edmonton, AB, for <a href="http://www.gmaweek.com/" target="_blank">GMA Week</a> - GMA Canada's annual gathering. There will be workshops, showcases, and the big night - the Covenant Awards gala!<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We invite you to join us on this adventure! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We'll be posting regular updates on this blog, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/infinitely_more" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/infinitelymoreband" target="_blank">Facebook</a>. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><br><div style="font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="font_regular" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: firebrick; margin: 0px;"><em style="margin: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px;">Glory to God, whose power, working in us, can do </strong></em></span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="font_regular" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: firebrick; margin: 0px;"><em style="margin: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px;">Infinitely More than we can ask or imagine. </strong></em></span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; margin: 0px;">Eph. 3:20</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Bookmark this page and visit us every Wednesday!</i></div><div><br></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/38473592015-09-09T01:01:00-04:002017-01-13T19:03:02-05:00Worship Wednesdays - Prairies Road Trip Update! <div style="text-align: center;">A few months ago, we told you about our upcoming adventure:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our first <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2015/07/worship-wednesdays-booking-prairies.html" target="_blank">Prairies Road Trip!</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>6 weeks. 4 provinces. 7200+ kilometres. </b></div><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G80juVLvq8U/Ve-CH7ykxqI/AAAAAAAABhI/zSeIfrMbfzM/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-07-07%2Bat%2B4.00.08%2BPM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//2.bp.blogspot.com/-G80juVLvq8U/Ve-CH7ykxqI/AAAAAAAABhI/zSeIfrMbfzM/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-07-07%2Bat%2B4.00.08%2BPM.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="353" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Prairies Road Trip tour route!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br><br>It's been a big challenge putting this all together. This will be our first time singing in Western Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, or Alberta. If you imagine it in terms of sales, that means 4 provinces worth of cold calls!<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's also been an incredibly encouraging season! </span></div><br><ul><li>We have lots of concerts confirmed, and many more awaiting confirmation.</li></ul><ul><li>We're planning events with other talented artists, including many people who will be part of <a href="http://www.gmaweek.com/" target="_blank">GMA Week.</a>
</li></ul><ul><li>We have a special visit planned with the <a href="http://www.sttherese.ca/" target="_blank">St. Therese Institute of Faith and Mission</a> in Bruno, Saskatchewan, including time with students and a community concert.</li></ul><ul><li>The Saskatchewan Anglican newspaper even wrote this great article for their September issue! </li></ul><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CSU3keFEQg0/Ve-QGziyRwI/AAAAAAAABhY/muFryLospbs/s1600/IMG_7682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//2.bp.blogspot.com/-CSU3keFEQg0/Ve-QGziyRwI/AAAAAAAABhY/muFryLospbs/s640/IMG_7682.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="640" width="322" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Saskatchewan Anglican, September 2015</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you're in Western Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, or Alberta, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">we would love to sing for you this fall! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We're booking concerts in churches, living rooms, and colleges. </div><div style="text-align: center;">We're also teaching workshops on Songwriting and/or Worship Leading. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Please <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/contact" target="_blank">Contact</a> us for more info!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Thank you! </b></div><br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Bookmark this page and visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/38391762015-09-02T01:01:00-04:002015-09-02T02:02:30-04:00Worship Wednesdays - Side By Side Worship<div style="text-align: center;">A few weeks ago, I had the chance to sit in the congregation for a worship session.</div><br>As I slid into the seats, I could feel the energy of the people around me. Some were excited to be there. Others had probably been dragged by a well-meaning family member. Some were distracted as they sorted out purses and jackets. Others waited in anticipation.<br><br>The first song was How Great Thou Art. The people sang boisterously, and on the the chorus, you could hear faint harmony. I noticed a couple a few rows ahead of me. They were a little older, and seemed comfortable standing close, as you might after a lifetime together. As the last chords wrapped up the song, he leaned over and put his arm around her. It was an intentional action. He whispered something in her ear. She smiled and leaned her head to his shoulder. It was a brief, private moment in a large, public place. I wondered what had transpired. Had the song brought back a memory? Did she need a moment of comfort that only he could recognize?<br><br>The family in the row to the left of me started to sway. Four adults. You could tell they weren't singers by their faint lip syncing, but they loved the music. They changed rhythm with each song. They weren't dancers - just swayers. Every once in a while, one of them would close their eyes and lift a hand and belt out one or two lines of the chorus. The music and worship were in their bones.<br><br>Then, the alto entered my row. At first, I only noticed her as a woman arriving late, fussing to make sure her elderly mother was comfortable in her seat. But once she was organized, her voice opened up and her presence was undeniable. A soprano and alto in the same row - here we go! I could feel my own voice lift as she added her rich, dark harmonies. As we sang together in our unscripted duet, I could feel the voices of those around us lifting in unison. As we hit the chorus of In Christ Alone, I heard bass and tenor notes drifting into the mix. It was glorious!<br><br>As we all sang and worshiped together, I was reminded of the importance of community. It's not just about having our attendance recorded and our offering collected. We are necessary to each other. You and your participation are a blessing to me. And, God-willing, I and my participation are a blessing to you.<br><br>Time and time again, Jesus demonstrated life in community. He told stories to large groups, ate meals at parties, and sang hymns with his friends. He knew that we needed each other in ways that are sometimes hard to define, but are palpable in experience.<br><br>As I see you offer yourself to God - perfectly, brokenly, honestly - it encourages me to do the same. I find courage in your strength. I feel compassion in your willingness to be weak. I see grace in our shared experience of coming together, marked by our failures and imperfections, and finding nothing but mercy and forgiveness waiting for us at the cross. <br><br><div style="text-align: center;">So this Sunday, let's stand together, side by side, and sing... </div><br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/38336362015-08-26T13:40:00-04:002017-01-13T19:03:02-05:00BIG NEWS: Our New House! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gerald and I married on February 10, 2006.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our first year of marriage, we sold everything we owned, tied the dogs to the roof of the car, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and moved to Nashville!</div><br>We often tell this abbreviated story in our concerts, but most people don't realize that when we say 'everything', we actually mean - our house.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>We literally sold our house, and almost everything in it, to move to Nashville.</b></div><br>It was a bold choice, but we had no doubts about the decision, and we have never regretted it.<br><br>Owning a home had been a long held dream of mine. When we sold our little townhouse, I told Gerald, <i>"One day, I'll want to buy a house again."</i><br><br><div style="text-align: center;">Well, today, that dream has come true!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>We are thrilled to announce that we have bought a new home! </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LU4S_a1IQUo/Vd3ePqaLHBI/AAAAAAAABf4/0meyrGDGvaM/s1600/n30050194_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//4.bp.blogspot.com/-LU4S_a1IQUo/Vd3ePqaLHBI/AAAAAAAABf4/0meyrGDGvaM/s400/n30050194_1.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our new home! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d5c1arEdONI/Vd3eTDgkwyI/AAAAAAAABgk/4jrS3viYu34/s1600/IMG_7607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-d5c1arEdONI/Vd3eTDgkwyI/AAAAAAAABgk/4jrS3viYu34/s400/IMG_7607.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front porch, ready for a glass of sweet tea!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br><div style="text-align: center;">It's a beautiful century home built in 1913. It has the perfect mix of original character with fully updated wiring, plumbing, and appliances.</div><br><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dt7TsiDl0Lc/Vd3eREnR-oI/AAAAAAAABgU/4TjGeeFgPYg/s1600/n30050194_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dt7TsiDl0Lc/Vd3eREnR-oI/AAAAAAAABgU/4TjGeeFgPYg/s400/n30050194_6.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front rooms with 10-foot ceilings, fire place, and original woodwork.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ApMr_uhwEsU/Vd3eGw9ZASI/AAAAAAAABfc/mwxpSUqjZ28/s1600/IMG_7564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-ApMr_uhwEsU/Vd3eGw9ZASI/AAAAAAAABfc/mwxpSUqjZ28/s400/IMG_7564.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="175" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original stained glass, in all my favourite colours!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lj4bLkjWLPQ/Vd3ePeXwg8I/AAAAAAAABf0/agJKyVxYd6M/s1600/IMG_7579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//4.bp.blogspot.com/-lj4bLkjWLPQ/Vd3ePeXwg8I/AAAAAAAABf0/agJKyVxYd6M/s400/IMG_7579.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sellers had painted a forest in the nursery. This is my new creative space!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Emga9fJmt8/Vd3eL9w2KqI/AAAAAAAABfk/VmuqT9IzKbM/s1600/IMG_7586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Emga9fJmt8/Vd3eL9w2KqI/AAAAAAAABfk/VmuqT9IzKbM/s400/IMG_7586.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We even have pillars in the master bedroom!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fDTzWqOa44A/Vd3eRFmOPTI/AAAAAAAABgY/aQ0ZlfOI6QE/s1600/n30050194_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//2.bp.blogspot.com/-fDTzWqOa44A/Vd3eRFmOPTI/AAAAAAAABgY/aQ0ZlfOI6QE/s400/n30050194_8.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perfect size for a Newfoundland kitchen party! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SYRG1udBYHU/Vd3eQW4LDUI/AAAAAAAABgI/YUJLfuYDJkM/s1600/n30050194_19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//3.bp.blogspot.com/-SYRG1udBYHU/Vd3eQW4LDUI/AAAAAAAABgI/YUJLfuYDJkM/s400/n30050194_19.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why yes, that is a clawfoot tub...</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;">We've spent the entire summer looking at listings, visiting open houses, and touring homes. Because we're a freelance ministry, we're not locked into any location, so we actually looked at several different towns and cities. We finally settled on beautiful St. Catharines - The Garden City!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ADR8ktLbPmE/Vd3eQRpSQCI/AAAAAAAABgE/pCd0KieJ0sw/s1600/n30050194_11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-ADR8ktLbPmE/Vd3eQRpSQCI/AAAAAAAABgE/pCd0KieJ0sw/s400/n30050194_11.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can't wait to see our puppies running around here! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qbeAwXVyAc0/Vd3eOqM3QeI/AAAAAAAABfs/DYnT_1sistA/s1600/IMG_7570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//4.bp.blogspot.com/-qbeAwXVyAc0/Vd3eOqM3QeI/AAAAAAAABfs/DYnT_1sistA/s400/IMG_7570.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hydrangeas in the yard...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br><br><br>We're so excited to share this news with you! We wanted you to join in the celebrations, but I also wanted to share this thought with you:<br><br>Throughout this whole process, I've been reminded of God's faithfulness. These words keep running through my mind:<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>plans to give you hope and a future."</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Jeremiah 29:11</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>If you know our story, you'll know that we've faced some significant challenges in the days since we first sold that house. Perhaps you've also had to put aside a dream to pursue something else. But remember, God knows the desires of your heart.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>C.S. Lewis</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: start;">The timing or the results might not be quite what you had in mind. Maybe the dream will look different in reality than in your imagination. Or perhaps as your life changes, you discover dreams you didn't even know you wanted.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">On this day, I encourage you to pursue your dreams. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;">Big dreams, small dreams, impossible dreams. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;">They may come true. They may not. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><b>But in pursuing them, <span style="font-size: large;">we make the world a better place. </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/38168582015-08-12T01:01:00-04:002015-08-12T15:02:41-04:00Worship Wednesdays - 7 Essentials Bands Often Forget to Bring on Their First Tour<a href="http://blog.sonicbids.com/" target="_blank">Sonicbids</a> has fantastic articles for indie musicians. They offer inspiring, practical tips for booking tours, promoting your music, and surviving the industry. Last week, they posted an article that caught my eye: <a href="http://blog.sonicbids.com/7-essentials-bands-often-forget-to-bring-on-their-first-tour?utm_campaign=Music%20101%20Post&utm_content=18368873&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook" target="_blank">7 Essentials Bands Often Forget to Bring on Their First Tour.</a> Being a touring musician myself, I clicked the article. I'm such a fan of their advice, but this was pretty much useless. A skateboard? A solar-powered shower? Seriously? Since when are these things considered 'essential' to touring?<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">In response, I started writing my own list.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here are my </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>7 Essentials Bands Often Forget to Bring on Their First Tour:</b></span></div><br><br><b>#1. Contracts in Triplicate</b><br><br>We never leave for tour without well-organized contracts. I have copies online, copies on my computer, and a binder with printed copies. It gives me all the practical info about time, place, and contacts. The printed copies are handy to pull out when you arrive at the gig and there are disagreements about fees, etc.<br><br><b>#2. Non-Perscription Drugs</b><br><br>Obviously you need your prescriptions, but I also bring a stash of antihistamines, aspirins, and vitamins. I've been known to put a thermometer and cold medication in my bag during cold/flu season. To save space, I pack our pills in small baggies <i>(one baggie for each pill type)</i>. Write the name, dose, and instructions for each pill on the baggie with a sharpie. You never know when a headache or sniffle will hit, and Murphy's Law tells you the closest Walmart will be an hour away.<br><br><b>#3. GPS - Online & Offline</b><br><br>We love the ease of using Google Maps on our iPhones. However, on our first few tours, we found ourselves in rural areas with no signal. Since then, we've added an offline GPS to our phones. They take up a bit of space as you need to download the maps to your phone, but they're worth it. If space is an issue, just add the ones you need before the tour and delete them after.<br><br><b>#4. Car Care</b><br><br>In the rush before the tour, your car can be overlooked, but on the tour itself, a healthy car is vital. Before leaving, get an oil change, ideally at a garage that includes an overall safety check. Make sure your CAA/AAA membership is up to date. And depending on season and area, consider purchasing new windshield wipers or snow tires.<br><br><b>#5. Change of Season Clothes</b><br><br>Before leaving for tour, check out the general weather reports for your tour area, and be aware of changing seasons. In our first tours, we packed for fall, but winter came early. We found ourselves shopping for winter coats and mittens. It was annoying to have to buy items we already had at home, not to mention the added time, and trying to find space for big coats in an already full car. Now, we pack a bag for our daily clothes, and store anything extra in vacuum-packed bags under the seats.<br><br><b>#6. Your Smart Phone</b><br><br>Okay, I know you're not going to forget your phone, but taking advantage of apps will save you a tonne of space when packing. In addition to being our phone, my iPhone is also my camera, video camera, alarm clock, tuner, metronome, voice recorder, GPS, and e-book reader. We use songwriting apps to turn hours of driving into creative time. My phone contains my vocal warm-up, my Bible, and my morning devotional. And one of the most valuable tools: my phone takes credit card payments! How, you ask? Read on...<br><br><b>#7. Square</b><br><br>If you sell CDs or any kind of product, you need <a href="https://squareup.com/ca" target="_blank">Square</a>! Perfect for the indie musician, Square is a free app that allows you to take credit card payments. I could write an entire blogpost about how much I love Square. It's easy to use with lots of free resources. They take a small percentage <i>(which you can write off)</i> and handle the full transaction for you. The money is literally deposited into your bank account, so you're not responsible for handling anyone's credit info. And you'll find a huge increase in sales. People without cash will be able to purchase CDs, but also, folks with only a $10 in their pocket will sometimes choose credit cards so they can make a larger purchase. Seriously, I could talk all day about Square...<br><br><b>BONUS: #8. Paper Towels</b><br><br><span style="text-align: center;">Poke a roll of paper towels and/or wet wipes in the back seat. At some point, a drink will spill or mud will get on the speaker or some other type of mess will happen. At that moment, you'll be so glad you thought to pack them!</span><br><span style="text-align: center;"><br></span><br><div style="text-align: center;">So, these are my 8 essentials for your tour. It should go without saying, but remember <u>extra</u> cords, batteries, chargers, and any other small tech thing you might need. Have a backup of any midi programs, tracks, etc, on a hard drive.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our motto: <b>It's better to have it than wish we did!</b>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Please feel free to add your suggestions in the Comments section.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Happy Touring!!!! </b></div><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/38040912015-08-05T01:01:00-04:002017-01-13T19:03:02-05:00Worship Wednesdays - Where Does The Music Go?When you arrive at our concert, you'll notice a long green table covered with our <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/store" target="_blank">CDs</a>. Our 'product table'. We believe strongly in the ministry of recorded music. Not only do you get to take our music home with you, but at the table, we also have the chance to meet people and exchange stories.<br><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jM1Pq0-a_Bo/VcFhOlegUlI/AAAAAAAABew/C1naaLQVvao/s1600/C4550F32-D72B-4844-AD98-7B68B18D6274.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//3.bp.blogspot.com/-jM1Pq0-a_Bo/VcFhOlegUlI/AAAAAAAABew/C1naaLQVvao/s400/C4550F32-D72B-4844-AD98-7B68B18D6274.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="400" width="395" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the product table, after our recent concert at St. John's Ida. <br>Meeting with Darrin Gaudreau, director of Street Hope Peterborough. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br>At the end of the night, we pack up, and move on to the next venue. As our travels continue, we often talk about the church, the event, the community, or someone special who really touched our hearts. But you know what we never used to think about? The CDs.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">Yes, the CDs.</div><br>We would lay them on the table, sell them, and never think of them again.<br><br>That was, until this spring in Trinity, Newfoundland. Partway through the first half of the show, I introduced our original song, "<a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/album/62816/every-church-is-a-small-town-covenant-award-nominee?autostart=true" target="_blank">Every Church Is A Small Town</a>." I heard a woman gasp, <i>"Oh, I love this song!"</i> It caught my ear, but by then Gerald was playing the opening chords and singing the first verse. The chorus arrived and I added my harmony. But what was I hearing? Was there some kind of feedback, or echo? Why was I hearing other voices?<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Because they were singing along! </span></div><br>A number of audience members who had bought CDs on our last visit had listened to them so much they had learned to sing along on their favourite songs.<br><br>Gerald and I were humbled and thrilled. We'd heard stories over the years of people sharing their favourite songs, or letting us know how a particular CD had encouraged them during a rough time, but this was something different. It's already pretty awesome when you lead a group in a song you wrote, but when they start singing along uninvited, well, I just have no words for that.<br><br>After that moment, we started to become very aware of what was happening to our CDs when they leave our possession. We imagined people playing the discs in living rooms or loading the mp3s on their iPod. They might listen on their drive to work, or while making dinner. Maybe it's their exam soundtrack, or perhaps they choose a favourite song when they need some encouragement.<br><br>It was brought home to us again this past Sunday at a church in Toronto. A woman told us that she uses our CDs in an exercise class that she teaches! It's not a 'Christian exercise class', but the group loves the songs, so she includes them in her playlist. A use for our music we never imagined on our own!<br><br>I once heard Gloria Gaither speak about her and Bill's classic song, "<a href="https://youtu.be/nWTnLD4wOl0" target="_blank">Because He Lives</a>." She talked about the third verse and its powerful message of passing from this world to the next. She said she chose that topic for the verse because she felt it was the strongest songwriting choice. A few years later, when struggling with the death of a family member, that was the verse that gave her the most comfort. She told us, <b>"Write great songs, because you never know when you'll need them to minister to you."</b><br><br><div style="text-align: center;">I would also add, <b>"Write great songs, because you never know where they'll end up."</b>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Write great songs. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Use amazing craft. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Be intentional with your message. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Make beautiful recordings. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then, send them out into the world.</span></div><br><div style="text-align: center;">You may never know where they land, but if you've created something meaningful, </div><div style="text-align: center;">it may just change someone's life.</div><br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/37939712015-07-29T01:01:00-04:002015-07-29T13:46:22-04:00Worship Wednesdays - 10 Years Ago Today...<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">... everything changed.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">All summer long, I'd been praying for direction. What should I do with my life, my art, my passions?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>"Dear Lord. Smack me over the head!"</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And then, 10 years ago tonight, <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2005/07/nashville-day-10.html" target="_blank">it happened</a>.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">I could have happened a hundred different ways, but there in the heart of Nashville, it happened.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
</div><div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">Last winter, I told the story as part of our <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/st-andrews-2013" target="_blank">Musical Residency</a> in </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">St. Andrews By-the-Sea, New Brunswick:</div>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zT0hMo42OMk" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">The past 10 years have been an extraordinary journey. Gerald and I married, moved to Nashville, and began the greatest adventure of our lives. I pursued a solo Gospel career that brought me into Music Row studios and the National Quartet Convention. Gerald wrote hundreds of songs, some with Grammy winners and Hall of Fame songwriters. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">And in a twist no one saw coming (<i>or at least, that <u>we</u> didn't see coming</i>), all our hopes, dreams and talents came together in the birth of <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/" target="_blank">Infinitely More</a>. Since our 2013 debut <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/album/62812/infinitely-more-covenant-award-nominee?autostart=true" target="_blank">album</a>, we've toured thousands of kilometres, recorded 4 CDs, received 6 national music award nominations, and were recently honoured with a <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2015/06/infinitely-more-named-stonebridge.html" target="_blank">Stonebridge Guitar artist deal.</a>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">On this day, I'm filled with memories of that awesome summer, and overwhelmed with gratitude for this journey. I'm humbled beyond thought that God would see fit to call Me - broken, faulty, messy Me - to spread His message. I'm honoured by the countless people who have brought our <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/store" target="_blank">Infinitely More music</a> into their homes and churches. I'm thankful for the many talented and supportive friends we've met along the way. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And I'm lost for words in this one fact: I get to share this all with my creative, amazing, generous husband. Gerald, I can't imagine this adventure without you. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you for being my partner in all things good and true.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">So today, I look to the future with great anticipation and excitement. We're planning a radio release, new concerts, and our first Prairies Road Trip. We have new songs bubbling up every day, and we find endless inspiration in the incredible people we meet on musical adventures.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>And the thing that continues to amaze me the most: every day, I get to make music that shares God's unfailing mercy, grace, and love. I can't imagine a better way to spend a life.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here's to the next 10 years! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><br></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px;"><span class="font_regular" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: firebrick; margin: 0px;"><em style="margin: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Glory to God, whose power, working in us, can do </span></strong></em></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px;"><span class="font_regular" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: firebrick; margin: 0px;"><em style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Infinitely More</span></b></span><strong style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px;"> </strong><strong style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">than we can ask or imagine.</span></strong><strong style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px;"> </strong></em></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; margin: 0px;">Eph. 3:20</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><br></div>
</div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/37870922015-07-22T01:01:00-04:002017-01-13T19:03:02-05:00Worship Wednesdays - Booking the Prairies Road Trip!<div style="text-align: center;">This fall, we take on a new Adventure:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Our first Prairies Road Trip!</b></span></div><br>For the last five years, we've toured East, but for the first time, we're heading West.<br><br>We'll leave Burlington, Ontario, in the final days of September. Throughout October, we'll sing concerts, lead worship, and teach workshops in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.<br><br>By the first weekend of November, we'll hit Edmonton, Alberta, for <a href="http://www.gmaweek.com/" target="_blank">GMA Canada Week</a>! We'll have 4 days of workshops, showcases, and other great events with our fellow GMA artists.<br><br>From there, we'll drive home to Burlington with just enough time to take a little break before jumping into the Christmas season.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">To summarize: 6 weeks. 4 provinces. 7200 kilometres. </span></div><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dmd2ruOCIF4/Va_AAjWjoJI/AAAAAAAABec/b52o-j4jhFU/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-07-07%2Bat%2B4.00.08%2BPM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dmd2ruOCIF4/Va_AAjWjoJI/AAAAAAAABec/b52o-j4jhFU/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-07-07%2Bat%2B4.00.08%2BPM.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="353" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our tour route! </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br>Booking a tour of this size is always a challenge, but booking a tour this size when we've <u>never</u> sung in any of these areas is a particular challenge! We need a huge number of events to make this happen. My days are currently filled with reaching out to churches across our tour route, introducing our <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/" target="_blank">Infinitely More</a> ministry, and asking the all-important question, <i>"Would you like to host a concert?"</i><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>How can you help?</b></div><br>- If you're in the any of these areas, or you know friends in the area, we'd love to sing for you! We'll be performing church, community, and house concerts. Please <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/contact" target="_blank">contact</a> me for more information.<br><br>- Please keep us in prayer that we'll book the number of events that we need.<br><br>- Please feel free to share this post with anyone who might be interested!<br><br>- Join our <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/contact" target="_blank">mailing list</a> or follow us on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/infinitelymoreband" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/infinitely_more" target="_blank">Twitter</a> for the most recent news.<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you! We're so excited about this new adventure, and this opportunity to share our music and message with a whole new audience.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'll keep you updated on how things shape up!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/37786622015-07-15T01:01:00-04:002017-01-13T19:03:02-05:00Concert Tomorrow Night!<div style="text-align: center;">We're looking forward to our return visit to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.789230251128316.1073741840.178473818870632&type=3" target="_blank">St. John's Ida</a> tomorrow night!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">This special concert will be a fundraiser for Threshold Ministries, </div><div style="text-align: center;">which provides outreach to people in the Peterborough area.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please come join us!</span></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y8CoVJihTp4/VaaGlYoKPiI/AAAAAAAABeI/zbM_XLGbsQo/s1600/Poster%2B-%2BSt.%2BJohn%2527s%2BIda%2B-%2Bjpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//4.bp.blogspot.com/-y8CoVJihTp4/VaaGlYoKPiI/AAAAAAAABeI/zbM_XLGbsQo/s640/Poster%2B-%2BSt.%2BJohn%2527s%2BIda%2B-%2Bjpeg.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="640" width="494" /></a></div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/37696612015-07-08T01:01:00-04:002017-01-13T19:03:02-05:00Book Review: Aloof, by Tony Kriz<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I3hM6931u9s/VZxCm46l4LI/AAAAAAAABd0/K1Tp76Hiyp8/s1600/21550589.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="//3.bp.blogspot.com/-I3hM6931u9s/VZxCm46l4LI/AAAAAAAABd0/K1Tp76Hiyp8/s320/21550589.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="209" /></a>I first fell in love with the writing of <a href="http://tonykriz.com/" target="_blank">Tony Kriz</a> when I reviewed <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2012/11/book-review-neighbors-and-wise-men-by.html" target="_blank">Neighbors and Wise Men</a>. I jumped at the chance to review <b>Aloof</b>, with its intriguing subtitle: <b>Figuring Out Life With A God Who Hides</b>.<br><br>What do we do with a God who says He wants to be in relationship with us, yet so often seems distant and silent? Through stories, memories, and theological wrestling, Kriz takes on this most difficult and ultimately unanswerable question. Throughout the book, I found myself drifting away to ponder the ideas and possibilities raised in his vibrant and engaging stories. I turned down page corners and wrote my own thoughts in the margins. I circled my favourite chapters in the table of contents.<br><br>This is a book for anyone who has straddled the thin line between doubt and wonder. It's a book for people who understand that recognizing how far we are from God is our first step towards intimacy with God.<br><br><b>I highly recommend it.</b><br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div><br><br><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."</span></i>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/37615022015-07-01T01:01:00-04:002017-01-13T19:03:02-05:00Worship Wednesdays - Happy Canada Day! <div style="text-align: center;">One year ago today, we were in Nashville, recording <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/store" target="_blank">How The Light Gets In</a>. We celebrated Canada Day with Tim Horton's coffee, maple syrup candies, and Laura Secord Miniatures for all the musicians.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Today, we're blessed to celebrate in Canada with our family!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wherever you find yourself today, we hope you celebrate our beautiful country.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>HAPPY CANADA DAY!!!!!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tWtkOtnBJ4E/VZNabTA26xI/AAAAAAAABdY/2ZKU8apKBBw/s1600/IMG_4200%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-tWtkOtnBJ4E/VZNabTA26xI/AAAAAAAABdY/2ZKU8apKBBw/s640/IMG_4200%2B2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/37532482015-06-24T09:00:00-04:002015-06-24T14:16:01-04:00Worship Wednesdays - What Worship Leaders Can Learn From Wedding DJs...<div style="text-align: center;">Last week, <a href="http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2015/06/05/for-wedding-music-couples-weigh-hiring-dj-against-going-diy.html" target="_blank">this article</a> appeared in the Toronto Star.</div><br>The basic idea behind the article is that many new couples are choosing to program their own wedding playlist instead of hiring a professional DJ. The bride and groom load up their iPod with their favourite songs, and ask a willing guest to run the list throughout the night.<br><br>As someone who chose to have a friend make our wedding video, and as someone who will go through life with <u>no</u> wedding video, I'm a fan of hiring professionals to do professional jobs on your big day. But I digress...<br><br>The reasons for not hiring a DJ ran from budget to simplifying the wedding process, but the biggest reason was music choice.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"Outside of the budget-conscious, the couples most likely to program their own playlist tend to have — as (DJ Scott) Rideout puts it — 'specific tastes.'"</i></div><br>Couples want a particular kind of music, only their favourite songs, played throughout the evening. It makes sense on first glance, but this is the statement that really caught my eye:<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>“Generally, I find those people try to cater to a smaller number of people and don’t look at the big picture,” Rideout said. “You’ve got a room of 100 people — </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>you want 100 people to know the songs you’re playing.”</b></i></div><br>Wow. My mind flashed to the many conversations I've had with worship leaders and music directors.<br><br>In most churches, the music director will have the job of choosing all the music for Sunday morning. There may be input and consultation with clergy, but the main direction for a congregation's song choice will often come from one person.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What happens when that one person allows their personal taste </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">to dominate the musical voice of a congregation?</span></div><br>I've talked with music directors who only want hymns, from one specific hymnal. I've chatted with worship leaders who only choose songs from the CCLI Top 20 list. I've met others who insist that their congregation only likes Country, or refuses to listen to Jazz, or some other genre prejudice.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">But here's the truth: </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>You want your 100 <i>(or 10 or 1000)</i> people on Sunday to know the songs you're playing.</b></div><br>I'm certainly not saying we shouldn't introduce new music or stretch our musical boundaries - anyone familiar with our <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/" target="_blank">Infinitely More</a> ministry knows that we're big fans of creating and sharing new music. And yes, the personal taste, knowledge, and skill set of any worship leader will always affect the music we play. But we need to think about all 100 people when we're planning our songs for worship. They may not 'know' every song, but wouldn't it be great if they could at least find one song that connects with them personally in worship?<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">Do you have folks in your congregation who love hymns? Include some. </div><div style="text-align: center;">New worship songs? Teach some of those too. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Do you have children in your worship? Make sure there's a song for them. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Do you have songwriters? How could their music influence your worship?</div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Music style influences worship, but no one style dictates or defines worship. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">All music styles can be used for worship when directed towards God.</span></div><br>What I'm proposing definitely makes our jobs harder. Searching multiple sources, creating new music, finding fresh ways to play ancient songs, performing a variety of styles, and being cognizant of the full diversity of your congregation is a lot of work. But here's the payoff: at the end of Sunday worship, the Soccer Mom, the Overworked CEO, the Rebel Teen, the Kind Grandmother, the Struggling Doubter, the Tween, the Lifelong Faithful, the Visitor, the Flag Waver, and the Prayerbook Defender can all leave saying, <i>"I felt connected in that worship. That song... That song was for me."</i><br><br>Let's rise to the challenge. We can't please all the people all the time, but perhaps, by expanding our own personal palette, we can create a musical voice that represents our full church family, draws us closer into worship, and brings joy to God.<br><br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/37469672015-06-18T09:00:00-04:002017-01-13T19:03:02-05:00Infinitely More named Stonebridge Guitar Artists!<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Yesterday, we shared the story of our recent Guitar Hunt. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>You can read all the details <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2015/06/worship-wednesdays-guitar-hunt.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today, we're sharing the awesome conclusion!</span></div><br>As we searched and played, Gerald discovered a guitar he'd never heard of before: <a href="http://stonebridgeguitars.com/" target="_blank">Stonebridge</a>.<br><br>We hadn't seen them in any stores (and we visited <u>a lot</u>!) yet we saw them in videos, played by master finger-style guitarists.<br><br>A quick Google search uncovered the story behind these European gems. Only in North America for less than a decade, Stonebridge Guitars are distributed in a handful of select, boutique guitar stores. Some of the stores even feature an appointment-only policy. Fortunately, their North American distribution - <a href="http://www.brickhouseguitars.com/" target="_blank">Brickhouse Guitars</a> - is only an hour from us.<br><br>It was a short trip from Discovery to Love. Gorgeous handcrafted instruments with stunning tone and playability. The search for our dream guitar had ended.<br><br>It wasn't long before we discovered the <a href="http://stonebridgeguitars.com/artists-a-z/" target="_blank">Artist Collaboration Program</a> and filled out our application.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>We're proud to announce that Infinitely More </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>is the newest Stonebridge Artist!</b></span></div><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wXqgFkceAP4/VYIQEoptsdI/AAAAAAAABck/Q_wi_n2Dkjc/s1600/11385206_1661691444062873_416825187_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//3.bp.blogspot.com/-wXqgFkceAP4/VYIQEoptsdI/AAAAAAAABck/Q_wi_n2Dkjc/s640/11385206_1661691444062873_416825187_n.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Infinitely More, with our new band member! </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br>We're honoured to represent this wonderful guitar, and can't wait to add its beautiful sound to our live shows.<br><br><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2XyvlBMGUig/VYIUfQ-AS5I/AAAAAAAABc4/EmHyI9JoYdo/s1600/60153-stonebridge-g24ck-c01%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//2.bp.blogspot.com/-2XyvlBMGUig/VYIUfQ-AS5I/AAAAAAAABc4/EmHyI9JoYdo/s640/60153-stonebridge-g24ck-c01%2B%25282%2529.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elegant and beautiful! </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br>It's a stunning instrument - rich cedar top, master grade shimmering koa sides and back, paduak binding and appointments.<br><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7GdUXVC7svY/VYIUfqNkUSI/AAAAAAAABc0/5Jtdjt7HDWY/s1600/60153-stonebridge-g24ck-c02%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-7GdUXVC7svY/VYIUfqNkUSI/AAAAAAAABc0/5Jtdjt7HDWY/s640/60153-stonebridge-g24ck-c02%2B%25282%2529.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The light shimmers off the stunning koa!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br>The sound is incredible, but when we sang with it, and heard its tone blend with our voices, well, that was just magic. We brought it home on Tuesday and it's already inspired at least one new song!<br><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t7fYMqlihOU/VYIUfZNLJcI/AAAAAAAABcw/5qk8UfHpWgQ/s1600/60153-stonebridge-g24ck-c08%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//2.bp.blogspot.com/-t7fYMqlihOU/VYIUfZNLJcI/AAAAAAAABcw/5qk8UfHpWgQ/s640/60153-stonebridge-g24ck-c08%2B%25282%2529.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deep cutaway and simple inlays add the perfect finishing touches.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>What an awesome end to our Guitar Hunt! </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">We hope you'll come out to see our new guitar at an upcoming <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/calendar" target="_blank">event</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">In the meantime, we're off to make some great music with the newest member of our band...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/37451212015-06-17T01:30:00-04:002017-01-13T19:03:02-05:00Worship Wednesdays - The Guitar Hunt!<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">"I want a new guitar."</span></i></div><br>Common words from a guitar player like Gerald, but when he said it this spring, I knew something was in the air.<br><br>Years ago, Gerald found a stunningly beautiful Martin Simpson Bourgeois guitar. This handmade instrument has a rich tone and moving sound. It's so special, it's actually featured in<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Guitars-Dream-Playing-Before-Universe/dp/0789327015" target="_blank"> 1001 Guitars to Dream of Playing Before You Die</a>.<br><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f3MaW5-4mGo/VYDlH1yE_3I/AAAAAAAABbg/LqUtJ5qlPX4/s1600/IMG_4138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//4.bp.blogspot.com/-f3MaW5-4mGo/VYDlH1yE_3I/AAAAAAAABbg/LqUtJ5qlPX4/s400/IMG_4138.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bourgeois guitar as featured on Be Thou My Vision (<a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Store" target="_blank">How The Light Gets In</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br>But we're not playing the Bourgeois live. We just drove it <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/east-coast-tour-2015" target="_blank">9767 KM</a> throughout the <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/east-coast-tour-2015" target="_blank">East Coast</a>, and it barely left its case.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"I want to sell the Bourgeois, and buy a new cornerstone acoustic guitar for us."</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, the hunt began.</span></div><br>We've bought a number of instruments and lots of gear since we first met, and nothing, <u>nothing</u> has been as intensive as this guitar search.<br><br>It started in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, where we met this charming limited edition Taylor. Only 75 were made, exclusively for <a href="https://www.long-mcquade.com/50937/Guitars/Acoustic/Taylor_Guitars/L_M_Custom_Mahogany_GA_Acoustic_Electric.htm" target="_blank">Long & McQuade</a>. Mahogany body with a burgundy finish and maple leaf inlays in the fretboard. Lovely.<br><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sr_bR6IU77s/VYDlCraUiyI/AAAAAAAABbU/gSmnngQlShE/s1600/IMG_1835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sr_bR6IU77s/VYDlCraUiyI/AAAAAAAABbU/gSmnngQlShE/s400/IMG_1835.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="327" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Limited edition Taylor in Dartmouth</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br><br>We visited stores in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, and Ontario. At each one we played Taylors, Martins, Breedloves, Collings, and all kinds of locally made treasures. <i>(We actually played 3 of the 75 limited edition Taylors as we visited Long & McQuades across the country. The Dartmouth one is best.)</i><br><br>A few weeks in, we visited Musicfest at <a href="https://cosmomusic.ca/" target="_blank">Cosmo Music</a>. There, we attended the Taylor road show, getting an education on the various effects of body shape and tone woods on the sound of each guitar. We spent the better part of the day with the Taylor reps, playing instruments and hearing stories about how their guitars are made.<br><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S0yu07tQicQ/VYDlH78naUI/AAAAAAAABbc/kt8WqficTn4/s1600/IMG_7380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//2.bp.blogspot.com/-S0yu07tQicQ/VYDlH78naUI/AAAAAAAABbc/kt8WqficTn4/s400/IMG_7380.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taylor Guitars road show</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br>Later in the day, we were introduced to Cole Clark guitars. These gorgeous instruments are made in Australia, primarily with indigenous woods. Interesting look and great sound.<br><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pNK9ArdM5Uk/VYDlM3bwFNI/AAAAAAAABbs/7ED1xXazsk4/s1600/IMG_1938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-pNK9ArdM5Uk/VYDlM3bwFNI/AAAAAAAABbs/7ED1xXazsk4/s400/IMG_1938.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying Cole Clark Guitars at Cosmo</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br>Our search began to occupy all our waking thoughts. At home, Gerald was pouring over hours and hours of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/InfinitelyMoreBand" target="_blank">Youtube</a> videos. He watched finger-style superstars like Don Ross and Calum Graham to see what they're playing. He studied guitar manufacturing, and the fascinating work of Andy Powers, who's using techniques used on violins and cellos to bring a new sound to Taylor guitars.<br><br>We began visiting guitar stores all around Southern Ontario. Every day we found a new one. No store was too big or too small to be excluded from our search. Along the way, we found fantastic stores, each one owned and staffed by people with a passion for guitars. As we played close to 100 guitars, we began to narrow down our requirements of size, shape, tone ...<br><br>At one point in the search, we realized that we weren't just looking for a guitar - <b>it was like we were searching for a 3rd member for our band</b>. Since our live concert is basically guitar and two voices, we needed an instrument that wasn't just beautiful sounding. It also needed to fit into our blend. It will shape and influence our sound, our vibe, and our creativity.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The hunt continued....</span></div><br>We discovered <a href="http://www.theguitarshop.ca/" target="_blank">The Guitar Shop</a> in Mississauga. The search was narrowing to the new line of maple Taylors. We sampled and played, and started to weigh our options.<br><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T7-Sn4lHoTA/VYDlSDvXgxI/AAAAAAAABb8/3sUP53N7aM8/s1600/IMG_7384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//2.bp.blogspot.com/-T7-Sn4lHoTA/VYDlSDvXgxI/AAAAAAAABb8/3sUP53N7aM8/s400/IMG_7384.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waves of guitars at The Guitar Shop</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br><a href="http://www.theacousticroom.ca/store/" target="_blank">The Acoustic Room</a> in Hamilton had only opened a few days earlier. We played Taylors and more Cole Clarks in this gorgeous, intimate store.<br><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J9LuszIvmAI/VYDlRj_FY0I/AAAAAAAABb0/bEG4F6eammk/s1600/IMG_7393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-J9LuszIvmAI/VYDlRj_FY0I/AAAAAAAABb0/bEG4F6eammk/s400/IMG_7393.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Acoustic Room - worth the drive to Hamilton</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: right;"></div><br>We finally found ourselves in <a href="http://www.brickhouseguitars.com/" target="_blank">Brickhouse Guitars</a> in Kitchener. Probably the smallest store we visited but one that held the biggest surprise...<br><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N3Oes1IyhJo/VYDnmj6cFxI/AAAAAAAABcI/KyZltiS584o/s1600/IMG_7402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//2.bp.blogspot.com/-N3Oes1IyhJo/VYDnmj6cFxI/AAAAAAAABcI/KyZltiS584o/s400/IMG_7402.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guitar dreaming at Brickhouse Guitars...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What did we find at Brickhouse Guitars? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Will we ever find our dream guitar?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Stay tuned tomorrow for the exciting conclusion, </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>and our big news!!!</b></span></div><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/37366872015-06-10T13:45:00-04:002017-01-13T19:03:01-05:00Worships Wednesdays on Vacation!<div style="text-align: center;">Well, technically it's a STAYcation! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We had an amazing time on our recent East Coast Tour, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and now as the song goes, we're 'home for a rest.'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">You can see photos from the tour on our <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/east-coast-tour-2015" target="_blank">SITE</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/infinitelymoreband" target="_blank">FACEBOOK</a> page.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We'll be back next week with a brand new post...</div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_89T-_CwdGg/VXh3U4dYvSI/AAAAAAAABbA/9tgK_zNJvr0/s1600/Infinitely%2BMore%2BEast%2BCoast%2BTour%2B2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//3.bp.blogspot.com/-_89T-_CwdGg/VXh3U4dYvSI/AAAAAAAABbA/9tgK_zNJvr0/s640/Infinitely%2BMore%2BEast%2BCoast%2BTour%2B2015.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="600" width="640" /></a></div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/37277682015-06-03T09:00:00-04:002017-01-13T19:03:01-05:00Worship Wednesdays - Our 5th East Coast Tour is Complete!<div style="text-align: center;">For the first time in over 2 months, I'm writing you from the comfort of my own home.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div></div><div>
<div style="text-align: center;">Our 5th annual East Coast Tour was an amazing experience, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">filled with music, stories, adventures, and yes, lots and lots of driving!</div>
</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Here are the numbers:</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div></div><div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UTOPjRWHtpY/VW86Gd29z8I/AAAAAAAABas/FIVZ6ihh7-E/s1600/dFe2co1433351959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//2.bp.blogspot.com/-UTOPjRWHtpY/VW86Gd29z8I/AAAAAAAABas/FIVZ6ihh7-E/s640/dFe2co1433351959.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="600" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Thanks to everyone who supported this tour in any way. </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>We couldn't do any of this without you!</b></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">See you in 2016!</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>
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</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/37124002015-05-20T01:01:00-04:002017-01-13T19:03:01-05:00Worship Wednesdays - Peggy's Cove & The "Art" of HopeIn Canada, we just enjoyed the annual tradition of a <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2015/05/worship-wednesdays-time-to-rest.html" target="_blank">relaxing Victoria Day Weekend</a>. As one of our activities, we decided to visit Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia - one of the most celebrated and beautiful spots in the country.<br><br>We strolled throughout the tiny fishing village, enjoying the artisans, feasting on lobster, and soaking in the beauty of the iconic lighthouse.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>One of the most inspiring moments of the day was our visit to the <a href="http://www.peggyscoveregion.com/peggys-cove-area-things-to-do-visit-degarthe-museum/" target="_blank">William deGarthe Museum</a>. </b></div><br>DeGarthe was born in Finland, but emigrated to Canada in the late 1920's where he built his career as a painter and sculptor. In the 1930's, he became one of a growing group of artists to discover the unique beauty of Peggy's Cove. He eventually bought a house in the community and moved his full-time studio to a home overlooking the water.<br><br>Peggy's Cove is a geological wonder with it's amazingly sculptural granite. It seems to erupt from the ground, pushing grass and trees aside and peppering the landscape with oversized boulders.<br><br>Every day, deGarthe would pass a particular outcropping. It was long and narrow. He envisioned it as a canvas, and figures began to emerge in his imagination...<br><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/---Ei1ZlaMbU/VVuoP_Zk3vI/AAAAAAAABaU/ervh3J8yxro/s1600/IMG_7191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//3.bp.blogspot.com/---Ei1ZlaMbU/VVuoP_Zk3vI/AAAAAAAABaU/ervh3J8yxro/s640/IMG_7191.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="326" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">William deGarthe's Fishermen's Monument, in its beautiful natural setting.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br><div>In the 1970's, he began his most ambitious project to date: a Fisherman's Monument. This 30 metre (100 ft) carving would be inspired by and a tribute to the people of Peggy's Cove.</div><div><br></div><div>DeGarthe imagined the mural in three sections: Grace, Bounty, and Work. In Grace, we see St. Elmo spreading his wings of protection over the fishing family. In Bounty, we see the legendary Peggy of the Cove holding a basket of fish, and representing the "Keeper of the Bounty." In Work, we see the people of Peggy's Cove, casting nets and providing the lifeblood of the village. There are 32 figures in all, including men, women, and children. </div><div><br></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-efCogHhfzXU/VVuoPF236aI/AAAAAAAABaA/C11SdeL7zas/s1600/IMG_7189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//4.bp.blogspot.com/-efCogHhfzXU/VVuoPF236aI/AAAAAAAABaA/C11SdeL7zas/s640/IMG_7189.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="114" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Local men & women served as the models for each figure.</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6DksciOJBjg/VVuoPXwSYoI/AAAAAAAABaE/1j9jikkOx3U/s1600/IMG_7192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-6DksciOJBjg/VVuoPXwSYoI/AAAAAAAABaE/1j9jikkOx3U/s400/IMG_7192.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="400" width="163" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fisherman leads the whole monument.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br>Everything was carved by hand. The display of the tools used show small chisels and hammers.<br><br>The work has stood for over 30 years, with minimal damage despite its exposure to hurricanes, harsh winters, salt spray, and ocean winds.<br><br>The Fisherman's Monument is an amazing work of art and, coupled with the museum, is truly worth the visit. It's easy to find inspiration in its beauty, craft, and story.<br><br>But here's the part that blew me away:<br><br><b>deGarthe began his masterpiece when he was in his 70's!</b><br><br>That's right. At over 70 years old, he took on a 10 year project of intense physical labour and deep artistic commitment.<br><br>This just amazes me. What an act of hope!<br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z7wnd3Bb-zk/VVuoP_TqFtI/AAAAAAAABaQ/dIaN0lLuG7c/s1600/IMG_7194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//2.bp.blogspot.com/-z7wnd3Bb-zk/VVuoP_TqFtI/AAAAAAAABaQ/dIaN0lLuG7c/s640/IMG_7194.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="640" width="556" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A detail of St. Elmo watching over the fisher men & women.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br>So many people choose to slow down as they get older. I know people in their 40's and 50's who are already saying things like, <i>"Well, I haven't accomplished it yet, so I guess I won't in this lifetime."</i><br><br>I know there are realistic limits to our ages. I know there are a finite number of things we can do in our time on this earth. But when I heard this story, I was reminded of one of my favourite quotes:<br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>C.S. Lewis</i></div><br>As the story goes, deGarthe wasn't able to finish the final details his masterpiece. But that didn't stop the dream. After his death, a team of artists completed his vision. Because of his passion and commitment, thousands of people continue to be inspired by this wonderful work of art.<br><br>Our skills and talents are not gifts to be held in check. They are not for our satisfaction alone. <b>We are meant to create and share with the world.</b><br><br><div style="text-align: center;">So I challenge myself, and I ask you as well: </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What is your next goal? What is your next dream?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>And now, let's go make it happen! </b></div><br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Our East Coast Tour is in its final weeks! </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Please visit our <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/calendar" target="_blank">Calendar</a> for a concert near you.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/37060292015-05-13T01:01:00-04:002017-01-13T19:03:01-05:00Worship Wednesdays - A Time To Rest...I'm writing today from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. We're now in the 7th week of our <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/calendar" target="_blank">East Coast Tour</a>. So far, we've sung concerts, led worship, and taught worships. We've celebrated Easter, and a very memorable <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2015/04/worship-wednesdays-5-ways-to-welcome.html" target="_blank">Maundy Thursday</a>. We've sung for seniors homes, a youth conference, a <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2015/04/worship-wednesdays-hospital-room-lesson.html" target="_blank">hospital visit</a>, and participated in <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/ecmw-2015" target="_blank">East Coast Music Week</a>. We've driven several thousand kilometres and taken two ferries. We've driven from Spring to Winter and back into Spring again.<br><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">And now, it's time for a rest.</div><br>This weekend, Canada celebrates Victoria Day - a long weekend commonly dedicated to cottages, BBQs, and depending on your area, fishing. Churches expect a surplus of empty pews this Sunday. Needless to say, it was impossible to book any concerts for the weekend.<br><br><div style="text-align: left;">So instead, we will join with the rest of the country in a few days of resting, relaxing, and not doing much of anything.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8fU0lkhtleA/VVKt3-ZXsDI/AAAAAAAABZs/oJPM8JTUpAk/s1600/IMG_7075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-8fU0lkhtleA/VVKt3-ZXsDI/AAAAAAAABZs/oJPM8JTUpAk/s640/IMG_7075.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="188" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">And the timing couldn't be better.</div><br>As a self-confessed workaholic, I've learned the value of taking time off. In a non-traveling week, I am firm about stopping work by a certain hour, and I vigorously claim Monday as our Official Day Off.<br><br>When we're on the road, that's a lot harder to do. With over 30 events in 9 weeks, with 5 provinces worth of driving, finding time off can be a challenge. Our concert days are obviously very active, and even on our non-performing days, I always need to spend a few hours catching up on admin, or booking summer and fall events.<br><br><br>But then I remember verses like these:<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">"By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work."</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Genesis 2:2</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mark 1:35 </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">"[Jesus] said to [his disciples], ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place."</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mark 6:31b-32</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></div><br><br><div style="text-align: center;">God - the Creator of all things - rested. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Jesus - Messiah, Redeemer, Saviour, Healer - rested.</div><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>If God rested, why do I think I can run 24-7 without a break?</b></div><br><br>Jesus took time to be still, to be alone, to hear his own breath. He spent time in prayer, refreshing his soul and reconnecting with God.<br><br>He also took time to be along with his disciples - his closest friends and companions.<br><br>His was work was physically, emotionally, and spiritually draining. It's the kind of work that can easily lead to burnout. And if that had happened, look at all that would have been lost...<br><br>So this weekend, I'll do the same. I'll close my calendar, and spend time with silence. I won't look at my watch, except when I get hungry. I'll spend time exploring the fabulous Halifax area with my beautiful husband and good friends.<br><br>And by the time next week arrives, I'll be ready to head out on the next chapter of our Infinitely More adventure...<br><br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Our East Coast Tour is in its final weeks! </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Please visit our <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/calendar" target="_blank">Calendar</a> for a concert near you.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/36818552015-04-29T01:30:00-04:002017-01-13T19:03:01-05:00Worship Wednesdays - Will Beauty Come From These Ashes?<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The news was devastating - </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">St. Mary The Virgin Church in Indian Bay, Newfoundland, had <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/fire-destroys-anglican-church-in-indian-bay-1.2987059" target="_blank">burned to the ground.</a></span></div><br>The fire had started early in the morning, and by the time the fire crew arrived, the old building was burned beyond saving. Even though we'd never sung in this church, we are good friends with its minister, Rev. David, and had sung for the community twice on our East Coast Tours.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">On Sunday, we sang for the community again at St. Alban's Church in Trinity. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">On Monday, Gerald, Rev. David, and I visited the fire site.</span></div><br>As we opened the car doors, the first thing that hit us was the smell. It's been weeks since the fire, yet a charred smell still fills the air. The next thing to catch our attention were the steps to nowhere. The front steps and the ramp remain completely intact, only burned on the edge that met the building.<br><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ffKrfCSvk5w/VT-W5fLmRHI/AAAAAAAABY4/CoxJCEe36Jo/s1600/IMG_1822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-ffKrfCSvk5w/VT-W5fLmRHI/AAAAAAAABY4/CoxJCEe36Jo/s1600/IMG_1822.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="520" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The unburned steps...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br>We approached the rectangular remains. Despite strong winds, the building had burned down cleanly, the fire never touching the surrounding woods or homes. This is a church that had been lovingly built by hand. Stretching out before us was a haunting black skeleton, burnished and shining in the sunshine.<br><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aOgezN3YDLQ/VT-W6aoRPBI/AAAAAAAABZA/yPofr_gV1N4/s1600/IMG_6891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//3.bp.blogspot.com/-aOgezN3YDLQ/VT-W6aoRPBI/AAAAAAAABZA/yPofr_gV1N4/s1600/IMG_6891.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The devastation. You can see the broken baptismal font lower right.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br>The remains changed as we came closer to the altar area. Pages of hymnals, Bibles, and prayer books were scattered in the ashes. The spines of the books had burned and separated, and the individual pages were only singed on the edges. The white pages floated on the black mess, their messages of hope and comfort gleaming in the sun.<br><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-golCnZVi84M/VT-W95U3vnI/AAAAAAAABZY/eq4xvpEtMh4/s1600/IMG_6898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-golCnZVi84M/VT-W95U3vnI/AAAAAAAABZY/eq4xvpEtMh4/s1600/IMG_6898.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="372" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This hymn seemed hauntingly appropriate in the ashes... </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br><br><i>"I think that's a paten!"</i> David called out. The silver plate used to hold the Communion bread was poking out of the ash. Gerald climbed over the beams and pulled it out. The tiny round plate was still hot and horribly misshapen. We began to notice other pieces of the Communion set - cups, plates, and stems, their silver finish burned off and fused with soot.<br><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7MCv0C6GakM/VT-W8_TDbxI/AAAAAAAABZQ/nfW4kfyDyz8/s1600/IMG_6907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//2.bp.blogspot.com/-7MCv0C6GakM/VT-W8_TDbxI/AAAAAAAABZQ/nfW4kfyDyz8/s1600/IMG_6907.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="227" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Communion pieces pulled from the soot.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br><br>It was then that we noticed the most remarkable sight of the day. Floating above the decimated wreckage, their orange wings caught the sunlight. Two bright, glorious butterflies flitted in the warm air. Below them lay the black, charred devastation. The contrast was striking.<br><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i8Ph5PLlefs/VT-W7ENq40I/AAAAAAAABZI/7iGnjv7n2GU/s1600/IMG_6904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-i8Ph5PLlefs/VT-W7ENq40I/AAAAAAAABZI/7iGnjv7n2GU/s1600/IMG_6904.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="504" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our sign of hope!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br>This church was a cornerstone of the town. It was filled with memories of weddings, baptisms, social nights, music, and family. Its loss brought grief and mourning. And yet, these butterflies danced and played. The three of us watched and marvelled at their lightness. They were in the blackest spot in the area, and yet, they rejoiced. They seemed to say, <i>"Life is still here. There is hope. There is joy. Let the dance continue..."</i><br><br>We will continue to pray for the congregation of Indian Bay as they work through this transition. We don't know what the future will hold for them, but we know there is hope. We know there is joy. We know the dance will continue...<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"... and provide for those who grieve in Zion—</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>to bestow on them a crown of <b>beauty</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> instead of <b>ashes</b>,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>the oil of joy</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> instead of mourning,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>and a garment of praise</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> instead of a spirit of despair."</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Isaiah 61:3 NIV</span></i></div><div>
<div><br></div>
<div><br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Our East Coast Tour is in full swing! </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Please visit our <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Calendar" target="_blank">Calendar</a> for a concert near you.</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>
</div><div><br></div><br><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/36711342015-04-22T07:00:00-04:002017-01-13T19:03:01-05:00Worship Wednesdays - The Hospital Room LessonAs I write this, we're about a third of the way through our <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/calendar" target="_blank">5th Annual East Coast Tour</a>. So far, it's been an amazing journey! Lots of driving, <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/ecmw-2015" target="_blank">East Coast Music Week</a>, the <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/east-coast-tour-2015" target="_blank">GPS Youth Conference</a>, and lots and lots of great laughs with friends and fellow musicians.<br><br>Over the next 9 days, we'll sing 7 <i>(maybe 9!)</i> events in 7 different communities! It's going to be a lot of driving, a lot of singing, and a lot of gear-lifting. Weeks like this are what we live for. They're awesome and exciting. We love the travel, the people, and the music. It can be a little overwhelming, but for the most part, it's nothing short of invigorating.<br><br>Yesterday, Gerald and I had a very different experience. Our good friend Bev <i>(name changed to respect privacy)</i> experienced a hip replacement just before we arrived in St. John's. Over the last few weeks, we've been visiting and laughing and drinking lots of espressos together. A few days ago, she was readmitted to the hospital with a post-surgical infection. These situations are never fun for anyone, but they're a particular challenge when you're a vivacious, go-getting, life-living kind of lady.<br><br><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MTNEwxgoaDQ/VTb4cZeEJ3I/AAAAAAAABYk/Hfb0ehLtTvU/s1600/IMG_0394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-MTNEwxgoaDQ/VTb4cZeEJ3I/AAAAAAAABYk/Hfb0ehLtTvU/s1600/IMG_0394.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Singing in Bev's hospital room...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We knew we might not get to drink espressos together before we leave St. John's, so we figured we'd visit Bev in the hospital. Guitar in hand, we made our way up to her room. We asked the folks in the rooms around her if they'd be disturbed by some music, but they all insisted we keep the doors to the rooms open.<br><br>Over the next 30 minutes, we sang half a dozen favourite songs. "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXBJiEDq0PU" target="_blank">How The Light Gets In</a>," "Hallelujah (Psalm 104)", "Be Thou My Vision," "All You Need Is Love"... songs that by their very nature are filled with peace, joy, and healing. As we sang, Bev closed her eyes and let the music wash over her. She smiled and relaxed.<br><br>This week, I'll be thinking of our hospital room experience. I wanted to be reminded each night that even though we are singing for that wonderful entity known as the Audience, we are also singing for each individual soul in the room. Souls with their own needs, pains, and struggles. I'll think of the gentleness in that hospital room, and remember that, as busy as each day may become, I can trust in God and the music to be the peace, joy, and healing we all need...<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Our East Coast Tour is in full swing! </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Please visit our <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/calendar" target="_blank">Calendar</a> for a concert near you.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/36593132015-04-15T10:27:00-04:002017-01-13T19:03:01-05:00Worship Wednesdays: 5 Ways to Welcome Church Visitors - East Coast style! <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Two weeks ago, we were stranded on an island.</span></div><br>Our ferry, scheduled to take us from Cape Breton island to Newfoundland, was cancelled not once, but twice. The first day was Maundy Thursday, so I decided to take advantage of the delay and attend a worship service at a local church.<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here's how the day unfolded, and </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">5 lessons I learned on how to welcome visitors to your church:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><br><b>#1. Post Your Worship Times </b><br><br><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LrVIlxcnljg/VS5xbiqAYzI/AAAAAAAABYE/KUglGTaQmmI/s1600/cropped-DSC03062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-LrVIlxcnljg/VS5xbiqAYzI/AAAAAAAABYE/KUglGTaQmmI/s1600/cropped-DSC03062.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="239" width="320" /></a>Since we've never spent any real time in North Sydney, my first job was to find a church hosting a Maundy Thursday service. I assumed they all would, but I literally couldn't find Holy Week services listed on any church's websites! I was persistent, and the 5th church site I visited - St. Giles Presbyterian - had them listed on the home page.<br><br><b>LESSON:</b> Don't assume that all 'your people' will know the service times. You never know when a visitor will need your church. Post all the worship times on your site, and highlight special services or changes in the schedule prominently on the home page.<br><br><br><b>#2. Notice the Newcomers</b><br><br>When I arrived at the church, another woman was also parking her car. I asked if I was parked in the correct lot. She asked who I was and if I was visiting. I shared my story about the ferry. By simply noticing and responding with warmth, she immediately made me feel welcome.<br><br><b>LESSON:</b> When we have a rare Sunday off, we've visited a number of churches. In many, we leave without anyone ever introducing themselves or noticing that we're new. Always reach out to the person in the pew (<i>or parking lot</i>) that you don't know. Many people come to church for connection. The Church is not the building. The Church is always the people.<br><br><br><b>#3. Learn and Use Names</b><br><br>My new friend, Ruth, asked my name and remembered it. The congregation that day was small - probably only 20 people. When we entered the sanctuary, she introduced me to the group by name. The parishioners also remembered my name and used it in conversation after the service.<br><br><b>LESSON:</b> There is power in knowing and using someone's name. We've all felt this at various times. Be aware when you meet someone new. Learn their name. Use name tags if you feel this might help. Also, I was comfortable being introduced to the group. Be sensitive to those who might be shy or introverted. Consider introducing them to another individual or smaller group.<br><br><br><b>#4. Explain the Worship</b><br><br>The service was lovely, with a beautiful altar display, a brief sermon, a hymn, and a wonderfully intimate Communion.<br><br><b>LESSON:</b> Not everyone visiting your church will know how worship works. They may be from a different denomination or new to church altogether. Be sure to announce which book to use and how to receive Communion. As my retired minister Dad always says, <i>"Not making announcements is like inviting people to your house and not telling them where the bathroom is."</i><br><br><br><b>#5. Be Generous!</b><br><br>Lunch was planned for after the service, so I was invited to join the group. In true East Coast style, this small group of 20 people had prepared an 8-foot table laden with homemade sandwiches, cookies, bread, preserves, cheese, and biscuits. It was glorious! We ate and laughed and told stories. Knowing that I was stranded for the day, they asked if I wanted to take a plate home with me to the B&B. I thought I'd take a few biscuits and a cookie. This is what they gave me:<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-efqEh5ge5vs/VS5y4zkR82I/AAAAAAAABYQ/zcD49BcALKs/s1600/IMG_6566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-efqEh5ge5vs/VS5y4zkR82I/AAAAAAAABYQ/zcD49BcALKs/s1600/IMG_6566.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><br><br><b>LESSON:</b> Jesus was always incredibly generous with people. Instead of a few bottles of cheap wine, he made over 900 bottles of the very best. He created so much bread and fish there was baskets of food leftover. The woman who simply wanted to touch the hem of his garment got a full on face-to-face healing experience. Let's be generous with our visitors! Let's have them leave feeling loved and valued. After all, isn't that how we're supposed to love? "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you."<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I want to thank the wonderful people of <a href="http://pccweb.ca/stgiles/" target="_blank">St. Giles Presbyterian Church</a>, North Sydney, for their warm hospitality on Maundy Thursday. You truly made me feel loved and welcomed! </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>May God continue to bless your community!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Our East Coast Tour is in full swing! </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Please visit our <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/calendar" target="_blank">Calendar</a> for a concert near you.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/36355502015-04-01T01:01:00-04:002015-04-01T02:15:53-04:00On the Road Again...<div style="text-align: center;">Worship Wednesdays takes a break this week as hit the road!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">This week, we're driving straight through to Newfoundland. That's 5 full days of travel, including a day on the ferry. Please keep us in prayer for safe travels.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We're so excited to begin our 5th annual East Coast Tour! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We are still adding concerts to our schedule, so please check our <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/calendar" target="_blank">Calendar</a> often. </div><div style="text-align: center;">To book a Concert or Workshop, please <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/contact" target="_blank">Contact</a> us.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">April 8-12 - East Coast Music Week, St. John's, NL</div><div style="text-align: center;">April 11 - East Coast Music Week Gospel Showcase, St. John's, NL</div><div style="text-align: center;">April 13 - Seniors Concert, St. John's, NL</div><div style="text-align: center;">April 14 - Seniors Concert, St. John's, NL</div><div style="text-align: center;">April 14 - Seniors Concert, St. John's, NL</div><div style="text-align: center;">April 19 - Worship Leading Workshop, St. John's, NL</div><div style="text-align: center;">April 22 - Concert, Clarenville, NL</div><div style="text-align: center;">April 23 - Concert, St. John's, NL</div><div style="text-align: center;">April 26 - Concert, Trinity, NL</div><div style="text-align: center;">April 29 - Concert, Bonavista, NL </div><div style="text-align: center;">April 30 - Concert, Gander, NL</div><div style="text-align: center;">May 8 - Concert, Bedford, NS</div><div style="text-align: center;">May 10 - Concert, French Village, NS</div><div style="text-align: center;">May 13 - Concert, Dartmouth, NS </div><div style="text-align: center;">May 20 - Concert, Miramichi, NB</div><div style="text-align: center;">May 22 - Concert, Pennfield, NB</div><div style="text-align: center;">May 24 - Concert, St. Andrews, NB</div><div style="text-align: center;">May 27 - Seniors Ministry, Rosemere, QC</div><div style="text-align: center;">May 29-31 - Elim Women's Retreat, Peterborough, ON</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">For full details, please visit our <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/calendar" target="_blank">Calendar</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hope to see you at a concert!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div><div><i><br></i></div><div><br></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/36230202015-03-25T10:37:00-04:002017-01-13T19:03:01-05:00Worship Wednesdays - 3 Priorities for 3 Days! <div style="text-align: center;">The calendar is not my friend right now. No matter how much I stare at it, it refuses to add any more days.</div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This Sunday - a mere 3 days away - we leave for our <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/calendar" target="_blank">5th East Coast Tour! </a></span></div><br>Our first week will be all travel as we drive directly to Newfoundland. Our second week will be the East Coast Music Week, and all the excitement of the East Coast Music Award celebrations. From there, we kick off 7 weeks of <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/calendar" target="_blank">concerts</a>! So far, we have 20 events in 5 provinces, with several more awaiting confirmation.<br><br>We're tremendously excited, but WOW - there's still so much to do! I really need someone to invite a 10-day week...<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here are our top 3 priorities for the next 3 days:</span></div><br><br><br><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a27oE7BXbXQ/VRLEekhm0rI/AAAAAAAABXs/e9nGXXDeZIo/s1600/IMG_9734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="//2.bp.blogspot.com/-a27oE7BXbXQ/VRLEekhm0rI/AAAAAAAABXs/e9nGXXDeZIo/s1600/IMG_9734.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="212" width="320" /></a><b>PACKING</b><br><br>9 weeks on the road requires guitars, sound system, hostess gifts, clothes for both winter & spring weather, and enough CDs for 20+ concerts. This week, we become master Jenga players, trying to squeeze all of that into one little SUV without the whole thing toppling over. I always hope the car will act like Mary Poppin's carpet bag - small on the outside with inexhaustible storage on the inside.<br><br><br><br><b>PLANNING</b><br><br>The first leg of our trip will entail 3000 KM of driving, plus a ferry from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland. This past week, the ferry looked like this:<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zW_DEdbJO4s/VRLBzS55UfI/AAAAAAAABXg/d0KwWF_ddVo/s1600/helicopter-photo-of-mv-blue-puttees.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//3.bp.blogspot.com/-zW_DEdbJO4s/VRLBzS55UfI/AAAAAAAABXg/d0KwWF_ddVo/s1600/helicopter-photo-of-mv-blue-puttees.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="225" width="400" /></a></div><br>Yes, that's the Newfoundland ferry, stuck in the ice. Stuck for several days actually. So, we've planned our drive, but allowed for a few buffer days on the front end. We're watching weather reports and updating our GPS apps. We had our mechanic scour our car and make the appropriate repairs. We renewed our CAA membership. And of course, we're also adding in lots of...<br><br><br><b>PRAYER</b><br><br>We've been praying over this tour for months. We've prayed for the churches who are hosting our ministry, for all who are helping in the planning, and all who will attend. We've prayed for our East Coast Music Awards experience, that whatever we do there will be honouring to God. And as we approach the drive, we're praying for safe travels!<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We would love for you to join us in prayer for this exciting adventure</span>. </div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>If you live in the East Coast, we invite you to<a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/calendar" target="_blank"> attend a concert</a>, or consider <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/contact" target="_blank">hosting your own</a>.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>We invite you to join us on the journey </b><b>by following our <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/" target="_blank">site</a> and <a href="http://facebook.com/infinitelymoreband" target="_blank">Facebook</a> posts.</b>
</div><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div><br><br><br><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/36103292015-03-18T10:00:00-04:002017-01-13T19:03:01-05:00Book Review: Same Kind Of Different As Me, by Ron Hall & Denver Moore<i>"A modern-day slave, an international art dealer, and the unlikely woman who bound them together."</i><br><br>With a subtitle like that, how could I not be intrigued?<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CSNx9kOEdSI/VQmmHhWrVUI/AAAAAAAABXM/-TLCnnY7JA0/s1600/_225_350_Book.28.cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-CSNx9kOEdSI/VQmmHhWrVUI/AAAAAAAABXM/-TLCnnY7JA0/s1600/_225_350_Book.28.cover.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="213" /></a></div><br>Denver Moore and Ron Hall tell the story of an amazing friendship. Denver - a 20th century sharecropper who set out into the world, only to find himself homeless and friendless. Ron - an affluent and successful art dealer, living in a world of power and pride. That is, until Ron's feisty wife, Deborah, feels called by God to serve at a local mission. Ron dutifully joins her, bringing his wealth of prejudices with him. Even though we might want to look down on Ron, it's to our own shame - if we're being honest, most of us carry these same prejudices. In their weekly visits to the mission, they meet Denver - large, sullen, and violent. But Deborah's generous heart reaches through the socio-economic gap to meet Denver with a faith-inspired love. The journey of Denver, Ron, and Deborah will have you turning pages, laughing, crying, and rethinking the way we view the homeless. It speaks deeply to one of my favourite themes: the power of being loved.<br><br>I love the way this book is written, with Ron and Denver writing alternating chapters. Each tells their side of the story in their own distinctive voice, and the effect is powerful. The final pages of the book include a reader's guide, a follow up with the authors, and a few family photos.<br><br>Denver and Ron came from vastly opposing backgrounds, but through their struggles, faith, and commitment, they find their common humanity in their uncommon friendship.<br><br>I highly recommend this deeply moving story. May it inspire each of us to reach across the gap and love someone who is the same kind of different as us.<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div><br><br><br><span style="font-size: xx-small; font-style: italic;">Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."</span>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/35923112015-03-11T10:00:00-04:002017-01-13T19:03:01-05:00Worship Wednesdays - In The Shadow Of The Cross - By Gerald Flemming<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Today's blog is a guest post by my husband and <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/" target="_blank">Infinitely More</a> partner, </i></span><br><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Gerald Flemming.</i></span>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS...</span></u></b><br><span style="font-size: large;">By Gerald Flemming</span>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5BOo2RbZrgw/VQBdCzEyMwI/AAAAAAAABW4/7vQjmQmavoc/s1600/IMG_6359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//2.bp.blogspot.com/-5BOo2RbZrgw/VQBdCzEyMwI/AAAAAAAABW4/7vQjmQmavoc/s1600/IMG_6359.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="400" width="233" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Recently I had a very humbling and conflicting experience. I was asked to play music for the wedding of two really good friends of ours. They wanted twenty minutes of pre-service music and then a few pieces in the service itself. They wanted specific hymns and they wanted all of it to be instrumental. Whew…okay.<br><br>As anybody who plays guitar knows, note-perfect fingerstyle guitar arrangements of songs take quite a while to either put together yourself or to learn. I decided to do signature arrangements because I felt it would be more personal as this was to be mine and Allison’s gift to them. It ended up being between 10-12 original guitar arrangements of hymns and it took about 30-40 hours to construct and play competently. It was a real investment in time when other things were pulling on me to do simultaneously, but again, we do and should make these sacrifices for each other as friends and as Christians.<br><br>The day came and with it, an extreme amount of weather that threw everything into a bit of disarray. A couple of lovely young singers were late and had to rehearse while the congregation was sitting there waiting for things to begin. I started about fifteen minutes late which was fine, but by this point everybody was excited/agitated and wasn’t really in the mood to listen to twenty minutes of instrumental guitar music. So everyone talked and got reacquainted waiting for the main show to begin.<br><br>At this point I just martialled through, smiling and playing, trying to be aware of the script and the timing of how everything was to play out. It reminded me of some of my time as a secular musician in a bar competing with a million different agendas, the last of which was listening. The ceremony was beautiful and both of our friends (who are going into the ministry together), had a wonderful bonding experience, with the Groom’s mother being the person who married them.<br><br>On the way to the reception, I felt a little tweak. I thought to myself that what had happened hadn’t been very ‘artistically’ satisfying. It would have been easy for me to just improvise and play a bunch of different pieces of music off the top of my head as background music before the festivities were to begin. I felt weirdly silly for having gone to all of the trouble that I did. And then in response to that I felt guilty for feeling that way, because it was a gift and there shouldn’t be any expectations about how a gift is received.<br><br>Two days later Allison showed me a photo she had taken. It was me working, just before the service. Those last bits of prep, trying to make something as good as I could possibly make it. And I’m standing there <b>in the shadow of the cross</b>, just another servant, wanting desperately to do good work. <br><br><div style="text-align: center;">Who was the music really for? It was for the One who sacrificed everything for us. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">The One who, without promise of glory or praise, died and was risen to save us all. </div>
<br><div style="text-align: left;">Sometimes we have these brief bouts of ego. These petty needs to be bigger than our gifts. It makes us human. It reminds us how broken we are, and the work that we still need to do. I was being reminded of something. Something I actually strive to remind myself of. That it’s about the service. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>How can I better serve here, in the shadow of the cross? </b></div>
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<i><br></i><i><br></i><i><br></i><i><br></i><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i>
</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/35752182015-03-04T12:06:00-05:002017-01-13T19:03:01-05:00Worship Wednesdays - How The Light Gets In<div style="text-align: center;">On last fall's East Coast Tour, we shot 3 performances for NTV's <a href="http://youtu.be/wJpSm3ebo_M" target="_blank">Heart Matters</a>. </div><div style="text-align: center;">This week, we posted the title song from our ECMA nominated album - <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/store" target="_blank">How The Light Gets In</a>:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VXBJiEDq0PU" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">I've written before about the <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2014/04/worship-wednesdays-evolution-of-song.html" target="_blank">journey of our songs</a>, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and How The Light Gets In is one song that's had a great journey.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was a special homecoming to perform this song for a Newfoundland television show. Gerald actually started the song on a previous East Coast Tour. One night, while the ink was still wet on the page, we shared this new song, announcing it was a 'world debut.' People responded positively, so we continued to share it each night. At first, it was a solo song for Gerald with my harmonies on the chorus. It became one of my favourite parts of the show. As the tour went deeper into the fall and the weather got colder, singing the song felt warm, </div><div style="text-align: center;">like a summer's day.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8wd6UwI3zws/VPc6PFy9izI/AAAAAAAABWY/J3-j4Y3iPf0/s1600/How%2BThe%2BLight%2BGets%2BIn%2B-%2BCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-8wd6UwI3zws/VPc6PFy9izI/AAAAAAAABWY/J3-j4Y3iPf0/s1600/How%2BThe%2BLight%2BGets%2BIn%2B-%2BCover.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="196" width="200" /></a>Some songs are meant to be solos, but others begin to reveal themselves as duets. One day, I went to Gerald and said, <i>"I really feel like this song is meant to be a conversation, a shared message of two voices."</i> I suggested we could alternate the couplets in the verses, and then come together in the chorus. He smiled and said, <i>"I was actually thinking the same thing." </i>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">As we went through the process of choosing songs for our new CD, How The Light Gets In started to work its way to the top of the list. It become the title song of the album, inspired our CD cover, and has become a staple in our repertoire. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We hope this song will inspire you, and add a little 'summer' to a chilly winter day!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>How The Light Gets In </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Written by Gerald Flemming (c) 2014</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">All that we are given</div><div style="text-align: center;">Is yet to be revealed</div><div style="text-align: center;">As we seek out the stillness </div><div style="text-align: center;">Of a silent promise sealed</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">And in this gentle season </div><div style="text-align: center;">Where storms are held at bay </div><div style="text-align: center;">The smallest here among us </div><div style="text-align: center;">Are lifted by His grace</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We open up our eyes to the brilliance in the skies </div><div style="text-align: center;">That’s how the light gets in</div><div style="text-align: center;">There’s a warmth on our face from the beauty and the grace </div><div style="text-align: center;">That’s how the light gets in</div><div style="text-align: center;">How the light get in</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">As the morning gently holds us </div><div style="text-align: center;">In the quiet of His hand </div><div style="text-align: center;">The restlessness is calmed by </div><div style="text-align: center;">The promise of His plan</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">And in that peace we're given </div><div style="text-align: center;">A joy that knows no bounds </div><div style="text-align: center;">Every sin’s forgiven</div><div style="text-align: center;">In the splendor of the crown</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We open up our eyes to the brilliance in the skies </div><div style="text-align: center;">That’s how the light gets in</div><div style="text-align: center;">There’s a warmth on our face from the beauty and the grace </div><div style="text-align: center;">That’s how the light gets in</div><div style="text-align: center;">How the light gets in</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">All that we are given </div><div style="text-align: center;">Is yet to be revealed</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">To hear the full album, please visit our <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/store" target="_blank">Store</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/35568692015-02-25T10:30:00-05:002017-01-13T19:03:00-05:00Worship Wednesdays - Why I Gave Up Chocolate For LentThe announcement to my family brought shocked faces. "Are you sure?" "Isn't that just self torture?" "Are you going to take it out on the rest of us?"<br><br>Okay, maybe not that severe, but it was still a surprise when I announced that I would give up chocolate for Lent this year.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">If you know me well at all, you'll know I passionately love chocolate, </div><div style="text-align: center;">as evidenced here...</div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FVLdtQNlbss/VO35jdKXGKI/AAAAAAAABVs/YoMsm9Zz0pI/s1600/IMG_5857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-FVLdtQNlbss/VO35jdKXGKI/AAAAAAAABVs/YoMsm9Zz0pI/s1600/IMG_5857.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="400" width="305" /></a></div><br><div style="text-align: center;">... and here...</div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c4VGQJqxiWY/VO35sMGnpII/AAAAAAAABV8/L-qEPphmhIA/s1600/IMG_3680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-c4VGQJqxiWY/VO35sMGnpII/AAAAAAAABV8/L-qEPphmhIA/s1600/IMG_3680.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="400" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">... and here! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PUjmq1tt9dA/VO35mekbjeI/AAAAAAAABV0/kKH59Cagrcw/s1600/IMG_5811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//2.bp.blogspot.com/-PUjmq1tt9dA/VO35mekbjeI/AAAAAAAABV0/kKH59Cagrcw/s1600/IMG_5811.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="362" width="400" /></a></div><br><br>I love eating chocolate and making chocolate. I love visiting chocolate stores and trying chocolate desserts in restaurants. We had a chocolate fountain at our wedding, leaving my bridal party to wrap my voluminous white gown with large serviettes to protect me from dark chocolate drips.<br><br>It's actually been years since I've given up anything for Lent. In recent years, I've joined the trend of "taking up." Sometimes it's been a Bible study, or reaching out to old friends, or a songwriting project.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">But this year is different. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This year, we have no home church.</span></div><br>When we made the decision to tour full time, it meant a lot of changes to our lives. We left our home church of 4 years, including our wonderful small group, and moved out of Toronto to lower our living expenses. We've been blessed with a lot of travel in the past year, but all that travel has meant very few Sundays in our new city. Even though we've visited a few churches, we haven't been around enough to make a commitment to any of them.<br><br>Even last year, we were at <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/st-andrews-2013" target="_blank">All Saints Church in St. Andrew's, NB</a>, for Ash Wednesday and part of Lent.<br><br>Worship planning has been a huge part of our Lenten journey over the past few years. Through our weekly meetings with church staff, song planning, psalm writing, and playing with our band, we've been deeply involved in the season that is Lent. We've sat in its themes of silence, repentance, and transformation. We've written and played music that, Sunday by Sunday, brings us along the epic path from Lent to Holy Week to the glory of Easter morning.<br><br>Without that home church presence, things are different this year. Last week, Ash Wednesday caught me by surprise. I realized that without a home church, it would be too easy for Lent to pass me by. I'm currently spending my days booking our upcoming <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/calendar" target="_blank">East Coast Tour</a>. "Taking up" for Lent would only add to my busyness, and would be too easy to drop as we get closer to the tour.<br><br>"So," I thought, "let's give something up." It had to be something significant. If the idea was to keep Lent in the forefront of my mind, it had to be something that was part of my daily routine. I didn't want it to be something that would negatively affect my productivity<i> (no, I'm not giving up espresso!!)</i>, but something that I would miss. It needed to be something I enjoy. I wanted it to feel like a loss, an empty space to remind me that this is a season of letting go.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Chocolate became the obvious choice. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not the desired choice, but the obvious one.</div><br>It's been a week, and it's working. I haven't had any chocolate, but I've certainly missed it. I put together a non-chocolate dessert last week and Gerald asked, "Um, does this mean I'm giving up chocolate for Lent too?" I laughed and offered to buy him some chocolate covered almonds this week.<br><br>No, this is my simple journey. I want to be aware of this season of holiness. I want to be reminded of the dangers of excess and the power of simplicity. I want to be aware of how blessed we are to live in such abundance, and how there are so many in this world who desperately need the basics. I want to be reminded that when we have less stuff, we can open up more space for peace, listening, loving, and creating.<br><br>So, even though it may seem like a trivial choice to some, for me, giving up chocolate actually has the potential to bring me closer to God. And that's worth more than gold, or chocolate!<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What are you giving up or taking up for Lent?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please share in the Comments below!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/35401142015-02-18T12:13:00-05:002015-02-18T15:02:03-05:00Worship Wednesdays - My Ash Wednesday Playlist...<div style="text-align: center;">Last night, we feasted.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Today, we fast.</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div></div><div>
<div style="text-align: center;">As we mark Ash Wednesday with stillness and simplicity, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">we can also remember with the music we choose.</div>
</div><div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here are some of my favourite songs to start the Lenten journey:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Wait For The Lord</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Often sung in Advent, this Taize chorus also sets us up for Lent with its ache and longing...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6Ge4xEI4-yE" width="420"></iframe> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br></b><b>The Sound of Silence</b>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">The power of bringing a 'secular' song into the spiritual realm...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/R_xWCJAtz3U" width="420"></iframe> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br></b><b>What Wondrous Love Is This</b>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">The themes of Love and Death mingle together in Lent. This hymn reflects that beautifully...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4Hj1Y__cYeg" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br></b><b>Refiner's Fire</b>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">A call for purification during the Lenten season...<br><br>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/idA6fCAHVzs" width="420"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br></b><b>How Deep The Father's Love for Us</b>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Well suited for Good Friday, listening to it today sets us up for the journey ahead...</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1vmY2ztb5xc" width="420"></iframe> <div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br></i><span style="font-size: large;">What are you favourite songs for Ash Wednesday?</span><br><span style="font-size: large;">Leave your suggestions in the comments below...</span><br><i><br></i><i><br></i><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i>
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</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/35224372015-02-11T10:00:00-05:002017-01-13T19:03:00-05:00Worship Wednesdays - 3 Tips to Book a 5-Province TourRecently, we shared the news of our first East Coast Music Award nomination. (You can read about it <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2015/01/our-first-ecma-nomination.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.) The awards ceremony is part of the larger East Coast Music Week (ECMW) - an annual celebration of showcases, workshops, seminars, concerts, and general music awesomeness. This year, ECMW will be held in my hometown of St. John's, Newfoundland, in April. In recent years, we've toured the East Coast in the fall, but if we're going to travel all that way in April, it made sense to move this year's tour to the spring.<br><br>So for the last two weeks, I've been in Booking Mode! I have 2 months in which to book an 8-week concert tour covering 5 provinces with a goal of 30 events. Crazy, I know!<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Since I'm in Booking Mode, I thought I'd share 3 of my favourite tips </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">for booking a multi-province tour:</span></div><br><b>#1 - ORGANIZE</b><br><br>I can't stress this enough! Booking 20-30 events will mean more than 200-300 emails, phone calls, and texts. The most important step for booking: <span style="font-size: large;">find a system that works for you</span>. I use email folders to keep track of all my communications. I also use Numbers (<i>like Excel but for Mac</i>) to create a massive spreadsheet. This is my master list with venue names, contact info, communications, and ultimately, all the info about the booking.<br><br><br><b>#2 - MAPS</b><br><br>I'm a visual person, and I love to see a sense of my progress. To give myself a view of the big picture, I actually use paper road maps to plan our tours. It's not high tech, but it works for me, and that's all that matters. As a CAA member, I get free road maps. I'll pick up maps for our tour provinces, and stick them to my office wall. I trim the edges and put them tight together to give a better sense of our tour area. Then, I pull out the Post It Notes. I use yellow to mark the cities we'll contact. When I get a positive response, I change it out to green. When I book the city, I change it to pink (<i>because pink is always best!</i>) Seeing the clear visual of our travel route keeps me aware of the big picture, and the colour-coding of the Post Its helps me track our process and see the areas that still need attention.<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sj3PCKMaiEo/VNuEld-6IpI/AAAAAAAABU4/C1KX8cXqvSw/s1600/IMG_6327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-sj3PCKMaiEo/VNuEld-6IpI/AAAAAAAABU4/C1KX8cXqvSw/s1600/IMG_6327.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="352" width="640" /></a></div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>My low-tech map system, partway through our 2014 planning. You can see how the different coloured Post Its show the progress of the different bookings, and point out the areas that still needed work or confirmation.</i></div><br><br><b>#3 - WORK DAILY</b><br><br>Planning a tour of this size is an epic amount of work. There are hours of communications, negotiations, and the inevitable rejections. In a general week, I'll do 10 hours of booking, but I can put in up to 30 hours when we're in the big crush of things. It can get exhausting, especially if I'm trying to squeeze that into a few days. Plan to do a little every day. Don't let it overwhelm you. And make sure you're also planning time each day to write, rehearse, and actually make the music you love.<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I hope these tips help you with your tour planning! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please feel free to share your thoughts and questions in the comments section...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/35049342015-02-04T10:14:00-05:002015-02-04T10:16:21-05:00Worship Wednesdays - Rope Off The Pews!<div style="text-align: center;">The sun is shining rainbows through the stained glass. The flowers look fresh and invigorating as they grace the platform. The choir and band take their place. The minister stands up on the front steps to welcome the congregation, and that's when it becomes visible -<span style="font-size: large;"> the gap</span>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Even though there's a good crowd in church today, there they all are - </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>sitting in the back rows!</b></span></div><br>Haven't we all seen this? It's one of the biggest complaints we've heard from pastors, music directors, and even congregations. It's particularly bad if the main entrance is at the back of the sanctuary or if, like one church we served, there's a cross aisle splitting the space in half.<br><br>For many, there's a comfort in sitting so far back in the sanctuary. Perhaps they harken back to their school days. When you sat in the back, you could get away with passing notes or doodling on your desk. The teacher didn't call on you as often. You could get lost in your daydreams...<br><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>But is that really what we want in our church?</b></span></div><br>There are countless articles about how worship music - contemporary or traditional, depending on the author - has become a "performance." These writers blame the volume, instruments, vocalists, song choices, band clothing, lighting, and a host of other factors on turning Congregations into Audiences.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">I've already had my say on the slamming of the word "Performance" </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">(you can read it <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2014/06/worship-wednesdays-church-debate-that.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"> So let me add this:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Nothing contributes more to turning a Congregation into an Audience</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> than that big swath of empty front pews!</b></span></div><br>We need each other in worship! We need to hear each other pray and sing. We need to feel the friendly energy of the woman behind us, and the pain of the young man sitting beside us. We need to laugh together at the minister's joke, and smile as the children perform their special song.<br><br>And those folks at the front, they desperately need you! As much as all of us in ministry love what we do, we're not doing it just for ourselves. We're doing it for God and for you. We need you to join us. We want to hear your voices and feel your spirit.<br><br>Think about the best show you ever attended. Chances are, the audience was full. Not only could you feel the energy of the performers, you could actually feel the energy of the audience. When we're close to each other, we become part of something larger than ourselves. We have a unique experience of community and togetherness. We're connected in ways we can never be when we sit far apart.<br><br>Yes, we all need moments of silence and solitude in our faith walk but corporate worship isn't one of them. It's our time to experience the full body of Christ. It's our moment to be a member of a family connected by love.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">So Churches, rope off those back pews this week! Have the ushers invite folks up to the front.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> And Worshippers, let's come together on Sunday, and sit a little closer. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>We're all in this together, so let's be together.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/34921302015-01-28T11:32:00-05:002017-01-13T19:03:00-05:00Our First ECMA Nomination!!!<div style="text-align: center;">Today's Worship Wednesday blogpost will be shared next week. </div><div style="text-align: center;">We received some big news today that we want to share with you:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We've received our first ECMA Nomination!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">The East Coast Music Awards celebrate the wide range of music created by East Coast artists. We are completely humbled and honoured to be invited into this awesome group of nominees.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>How The Light Gets In</b> was nominated for <b>Gospel Recording (Album) of the Year!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">The nominations were announced on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/Infinitely_More" target="_blank">Twitter</a> this morning:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T3hn193u-FY/VMkNiL3uLsI/AAAAAAAABUo/veayrXagdE8/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-01-28%2Bat%2B10.16.18%2BAM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//2.bp.blogspot.com/-T3hn193u-FY/VMkNiL3uLsI/AAAAAAAABUo/veayrXagdE8/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-01-28%2Bat%2B10.16.18%2BAM.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="240" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">The full list of nominees can be found <a href="http://www.ecma.com/news/rich-aucoin-jimmy-rankin-radio-radio-and-the-trews-lead-2015-east-coast-mus" target="_blank">here</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Congratulations to all the nominees!!</b></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/34780472015-01-21T09:43:00-05:002015-01-21T10:32:37-05:00Worship Wednesdays - The Year I Was A Soccer Star...<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>"Athletic" has never been used to describe me.</b></span></div><br>I played sports as all kids do, and at one point I was even asked to try out for the school basketball team, but I chose choir over basketball, and I'm pretty sure that worked best in the long run.<br><br>One summer, my parents signed me up for soccer. I can't remember why exactly, but all my friends were doing it, so I guess that's as good a reason as any. Teams were divided by age, not by skill level, and I was fine with that. As the smallest kid in the class, and the one who loved choir, I was chosen last, pretty much always. I had lots of energy, but running, throwing a ball, or doing any kind of catching was certainly not on my skill list.<br><br>Well, that summer, the random lottery of teams did an amazing thing. When I arrived at our first rehearsal <i>(wait, sports people say 'practice', right?)...</i> When I arrived at our first practice, I couldn't believe who was on my team. Sherry, Tara, Beth - from some fluke of the universe, I ended up on the same team as all the athletic girls in my class!<br><br>I was completely overwhelmed. <i>"Great,"</i> I thought, <i>"One more summer of being chosen last. What will they do when I make us lose every game?"</i> I started thinking of ways to fake a 2-month leg cramp...<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">Each week, we rehearsed and played games. But as the summer went on, the strangest thing started to happen. I became good at soccer! I tried different positions, and found my strength in playing defence. I could see the ball coming down the field and I learned just where to run and kick to get it out of my zone. I felt myself getting stronger, more confident...</div><br>Our team started winning games - not despite me, certainly not because of me, but <u>with</u> me. By the end of the summer, we made it into the playoffs, and in a twist never anticipated, <b>we won the gold medal!</b> I'd never been part of a winning sports team before. For the other girls on the team, this was their goal, their dream. But for me, it was so unexpected, so surreal...<br><br>I started that summer unskilled and lacking confidence, with no thoughts of ever winning a gold medal. But for 8 full weeks, I was surrounded by people who were better than me - talented, skilled, passionate about winning the game - and it changed me. It forced me to raise my skill level. The more I played, the better I got. My teammates encouraged me, and my newfound confidence gave me the courage to made bolder moves and take more risks.<br><br>It's been years since I've thought of that summer, but I was reminded of it this week as Gerald and I started to make plans to cowrite with several of our friends. You see, that summer was an outlier moment for me. I've never been part of a winning sports team again, and I don't anticipate it happening anytime soon, but the lessons of that summer shaped me.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you want to become great at something, you need to be around people who are better at it than you are. Work with skilled writers, sing with amazing singers, play with monster players. Test your ideas against people with more knowledge and experience. Do it 'til it scares you, and then do it again. And when you look back at the end of the season, you'll see how much you've grown, how much you've honed your skills, the great things you've accomplished, and the confidence you've gained.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">You'll have so much more to offer your team! Share with with them. Be generous. And then...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Search out a new group who is more talented than you, and start all over again...</b></div><br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/34733062015-01-18T17:12:00-05:002017-01-13T19:03:00-05:00Book Review: Yawning At Tigers, by Drew Dyck<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L834Xgl8uvE/VLg7hbHkwvI/AAAAAAAABUY/rn4T4aTlBz8/s1600/_225_350_Book.1212.cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="//4.bp.blogspot.com/-L834Xgl8uvE/VLg7hbHkwvI/AAAAAAAABUY/rn4T4aTlBz8/s1600/_225_350_Book.1212.cover.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="207" /></a>Imagine for a moment that a Bengal tiger walked up your driveway. What would your reaction be? Fear? Apprehension? Would you call for help? After your initial shock, perhaps you'd even feel a sense of awe or wonder at the majesty before you.<br><br>In Yawning At Tigers, Drew Dyck suggests that we have minimized and tamed God to the point of ignoring his true greatness and power. What changes when we look at God's might, when we remember to fear God? Like many of us, I respond strongly to God's message of love, grace, and mercy, but the all-powerful God of Might can seem foreign, even frightening. I might find myself glossing over those particular Scripture passages. But through this book, I found myself reading the Bible with fresh eyes. The verses about God's powerful holiness stood out in a new way. I imagined the psalmist trembling as he tried to put into words the sheer awesomeness of God. Imagining that vastness squeezing into the tiny body of the Christ child suddenly changed the way I viewed the Christmas story. And imagine how it might shape your view of the cross and Easter morning...<br><br>And then we need to ask ourselves, "If we understand the greatness of God's might, how then does that affect the way we see the greatness of God's love?" In exploring the majesty of God, we are forced to re-examine both our relationship to God and the way we live our lives as people of faith. This book takes you on that journey. In a world that tries to dismiss God as powerless and irrelevant, Yawning At Tigers invites you to sit in awe of a God who truly deserves the name "Awesome."<br><br>The book concludes with a well structured Discussion Guide, complete with questions, actions, and Scripture study. The guide is appropriate for both groups and private study.<br><br>I really enjoyed Yawning At Tigers, and can honestly say it has affected my personal study and faith journey. If you get the chance, read it, take notes, and allow yourself to discover the holiness of God.<br><br><br><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."</span></i><br><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br></span></i>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/34662602015-01-14T11:40:00-05:002015-01-14T15:02:46-05:00Worship Wednesdays - Holy Unexpected...<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Welcome to 2015! We've enjoyed a wonderful break after our busy holiday season, and we're looking forward to an exciting year of touring, concerts, workshops, and other projects. Before kicking off the New Year, we want to share our favourite story from our holiday singing season:</i></div><br>On Christmas Day, we found ourselves singing for a group of seniors in Brampton, Ontario. We often bring our music into seniors homes. Some of them are like grounded cruise ships, with glamorous surroundings and a full roster of activities for the vibrant and active residents. This was not one of those places. The home and the staff were lovely, but the residents were struggling. Many had advanced dementia and mobility issues. Several were in elaborate wheelchairs, needing to be hand-fed. Some wore protective head gear. As we sang, many seemed unaware of both our physical and musical presence. They were just in their own world.<br><br>To the side was a woman in a bright pink dress. Her physical form had been severely drained by whatever illness had taken over her body. Her limbs were thin and jolted awkwardly. Her words were few and distorted. Her face had been twisted to the point where she couldn't even smile, yet we could tell she was enjoying the music. A caring staff member had tied jingle bells to her wrist. She swung her arms joyfully, the bells tinkling with each jerk of her hand.<br><br>We finished one song, and as people applauded, we heard a voice start to sing. We looked over to see our pink-dressed friend...<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ave Maria... </i></div><br>This voice didn't represent the distorted body we saw before us. This voice was pure, warm, beautiful...<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Gratia plena...</i></div><br>We were stunned. The room fell quiet.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Maria, gratia plena. Maria, gratia plena.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ave, ave dominus. Dominus tecum.</i></div><br>We couldn't believe what we were witnessing. Out of the chaos of this busy room, this moment of beauty was flowing. No one made a sound. We were transfixed by this wonder, this sweetness. Her Latin was perfect. Her tone was smooth. She sang the whole song, and brought it to a deliberate and delicate finish..<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ventris tui, Jesus...</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ave Maria....</i></div><br>When she finished, there was a breath of silence, and then joy-filled applause. We couldn't believe what we had just witnessed. It was so unexpected - a extraordinary moment in an ordinary day.<br><br>A staff member whispered to us, "She was an opera singer in her youth."<br><br>Her body and her mind had aged and suffered, but her voice had continued to live inside her, seeking moments when it could escape its bindings and soar once again.<br><br>As we sit here at the start of a New Year, we ask ourselves,<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What are the dreams and talents that are still living inside of us? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What might happen if we allow them to find their way out into the world?</span></div><br>For if we allow them to soar, maybe we can all experience the holy, unexpected...<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div><br><br><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/34553952015-01-07T01:01:00-05:002015-01-07T07:16:22-05:00Happy New Year! <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Happy New Year!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We were blessed to have a busy 2014, followed by a very full Christmas singing season.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We are currently enjoying our first two-weeks-off in over a year! </div><div style="text-align: center;">It's a glorious time filled with rest, visits with friends, and lots of nothingness. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Worship Wednesdays will return next week. </div><div style="text-align: center;">We're looking forward to a year filled with new ideas, music, and inspiration! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/34463132014-12-31T01:01:00-05:002017-01-13T19:03:00-05:00Our Top Ten Moments of 2014<div style="text-align: center;">Just over a year ago, we left the comforts of our church staff position to take <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/" target="_blank">Infinitely More</a> on the road full-time. 2014 was our first complete year of touring and recording, and it only seems fitting on this </div><div style="text-align: center;">New Year's Eve to take a look back on this very full 12 months...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here, in chronological order, are our Top Ten Moments of 2014:</span></div><br><br><b>#1. Musicians In Residence</b><br><br><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Iqa9zj6OAzI/VKOGJj8SbKI/AAAAAAAABTI/h2MX-4lZf9g/s1600/IMG_1546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//2.bp.blogspot.com/-Iqa9zj6OAzI/VKOGJj8SbKI/AAAAAAAABTI/h2MX-4lZf9g/s1600/IMG_1546.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="173" width="320" /></a>With a goal of introducing contemporary worship and expanding the music team, we had a full winter as as <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/st-andrews-2013" target="_blank">Musicians in Residence</a> in St. Andrews, NB. One of the most powerful moments was the night we debuted the first ever worship band at All Saints Church. It was a success in all kinds of ways, but our favourite was the truly ecumenical make up of the group - our 8-piece band represented 5 churches and 3 denominations. Truly the 'family' of God!<br><br><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a6cBZR2syhU/VKOGOChNvcI/AAAAAAAABTQ/tc2VYVNnk0A/s1600/IMG_4188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-a6cBZR2syhU/VKOGOChNvcI/AAAAAAAABTQ/tc2VYVNnk0A/s1600/IMG_4188.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="201" width="320" /></a><b></b><br><b><b>#2. First Day In The Studio</b></b><br><br>No matter how much pre-production you do, there's nothing as exciting as the first day in the <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/recording-2014" target="_blank">studio</a>. Hearing our amazing Nashville session players get their hands on our songs left us as giddy as kids in a candy store.<br><br><b><br></b><b>#3. The Civil Rights Museum</b><br><br>We can't recommend this enough. If you visit Memphis, spend an afternoon at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.776959232355418.1073741839.178473818870632&type=3" target="_blank">Civil Rights Museum</a>. You will be shaken and inspired by the generations of people who stood up for humanity. <br><br><br><b>#4. Time With Long Distance Friends</b><br><br>One of the best perks of a touring ministry - we were able to see friends in Nashville, Tennessee, Little Rock, Arkansas, and all across Canada's beautiful East Coast!<br><b><br></b><b><br></b><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Store" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="//2.bp.blogspot.com/-ryCoRlzKjEo/VKOLU9HGMtI/AAAAAAAABUE/9b6kxK4KS4Y/s1600/HTLGI_Insert-1.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="196" width="200" /></a></div><b>#5. Getting The CDs</b><br><br>After months of writing, recording, traveling, mixing, mastering, and the thousand other steps involved in making a CD, it was an amazing moment to open the boxes and actually hold the <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Store" target="_blank">CDs</a> in our hands.<br><br><b>#6. East Coast Tour </b><br><br>Our biggest <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/east-coast-tour-2014" target="_blank">tour</a> to date! 9 weeks, 5 provinces, 8300 KM, and over 30 events, all filled with incredible moments and beautiful memories.<br><br><br><b>#7. Watching Concerts Turn To Worship</b><br><br>We deliberately plan our concerts to be entertaining and welcoming to folks on all stages of their faith walk, but on more than one occasion this year, hearts opened and hands raised as a simple night of music turned into a powerful night of worship. We were so blessed by these amazing audiences!<br><br><b><br></b><b>#8. Teaching Workshops</b><br><br><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j1ZpNQAKGug/VKOGnHzzjVI/AAAAAAAABTg/z14cnsj-ze0/s1600/INfinetely%2BMore%2B018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-j1ZpNQAKGug/VKOGnHzzjVI/AAAAAAAABTg/z14cnsj-ze0/s1600/INfinetely%2BMore%2B018.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="172" width="320" /></a>This year, we put a stronger focus on teaching our <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/workshops" target="_blank">Workshops</a> on Worship Leading and Creating Music For Worship, and creating opportunities to mentor singers, musicians, and songwriters. We felt blessed to share our skills, but more often than not, we were encouraged to see so many dedicated people using their talents for the Church. I had a "proud momma" moment every time we received a follow-up email letting us know how a worship band or choir was using their new skills on a Sunday morning.<br><br><b><br></b><b>#9. Rocky Harbour </b><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gKh0bV5NqFM/VKOGSvWv_vI/AAAAAAAABTY/4p48dR2_gdw/s1600/IMG_5572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//4.bp.blogspot.com/-gKh0bV5NqFM/VKOGSvWv_vI/AAAAAAAABTY/4p48dR2_gdw/s1600/IMG_5572.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="195" width="320" /></a></div>In the middle of our 9-week East Coast Tour, we took 3 nights off in beautiful Rocky Harbour, Newfoundland. With perfect weather and a scarcity of tourists, we were free to explore the community and meet some wonderful folks. On our last night, we walked the beach, watched the brilliant sunset, and even sung our new song. A wonderful respite and a reminder of the importance of quiet time...<br><br><b><br></b><b><br></b><b><br></b><b>#10. Releasing Our First Radio Single</b><br><br>This Christmas, we released our first Infinitely More radio single - <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/album/212092/tonight-everywhere-is-bethlehem?autostart=true" target="_blank">Tonight, Everywhere Is Bethlehem</a>. It was awesome to imagine folks across the country listening to our song as part of their holiday celebrations. It was particularly exciting to get <a href="http://www.facebook.com/InfinitelyMoreBand" target="_blank">Facebook</a> messages from friends saying "I just heard you on the radio!!!"<br><br><br><br>What a year! We feel deeply called to the ministry of Infinitely More. It's a challenging path, but we can only do it with the love and support of each of you. Thank you for supporting our music and ministry by inviting us into your churches, purchasing CDs, attending our concerts, hosting us in your homes, keeping us in prayer, and joining us on this journey.<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>THANK YOU for an amazing 2014! </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>We're looking forward to 2015!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">May you remember 2014 with thanksgiving, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and may 2015 bring you peace, love, faith, and joy!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Happy New Year!!!</b></span></div><br><br><div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div><div><br></div><br><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/34363912014-12-24T20:05:00-05:002017-01-13T19:03:00-05:00Merry Christmas!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/5sgOgdke_uU" width="560"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;"><b>From our family to yours,</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;"><b><br></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;"><b>Merry Christmas!! </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZwMPYO_q-eo/VJth3FWm6zI/AAAAAAAABS4/zp-Te3ql4p8/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-12-08%2Bat%2B2.13.00%2BPM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZwMPYO_q-eo/VJth3FWm6zI/AAAAAAAABS4/zp-Te3ql4p8/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-12-08%2Bat%2B2.13.00%2BPM.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="276" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/34111122014-12-17T10:13:00-05:002017-01-13T19:03:00-05:00Worship Wednesdays - Bake Some Cookies, Everyone! <div style="text-align: center;">As I write this, my shoulders are aching.</div><br>"<i>Of course,</i>" you say, "<i>This is your busy season! <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Calendar" target="_blank">20 events</a> in less than a month. All that singing and playing, not to mention carrying gear. It makes sense that your body would feel the burn...</i>"<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">Actually, it's not that kind of aching. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tonight, I have Baker's Shoulders.</span></div><br>Today I celebrated my annual Christmas Cookie Day with my Mom. It starts a few days in advance as we discuss the goals of the day. How many different kinds? Are we doubling the recipes? Should we try new cookies or stick with classics? Let's make up the shopping list...<br><br>On the actual day, breakfast dishes are cleared and the kitchen becomes a baking machine. Don't step in the room unless you want to be assigned a task.<br><br>This year, we tried two new recipes - Mexican Wedding Cookies and Spiced Fig Pinwheels - and my favourite classic choice - Scottish Shortbread, this year with a Salted Chocolate topping. Fabulous!<br><br>Right now, the final batch is done and the house smells amazing. We made over 250 cookies! Including the ones that didn't make it onto the cooling racks...<br><br>Everyone is busy in December, but those of us in music and/or ministry seem to get an extra dose of it. Between worship services, concerts, seniors home ministry, and all the planning, rehearsing, and traveling that goes with each event, it's easy to see December as a month to 'get through.'<br><br>But what a terrible way to approach one of the most beautiful months of the year. This is a season filled with once-a-year music, art, and enjoyment. We personally know the feeling of getting to the end of the month and feeling like we didn't experience any of it. It's exhausting and depleting.<br><br>We live in a society that glorifies stress and overworking. We're encouraged to brag about our lack of sleep, our refusal to take a day off, or our '80-hour' workweek. This is our currency to define ourselves as productive, important, and successful.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">But what's the point of spending our days creating glorious, inspiring music and worship, and then missing out on the glory and inspiration of it all?</span></div><br>I'm not going to ignore the truth - December is difficult for many people for many reasons. There's no denying it. But we also have the ability to make positive choices in difficult seasons, and today, I'd like to encourage you to do just that.<br><br>Whether it's baking cookies, watching a Christmas movie, or taking the long drive home so you can see the neighbour's crazy light display, take a little time each day to enjoy the blessings of the season. Read an Advent devotional or book of seasonal poetry to give yourself a moment of focus in the day. And take a few moments to be still and give thanks for the blessings in your life.<br><br>This may seem like simple advice, and it is. But in the craziness of the season, it's the simple things we tend to overlook. And when we turn our focus back to them, even for a few minutes, the results can be powerful!<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">One week til Christmas Eve, everyone! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Let's enjoy the blessings of this beautiful season...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>There's still time to order Infinitely More CDs for Christmas! </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Each and every CD ordered from our site this month will receive a FREE Christmas Card! </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Please visit <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Store">www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Store</a> for all the details</b></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Store" target="_blank"><img src="//3.bp.blogspot.com/-SLQAg3J3CEs/VJGaVVpk4OI/AAAAAAAABSo/HahVJW-cf1c/s1600/Allison_Insert_OUTPUT-1.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="400" width="400" /></a></div><br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/33543502014-12-03T01:01:00-05:002017-01-13T19:03:00-05:00Worship Wednesdays - Our First Radio Single!<div style="text-align: center;">This week, we've taken a new step in our ministry - </div><div style="text-align: center;">we've released our first single to radio!</div><br><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Tonight, Everywhere Is Bethlehem</b> is the title track of our brand new Christmas album, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and perhaps one of our favourite cowrites.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You can hear a sample of the song <b><a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/track/699145/tonight-everywhere-is-bethlehem?autostart=true" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>.</span></div><br>Last winter, I came home after a busy morning of teaching to hear Gerald's familiar words, <i>"I started something new today."</i> He played me a verse and a chorus:<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>There's a boy in the African desert</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Who is watching the skies tonight</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>He knows that two thousand years ago</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A child was born from the light</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And his heart beholds that beautiful sight</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Tonight, Everywhere is Bethlehem</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Children are praying for peace and love </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And whispering ‘amen’</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>In their dreams they see the manger </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And the Saviour who Mary tends </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Tonight, Everywhere is Bethlehem</i></div><br>I fell in love with the moving imagery and the sweeping melody. I could picture this young boy with a look of wonder on his face. I imagined a warm breeze moving around him, and the stillness of the night.<br><br>I announced, <i>"I love it. I can see the second verse. By the way, I'm cowriting this with you."</i><br><br>It's not the first time Gerald has heard me say these words. A smile crept across his face.<br><br><i>"What's your idea?"</i><br><br>My imagination leapt to the other side of the world. If "everywhere" was Bethlehem, then I wanted to show a completely opposite setting that would also be home to the hope of Christmas. I saw a young girl in a crowded urban setting...<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>There's a girl singing carols in Times Square </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Collecting spare change for the poor</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>She sings 'no crib for a bed'</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>To remind us what Christmas is for</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And her voice rings out so sweet and so pure</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Tonight, Everywhere is Bethlehem...</i></div><br>As we continued to work on the song, we wanted a way to bring the message of the first Bethlehem into our "everywhere" Bethlehem. We remembered the powerful message of the angels:<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Do not be afraid. There is great news, for all the Earth. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A child is born. He's Christ the Lord. Hope of the world.</i></div><br>With that, our song was complete. We decided it made a perfect duet, with Gerald singing the 'boy' verse and me singing the 'girl' verse. We created harmonies for the chorus and bridge. This summer, we brought the song into the studio to record. Denny Martin (Nashville) put together a wonderful track using acoustic instruments and lush strings. Carmon Barry (Toronto) painstakingly recorded our vocals to find the perfect mix of performance and emotion.<br><br>We're thrilled with the recording, but the best part is singing it live! We love seeing the smiles in the audience, and it's always an honour when someone wants to buy a whole CD because they've fallen in love with one particular song. And this Christmas, we get to share it with a whole new audience...<br><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/" target="_blank"><img src="//3.bp.blogspot.com/-HUq6citnc50/VH4ePdCc5lI/AAAAAAAABSY/zGP3qCC5z0w/s1600/Infinitely%2BMore%2B-%2BChristmas%2BSingle.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="640" width="640" /></a></div><br><br>We're so excited about this new adventure. We believe passionately in the message of our songs, and in the power of having Christian music on the radio. We pray this radio exposure gives our music the chance to be heard by a broader audience.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">We would love your support in getting <b>Tonight, Everywhere Is Bethlehem</b> out to a larger audience.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">How can you help?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">- Please call or email your local radio station to request our song.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">- If you work in radio, please contact us for downloads.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">- And finally, please keep <b>Tonight, Everywhere Is Bethlehem</b> in prayer, </div><div style="text-align: center;">that it may reach hearts this Christmas season.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you!!</span></div><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div><div><br></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/33322602014-11-26T11:33:00-05:002014-11-26T12:16:41-05:00Worship Wednesdays - Guest Post by Gerald Flemming<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Today, we featured a guest post by my husband </b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>and <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/" target="_blank">Infinitely More</a> partner, </b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Gerald Flemming.</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Is it possible that with every single choice we make </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">we either gather closer to Jesus or shove him farther away? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Is the world we live in that absolute? </span></div><br>I’m staring at my hands right now. I’m thinking about what I’ve done recently and what it tells me about my life. I’m judging the worthiness of all the input I’ve left myself vulnerable to this week…of every single sight and sound I’ve willingly left myself open to. I’m ‘microscoping’ every word I’ve spoken and every action I’ve taken.<br><br>Wow, what a frightening way to live. Being so obsessively self aware of our moral compass that we’re constantly staring at the needle as if it was the second hand on a Doomsday clock. Staring so hard at the minutiae of our lives that the colors of the world become muted and grey. We find ourselves stressed and tired and uninspired, so quick to judge others around us as being wrong or even worse - damned. I know this sounds a little overwrought and over the top, but it happens every single day. It happens on the internet and in our own lives. <br><br>There is a Pastor, someone I’ve known for eight or nine years. He posted recently that he found he was tired and anxious and edgy all the time. And then he was quick to post 'of course' he was, and that was fine because he wasn’t made for this world - he was made for the next world. If you look at his other posts, tracing back, you see a picture of someone who is caught up in the politics of fear and paranoia and looking for Biblical justifications for all of it. He hates 'this' politician and 'this' is why. He puts links to all of these outlier blogs that speak in very hyperbolic terms about the conditions in the world today. Don’t get me wrong - he can out-quote most Old testament scholars I know, but his swift judgmental attacks on anybody who challenges his assumptions seems to show somebody who is becoming unstable and detached from the love and the grace of Christ. We are called to view the Old Testament through the lens of the New Testament. I’ve never heard him quote the New Testament. Not a single time. <br><br>Living the sanctified crucified life is a hard choice. There is no question about that. Allison and I were privileged to be at a lecture series where a wonderful speaker talked about living the Crucified Life. He talked about waking up every single morning and laying our shames and guilt at the feet of the cross. Every single morning. He talked about the difference between being private and being secretive. Being private is being respectful and modest. Being secretive, having secrets, is shame based and calls into question the behaviour that is indulged in the shadows. That was an interesting distinction to me and it felt like that was a healthy level of responsibility to have towards my life and my daily practices. <br><br>I think there is absolutely a healthy level of scrutiny we are called to as Christians. <br>I also think that scrutiny can become as addictive as alcohol or drugs. I think that individuals can end up craving both self-judgment and the judgment of others and using the Pulpit, their prayer group or their Facebook page as places to indulge this addiction. <br><br>At times when we feel that overwhelming need to judge either ourselves or others, maybe it’s as simple as reacquainting ourselves to the peace and beauty that is all around us. <br><br>The creation, that is here for us to witness. <br>The beauty that can render us in awe-filled silence. <br>A quiet so deep that we can hear the Voice. <br>Can it be that simple? <br>Can we trust that it’s really that easy? <br><br><div style="text-align: left;">‘Be Still and Know that He is God.’</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">Peace, Gerald</div><div><br></div><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div><div><br></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/33072302014-11-19T14:58:00-05:002017-01-13T19:03:00-05:00Worship Wednesdays - Every Song Has A Story<div style="text-align: center;">For today's Worship Wednesdays post, I actually want to direct you to an article I recently had published.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We were asked by the Niagara Anglican paper to share some words about the creation of our new CD - <b>How The Light Gets In</b>. If you've been following our posts this year, you'll know that our biggest focus for the CD was the songs. How do we discover great ideas for songs? What is the writing process? How do we choose which songs to record, and then, how do we record them?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We decided to distill all of this into an article called<b> Every Song Has A Story.</b>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You can read the article <a href="http://niagaraanglican.ca/newspaper/docs/2014/nov.pdf" target="_blank">HERE</a>. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The link will take you to the full paper, so please scroll down to <b>page 11</b>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://niagaraanglican.ca/newspaper/docs/2014/nov.pdf" target="_blank"><img src="//3.bp.blogspot.com/-DInUDjwP5oI/VGz1QbXW0dI/AAAAAAAABSI/i2O2ZrTi3KA/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-11-19%2Bat%2B2.46.53%2BPM.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="255" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I hope you enjoy this behind the scenes look into the creation of <b>How The Light Gets In</b>! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">To hear the songs referenced in the article, please visit <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/album/211663/how-the-light-gets-in?autostart=true" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/32789662014-11-12T14:33:00-05:002014-11-12T15:32:02-05:00Worship Wednesdays - East Coast Tour: The Numbers!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Home</span>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We left Ontario on <span style="font-size: large;">September 9 </span>to start our East Coast Tour.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">On <span style="font-size: large;">November 9</span>, we finished the tour with our final appearance.</div><br>The past 2 months have been an intense experience in so many ways. In the next few weeks, we'll finish all the follow up, including a post mortem for ourselves to celebrate the tour and learn how we can make our ministry more accessible and more effective. In the meantime, here are a few numbers to put things in perspective:<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>EAST COAST TOUR</u></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>4</b>th time touring the East Coast</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>9</b> weeks on the road</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>5</b> provinces</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>30</b> different events</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b> 3</b> seasons</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>2</b> ferries</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>1</b> snow storm</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>8300</b> kilometers</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>3</b> islands</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>2</b> moose sightings</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>1</b> trip to the mechanic</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>2</b> new songs</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>500</b> photos</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">And "<b>infinitely more</b>" new friends, </div><div style="text-align: center;">amazing experiences, and unforgettable memories.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><br>We still have a few more <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.807806599270681.1073741841.178473818870632&type=3" target="_blank">photos</a> to post, and we're working on a compilation video to share some of our experiences with you.<br><br>This week, however, we are simply grateful for every church, family, and community who chose to invite our music and ministry into their lives.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you, East Coast! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Can't wait to see you in 2015!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div><br><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/32558022014-10-29T01:01:00-04:002014-10-29T03:45:57-04:00Worship Wednesdays - New Videos!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hello from my hometown of St. John's, Newfoundland!</span></div><br><div style="text-align: center;">We've just finished the busiest stint of our <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/calendar" target="_blank">East Coast Tour</a>: </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>12 events in 11 days in 7 communities</b></div><br>We left Ontario just after Labour Day, and this week, for the first time in almost 2 months, we will start to drive west.<br><br>In lieu of a post today, we wanted to share some pieces of our concert with you. These come from our recent concert at Church of the Good Shepherd in Mount Pearl, NL. Thanks to Matt for the video!<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">How Great Thou Art</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We created this arrangement a few years ago for our <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/store" target="_blank">Infinitely More</a> debut CD. It's become a standard in our repertoire, not just for its message of praise, but also for its ability to cross boundaries of generations and denominations.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/xMfwpwsuBCc" width="560"></iframe> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br></b><b><br></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Tonight, Everywhere Is Bethlehem</span></b>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Gerald and I wrote this song last Christmas, to celebrate the love and hope that started in Bethlehem, but has the power to spread across the world. This year, it became the title track of our first <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/store" target="_blank">Christmas album</a>!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/5sgOgdke_uU" width="560"></iframe></div><br><br>We hope you enjoy these videos! <span style="text-align: center;">To see photos from our East Coast Tour, please click </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.807806599270681.1073741841.178473818870632&type=3" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">HERE</a><span style="text-align: center;">. </span>We ask that you please continue to keep us in prayer as we travel across the country, and share our final performances of this tour. Thank you!<br><br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/32443172014-10-22T01:01:00-04:002014-10-22T01:46:43-04:00Worship Wednesdays - Write Bad Songs!One of the great blessings of this <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/calendar" target="_blank">East Coast Tour</a> has been the chance to mentor singers, musicians, and songwriters. We've met many of them through our <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/workshops" target="_blank">workshops</a>, but we've also met lots just through our concerts. Every so often, a young person will come up after a concert and say, "<i>I want to be a musician too.</i>"<br><br>We'll ask if they sing or if they play. Are they taking lessons? In school groups? Have they put on a local show yet? Are they in the church choir or band?<br><br>Inevitably, the conversation will come around to songwriting. It usually goes like this:<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">Us: "<i>Do you write your own songs?</i>"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Them: "<i>No.</i>"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Us: "<i>Have you tried writing?</i>"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Them: "<i>Well, yes, but my songs were terrible, so I gave up.</i>"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><br>At that point, you can hear our hearts break a little.<br><br>At first, I tried to sound comforting, consoling them with cliches: "<i>It's okay. We all write some bad songs. You can do it. Keep trying...</i>"<br><br>But on Sunday, I met an 11-year-old who told me:<br><br>"<i>I tried writing, but I <b>failed</b> miserably. My songs were awful!</i>"<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;">That word: <span style="font-size: large;">"<b>FAILED"</b></span>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br></b></div><br>What a powerful word. It can shut down the best of intentions, the most noble efforts, the lifelong dream.<br><br>And yet, if we let it, it can transform our world. It can be the great lesson learned, the giant mountain we overcome, the mighty leap to success.<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;">So when she said, "<i>I failed,</i>" </div><div style="text-align: center;">I exclaimed, <span style="font-size: large;">"<b>CONGRATULATIONS!!!!</b>"</span>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><br>She looked at me like I had three heads.<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">"<i>Congratulations!</i>" I reiterated. "<i>Writing bad songs is the first step to becoming a songwriter! Write lots and lots and lots of bad songs. Each one will teach you something, and before long, you'll notice you're writing good songs.</i>"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><br>I could see the plan forming in her head. I could almost hear the songs writing themselves in her imagination. A smile crept across her face.<br><br>When we parted, I said it again, "<i>Write lots of bad songs! Promise me?</i>"<br><br>"<i>I promise, </i>" she said.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Dream was alive again...</span></div><br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/32337122014-10-15T10:17:00-04:002014-10-15T12:46:16-04:00Worship Wednesdays - Thanksgiving Blessings...<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Let us come before him with thanksgiving </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>and extol him with music and song.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Psalm 95:2 </i></div><br><br><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Thanksgiving!</span><br><br>This past weekend, we joined with people across Canada to give thanks for all the blessings in our lives. For us, the list was long:<br><br>- our families, our friends, our health, and our livelihood<br>- God's grace, forgiveness, mercy, and love<br>- our skills and talents, and the opportunity to use them together to serve God and God's people<br>- and the list goes on...<br><br>It was just over a year ago that we made the decision to take <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/" target="_blank">Infinitely More</a> on the road full time. It's been an interesting journey, with a huge learning curve. We've had some set backs, such as losing our first Prairies tour due to illness. There have been amazing blessings, like our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.641495859235090.1073741834.178473818870632&type=1&l=489a288d76" target="_blank">Covenant Award Nominations</a>, and our winter in <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/st-andrews-2013" target="_blank">St. Andrews By-the-Sea,</a> New Brunswick.<br><br>I often describe our life as an Adventure. People generally smile when I say that, until I reveal the truth of that statement:<br><br><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Every real Adventure contains great challenges, devastating failures, and amazing successes. </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">Adventures are not for the faint of heart. That's why we tend to avoid them and choose safer routes. But even in the hardest part of the Adventure, you can still see God at work. </div><br>This week, two great examples showed themselves:<br><br>We are currently on our <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/calendar" target="_blank">East Coast Tour</a>. We're singing 30 events in 9 weeks in 5 provinces. Scheduling this tour was a bit of a plates-on-sticks trick, balancing driving routes with concert times, making sure we didn't exhaust ourselves while also covering all the areas that wanted our ministry. In a piece of timing that could only be God's, we found ourselves in Botwood, Newfoundland, for Thanksgiving. Botwood is my Mom's hometown, and still home to my Aunt, Uncle, and cousins. For the first time ever, we were able to celebrate Thanksgiving together. What a blessing...<br><br>And here's another: We've accepted a concert for November 2 in Hillsborough, New Brunswick. This concert will be after we leave Newfoundland, on the way back to Ontario. Remember how I mentioned balancing our driving routes? Well, this one is terrible! We'll take the ferry on Saturday, giving us a 6 hour drive (<i>not including breaks</i>) on Sunday before the concert that same night. We're happy to do the concert, but the drive has been stressing me out. But last night I thought, "<i>When do the clocks change?</i>" They fall back on November 2! We'll get our extra hour on the day of the drive. You can't tell me that's not God's timing!<br><br>I don't know what your Thanksgiving was like. Perhaps you're in the part of the Adventure that feels more like a challenge, or even a season of failure. Let me encourage you to look for God's blessings in this time. I assure they are there, and they are waiting to be found by you. He has not forgotten you. He is still with you. There is no end to the love and blessings He has for you...<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>His love endures forever.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Psalm 136:1</i></div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/32227352014-10-08T01:01:00-04:002017-01-13T19:02:59-05:00Worship Wednesdays - We Are The Face Of JesusThe story begins in August, 2013. It was a sunny morning in Chamcook, New Brunswick. We'd had a beautiful concert the night before in St. Andrews By-the-Sea, and we were ready for a relaxing day off. Gerald, as usual, had risen early. I found him at the kitchen table, with that new-song look on his face.<div>
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<div>For a long time, he'd wanted to write a new lyric for the classic tune, Shenandoah. "Listen," he said...</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>We are the face of Jesus</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>And the world, the world is watching.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>We are the face of Jesus</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>And everything we do reflects upon our Lord...</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GzTVfnTUTG8/VDRry8EAAvI/AAAAAAAABR4/hGkY25fhyyE/s1600/IMG_2136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-GzTVfnTUTG8/VDRry8EAAvI/AAAAAAAABR4/hGkY25fhyyE/s1600/IMG_2136.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="240" width="320" /></a>It was so beautiful, and fit with the melody so perfectly. I've always loved writing that calls us to be accountable in our role as Christians. With the slightest word or action, we can affect another's belief in God. We can draw people to Jesus with our love and our kindness, but perhaps even more easily, we can repulse them with our judgment and our hypocrisy.</div>
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<div>When I heard the first verse, I was reminded of the classic hymn, Take My Life and Let It Be. What if we were the eyes of Jesus, the hands of Jesus, the heart of Jesus...</div>
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<div>Gerald was also thinking this way, so as we continued our tour, we started to write the remaining verses. But something wasn't clicking. The arc of the song wasn't complete. We couldn't find that final piece of the song puzzle.</div>
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<div>The following week, we found ourselves in Berwick, Nova Scotia. The volunteers from Servants Heart Ministries has brought us into the area to sing fundraising concerts for two mission teams. That night, we met a group of teens who would be traveling to the Dominican Republic to build houses. Their excitement and passion for the trip was electric. When we left the concert, we had our final verse:</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>We are the hands of Jesus</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>And the world, the world is needing.</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>We are the hands of Jesus</b></i></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>And every house we build will be filled by His love.</b></i></div>
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<div>The following night, we were in Kentville, Nova Scotia, to sing the final fundraiser. We told the crowd about the song, and how the teens had inspired the final verse. And with handwritten lyrics in front of us, we debuted <b>We Are The Face Of Jesus</b>.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lN52ydMTOEY/VDRp25ALPcI/AAAAAAAABRs/VP-LrVrOKxI/s1600/IMG_2446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//4.bp.blogspot.com/-lN52ydMTOEY/VDRp25ALPcI/AAAAAAAABRs/VP-LrVrOKxI/s1600/IMG_2446.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="180" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>The teens that inspired our final verse...</i></div>
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<div>Since that time, we've had the chance to sing the song for churches, clergy, and retreats. It resonates with people who are aware that their faith walk is also their witness to the world.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">When we decided to step into the studio this year, </div>
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<b>We Are The Face Of Jesus</b> was an obvious choice. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">You can hear a sample from the final recording <b><a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/album/211663/how-the-light-gets-in?autostart=true" target="_blank">here</a>.</b>
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<div>Just a few weeks ago, we found ourselves in Kentville again, and we were able to sing <b>We Are The Face Of Jesus</b> for the 2015 missions team. We pray that each of us, as we move through this world, will represent the love, grace, mercy and forgiveness of the One who loved us first.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>
</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/32120482014-10-01T01:01:00-04:002017-01-13T19:02:59-05:00Worship Wednesdays - Guest Post by Gerald Flemming<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Today we feature a guest post by my husband and partner in all things </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/" target="_blank">Infinitely More</a> - Gerald Flemming. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br></i></span></div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b><span style="font-size: large;">LISTENING FOR THE VOICE...</span></b></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b><span style="font-size: large;">By Gerald Flemming</span></b></u></div><br>Embracing a vision can be a difficult and frightening thing. When your calling appears to you, when you feel it in your heart and there’s that undeniable pull towards the light, what do you do?<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">Do you throw yourself without delay into the abyss hoping that it is the real deal? </div><div style="text-align: center;">Do you deny and continue on your current path? </div><div style="text-align: center;">Or maybe you find that copacetic middle ground that neither commits nor denies, </div><div style="text-align: center;">but seeks with curiosity? </div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BZrGDpq3Dr0/VCsZ106dkCI/AAAAAAAABRc/6xSjHIMGkt4/s1600/IMG_1434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//3.bp.blogspot.com/-BZrGDpq3Dr0/VCsZ106dkCI/AAAAAAAABRc/6xSjHIMGkt4/s1600/IMG_1434.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="112" width="400" /></a></div><br>It’s amazing that God’s limitless patience and grace has space for all three of those choices. And as we walk down those separate roads there always seems to be constant and quiet reminders that seek to turn us toward a singular purpose. Sometimes it’s people who walk into our lives and whisper the right story that catches us at the right moment. Sometimes it’s a piece of sermon or song, or psalm that seems to speak directly to us.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">It’s possible that the moment that turns you towards the light ends up being more abstract. </div><div style="text-align: center;">A detail in a painting. </div><div style="text-align: center;">A stanza in a piece of poetry or fiction. </div><div style="text-align: center;">A moment of unspeakable natural beauty and silence </div><div style="text-align: center;">where the Voice is undeniable in its approach to your heart. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">And in an instant we are offered that deep breath of perfect knowing. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><br><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DsDkdJ46pe8/VCsZuhwL60I/AAAAAAAABRU/p8z3Lxsod38/s1600/IMG_1437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="//3.bp.blogspot.com/-DsDkdJ46pe8/VCsZuhwL60I/AAAAAAAABRU/p8z3Lxsod38/s1600/IMG_1437.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="240" /></a>I’m closing my eyes and taking a deep breath right now in a café in Lunenburg, NS. In the last month both Allison and I have experienced the Voice, in all of those things and other incredible gifts. The privilege of hearing others talk about the remarkable moments that brought them to a deeper trajectory with our Lord. Shimmering sunlit waters that echoed with the sounds of fall approaching. A 250 year old house of God that was destroyed and then resurrected by the love of a congregation and the outreach of many hearts and people coast to coast. We were fortunate enough to receive a call to help with this ten years ago. We were given the honour of sharing a stage with John Allan Cameron at a fundraiser for St. John’s Lunenburg. It would take a willful arrogance not to feel God’s hand on our return here.<br><br><div style="text-align: left;">For us, the privilege of finally doing a concert here, in this ‘<a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Store" target="_blank">House Where Prophets Speak</a>’, is just another glorious encouragement. It’s another whisper from the Voice, that we are on the path that was waiting for us. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">And that we can completely and totally trust this undeniable pull towards the light. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/32015242014-09-24T09:34:00-04:002017-01-13T19:02:58-05:00Worship Wednesdays - 7 Ways to Create an Invitation To Worship...Today, we're posting from Halifax, Nova Scotia! We just wrapped up the New Brunswick leg of the <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/calendar" target="_blank">tour</a> with a concert and workshop in Hampton, which was the inspiration for today's post.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>How do we bring our congregation into worship?</b></div><br>As worship leaders, we've rehearsed the songs, studied the lyrics, and we come to church with an enthusiasm and a readiness to worship. But so often, we meet a congregation who is not in the same place as us. They seem reluctant to join in the Sunday celebration.<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here are 7 thoughts on creating an Invitation to Worship:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><br><b>#1. Where Are They?</b><br><br>When we're leading worship on a Sunday morning, our early hours are filled with preparation - vocal warm ups, Bible devotional, prayer, set up and rehearsal. But our congregation hasn't had the same kind of morning. We can't know what they've all experienced, but we know for some of them, it was probably a challenge to get to church that day. Perhaps their littlest one had a temper tantrum, and the breakfast table became a battle ground. Maybe they had a fight with their spouse on the drive over. Perhaps they haven't slept because they know they might lose their job this week, or maybe they're coming in hungover from a later Saturday night. Or maybe they don't even believe in "this stuff" and someone is dragging them to church today.<br><br>That's our congregation. That's who we need to lead into worship. Our first step is to recognize this.<br><br><br><b>#2. Pray.</b><br><br>We always encourage both individuals and teams to pray before worship. In your prayers, lift up your congregation. Remember that they're struggling. You may not know each person's challenge, but God does. Pray that you may be used to lead them into God's presence, and that they may feel God's love and grace today.<br><br><br><b>#3. How Do We Set The Mood?</b><br><br>Each church handles those pre-service moments differently. Some prefer silence, and other use that time for announcements. Some play instrumental music, while others lead a sing along of favourite hymns and worship songs. Brian Doerkson talks about "stirring the waters" - a gentle improvisation of all the instruments in the band. It's not a song, but simply sounds that start to tune the congregation's ear to the music.<br><br>Find the right pre-service moments for your congregation that will meet them where they are, but will also prepare them for a time of worship.<br><br><br><b>#4. Issue An Invitation.</b><br><br>This sounds obvious, but it can't be underestimated. Find some way - through words, images, music, or movement - to shift the mood and actually invite them into worship. I'm a big fan of using the Psalms to bring our focus into praising and glorifying God. Sometimes, I may issue an invitational prayer while Gerald underscores with gentle guitar. Other times, we've had slides showing different images of the majesty of creation, with accompanying prayers or music.<br><br>Don't be afraid to be direct. There are times when I'll pray something like, <i>"I know many of us have come here today with burdens, things that are filling our minds with worries and concerns. Let's lay them aside for the next hour, and allow ourselves to experience the love and grace of God." </i><br><br>In each case, we want people to recognize that this isn't the rest of the week - this is sacred time, and they are invited into that holiness.<br><br><br><b>#5. Now, We Get Them Singing</b><br><br>We've chosen different kinds of songs for our opening worship song - sometimes we start gently, other times we get them off to a rocking start. In either situation, we always choose a well known song. As musicians, we forget that most people don't sing on a daily basis, and now we're going to ask them to spend the next hour singing! Allow them to start with vocal confidence on a familiar song or hymn.<br><br><br><b>#6. Don't Hit Them With The Wall Of Sound</b><br><br>Often times, worship teams can get so excited to play together that they knock their congregation over with the 'wall of sound'. This is our term for when everyone plays every note of every song and it's LOUD! It can come from enthusiasm, but it can be fixed with some good arranging. Allow your songs to build. Start with one instrument, add another on the chorus. Sing unison in the verses, build into harmony. Give your congregation a way to enter the song, and then take them on a journey.<br><br><br><b>#7. It Starts With Love</b><br><br>Bringing people into worship is an act of trust. Love your congregation. Get to know them. Attend coffee hour and start conversations. Join a small group or outreach project. Build relationships both within and outside of your worship team. Encourage your band and choir to do the same. Break down the us-them walls. Let people know your love of God and your passion for worship. Because when that trust has been built, we can help bring people into the presence of God, and experience all that is waiting for them.<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">How do you invite your congregation into worship?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please let your thoughts in the Comments section</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-pnohxLISuw4%2FVCLEypdrb0I%2FAAAAAAAABRE%2FNzbUkTz7UfE%2Fs1600%2FHTLGI_Insert-1.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-pnohxLISuw4/VCLEypdrb0I/AAAAAAAABRE/NzbUkTz7UfE/s1600/HTLGI_Insert-1.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="196" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WybiJssxgOw/VCLEumSQSXI/AAAAAAAABQ8/GF4phuvjPns/s1600/Allison_Insert_OUTPUT-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="//3.bp.blogspot.com/-WybiJssxgOw/VCLEumSQSXI/AAAAAAAABQ8/GF4phuvjPns/s1600/Allison_Insert_OUTPUT-1.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="200" width="200" /></a>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our new CDs - </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>How The Light Gets In</b> and <b>Tonight, Everywhere Is Bethlehem</b></span></div><div style="display: inline !important;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">- are now available </span></div><div>
<span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"> </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">online! </span>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Listen and purchase music at <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Store">www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Store</a></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>
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</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/31915852014-09-17T14:00:00-04:002017-01-13T19:02:58-05:00Worship Wednesdays - Holding Sound In Our Hands<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>It's official - our 2 new CDs are finally here!</b></span></div><br>Last Monday, we received boxes and boxes from the manufacturing plant. It was amazing to crack them open and see row upon row of CDs, ready to share.<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Store" target="_blank"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-fU8HFxLU0V4/VBnHP8pzIVI/AAAAAAAABQA/pt4vqNskG5I/s1600/IMG_5015.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="246" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>How The Light Gets In and Tonight, Everywhere Is Bethlehem</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The next morning, we loaded the car and started out on our 2-month <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/east-coast-tour-2014" target="_blank">East Coast Tour</a>. It's been a whirlwind start, traveling through 3 provinces, 2 countries, and performing 5 concerts in 5 days.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today, we've finally had a bit of time to upload the new music to our website. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can hear samples of the music <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/store" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's hard to describe the feeling of holding your new CD in your hand. Some people equate the process to giving birth. Many people feel completely drained by the process. Others experience a burst and energy and excitement.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For us, it's probably a combination of all these things. We decided to record because we had so many songs that were crying out for a home. We'd perform them in concerts, and when people requested them on CD, we knew we were singing the stories that needed to be shared. From the writing to the song selection to the actual recording, it's been an intense and emotional season. We've been a little antisocial, and probably should have taken a few more days off, but it's been worth it all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our greatest joy now is sharing the music! We're so excited to put these songs into the hands of listeners, and soon, we'll even start sharing our music on radio.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We are so grateful for everyone who supported these projects - those who shared their creativity, their financial support, and their emotional and spiritual encouragement. It truly takes a village to raise a CD!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We would love for you to take a <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Store" target="_blank">listen</a>, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and maybe even <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Store" target="_blank">purchase</a> a CD or Download.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We also want to share the artwork with you today:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zCQbqyOsYLo/VBnKHgabe2I/AAAAAAAABQM/HwylzCNKaGg/s1600/HTLGI_Insert-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-zCQbqyOsYLo/VBnKHgabe2I/AAAAAAAABQM/HwylzCNKaGg/s1600/HTLGI_Insert-1.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="314" width="320" /></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vQSNszFgbSc/VBnKLoncqII/AAAAAAAABQY/F_gr4npz5Zk/s1600/HTLGI_Traycard-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//3.bp.blogspot.com/-vQSNszFgbSc/VBnKLoncqII/AAAAAAAABQY/F_gr4npz5Zk/s1600/HTLGI_Traycard-1.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="254" width="320" /></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w-uhBElV7PU/VBnKLhz6NDI/AAAAAAAABQc/v_8tYmtX1ws/s1600/HTLGI_Disc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//4.bp.blogspot.com/-w-uhBElV7PU/VBnKLhz6NDI/AAAAAAAABQc/v_8tYmtX1ws/s1600/HTLGI_Disc.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Photos by Simon Chambers.</i></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--cWB8vQtrI0/VBnKLWK8_PI/AAAAAAAABQU/hywQcEnqrx0/s1600/Allison_Insert_OUTPUT-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/--cWB8vQtrI0/VBnKLWK8_PI/AAAAAAAABQU/hywQcEnqrx0/s1600/Allison_Insert_OUTPUT-1.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="320" /></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0Yl9oRAMlvE/VBnKMPEA-VI/AAAAAAAABQg/Jelnx2jS-T8/s1600/TEIB_TRAY-1up_FINAL_OUTPUT-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//2.bp.blogspot.com/-0Yl9oRAMlvE/VBnKMPEA-VI/AAAAAAAABQg/Jelnx2jS-T8/s1600/TEIB_TRAY-1up_FINAL_OUTPUT-1.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="251" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We pray that in sharing our journey with you, you may also be inspired and encouraged with your recording project. In our experience, it's one of the biggest creative challenges an artist can experience. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But as soon as it's complete, the only real question is, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">"When can we do this again?"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/31807822014-09-10T10:42:00-04:002014-09-10T15:02:13-04:00Worship Wednesdays - The East Coast Tour Has Begun!Everyone in Ontario has been complaining about the cool summer. Funny thing - when you spend your entire summer inside a vocal booth, you don't even notice the weather...<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's amazing to find ourselves in September, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and at the start of our <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/calendar" target="_blank">East Coast Tour</a>!</span></div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Over the next 2 months, we'll sing 30 events in 4 provinces! </b></div><br>As we head out on the road, we're always filled with great excitement and inspiration. We love traveling and making music, and the first moments of every tour are filled with all the possibilities that lie ahead of us.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And as with all things, we start with prayer.</span></div><br>We've been praying over this tour for months. We've prayed that we will connect with the churches who need us, and that their leadership will be open to the opportunity. We've prayed that calendars, schedules, and distances will balance to keep our route easy and efficient. We prayed for clergy and volunteers as they've prepared their churches and communities for our visit.<br><br><br>Now, our prayers move to the practical, the immediate, and the spiritual:<br><br><div style="text-align: left;"></div><ul><li>We pray for safety, our car, and good weather.</li></ul><ul><li>We pray for good vocal and physical heath.</li></ul><ul><li>We continue to pray for each church, community, clergy, and volunteer.</li></ul><ul><li>We pray for individuals and families who will be coming to the concerts and workshops.</li></ul><ul><li>We pray for our emotional and spiritual heath, both as individuals and as a couple.</li></ul><ul><li>We lift prayers of thanksgiving for our new recordings, and for the opportunity to use our talents to bring a message of hope.</li></ul><ul><li>Above all, we pray that everything we do over the next 2 months will honour God, and serve God's people. We pray that everyone involved in these events will come away with a renewed sense of God's unfailing mercy, grace, and love.</li></ul><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>If you feel comfortable, we would love for you to join us in these prayers on this tour!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">"For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Matthew 18:20</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>You can follow our East Coast Tour by visiting this blog, our <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/calendar" target="_blank">calendar</a>, and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/infinitelymoreband" target="_blank">Facebook</a>!</b></div><br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/31581112014-08-27T08:32:00-04:002014-08-27T08:45:57-04:00Worship Wednesdays - Guest Post by Gerald Flemming<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Today we feature a guest post by my husband and partner in all things<a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/" target="_blank"> Infinitely More</a>, Gerald Flemming. </i></span></div><br><br><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Nutrients of Prayer</span></b><br><b>By Gerald Flemming</b><br><br>Allison and I are nigh unto finished with our shiny new CDs, ‘How The Light Gets In’ and ‘Tonight, Everywhere Is Bethlehem’. Anybody who has made a single CD knows the incredible odyssey it is, but like <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2014/08/worship-wednesdays-why-were-recording.html" target="_blank">last time</a>, we decided to do these two simultaneously. We’ll never learn. The reasons are many, some of them economical, some of them having to do with the ability to streamline the process. To say we are totally wiped out is an understatement of epic proportions. The last month alone, we didn’t have a single day off. <br><br>Two years of writing and road testing songs across Canada and the States, culminated into a three month gauntlet that, at times, tested the very fabric of our convictions. The recording process of course was our main focus, but we were still doing concerts and leading worship on a weekly basis, at different churches and venues. This, while also booking a two and a half month East Coast Tour that looks incredibly full and exciting. The reason I’m actually writing Allison’s blog post this morning is because this is technically, ‘almost’ a day off for me, while she is spending the entire day teaching. <br><br>And we’ve all experienced that extended period of time without rest. The seemingly endless days of dawn till dusk, having to make hay while the sun shines. We do everything in ‘our power’ to persevere. Contemporary success tech has lots of words for this focus, but all of them feel like they’re lacking because most of them are rooted in the ‘our power’ paradigm.<br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">For Allison and me, I would have to say, this long arduous process</span><br><span style="font-size: large;"> was fueled more by the ‘our prayer’ paradigm. </span>
</div><br>Prayer, for us, is the flash paper. It unites us and ignites us, giving energy and focus when we really shouldn’t have any. It’s the moment of eloquent quiet and solemnity that not only prepares us for the grind but also gets us excited about the possibilities. There’s no question in my mind that we would have folded at some point in the last few months, if we hadn’t been fueled by prayer. There were times that all of the crazy brought Allison and I closer, and there were times it felt like it drove a wedge between us. Prayer would then help mitigate any energy draining conflict, align our purposes, and set us back to the task at hand. <br><br>In less then two weeks we’ll be leaving for the East Coast for two and a half months. We have to finalize the set list of a new concert. Make sure all of the tech is sound (<i>pun intended</i>). Get our vehicle fixed (<i>don’t get me started</i>). And the rest of the toilet roll list of things that need to be done before we leave. Even the thought of all this starts my head swimming and my heart palpitating in an unhealthy way... <br><br>Excuse me please, if you will, while I turn away and find a quiet little moment to pray about it. <br><br>Peace,<br>Gerald<br><div><br></div><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>We would love your help finishing our new CDs! </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Please visit our Kickstarter page to watch our 'making of' video </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>and learn more about our exciting pledge rewards:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="420" scrolling="no" src="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/58299699/how-the-light-gets-in-our-new-cd/widget/card.html?v=2" width="220"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/31344992014-08-13T01:01:00-04:002017-01-13T19:02:58-05:00Worship Wednesdays - Why We're Recording a Christmas EP! <div style="text-align: center;">In 2012, we did a "never again." </div><br>We started out recording our <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/store" target="_blank">Infinitely More</a> CD and partway through the process thought, <i>"Hey, while we're pouring our blood, sweat, and tears into this CD, we should record a second CD!"</i> So, we did. <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/store" target="_blank">Every Church Is A Small Town</a> became Gerald's first solo project. We were thrilled with the results, overjoyed when both projects received GMA Covenant Award nominations, but if we're being honest, it was completely exhausting. By the end of that summer, we were drained emotionally, creatively, spiritually, and financially.<br><br>Never again.<br><br>Or is that, never say 'never again'...<br><br>This spring, we began preproduction on our 5th studio project, <b>How The Light Gets In.</b> It's been an amazing journey of songwriting, collaborating, and recording. But partway through the process, a new idea started to surface.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">You see, back in 2012, we recorded a single Christmas song, My Heart Is The Manger.<br><br>
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<div style="text-align: left;">We've loved sharing that song in our concerts, but it's always led to the question, </div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">A few years ago, we recorded some live Christmas performances. They contain the beauty and spirit of the season, but they've only been heard by a few friends and family members.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">And then we have these great new songs we wrote last Christmas that everyone keeps asking about. It wouldn't be that hard to just record 2 songs...</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">As we started thinking, the idea formed, <i>"What if we took all those beautiful performances, and brought them together into a special, festive project?"</i>
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<div style="text-align: center;">And the Christmas EP was born!</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">So this fall, when we release <b>How The Light Gets In</b>, we'll also release our first Christmas album - </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Tonight, Everywhere Is Bethlehem</span></b>.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">You never know where this creative journey will take you. But the beauty of doing more is learning more, and I can honestly tell you: even though we've had definite moments of exhaustion this summer, this time around, the recording process has been pure joy!<br><br>We're so excited to share these live and studio performances with you! If you're interested in learning more about both projects and placing your download or CD preorder, you can visit here:</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://kck.st/1mAHIhJ" target="_blank"><img src="//3.bp.blogspot.com/-UBpOajWNJuU/U-p5HuDb5yI/AAAAAAAABPw/ZjMz2vsJTOE/s1600/IMG_2436.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br><br><br><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!</i>
</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/31301982014-08-10T20:21:00-04:002014-08-10T21:15:52-04:00BIG Announcements about Our New CD!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today, we have HUGE news!</span></div><div>
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<div><div style="text-align: center;">Not only are we recording a new full-length CD of original songs and favourite hymns - How The Light Gets In - <b>we're also recording a brand new Christmas EP</b>!</div></div>
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<div><div style="text-align: center;">Tonight, Everywhere Is Bethlehem is our long awaited Christmas project, combining sweeping studio recordings with beautiful live performances.</div></div>
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<div><div style="text-align: center;">To help bring these projects to life, we've just launched our first ever Kickstarter campaign!</div></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">We would love for you to pre-order your CD, and prayerfully consider supporting our recording with some of our exciting pledge packages. You can receive CDs, custom songs, house concerts, and even join our East Coast Tour Club!</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">Here’s how we want to make this campaign extra special: Our full project budget is $20,000, but if we reach our minimum goal of $3000, <b>every contributor will receive a free Christmas bonus!!!</b>
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<div style="text-align: center;">Please visit our Kickstarter page for all the details:</div>
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<div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="420" scrolling="no" src="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/58299699/how-the-light-gets-in-our-new-cd/widget/card.html?v=2" width="220"></iframe></div></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">We'll be posting lots of photos, videos, and song samples over the next few weeks. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">Check back often, and help us bring these projects over the finish line!</div>
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</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/31289272014-08-09T14:18:00-04:002017-01-13T19:02:58-05:00Our New CD - Announcing the Songs!<div style="text-align: center;">On Sunday, we have a big announcement with our new CD, </div><div style="text-align: center;">but each day this week, we're posting mini-announcmenets on our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/infinitelymoreband" target="_blank">Facebook</a> page.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today, we're sharing the songs!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_ZQUirj9auw/U-Zlu9x5XXI/AAAAAAAABPQ/CvT1TnWq0wg/s1600/How+The+Light+-+song+list.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img src="//2.bp.blogspot.com/-_ZQUirj9auw/U-Zlu9x5XXI/AAAAAAAABPQ/CvT1TnWq0wg/s1600/How+The+Light+-+song+list.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="640" width="428" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Stay tuned for more updates!! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/31247452014-08-06T07:00:00-04:002014-08-07T12:41:08-04:00Worship Wednesdays<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Worship Wednesdays is on hiatus this week as we prepare some <b>BIG NEWS</b> for you!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Visit us in the next few days for all the announcements and new developments with our <b>New CD</b>!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays returns in its regular format next week...</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/31068432014-07-30T01:01:00-04:002017-01-13T19:02:58-05:00Worship Wednesdays - The View From The Vocal BoothThe lights are slightly dimmed, save for the summer evening sunshine peering through the shaded window. The warm brown of the soft wall-covering gives the small room the feeling of a cube-shaped blanket.<br><br><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rvuEtjaWdC8/U9hSSqsPKvI/AAAAAAAABO4/xSym-_VKGnA/s1600/IMG_4610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="//3.bp.blogspot.com/-rvuEtjaWdC8/U9hSSqsPKvI/AAAAAAAABO4/xSym-_VKGnA/s1600/IMG_4610.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="400" width="300" /></a>I carry my lyric sheet, my pink mechanical pencil, and my Contigo water bottle. The water is room temperature, of course. I lay each piece in its appropriate spot, and take a deep breath. My sunglasses and earrings are removed and sit on the stool. They'll just be in the way.<br><br>Checking to see which earpiece is marked 'Left', I don the headphones. The room is deliberately silent, but I can hear myself breathing in the phones if I get close to the mic. I swing my arms and stretch my legs a little. Loose is good. Loose allows the breath to flow.<br><br>I do a few of the weird sounds that only other singers find attractive - cascading lips thrills, soaringly high sighs, nasal na-na-nas...<br><br>I can see Gerald and Carmon, our engineer, in the next room, chatting and trading guitar gear wish lists.<br><br>My eyes catch the lyric sheet I've placed on the stand. "A Divine Heart Imagined You" - I love this song. I remember the first time I heard Gerald sing the first draft. The words and the melody were hauntingly beautiful. I was so moved I declared myself "cowriter" and together, we finished the song.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And tonight, we record the vocals.</span></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vwPUA5JMWzI/U9hSVgV5-fI/AAAAAAAABPA/DsV6dWxLLJ4/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//2.bp.blogspot.com/-vwPUA5JMWzI/U9hSVgV5-fI/AAAAAAAABPA/DsV6dWxLLJ4/s1600/photo+2.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="298" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Photos taken during our current recording sessions at </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Emmanuel Recording Studios, Toronto, ON.</i></div><br>Over the past few months, this song has had to complete in a class of 50 to see who would make it onto this new CD. We created our arrangement, brought it to the musicians in <a href="http://infinitelymore.ca/recording-2014?cp_return_url=http%3A%2F%2Fbandzoogle.com%2Fcontrolpanel%2Fgallery_features%2F171676%2Fedit&preview_from_cp=1" target="_blank">Nashville</a> to add their creativity to the mix, and then shipped it back to Toronto for this moment.<br><br>We've sung it live many times, but tonight's performance will be something else. This is the one that people will listen to in their living rooms and on their car stereos. They'll hear it on good days when they feel confident in God's love. They'll hear it on the horrible days when the world feels like its crashing in on them, when they doubt that love or mercy or grace exists at all. As I look at the lyric sheet, I think about all the people who will hear this song, but especially the ones who will need it the most. I imagine them listening to melody, letting the message wash over them...<br><br><div style="text-align: left;">I hear Gerald and Carmon talking to me. We're ready. Carmon hits play, and the track starts to play in my headphones. I hear Gerald's guitar and that beautiful cello. I take a singer's breath, and start to sing, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Before the first face felt the first dawn..."</i></span></div><br>A few full takes to get the feel of the song. Then, a few passes on individual lines and verses to really work the expression and beauty of each section. We break the song into its most minute moments, using every technical and emotional tool we have to explore the fullness of the song.<br><br>After capturing each verse several times, I remove the headphones and rejoin Gerald and Carmon. We sit together to choose our favourite takes and create a vocal that is emotional, powerful, and beautiful. We make sure my harmonies match perfectly with Gerald's melodies. We fuss over the tiniest details to make sure every phrase, every note, expresses the message we want to share.<br><br>A little techno magic, and the whole vocal is ready. We take a final listen. Not so long ago, this was simply an idea that entered Gerald's creative space. By the end of the summer, it will be a fully recorded song, ready to play its way into the hearts and lives of folks who need to hear about God's plan and provision for their lives. Amazing.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">Our work for tonight is done.</div><div style="text-align: center;">With a click of a button, everything is sent back to Nashville where it will be mixed... </div><div style="text-align: center;">But that's another story....</div><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page & visit us every Wednesday!</i></div><br><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/30928122014-07-23T01:01:00-04:002014-07-23T01:12:04-04:00Worship Wednesdays - The Musical Fountain of YouthLast week, my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/infinitelymoreband" target="_blank">Facebook</a> feed was inundated with cell phone videos from this year's Stamps-Baxter School of Music. If you've been reading this blog since the beginning, you'll know that Stamps-Baxter was very influential on my <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2005/07/nashville-day-10.html" target="_blank">decision to enter ministry</a>.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">I've been watching videos like this, of 80-something-year-old Rosa Nell Powell ripping up the piano:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/2pz2X480UUc" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Thank you, Marian, for this video!</i></div><br>Southern Gospel musicians get a lot of flack - some deserved and some not - but there's one thing they do right: <b>they raise their children with music</b>. I saw it every year at the school. Whole families would come, training their children to sing harmony, write and arrange songs, and play instruments.<br><br>We would also get the seniors, folks in their 70's, 80's, and 90's who were still singing and playing.<br><br>I remember the first time <b>Earl Scruggs</b> visited the school with Little Roy Lewis. Little Roy and the band were tearing it up, and poor Earl was off on the side of the stage. I kept thinking, "<i>Why are they making him sit there like that? How can they just parade him around like a mascot?</i>" Then, someone helped Earl out to a chair in the middle of the stage, and he started to play. I was gobsmacked! All of a sudden, this man came to life, playing energetically with precision and passion. The crowd went nuts. I was amazed...<br><br>At that same school, a man named <b>Harold Lane</b> spent his days sitting in the back of the auditorium. In his prime, Harold was a prominent vocalist and song arranger, influencing a generation of music makers. But now, he seemed weak and distant. Ben Speer asked if I would please ask Mr. Lane to arrange one of my songs, to give him something to do. I felt terrible asking this frail man to do anything. One afternoon, I sought him out and made my request. He asked me to repeat the question. I wondered if I was causing him confusion, so I nervously asked again,<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">"<i>Would you please arrange my song with harmony?</i>" </div><div style="text-align: center;">"<i>Why?</i>" he asked, "<i>Don't you know how to write parts?</i>" </div><div style="text-align: center;">"<i>No, sir,</i> " I answered. </div><div style="text-align: center;">"<i>Well then, sit down and I'll teach you</i>." </div><br>He grabbed a piece of chalk, drew a staff on the board, and turned to face me. Remember that scene in The Wizard of Oz when everything turns from black and white to colour? Well, Mr. Lane had turned to colour - bright, vibrant, ready to share his passion for harmony with me. I met with him every chance I could get. When teaching music, he was a man on fire.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">When Gerald and I talk about who we want to be as seniors, we never speak about retiring in the traditional sense. We may change how we do it, but we'll always make music. Stopping just isn't an option.</div><br>In our travels, we often meet folks like Earl and Mr. Lane, people who have allowed their passion for music making to carry on throughout their lives. As they age, their bodies and sometimes their minds start to fail them. Eyesight fades, limb grow weak, and yet, <b>the music stays alive</b>. They continue to sing, write, and play. If one skill becomes too difficult, they pick up another:<br><ul>
<li>Soloists with weaker voices move to the chorus where other voices will support them. </li>
<li>Double bass players who can't stand learn to play electric bass so they can sit to play. </li>
<li>Guitar players with stiff fingers learn to write lyrics and collaborate with other musicians to create melodies.</li>
</ul><div style="text-align: center;"><b>It's almost as if the music fills the gaps left by aging. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>It energizes them, and propels them forward into living life it all its vibrancy.</b></div><br>I'm reminded of this verse:<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Start children off on the way they should go,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and even when they are old they will not turn from it.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Proverbs 22:6 NIV</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>Music classes in schools have been on the chopping block for years, and that battle will continue as long as people are foolish enough to think that music and art are frivolous. Those of us who teach and practice the art of music making know that it's essential to who we are as individuals and as a society.<br><br>It's critical that we introduce music to children when they're young, so that they learn early how to make music and how to weave it into their daily lives. <b>But I believe it's also critical to make music as long as we possibly can</b>.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Perhaps, in making music, we can find a fountain of youth. </span></div><br>Let's continue to make music, to teach music, and to encourage others in the art and practice of music making. Let's find a place where our lifetime pool of skills, talents, emotions, experiences, and passions can strengthen and inspire us to explore and enjoy life for as long as possible.<br><br>And maybe, in that place, we can inspire the next generation to sing, play, write, arrange, and create...<br>And the circle will begin once more...<br><br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page & visit us every Wednesday!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/30792282014-07-16T01:01:00-04:002014-07-16T01:52:03-04:00Worship Wednesdays - A Visit From My Past SelfOver the past year, Gerald and I have both read "The War of Art" and "Turning Pro" by <a href="http://www.stevenpressfield.com/" target="_blank">Steven Pressfield</a>. If you're a musician or artist of any kind, these books need to be required reading, with a pen for taking notes. Pressfield identifies the Artist's greatest enemy as Resistance. Resistance can take many forms, including procrastination, distraction, or negative friends. Once identified, we learn how to overcome Resistance to make our Art.<br><br>These books have been, and continue to be, transformational for us this year. Transitioning from staff worship leaders to full-time touring artists has been rife with challenges. How do we book enough dates? How do we balance finances? Do we hire people or do everything in-house? How do we balance creative and business time? Can we afford to record? Can we afford not to?<br><br>I was searching for an old blog post this week, when I randomly read my post from <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2005/08/real-work.html" target="_blank">Saturday, August 13, 2005</a>. On this day, I had recently returned from my life-changing trip to <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2005/07/nashville-day-10.html" target="_blank">Nashville</a>. For two weeks, I had been drilled by skilled teachers in performance, songwriting, and music theory. I had said "Yes" to God's calling to transform my life from Performer to Gospel Singer (<i>not even quite knowing what that meant...</i>) But now I was back at home, where the distractions of life and planning a wedding were swimming around me. Resistance was ready to meet me at the front door, waiting to steer me off the path of my new "Yes"...<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"I am now in the phases of 'real work'. I no longer have the school's schedule or Allison Durham Speer or Daryl Williams to push and inspire me. This is the tough part of achieving your dreams. The infamous follow-through. Self-discipline. Taking the things I learned, and applying them. Building on them. Keeping the momentum..."</i></span></div><br>I find it so perfect that I found this post this week. Just a few days ago, we again returned from Nashville. Over the past few weeks, we've been working closely with session players and our engineer to record the tracks for our next Infinitely More CD. Yesterday, we were so tired - physically, mentally, spiritually. The temptation was to simply collapse for the rest of the summer. After all, people do take it easy in the summer. Facebook is full of holiday updates, beach sunsets, and patio party selfies.<br><br><div style="text-align: left;">Without warning, Resistance was in full swing, like a silent monster gliding through the house, throwing glittering, sun-soaked temptations into every room to distract us ....</div><br>But this music, this CD, is our Dream, and there's work to do. We have vocals to record, cover photos to take, graphics to design, and funds to raise. There are hours and hours of rehearsal and creative planning in the next few weeks. We have concerts and worship services to plan and perform, and a 5-province East Coast Tour to book.<br><br>As I felt the battle of Resistance surging around me, I read this paragraph written by my 2005 Self:<br><div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"With a good gospel song, I can change (someone's) life. And that's what I've always aimed for as an artist. To shake people up. To bring them out of the ordinary. For them to leave my performance with questions, new thoughts, new considerations."</i></span></div><br>The power to change someone's life. Well, that's still the path I'm on. The post continued:<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">"I know that God has affected my life in amazing ways in the last few years. I can't wow people with my Biblical insights. That's just not my strength. What I can say is this: I was in the darkest place imaginable. My life took a turn that I thought I would not survive. I can't explain it, but this force we call God brought me through it. I can't explain it, but I know that this God loves me, cares for my everyday thoughts and actions, and stays faithful to me in good and bad. And I know that when I gave my art, my career, and my life to Him for His controlling, that my art, my career, and my life changed in ways I could never "ask or imagine"<span style="color: red;">*</span>. I can't explain it, but I can tell you that I know all these things to be true. And if you have any doubts, try it. Just give your life over to God, and see what will happen. It's truly amazing."</span></i></div><br>Wow. There's nothing like remembering the first moments the Dream was born...<br><br>So in the new few weeks, when I'm overwhelmed, when I'm stressed, when Resistance is trying to convince me that a TV marathon is really the way to go, I'm going to remember these paragraphs. I'm going to remember that the Dream has changed and grown over the past years, but the goal has not.<br><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I still want our music to bring people out of the ordinary, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">For I've met the Extraordinary. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He changed my life, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He can change yours, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And I can't think of a better reason to sing...</span></div><br><br><b><span style="color: red;">*</span></b><i>When I wrote this post in 2005, Gerald and I were on separate music career paths. We had no inkling that we would ever become a duo, and we certainly had no idea that we would name ourselves <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/about" target="_blank">Infinitely More</a>, the same verse containing the phrase "ask or imagine." Until yesterday. I hadn't even looked at this post since I first wrote it in 2005. Don't tell me God isn't in the details!</i><br><br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page & visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/30737542014-07-13T17:00:00-04:002017-01-13T19:02:58-05:00Nashville - The Drive Home<div style="text-align: center;">On Wednesday morning, we started to head north again, making the long trek home.</div><br><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U6s6Bl9738s/U8LyYDSPR3I/AAAAAAAABOo/0A06k7p61JA/s1600/IMG_4553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="//2.bp.blogspot.com/-U6s6Bl9738s/U8LyYDSPR3I/AAAAAAAABOo/0A06k7p61JA/s1600/IMG_4553.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="400" width="300" /></a>We couldn't resist the chance to visit Memphis one more time, so we stopped for a visit to the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. The history of Memphis soul music was traced from its humble beginnings in a local garbage to the record label that brought us Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, and The Staple Singers. The original building had been destroyed, but the museum used original gear and historic photographs to faithfully recreate the studio. The museum also helps fund a music academy and charter school for young students. We loved the exhibits and took lots of photos, which will probably come tomorrow...<br><br>For today, we're exhausted. After leaving Memphis, we stayed in Nashville for the night, followed by two more long days in the car. In total, we clocked almost 24 hours of highway driving this week! Thankfully, the weather and the border crossing were both easy, but today, we're feeling the fatigue.<br><br>We collapsed last night, surrounded by the comforts of home and an abundance of puppy love. We feel blessed and grateful for the events of the past few weeks - safe travels, amazing recording sessions, decadent meals, and beautiful visits with friends.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">In just a few days, we'll be back in the studio, recording vocals for our songs. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The journey continues, but first, we rest...</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/30679132014-07-10T00:30:00-04:002014-07-10T10:50:54-04:00Nashville - Day 17<div style="text-align: center;">Little Rock continues to treat us well, with great meals, beautiful shopping, and lovely cafe visits. </div><div style="text-align: center;">But the best part has been the music and the company.</div><br>Tonight, Tara was leading worship for a youth service, so we visited to attend rehearsal and hear her lead worship. It was awesome to see such a vibrant youth program, with teens involved in missions, outreach, and worship. There's also something powerful about having your friends lead you in worship. I always imagine a trust between worship leader and congregation, and when you know that leader well, it makes the process even more powerful and intimate.<br><br>Our spontaneous performances continued tonight as we spent the evening playing our new CD tracks for Tara and Kyle. In the past week, we've sung our songs in a car, a music store, a hotel room, and now a living room. It's been a whole new feeling to sing them along with the tracks. Tara and Kyle haven't heard us sing live for a long time, and even though this wasn't a 'concert setting,' it was still awesome to get their reaction to the songs, and to our performances. Like seeing Tara sing earlier in the evening, we can all see growth in each other's musical abilities, and there's so much encouragement in that.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">Tomorrow, we start the long drive home but for tonight, </div><div style="text-align: center;">we are so thankful we made this side trip! </div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/30657912014-07-09T00:30:00-04:002017-01-13T19:02:58-05:00Nashville - Day 16<div style="text-align: center;"><b>If you haven't seen it already, I spent some time today documenting yesterday's visit to the National Civil Rights Museum. You can read the post <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2014/07/nashville-day-15.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> and see photos <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.776959232355418.1073741839.178473818870632&type=1&l=8f86d16513" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</b></div><br>Hello, Little Rock! As I shared yesterday, we've taken a little 'side trip' to spend time with our awesome friends, Tara and Kyle. This is our first visit to Arkansas, and so far the weather has been a suffocating heat, followed by wicked thunderstorms. Rethinking the winter gloves we brought as a gift for Tara...<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zuwA7jizeik/U7zUMaPM-jI/AAAAAAAABOY/2MxeAH5dbjk/s1600/IMG_4400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-zuwA7jizeik/U7zUMaPM-jI/AAAAAAAABOY/2MxeAH5dbjk/s1600/IMG_4400.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="212" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The Big Dam Bridge. No, I'm not making that up...</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of our favourite things to do when we visit a place is check out its music stores. When we walked into Little Rock Frets, we were underwhelmed with what we saw. Mostly a repair shop, the store had a small selection of guitars, only two of which were acoustic. But owner and staff member were friendly, and we soon got into a conversation and told them about <a href="http://www.infintelymore.ca/" target="_blank">Infinitely More</a>. They asked if we'd sing one of our songs. When we said "Sure," they said, "Then we want to play too." They grabbed a guitar and bass. Gerald started to play our Christmas song, "Tonight, Everywhere is Bethlehem." Within the first few beats, we had a small band formed with our impromptu performance. It was such a special moment, and a reminder that the most unassuming places can create special memories.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the evening, Tara had worship band rehearsal, so I visited the church with her. It's a huge church, with an elegant, circular sanctuary. It was such a pleasure to simply sit in the pews and observe another band at work.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tonight, we feasted on catfish and frog legs - well, I might have been the only one ordering frog legs - told stories, and laughed louder than any other table in the restaurant. As you know, I'm a planner, and our plan was to leave tomorrow, but after some cajoling and shifting of schedules, we've decided to stay one more night. It's so rare for the four of us to actually spend time together - these are the moments in life when you just need to say "Yes"...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/30635582014-07-08T00:30:00-04:002017-01-13T19:02:58-05:00Nashville - Day 15<div style="text-align: center;">Today, we left Nashville for a little side trip before heading home. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hello, Memphis! </span></div><br>We had the chance to visit Memphis a few times when we lived here, but a few sights escaped our view, one of which was the Civil Rights Museum. After a divine feast of ribs at Corky's BBQ, and potentially dangerous visit to a guitar store that had just lost its lease (<i>$7000 guitar for a mere $4000 anyone?</i>), we headed over to the museum.<br><br>The <a href="http://civilrightsmuseum.org/" target="_blank">National Civil Rights Museum</a> is a site specific experience. The founders of the museum purchased the original Lorraine Hotel - site of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination - and the boarding house from which the fatal bullet was shot. Around these historic locations, the museum was built to showcase the history of the civil rights movement in America.<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yQiPGnWa3go/U7wWoML48MI/AAAAAAAABOE/7yUgJR_sR5o/s1600/IMG_4288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//4.bp.blogspot.com/-yQiPGnWa3go/U7wWoML48MI/AAAAAAAABOE/7yUgJR_sR5o/s1600/IMG_4288.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <i>The Lorraine Hotel and the National Civil Rights Museum.</i>
</div><br>Your first exhibit is a circular room showing the history of slavery, including a statue demonstrating the actual-sized space in which slaves would be forced to travel on the ships. (<i>I was reminded of the powerful novel, <a href="http://lawrencehill.com/the-book-of-negroes/" target="_blank">The Book of Negroes</a>.</i>) From there, you enter a movie theatre with a short film explaining the major stages of the movement to overcome slavery and legal oppression. The film ends with the message that we're all moving forward in this journey, with the sounds of footsteps and an image of silhouetted people marching across the screen. Suddenly, a door slides open in the screen, and the audience is invited to join the march as we move into the larger part of the museum.<br><br>What follows is room after room of exhibits, showcasing both the horrors and triumphs of humanity. Larger stories like the Freedom Riders, integrating schools, and students sit-ins are showcased. But smaller, lesser known stories about individuals and their part of the story are also shared.<br><br>The museum is full of life-sized statues, showing scenes like Rosa Parks on the bus, and the Memphis Sanitation Strike. Coming face to face with these silvery, ghostlike forms brings history into reality.<br><br>Words like 'disturbing', 'overwhelming', and 'inspiring' are pale descriptions of the experience. In moments, my stomach turned and my eyes welled up at the intense and bizarre cruelty. Turn the corner, and I'd be reading a story of intense bravery, and the waves of hope that act generated in the rest of society.<br><br><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MCUg1LDZjh4/U7wWnomM8vI/AAAAAAAABOA/2Y1oFYQzmEw/s1600/IMG_4373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="//3.bp.blogspot.com/-MCUg1LDZjh4/U7wWnomM8vI/AAAAAAAABOA/2Y1oFYQzmEw/s1600/IMG_4373.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="240" /></a>The most powerful parts of the visit were Room 306, and the boarding house. Using police photographs, the museum has recreated both rooms to show how they would have looked on that day. In each space, we read a timeline of events, to make the experience present and palpable. We read how Dr. King was laughing and joking on the afternoon of his assassination. We see ashtrays full of cigarettes, a neat hotel room, a messy boarding house. The one detail that wasn't there on that day is the flower wreath hanging on the balcony rail, marking the fatal spot.<br><br>The museum was crowded today. People of all races and ages moved through the halls, reading the stories and staring at the photos. As we walked through, I wondered how the different groups were processing the experience. As a Canadian, this isn't my history, but as a human being, this is my history. As we've traveled throughout the South, we've often visited places where you can feel a racial tension. Sometimes it's said aloud, but oftentimes it's simply felt, perhaps in the way that people make eye contact, or even more disturbingly, in the way that they won't. I wondered if we might feel that in the museum, but we didn't. Folks moved through the crowded spaces with a sense of reverence and gentleness. Children laughed and played with the statues. People gave each other space to take photos. 'Please', 'thank you', and 'excuse me' were said often.<br><br>It's hard to put into words how we felt after we left the final exhibits. We spent a full 3 hours there, and we could have spent much more time. It's already spurned hours of conversation, and I have a feeling we'll be talking about it for a while yet.<br><br>From Memphis, we hit the road again and headed to Little Rock, Arkansas! After a bit of schedule juggling, we realized we could take a few days and visit our friends Tara and Kyle. Feeling blessed and tired tonight.<br><br>Between Gerald and I, we took over a hundred photos today. It'll take me a bit to sort through them, but I'll post a link when they're live. One final thought on the day...<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">only light can do that. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hate cannot drive out hate; </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">only love can do that."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/30602922014-07-06T23:36:00-04:002014-07-07T01:03:09-04:00Nashville - Day 14Apparently, the new tourist trend in Nashville is to visit town looking for characters of the hit show, "Nashville." Well, today, we hit the trend when we saw Charles Esten - aka Deacon Claybourne! We weren't able to speak to him, but we definitely had our geeky do-you-see-who-I'm-seeing moment.<br><br>It was so lovely to attend Redeemer again this morning, to be with this wonderful congregation and see even more friends. When we came to the 'prayers of the people' section of the service, there's a place where people can add their personal petitions, either silently or aloud. As people lifted their prayers this morning, I had a flashback to 5 years ago, when we attended Redeemer on the first Sunday following our <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2009/05/please-pray.html" target="_blank">accident</a>. When we came to this point in the service, I lifted my prayer, <b>"I'm thankful I'm alive, and I'm thankful Gerald is alive."</b> As this memory swept over me, I was reminded of that deep, visceral feeling of gratitude to simply be alive. We say it all the time, <i>"We should just be thankful we're alive and healthy,"</i> but it never rings true until we walk the edge of death. This morning, I silently lifted that prayer again. I added prayers of thanksgiving for our family and our Redeemer congregation that supported us in that time, and I gave thanks for where we are today.<br><br>After the service, Jenna and our new friend, Heather, joined us for a classic treat: Sunday homestyle chicken at Cracker Barrel! The ability to see friends more than once on this trip has been an enormous blessing. We've been able to get past the 'catching up' conversations and move onto actually just hanging out and creating new memories.<br><br>Jenna was anxious to hear our recording, so after lunch we all sat in her car to listen to the CD. There are no vocals yet, so Jenna and Heather sat in the front, while Gerald and I sang the vocals from the back seat. To sing the songs to the new tracks in that intimate setting was incredibly moving. Seeing Jenna and Heather's reactions gave us new inspiration in the power of the songs, and the importance of creating a beautiful CD. We've also decided that "car concerts" should become the next big thing...<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">Tomorrow, the adventure continues with a visit to Memphis!</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/30592372014-07-05T23:56:00-04:002017-01-13T19:02:58-05:00Nashville - Day 13<div style="text-align: center;">This is what 5 days in the studio will get you:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wVDpKiM1yX8/U7i_v5X5lEI/AAAAAAAABNw/HQTmwckKYlc/s1600/photo-193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//4.bp.blogspot.com/-wVDpKiM1yX8/U7i_v5X5lEI/AAAAAAAABNw/HQTmwckKYlc/s1600/photo-193.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="392" width="400" /></a></div><br><br>We started the day by picking up the rough mixes of our tracks! What an amazing feeling to hold them in our hand. One step closer to feeling that completed CD in our hands. Next, we'll return to Ontario and start recording vocals. Before we left the studio, we prayed with Denny, giving thanks for the beauty of the project thus far, and asking for God to be with us during the rest of the process.<br><br>After picking up the tracks, we headed downtown for a visit to some of our favourite spots: Lifeway Christian Bookstore and Gruhn Guitars. Our credit cards were trembling with excitement as we entered the stores! Luckily, they left only slightly bruised.<br><br>Tonight, we enjoyed another night of stories, bbq, and time with friends. Our last few trips to Nashville have been so rushed. To spend time with so many friends has been a tremendous blessing! Can't wait to attend our Nashville church again tomorrow...Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/30581222014-07-04T23:14:00-04:002017-01-13T19:02:58-05:00Nashville - Day 12<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy 4th of July!</span></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1vfjaOJMaLc/U7dsgnWN7II/AAAAAAAABNg/ERHdWc-MnxA/s1600/IMG_4255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//2.bp.blogspot.com/-1vfjaOJMaLc/U7dsgnWN7II/AAAAAAAABNg/ERHdWc-MnxA/s1600/IMG_4255.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>Today, we celebrated by feasting on classic Southern homestyle cooking at Monell's! This was high on the To Do List when we arrived. Monell's was one of our favourites when we lived here, and we always brought company when they visited. For those of us not raised on meat-and-three dining, Monell's is a unique experience. You sit at a big table with strangers and share food and conversation over all-you-can-eat bowls of Southern cooking. We were there for the end of lunch and ended up at a table by ourselves - 15 bowls of food for just us! Skillet fried chicken, corn pudding, fried catfish, biscuits with peach preserves, fried green tomatoes and banana pudding were just a few of the treats. Needless to say, we didn't need supper ...<br><br>We opted for a quiet celebration tonight, enjoying neighbourhood fireworks and reflecting on the past two weeks. It's been such a whirlwind. Tonight, words like "blessed" and "grateful" are both cliché and perfectly suited to the conversation.<br><br><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/30568502014-07-04T00:01:00-04:002014-07-04T01:00:28-04:00Nashville - Day 11<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The tracks are officially recorded!!! Whoo-hoo!</span></div><br>This morning, we met to capture the final piece of the puzzle - the cello and remaining violin parts. Cello is one of our favourite instruments. We've been blessed to do some live performances with a cello, but this is the first time we've had one on our recordings. That low, rich, sound created a haunting feeling on some of the more delicate songs. Both the violin and cello combined to add an orchestral element to the full and vibrant track for There's A Light At The End Of The Tomb.<br><br>On Saturday, we'll have a final meeting with Denny and receive the rough mixes. The next step: return to Ontario and start recording vocals.<br><br>But our work for this trip is done, which means it's time for some Nashville play time! We visited our favourite shopping area tonight, and feasted one of our all time favourite restaurants, Jim 'n' Nicks. It was such a treat at the end of a long few days, and our wonderful waitress even slipped us a dozen biscuits on our way out! If you've ever had their signature biscuits with the honey butter, you'll know how happy we are right about now...<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">Oh, and we have a new favourite thing: white BBQ sauce.</div><br>Yes, I said white. We'd never heard of it before either, but it seems to be all the rage in Nashville these days. It comes from Alabama, and it's a blend of tangy, spicy, and sweet, depending on the recipe. I'm on the hunt for a bottle to take home with us...<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">I've uploaded lots of new photos in the last day or so. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You can see them <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.770828352968506.1073741838.178473818870632&type=1&l=1f944a6c55" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</span></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/30546642014-07-02T23:36:00-04:002017-01-13T19:02:57-05:00Nashville - Day 10We woke this morning with the satisfied fatigue that comes from a week of great work. I've finally had the time to post the photos from the studio. You can see them <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.770828352968506.1073741838.178473818870632&type=1" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br><br>When we lived in Nashville, we became great friends with Kyle and <a href="http://tarajacksononline.com/" target="_blank">Tara Jackson</a>. Today, Tara drove 5 hours from their new home in Little Rock to spend the day with us! It's been 2 years since we've see each other, and it was so awesome to have the whole day together!<br><br><br>We spent the day enjoying some of the pleasures of Nashville:<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-0TXeTThteds%2FU7TOp2VmQYI%2FAAAAAAAABNQ%2FpwdWsPrJ40c%2Fs1600%2FIMG_1246.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="//2.bp.blogspot.com/-0TXeTThteds/U7TOp2VmQYI/AAAAAAAABNQ/pwdWsPrJ40c/s1600/IMG_1246.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="240" width="320" /></a>- the Redneck Taco at Martin's BBQ</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">- shopping at Opry Mills Mall</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">- visiting Tara's aunt, whose late husband played piano for Rosemary Clooney, and singing Amazing Grace acapella for her</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">- sampling rosemary, pear, goat cheese, and other exotic-flavoured ice cream at Jeni's</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">- singing, laughing, telling stories, and sharing our music dreams...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">We've said this so many times this week: we're so grateful for email, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/infinitelymoreband" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, and Skype for giving us the ability to keep in touch with people. </div><div style="text-align: left;">But nothing, <u>nothing</u> beats sitting face to face with a great friend...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/30523372014-07-01T23:37:00-04:002017-01-13T19:02:57-05:00Nashville - Day 9<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">Happy Canada Day!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">When we realized we'd be in the studio on July 1, we decided to bring a few special treats for the band. We chose Canadian classics: Tim Horton's coffee, Laura Secord Miniatures, maple sugar candies, maple cookies, and flag pens for everyone! And, we spent the day <span style="text-align: center;">creating lots of brand new </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_content" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Canadian Content</a><span style="text-align: center;">!</span>
</div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qumPmxjHBwA/U7NDGb9dIYI/AAAAAAAABNA/fPXVBdBEwtA/s1600/IMG_4197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//2.bp.blogspot.com/-qumPmxjHBwA/U7NDGb9dIYI/AAAAAAAABNA/fPXVBdBEwtA/s1600/IMG_4197.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="287" width="400" /></a></div><br><br>Today was dedicated primarily to the more intimate songs on the album - A Divine Heart Imagined You, All I'm Called to Be, and Time To Leave This Place, to name a few. Yesterday, we heard the musicians rock out on our more uptempo songs. It was beautiful to hear them switch into playing sensitive, ethereal parts today.<br><br>Originally, we had a cello/violin player booked for the whole day, but then he got a "bus call." Yes, that was a new term for us too. A "bus call" is when you're on salary for a major artist, who then books a gig, and you get the call to drop everything and get on the bus.<br><br>But it was a blessing in disguise. In making a Plan B, we were able to get the talented Jason Roller to join us on electric guitar and violin this afternoon. He made the tracks sound amazing! We've rescheduled cello/violin for Thursday, so nothing is lost - we've only gained from the situation.<br><br>After a full day in the studio, we spent the evening at a songwriter workshop hosted by our friend, Tom Manning. Nine of us gathered to share our latest song, and give and receive feedback. It's been ages since we've attended this kind of night, and it was so inspiring and encouraging. The songs and critiques were all really strong and well thought out. Tom even gave us a chance to sing our latest Christmas song, and it felt great to share it in that intimate setting.<br><br>Our time in Nashville is flying by. Only five days left. Still so many friends to see, songs to hear, and BBQ to eat...<br><br><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/30501812014-07-01T00:30:00-04:002014-07-01T02:45:35-04:00Nashville - Day 8<div style="text-align: center;">A short blogpost for a long day...</div><br>Today was our first day with the session players in the studio. We had an ambitious goal - to record 8 songs with full band tracks. We arrived early in the morning, with boxes of fresh donuts to fuel the musicians.<br><br>All four players played on our last two projects. It was an honour to start the day by thanking them for their talents, and to let them know that the <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Store" target="_blank">CDs</a> had received Covenant Award nominations.<br><br>What followed was a long day of laughing, joking, and hardcore musicianship. These guys walk in, yanking each other's chains and always trying to have the best comeback, but the moment the downbeat hits, it's all business. But you know, that joyful, generous, creative kind of musical business...<br><br>Tonight, we're exhausted and inspired. Today surpassed all our expectations. We knew it would be good, but as I wrote <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2014/06/nashville-day-7.html" target="_blank">yesterday</a>, putting your music into the hands of other musicians is the 'great unknown.' But now that we do know, I'm happy to say, it's pretty awesome.<br><br>I took a lot of photos, but they'll have to wait a day or two before I can go through them.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">Back in the studio tomorrow! </div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/30475562014-06-29T22:37:00-04:002014-06-29T23:05:36-04:00Nashville - Day 7<div style="text-align: center;">As promised, here's a sneak peek into what we've been working on. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Just a little iPhone video of Gerald in the studio:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/eev-zJTQ-IU" width="560"></iframe></div><br><br>On any given Sunday in Nashville, you have your choice of over 700 churches to attend. There are the beautiful old buildings with high steeples, the auditorium style worship spaces, and the hundreds of church plants that crop up in living rooms, school cafeterias, and movie theatres across the city. But for us, there's only one real choice - <a href="http://www.redeemernashville.net/" target="_blank">Church of the Redeemer.</a><br><br>We found Redeemer the first summer we were living in Nashville. We were attracted to the music, the preaching, and the outreach, but what we really loved were the people. When I walked in this morning, it was like coming home. Smiles and greetings were exchanged as I caught the eye of friends I haven't seen in years.<br><br>Redeemer is the place where Gerald and I grew from Music Leaders to Worship Leaders, and it all happened under the mentorship of Jenna Martin. Jenna became a dear friend, and has had her own amazing journey that has led to her ordination as an Anglican priest. This morning, I was not only able to see Jenna in her priestly robes, but I also got to hear her preach! For the first 30 seconds, I couldn't hear a word she said. My brain kept screaming "JENNA'S PREACHING!!! JENNA'S PREACHING!!!" I was so crazy excited and proud. Once I could settle myself, I heard a sermon that was engaging, Biblical, loving, and passionate.<br><br>I was also able to pick up a copy of <a href="http://thomasmckenzie.com/anglican-way/" target="_blank">The Anglican Way</a>, written by Redeemer's amazing pastor, Rev. Thomas McKenzie. When I commented about this on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/infinitelymoreband" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, a Toronto friend said he had just read the book! Small, small world we live in...<br><br>Tonight was dedicated to more CD prep. In just 12 hours, we'll be on our way to the studio to start recording with the musicians! This is where the creative leap happens. We basically put our songs in the hands of the band and say, "<i>Work your magic.</i>" We know it'll be amazing, but even with all our planning, we ultimately have no idea what will happen. This is the wonderful, terrifying, inspiring risk of inviting other people into your art.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">We ask that you please continue to keep us in prayer over the next few days as we work on these tracks. By the end of Tuesday, all the instrumental parts of the CD should be recorded. That's 13 songs in 2 days. We'll be praying for openness, creativity, generosity, and that these songs will be what they need to be to honour God and serve God's people...</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/30465772014-06-28T23:01:00-04:002014-06-29T00:30:28-04:00Nashville - Day 6Today included some much needed quiet time. It's been such a jam packed week, so moving a little slower today seemed like the right call.<br><br>In the morning, we started to receive the rough mixes of our guitar tracks and scratch vocals. We wanted copies so we can be as prepared as possible for Monday. As we listen to each track, we'll be able to imagine the bass, percussion, keyboard and strings layering themselves around the guitar. We've been collecting different production and arrangement ideas over the past few months, but when you start to actually record, it's like seeing the whole thing in colour.<br><br>I spent the afternoon with one of my favourite people, Teri Reid. I got to know Teri when I was with the Stamps-Baxter School of Music. She's an amazingly talented musician and vocalist, and we were honoured to have her play piano for<a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/store" target="_blank"> Hymns in the Key of Grace</a>. Her husband, Shannon Fontaine, took our gorgeous photos for the CD cover. It's been far too long since we've had a visit, and we spent hours catching up. Teri and Shannon have just opened an art gallery in the very cool 12th South area, so it was great to see their new project in person.<br><br>I've been trying to eat as much Southern food as possible on this trip, indulging in local treasures that just can't be replicated north of the border. Today's offering: shrimp and grits. Fab-u-lous!!!<br><br>Nashville has been a rush of memories for me. Our last visit, 2 years ago, was so short that we barely saw anyone. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/infinitelymoreband" target="_blank">Facebook</a> is a blessing for keeping up with people and seeing snapshots of their lives...<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">But nothing beats sitting face to face, </div><div style="text-align: center;">enjoying platters of local delicacies, </div><div style="text-align: center;">sharing stories, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and laughing too loud to be considered polite...</div><br><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/30458472014-06-28T00:30:00-04:002014-06-28T10:35:31-04:00Nashville - Day 5As live musicians, we can perform a concert every night of the week and feel completely energized. Doing studio work is a whole different energy. Tonight, we're happy, and thoroughly exhausted.<br><br>Gerald continued to record his guitar tracks today, and he sounded amazing. He did a lot of practicing with the click track before we arrived in Nashville, and you could tell the results. My favourite is A Divine Heart Imagined You. When you hear the final song, Gerald's guitar track is one, beautiful take.<br><br>I always love Gerald's arrangements, but I, of course, hear them in relation to our vocals. To hear only the guitar track, almost as an instrumental piece, was a unique experience. I heard things I hadn't really noticed before, and I gained a new appreciation for the detail of his compositions.<br><br>We finished earlier than expected and had lots of energy left, so we decided to record the scratch vocals. This is basically a guide vocal to help the band know the melody of the song. For us, we also wanted to give a sense of the harmonies and the emotional tone of the song. Singing through each of our songs, I was reminded of how blessed we are to have written these songs, and to have the opportunity to share them with others.<br><br>A busy day needed a relaxing evening, so tonight we feasted on Southern BBQ - pulled pork, skillet fried cornbread, mac and cheese, fried apples, and sweet tea. We, of course, had our choice of five different BBQ sauces, 'cause one is never enough.<br><br>On the drive home, I saw something blinking on the side of the road. It was fireflies. They were twinkling all along the drive, and even in the garden of our rental. We stood in the yard and watched their fascinating beauty, giving us a perfect moment of calm as we reflected on a creative and productive day.<br><br>We've made some additions to our recording schedule, so next week we'll actually have 4 full studio days. Which means, the weekend is pure socializing and relaxation!<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I've started posting photos <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.770828352968506.1073741838.178473818870632&type=1&l=1f944a6c55" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'll be adding more each day, and I'm hoping to post some video this weekend!</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/30431992014-06-26T22:29:00-04:002014-06-26T23:10:36-04:00Nashville - Day 4Before I start into today, I forgot something excellent from <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2014/06/nashville-day-3.html" target="_blank">last night</a> - our round was on the radio! We didn't know this until we actually got on stage, but it was broadcasting live on 107.1 Nashville Free Radio. Pretty cool, huh? I think they're going to post the show on their site later this week, so I'll post a link if I can.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">So what's the one thing you should do in the morning before you head in the studio to record 13 songs? </div><div style="text-align: center;">Write the songs!</div><br>Well, not all the songs... There's one song on the project that's never quite felt complete. We love it as it is, but every time we sing it, I think "We need an opening section." Well, this morning, we wrote it. Gerald had one idea, and I had another, but when they came together, we had the perfect piece.<br><br>Denny Martin's warm and cozy studio has birthed two of our <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/store" target="_blank">CDs</a>, so returning today felt both comforting and exciting. We started the morning as we always want to start anything important - in prayer. We offered thanksgiving for the talents of everyone who will be involved, for the songs, and for the opportunity to make this project.<br><br>Our goal today and tomorrow is to record all Gerald's guitar tracks. He has so many signature riffs and grooves. We want to capture them all, and then let the band play around his guitar and our voices. When I sell our CDs, I describe them as "us with the world's best band," so that's the balance we want to attain.<br><br>Gerald's work was so beautiful today! The pace was relaxed yet productive, and we managed to get 4 tracks completed.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">This week, we've heard the best words we could hear in Nashville - </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Welcome home."</span></div><br>We heard it yesterday as we met each of our friends, and as we met our friend, Tom, for dinner tonight, he gave us the same greeting. We were only here 3 years, but it was most definitely our home, and it's nice to be welcomed back so warmly. Tom is a songwriter, and an incredible encourager. When we lived here, he gave Gerald the opportunity to sit in on his late Saturday round at the <a href="http://www.bluebirdcafe.com/" target="_blank">Bluebird Cafe</a>, a real privilege for an unknown writer.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">Tonight, we're resting and refocusing for tomorrow. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Five songs and two short solos are on the docket. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Photos coming soon...</div><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/30411312014-06-25T23:43:00-04:002014-06-26T01:20:45-04:00Nashville - Day 3<div style="text-align: center;">I woke up this morning and thought, <i>"We're in Nashville. Today we're going to work on music, tonight we'll perform, and tomorrow we're going to record. Wow ..."</i>
</div><div><br></div><div>We spent the morning in the very funky 12th Avenue South area - home to cafes, music stores, art galleries, and cool artsy spots. We sipped cappuccinos and enjoyed brunch with our songwriter friend, Jim. We've decided that this will be a very social trip, with as many friend visits as possible.</div><div><br></div><div>Last week, we skyped with Denny in Nashville, who will record tracks and mix this CD. This afternoon, we skyped with Carmon in Toronto, who will record the vocals for the CD. We're so grateful for the technology that allows us to do all of this over the miles! (or, as we say, kilometres...)</div><div><br></div><div>Tonight, we played a songwriter round at the Commodore Lounge. We were invited by our producer, Denny Martin and Scott Neubert, a talented guitarist who's played for everybody, and we're humbled that he's also played for our projects. We sang How The Light Gets In, <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/store" target="_blank">Thou Shalt Not</a>, and our new Christmas song, Tonight Everywhere is Bethlehem. The response was extremely positive, which in the completive Nashville market, is really encouraging. </div><div><br></div><div>We perform all the time, and we know these songs like the back of our hand, and yet, tonight we sang them in Nashville. Not to sound too over the top, but playing music here isn't like playing it anywhere else. Every room is steeped in talent and history. The guy sitting by himself in the corner might have a Grammy nomination hanging up on his wall. The next song performed might be a hit in a month. To perform in this world is challenging, inspiring, intimidating, awesome...<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">Tomorrow, we hit the <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2014/06/worship-wednesdays-day-before-we-begin.html" target="_blank">studio</a>... </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">the next chapter begins...</div>
</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/30393552014-06-25T10:06:00-04:002014-06-25T11:20:34-04:00Worship Wednesdays - The Day Before We Begin...<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tomorrow is Studio Day!!</span></div><br>It's been months since we made the decision to record our new CD. We immediately entered the long and wonderful journey of choosing our songs. (I wrote about that process <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2014/05/worship-wednesdays-choosing-cd-songs.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.) From there, we started to put the other pieces together.<br><br>It takes a village to raise a CD, so who would be our team? We would need a producer, engineer, musicians, photographer, graphic designer, manufacturer...<br><br>Next, we had to choose how to record. Nashville? Toronto? Tracks in a day? Build each song individually? Since we know the Nashville system so well, and we've had <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/store" target="_blank">success</a> with it in the past, Nashville seemed like the obvious choice. Then we asked a few talented friends their advice:<i>"Well, everyone is just trying to create the Nashville sound anyways, so if you can get the real thing, go to Nashville!"</i> Asked and answered...<br><br>Then came the planning, the details, and the scheduling. And tomorrow, we finally enter the studio! We'll spend the first 2 days recording all of Gerald's guitar tracks. He'll record to a click track, which is like having a metronome keeping the beat throughout the entire song. The click is removed in the final recording, but during the process, it's an invaluable tool. It's like laying out a pathway that all the musicians can follow. We can come in later and add extra parts, and the click makes sure everyone can lock into that perfect tempo.<br><br>For live players like ourselves, the click is a bit of a new challenge. But Gerald has a great sense of inner timing and groove, so I know he'll be great.<br><br>I'll be on detail management for these first few days. I'll keep track of what tempo and key we use for each song, which guitar is played for which track, and making afternoon espressos - the key to any good recording session!<br><br>We'd love your prayers tomorrow and Friday as we start this recording! We're so crazy excited about these songs, and we can't wait to share them with you.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'll be blogging every night of this Nashville adventure, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and also posting photos & updates on <a href="http://facebook.com/infinitelymoreband" target="_blank">Facebook</a>. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Join us daily! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page & visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/30386912014-06-24T22:12:00-04:002014-06-24T22:45:37-04:00Nashville - Day 2<div style="text-align: center;">We're here! We're here! We're here!!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div>We stayed in the hotel a while this morning, doing more song prep. On Thursday, Gerald will play the guitar tracks using a click track, so we sang through them today, making sure we have the best tempo for each song.</div><div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Then, back in the car for another day of driving. A few observations: </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">- Even thought it's been 2 years since we've made the trek to Nashville, I knew the almost 1200km route like the back of my hand. Landmarks like the Corvette Museum, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Y'all_Water_Tower" target="_blank">Florence Y'all</a> waterpower, and the infamous <a href="http://www.wxyz.com/news/grab_wxyz_monroe-church-dedicates-new-52-foot-jesus-statue-overlooking-interstate-751349117501108" target="_blank">Jesus-in-the-Pool</a> (the new version) came out to greet us like long lost friends.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">- We lost count of the number of thunderstorms we hit. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Thankful for good wipers and cautious fellow drivers.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">- Kentucky and Tennessee are by far my favourite parts of the drive! After the crowded racetrack roads of Detroit and Cincinnati, the rolling hills and lush greenery were balm to my driving soul.</div><div><br></div><div>We've found a wonderful place to stay on our visit here - a condo that rents exclusively to songwriters. It's cozy and spacious, the perfect place to be creative, and get lots of rest after long days in the studio. </div><div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Tonight, we rest. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Tomorrow, the singing/playing/writing/recording begins!!! </div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/30355292014-06-23T21:09:00-04:002014-06-23T21:15:40-04:00Nashville - Day 1<div style="text-align: center;">We're on our way! </div><br>Over the next two weeks, we're visiting Nashville to start work on our next CD! It's been two years since our last trip to Music City, when we recorded the tracks for our <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Store" target="_blank">Infinitely More</a> debut CD. Each night, I'll be blogging about the recording process, any performances we do, and all kinds of other Nashville adventures.<br><br>We do the 13 hour drive over two days, so tonight, we're settled into a cozy hotel in Troy, Ohio. It was a mostly good day of driving. We hit a few thunder storms along the way, one of which was so bad we had to pull off the highway and into the comfort of a Starbucks to wait it out. Ah, the comforting nature of a latte...<br><br>After a great meal tonight (<i>which might actually inspire a future Worship Wednesdays blogpost</i>), we came back to the hotel for a short rehearsal. Here's hoping the folks around us are music fans...<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">I can't tell you how excited I am to be on this trip and getting ready to record again! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Feeling very thankful tonight...</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/30237162014-06-18T09:59:00-04:002014-06-18T11:16:29-04:00Worship Wednesdays - Is Your Church Better Than a Burger Joint?Last night, Gerald and I took my Dad out for his Father's Day present - a burger feast! We braved the thunder storms and headed off to The Works. We perused their seemingly endless menu and chose thick milkshakes, fresh cut fries, and burgers topped with such delicacies as grilled pineapple and sliced brie.<br><br>Our meals arrived and after the appropriate photo opp, we began to indulge. Everything tasted fantastic, and the conversation flowed. But as Dad and I made our way through our meals, we noticed something wasn't correct with our order. It wasn't a big deal, but our food hadn't arrived as ordered.<br><br>When the waiter came to take our empty plates, we let him know that we had no complaints, but that our orders had been incorrect. We assured him that we were completely satisfied and sated, but we just wanted to bring the discrepancy to his attention.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What happened next blew us away.</span></div><br>The manager came out to ask about our concerns. He then apologized, explained their regular kitchen procedure, and apologized again. Then, he told us that our entrees would all be complimentary - including Gerald's meal, which had been perfect. And then, he handed each of us a coupon for a free meal on our next visit! He stayed a full 10 minutes at our table, chatting, asking about our evening, and making sure we left feeling good.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">We couldn't believe it.</div><br>We left the restaurant overwhelmed with the amazing customer service, and confident that we would make a return visit. As we retold the story later that evening, I thought,<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Do we make people in the church feel this good?"</span></div><br>The manager's apology was more than enough. Remember, we hadn't actually made a complaint. When he comped our meal, it was a way to make us feel good about the evening's experience. And when he gave us the coupon, it was his way of saying, "Give us another chance!"<br><br>In the last few months, I've had the opportunity to visit a few churches, not as a guest musician, but as a guest worshiper. When I visit churches like this, I make a point of not speaking to anyone first. I want to see if I'll be welcomed, if anyone will reach out to me as a visitor. Some churches have been very welcoming. In others, I've arrived, worshipped, and left without a single parishioner or pastor saying hello to me.<br><br>There are lots of reasons why people choose a church, but most people will also tell you that the friendliness of the congregation themselves can make or break that decision.<br><br><br><div style="text-align: left;"><ul>
<li>How do we make people feel when they walk through our doors? </li>
<li>Are we welcoming and inviting? </li>
<li>Do we make it easy to join in our rituals and activities? </li>
<li>Do they leave feeling valued and appreciated? </li>
<li>Do we treat visitors and long time attendees with equal love and compassion? </li>
<li>Are we letting people know, "We're so glad you came! There's a home here for you. How can we serve you?"</li>
</ul></div><br><br><div style="text-align: center;">The Works didn't want to lose us as customers, and they made sure we knew it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">As Christians, we should want to keep folks in our churches for higher reasons.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Are we willing to give extraordinary service to keep them coming back for more?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page & visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/30087062014-06-11T11:05:00-04:002014-06-11T12:46:36-04:00Worship Wednesdays - The Church Debate That Makes My Blood Boil...<div style="text-align: center;">I was glued to my TV on Sunday night as <span style="text-align: center;">I watched The Tony Awards!</span>
</div><br>As a theatre girl myself, The Tonys are must-watch television. I find myself in awe of the talent. These writers, directors, actors, singers, and dancers are at the top of their game. Endless hours of training and sacrifice have gone into raising their craft to such a high level. Watching their performances inspires me to rehearse more, learn more, create more...<br><br>Yesterday, I had lunch with a friend, and she explained how her church is going through the all-too-cliche battle of Performance versus Worship. Sitting in the glow of Sunday's telecast, and thinking back to the thousand times I've been caught in this exact argument, my blood began to boil. This is an argument that, at its core, is based in an ignorance of what we do as artists.<br><br>I could write a book about how we need performance skills to be effective worship leaders, Gospel artists, and even preachers. But here's where I think this argument is so horribly misguided: It sees all performers as divas and all performances as selfish. And that's just wrong.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The best performances are always an act of generosity.</b></span></div><br>When a Work of art is created, it is in one state of being, but it's truly not complete until it's performed in front of an audience. The artist chooses the Work because it speaks to them; it has a message that connects with the soul of the artist, something he or she thinks must be communicated. The artist learns, rehearses, and perfects the Work until the audience is present. And then, the Work is shared.<br><br>And in that living moment, something important is given to the audience - a story, a song, a character, a dance that has the power to transform, enlighten, afflict, sooth, fill. The artist wants the audience to leave changed, to experience the world differently than before the Work.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Isn't that what we're trying to do with worship music?</span></div><br>Yes, there are some artists that are in it for the fame and the adulation, but you know who they are. You can sense their selfishness when you watch them. They leave you feeling cold, unmoved, uninspired. They clutter the airwaves. We don't need them in the theatre, or the studio, or the Church.<br><br>But true artists aren't that. <b>True artists want to communicate. </b>They want to share their passion, their trials, their hopes, and their convictions with the audience. And you know what these artists look like too. They create the art that changes your life - the song that you always need when you're sad, the play that made you laugh til your gut hurt, the painting that was so beautiful you bought the poster to take home, the book you reread every summer.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Aren't these the kind of artists we want in the church? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Aren't these the kind of artists we want sharing the Gospel?</span></div><br>It's dynamic relationship between the Creator, the Artist, and the Listener. God creates the Artist and gives them the skills of creativity and performance; the Artist uses those skills to share their message, and as a result, the Listener hears the Gospel in a way that is transformative, enlightening, afflicting, soothing, filling...<br><br>As an artist, I've chosen to use my talents to share the message of God's love and grace. Not every artist will make that choice, and that's okay. Artists need to be able to tell the stories of their own humanity. Whatever our walk through life, we need to hear the stories of all people if we're ever to learn about each other. It's that unique telling that allows us to share in the human experience, discover the greater truths of the universe, and learn to love our neighbour as ourselves.<br><br>But when artists do make the choice to use their voices for the Church, let's not pin their heels and limit their expression. <b>Let's encourage them to use the full breadth of their talents - their artistry, their creativity, and yes, their performance - to generously share the Good News...</b><br><br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page & visit us every Wednesday!</i></div><br><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/29927232014-06-04T11:35:00-04:002014-06-04T12:47:18-04:00Worship Wednesdays - Pentecost PlaylistThis Sunday, churches around the world will recognize Pentecost. As recorded in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2%3A1-13&version=NIV" target="_blank">Acts 2:1-13</a>, Pentecost is a vibrant celebration marking the arrival of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church. Tongues of fires, the rushing wind, and speaking in various languages give us a variety of themes and images for creative worship planning. Some churches will invite their congregations to wear red - the <a href="http://www.togetheratonealtar.catholic.edu.au/craft/dsp-content.cfm?loadref=35" target="_blank">liturgical colour</a> of the day. Others will have a cake to celebrate the birthday of the Church.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are lots of wonderful songs to celebrate Pentecost. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here are a few of our favourites:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Spirit of the Living God</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is the Sunday to pull out all your favourite Holy Spirit songs! We love this one for its melodic simplicity and beautiful lyrics. It crosses denominations, and can be performed in pretty much any musical style. We will often sing two verses congregationally, and insert an instrumental verse or two in the middle, either for reflection or to underscore spoken prayer.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/BagH-zTfnsQ" width="420"></iframe> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br><br><b><span style="font-size: large;">Shout To The North</span></b><br><br>We love singing this song! The images of fire, Church unity, and singing to the world make it a great fit for Pentecost. The Celtic feel of this song makes it a great crossover - perfect for bands, but a simple enough melody to make it accessible to choirs and more traditional congregations.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ctc3GqWaV3U" width="420"></iframe> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">They'll Know We Are Christians</span></b><br><br>This is one of our favourite songs to celebrate Christian unity, and particularly for ending worship. We love sending people from Church into the World with the reminder that people will recognize us as followers of Christ by the way we love. Some folks dismiss this contemporary classic as being "too dour" with its minor melody, but use those emotive chords to your advantage to create an arrangement that's soulful and moving.<br><br><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/xyHvO4xoEh4" width="420"></iframe> <br><br><br><br><b><span style="font-size: large;">Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God</span></b><br><br>We haven't performed this song, but I found it in writing this blog. I'm such a huge fan of Keith and Kristyn Getty - soaring melodies, scriptural and liturgical lyrics, and songs that can adapt to fit any church's musical tradition.<br><br><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/N8FKZIz97AU" width="560"></iframe> <br><br><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sweet, Sweet Spirit</span></b><br><br>This is a classic song, performed so beautifully in this clip by J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet. I love this video - in the middle of his concert, the great Elvis Presley asks his audience to listen, not to him, but to the amazing acapella harmonies of this spiritual song.<br><br><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/9Ae5pjIK8lM" width="420"></iframe> <br><br><span style="font-size: large;">What songs will you be singing this Pentecost?</span><br><span style="font-size: large;">Share your selections in the Comments section...</span><br><br><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page & visit us every Wednesday!</i>
</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/29761122014-05-28T09:27:00-04:002017-01-13T19:02:57-05:00Worship Wednesdays - Book Review: How High Will You Climb? by John Maxwell<div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GeRhlcjFNHo/U4TliTH0woI/AAAAAAAABMo/Ep6fc0lLxtE/s1600/_225_350_Book.1162.cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="//4.bp.blogspot.com/-GeRhlcjFNHo/U4TliTH0woI/AAAAAAAABMo/Ep6fc0lLxtE/s1600/_225_350_Book.1162.cover.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="198" /></a>This book was such a natural choice for review. First, I'm a huge fan of John Maxwell, ever since reading his amazing "Talent is Never Enough." Second, not only is he a excellent educator in communication and leadership, but his teachings are all based on Biblical ideals and examples.</div><div><br></div><div>The subtitle for the book "Determine Your Success By Cultivating The Right Attitude" might lead you to think this is simply a book for the upwardly mobile professional, but like the best in the self-help genre, this book takes a holistic view of success. How can our attitudes affect our work, our art, our families, and our spiritual lives? The book approaches the topic from lots of angles - where do we develop our attitudes, how can we thrive in difficult times, and how to rebuild your attitude from the ground up.</div><div><br></div><div>This book is also full of useful tools. Each chapter has several Attitude Application sections to help you work through the subject at hand. At the back of the book is a Study Guide for either group discussion or more in-depth personal exploration.</div><div><br></div><div>If you're a worship leader, songwriter, or concert artist, you should never underestimate the power of your attitude to influence your efforts to lead others and communicate the Gospel. This short but intense book would be a great addition to your bookshelf.</div><div><br></div><div><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."</span></i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/29617962014-05-21T11:24:00-04:002014-05-21T14:15:53-04:00Worship Wednesdays - How Tuesdays Make Dreams Come True...<div style="text-align: center;">Yesterday, we did the healthiest thing we do all week - we had a meeting.</div><br>Many of you are rolling your eyes right now and thinking, "<i>A meeting? Who wants to go to a meeting? I do meetings all the time.</i>"<br><br>When Gerald and I started to form <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/" target="_blank">Infinitely More</a>, we realized there were many roles we would need to share - musician, songwriter, manager, social media, administrator, radio, publicist, and of course, spouse. With the unconventional work hours that can come with a musician's life, we needed to find ways to balance our roles and add some sense of structure to our lives.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thus was born, the Tuesday Meeting!</span></div><br>Why Tuesday? Because we take Mondays as our Day Off, so Tuesday is kind of our Monday. We always go to a cafe, so we're not distracted by laundry, puppies, and other home priorities. A good cafe also allows us to indulge in sweet treats and listen to jazz, keeping the atmosphere fun and creative. We give a start time but not an end time, to allow for free flowing discussion. The goal is always to be positive, honest, and pro-active. The key, like all healthy life choices, is to be consistent. It's easy enough to say, "<i>We're busy this week, let's skip the meeting.</i>" But like skipping prayer, exercise, or taking your vitamins, after a few days, you'll start to notice that something's off. Also, by meeting on a weekly basis, we're able to handle things in small pieces, rather than allowing issues to build into crisis moments.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We always have 4 important themes in our meetings: </span></div><br><b><span style="font-size: large;">Celebrate</span></b><br>We strongly believe in the power of encouragement, both for ourselves and others. Each week, we take time to celebrate our recent accomplishments and give thanks for the blessings in our life and ministry. We also take time to express our gratitude (<i>via email, phone, or social media</i>) to anyone who has joined us on the journey in the past week.<br><br><b><span style="font-size: large;">Improve</span></b><br>Early in our relationship, Gerald and I got in the habit of having a performance post-mortem. Sometimes we would do it in the car on the way home from a concert. If we felt there was sensitive feedback to give, we might wait until the next day. It was very important that we were always lovingly honest. We learned to give each other both support and healthy criticism. At each Tuesday Meeting, we look at the different aspects of our ministry - music, booking, online, etc - and ask how we can make them better.<br><br><b><span style="font-size: large;">Dream</span></b><br>This is one of our favourite parts of the meeting! What is it we want to do with Infinitely More? Where do we feel God is calling us? Do we want to record a new CD? Tour a new part of the country? Create something special for our online friends and fans? We write down every idea. No dream is too big or too small.<br><br><b><span style="font-size: large;">Plan</span></b><br>This is where Dreams turn into Life. How can we make each Dream come true? What are the steps? Can we do them ourselves, or do we need to seek out talented friends and mentors? What Dreams can happen soon and which might need more time to ferment? We create lists, timelines, and assign tasks. Each week, we check in with these lists to see how our Dreams are progressing, which of course, leads us to Celebrate...<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">If you are in a band, ministry, any other kind of self-employed or creative team, </div><div style="text-align: center;">we <u>highly</u> recommend a Tuesday Meeting! </div><div style="text-align: center;">For us, it's probably the most valuable tool we have for aspiration, inspiration, and activation.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do you have similar meetings with your team? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">If so, what are the parts that work best for you?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please leave your thoughts in the Comments section...</span></div><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page & visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/29543502014-05-17T18:15:00-04:002014-05-17T23:15:52-04:00Weak For A Week...Two weeks today, I was packing for our long awaited Prairies Road Trip. Everything was in order - gear ready, gas tank filled, and last minute supplies purchased. I suddenly felt tired. Within minutes, I was in the bathroom as all hell broke loose. My body wracked itself violently in an attempt to rid my digestive tract of whatever dragon had taken up residence within it.<br><br>This continued for two full days. By the third day, my body was still trying to reject the dragon, but there was nothing left inside. My skin was dry with dehydration. I could barely speak. I couldn't sit up.<br><br>My family took me to the hospital, where I was treated with medication and 3 bags of saline through an IV. The damage of the dragon and my body's inability to receive food and water had left me completely depleted. Within a few days, I wasn't 'sick' anymore but in, what is still proving to be, a relatively long recovery.<br><br><div style="text-align: left;">Eventually, I started to have enough energy to observe myself and I marvelled at the fascinating, frustrating weakness of my usually healthy body.</div><br><div style="text-align: center;">Everything made me tired. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Everything.</span></div><br>I felt like an air mattress that had been completed deflated - flat, unable to support myself, useless.<br><br>As I lifted a glass or stood up, I could feel the energy slipping from my limbs like sand through a sieve.<br><br>Walking to the bathroom put me out of breath.<br><br>I needed pillows to prop me up because sitting was exhausting.<br><br>Every task was so tiring that I didn't have enough energy left over to read, watch tv, or even listen to music.<br><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">I could do nothing but lie and heal.</div><br>After my hospital visit, I decided to set a goal or two each day to aid in my recovery. One day my goal was "eat a cracker." Another it was "sit outside." Small, specific, tangible goals to get me stronger. I could do this because I knew I would get better. Once the illness itself had passed, I knew it was only a matter of time and gentle care before I would be back to health.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"But what would it be like,"</i> I imagined, <i>"if I didn't know I'd get better?"</i>
</div><br>As I lay there, I thought about the countless folks in hospitals every day who suffer from a similar experience of physical weakness, but with no guarantee of a return to full health.<br><br>I thought about people struggling with daily hunger, and how it leaves them too weak to spend mental energy on dreams and plans and new ideas.<br><br>I thought about my dear friend who just lost her final battle with ALS, and the years she spent under the weight of a body that slowly lost each function, with no hope of gaining them back.<br><br>My heart went out to these souls. I prayed for them. I prayed for their caregivers and families.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And I was reminded of the power of Hope.</span></div><br>As I started to get better, I watched a moving <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/kevin_briggs_the_bridge_between_suicide_and_life" target="_blank">TED talk</a> by retired Sergeant Kevin Briggs who would patrol the Golden Gate Bridge for potential suicide victims. He spoke about the absence of Hope in so many of these broken hearts.<br><br>I was blessed to be surrounded by love and to have Hope of a healthy outcome. But what about those who are not so blessed? What about those who can't see a happy ending?<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Maybe, sometimes, we need to be the ones to offer Hope to others.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">How do we do that? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">I know for us, the answer is tied into God and music and community and love. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't know the answer for you. I think it's different for each of us. </div><div style="text-align: center;">But I pray that on this long weekend, as you enjoy some downtime yourself, you'll take a moment to consider the question. Imagine what could happen if you did ... </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><br><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/29467902014-05-14T11:25:00-04:002017-01-13T19:02:57-05:00Worship Wednesdays - Choosing the CD Songs!<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Before we get into today's post, please let me express a huge THANK YOU to all of you for your prayers and support over the past week. Being sick is never easy, but throw <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2014/05/worship-wednesdays-synchronicity-and.html" target="_blank">cancelling-a-tour</a> into the mix, and it makes for one horrible time. We are so grateful for all the love, and we look forward to seeing how God will use this change in plans.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>* * * * * * * * * * </i></div><br>Two weeks ago, we shared that we're working on a <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2014/04/worship-wednesdays-7-key-steps-before.html" target="_blank">new CD</a>! There are so many wonderful things about being a musician, and recording is one of our favourites. Including my first EP, this will be our 6th recording project! It's been 2 years since our debut <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Store" target="_blank">Infinitely More CD</a>, and we're just itching to get into the studio.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And it's all about the songs!</span></div><br>Since our last CD, we've written about <b>50</b> new songs, not including the dozens of signature arrangements we've created for favourite hymns and praise songs. As much as we'd like to record them all, there's this thing called Budget, which is never big enough to record all the songs you love. There are lots of steps in pre-production, but today we want to talk about one of the most critical - song selection.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">How do you narrow down 50 songs to 10 for the CD? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here's our process:</span></div><br><b>Start With A Master List</b><br>Write them all down, even the ones that you know won't make the final cut. See their beautiful titles and celebrate your accomplishment in birthing these musical babies. Then, start putting them in groups. We divided ours by up-tempo, mid, and ballad. We also made separate lists for originals and covers.<br><br><b>Find the Shape Of Your Album</b><br>All originals? All covers? How many songs can you afford to record? What do you want to say? Do you have a theme, either musically or with your message?<br><br><b>Use Post It Notes</b><br>Lists can be a great tool, but sometimes, it's good to see the songs in a different way. We love writing each title on a post it note, and putting them all over the wall. Then, we can grab titles, and put them in various groups and shapes to see how the different songs bounce off each other.<br><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jPHC6l2lcdk/U2BBuSOnbNI/AAAAAAAABMU/R9i-776fG0M/s1600/IMG_2484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//4.bp.blogspot.com/-jPHC6l2lcdk/U2BBuSOnbNI/AAAAAAAABMU/R9i-776fG0M/s1600/IMG_2484.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Our high tech song selection process, on a hotel room wall...</i></div><br><b>Road Test Your Songs</b><br>Every song on our CD has been performed in a variety of concerts and worship services. We've been able to play with the <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2014/04/worship-wednesdays-evolution-of-song.html" target="_blank">arrangements</a>, and really get a solid sense of how the songs live and breathe in front of an audience. Some bands opt to create live recordings and videos and get fan feedback using online polls and social media.<br><br><b>What Are People Asking For?</b><br>We often debut new songs in a concert, and announce, "<i>This is brand new. We finished it this afternoon," </i>and inevitably, someone will come up and ask what CD it's on. These are the songs to record. From a practical point of view, it means the song will help sell CDs. But it also means that these are the songs that are connecting with people. These are the songs that are carrying your message.<br><br><b>Get Trusted, Critical Feedback</b><br>Notice, I didn't say, "<i>Ask your Mom which songs she likes</i>," although we do that too. Gather the songwriters and artists you trust and ask them to listen to your top 15. Be open to their ideas and suggestions. Try to choose artists who are creating great work themselves, folks who are at the top of their game, and who are currently in the industry. If you don't have people like this in your group of friends, consider hiring an artist/songwriter you admire as a consultant (<i>many will consult for an hourly rate</i>.)<br><br><b>Be Open To New Ideas</b><br>Our original plan was to record 10 songs, but as we've worked through the process, there's this 11th song that just keeps rising to the top. So, with a little reworking of the Budget, it looks like there will be 11 songs on the project. Of course, Gerald keeps writing new songs, so you never know...<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And remember this: when you record a song, you'll need to sing it live for the next 2 years, or at least until your next CD is recorded. And if it's a hit, you may need to sing it forever! For each song, make sure that it expresses your message, that you can perform it well in a live setting, and that you truly love it!</span></div><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page & visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/29271812014-05-07T19:50:00-04:002014-05-07T20:02:07-04:00Worship Wednesdays - Synchronicity And The Power Of Prayer<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Today we feature a special guest post by </span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">my husband and </span></b></i><i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/" target="_blank">Infinitely More</a> partner, </span></b></i>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Gerald Flemming:</span></b></i></div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: large;">Synchronicity And The Power Of Prayer</span></u></div><br>Sometimes we find ourselves in similar moments dealing with similar things. Five years ago this week, as some of you already know, Allison and I were in a life changing <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2009/05/please-pray.html" target="_blank">accident</a> with a tractor trailer. To say it was an overwhelming time would be an understatement, because it changed the very core of who we are. Every year around this time we celebrate this day, most years by having a Survive and Thrive party. This is where friends of ours are invited to celebrate all the things we all have survived and how we are currently thriving. It’s basically a huge count your blessings day, on the other side of the calendar from Thanksgiving. One of the interesting things about this time five years ago was that people from all over prayed for us. They prayed that we would be okay. They prayed that we wouldn’t be broken forever by the cataclysmic event. They prayed with us and for us…<br><br><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Flash forward five years and the power of prayer is being utilized again. On the cusp of embarking on our first Prairies Road Trip tour both Allison and I became very sick. The nasty little bug, whatever it is, has hit Allison far worse than it did me. After several rough days, and a hospital visit where they had to put 3 bags of fluid back into her body, she has started the process of mending. <br><br><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Like most good social media savvy Christians, posts were put up on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/infinitelymoreband" target="_blank">Facebook</a> to make people aware of the event and possible change of schedules. And in the humble pains of an overwhelming situation we made a prayer request of our friends and family. Within minutes the people who have known and supported our Ministry for years were taking moments out of their busy days, to shut out the noise and the furor of their own lives to pray for us … as we have done for others in the past. It still overwhelms me that as a community we do this for each other. I think there are very few gestures in the Christian faith that move me as much as knowing whole groups of people are praying for a single wrong to be righted, or simply to give strength at a moment where people or groups feel helpless and alone. <br><br><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Anytime you are self employed, there are always extreme challenges to face. When you are self employed in a life of ministry, the challenges, though amazingly exciting, can feel like great tests of resolve that are intended to mature us spiritually in some way. After some sleepless nights and attempts to imagine what we could do to possibly work around things, we have come to the realization that we have no choice but to cancel our Prairies Road Trip tour. It breaks our hearts to say that. There just doesn’t seem to be any conceivable way to implement our plan here. God’s plan is different for us at this point. And we will spend time in the wisdom of that, knowing that his power working in us can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. <br><br><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>We have just finished the messy and unfortunate humiliation of phoning the Churches and concert venues to tell them that we, in fact, can’t make it this year, but to please keep us in mind for next year. We’re of course hoping that what was a transitional moment for us this year will make what we’re capable of even stronger and more road worthy for next year. <br><br><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Our focus now is getting Allison healthy. The prayers have done wonders but there is still a ways to go. And then we’ll start preparing for Nashville in mid June where we will be recording the instrumental tracks of our new Infinitely More CD. We’ve been incredibly inspired and blessed over the last two years to have access to the profound moments in people’s faith walks. These songs are a testament to their lives and we can’t wait to share them with you. <br><br><div style="text-align: center;">Peace…</div><div style="text-align: center;">Gerald</div><div><br></div><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Next week, Allison will return with a post called </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Choosing the Songs.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page & visit us every Wednesday! </i></div><br><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/29113882014-04-30T15:38:00-04:002014-04-30T20:46:16-04:00Worship Wednesdays - 7 Key Steps Before You Head Into The Studio...<a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2014/04/worship-wednesdays-evolution-of-song.html" target="_blank">Last week</a>, I shared that we're working on a new CD! There are so many wonderful things about being a musician, and recording is one of our favourites. Including my first EP, this will be our 6th recording project! It's been 2 years since our debut <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/store" target="_blank">Infinitely More CD</a>, and we're just itching to get into the studio.<br><br>Over the next few months, I want to share our recording process. If you've never recorded a CD before, I'm hoping these posts will give you information and a behind-the-scenes peek at the process. If you have lots of recording experience, I hope you'll leave your thoughts and ideas in the comments section for other readers to enjoy.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Infinitely More is an indie band, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">so what does that mean when it comes to recording?</span></div><br>Basically, it means we are responsible for our own recording process. We decide when we're ready to record, and what we want the album to sound like. We're responsible for all funding, either through fundraising, grants, or our own credit cards. In our case, we write and arrange our own songs. We choose our production team, and when the CD is finally completed, we're responsible for getting it out into the world.<br><br>The words "we're going into the studio" can be seductive to any musician. The right studio with the right team is an incredibly creative place. But it's important to remember that those days can be very expensive, and unless you've got a superstar budget, it's important to make the most of every minute. There are too many horror stories of artists investing months of work and thousands of dollars into a recording, only to end up unhappy with the final results.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The key - Pre-Production!</span></div><br>We'll assume that you have some awesome songs you've been writing and performing, and you've now made the decision to record. Here are 7 things you can do before entering the studio that will help you make the most of your time and resources:<br><br><b>1. Find The CD's Purpose</b><br>These are the things you want the <u>CD</u> to accomplish. What is the message of your music? Why are you recording this CD? What is your artistic vision? How do you want the music to affect the listener?<br><br><b>2. Choose Goals for the CD</b><br>These are the things <u>you</u> want to accomplish with the CD. How can this CD help with your career and ministry? Do you want to expand your audience reach? Do you want to submit the songs for awards or radio consideration? Are you hoping to break into a new market or demographic?<br><br><b>3. Be Realistic</b><br>What is my budget? Where am I getting my funding? What is my timeline? What am I able to do myself? Who will I need to hire?<br><br><b>4. Seek Advice</b><br>Who do I know personally that has a great CD? Can I take them to lunch or hire them to consult on my CD?<br><br><b>5. Research </b><br>Read the liner notes on CDs you love to find out who made them and the size and shape of their instrumentation. Research studios in your area and ask how they work with indie musicians. Many studios will also have recording advice on their sites.<br><br><b>6. Write Things Down</b><br>You'll have lots of paperwork, receipts, and notes. Start a new file on your laptop or create a binder for hard copies.<br><br><b>7. Find Your Team</b><br>Should you record yourself, ask a favour of a friend, or hire a professional? Can you play your own instruments and sing harmonies, or should you hire musicians? Who can help you with photography, graphics, and manufacturing?<br><br><br>If you start with the Purpose and Goals, you'll have a great foundation for the other decisions in your process. In our experience, it takes a village to raise an album. Don't be afraid to ask for lots of help, share your story on social media, and ask friends and family for lots of prayers and encouragement.<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Next week, I'll talk about our favourite, and most challenging, part of the process: </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Choosing The Songs!</span></div><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page & visit us every Wednesday! </i></div><br><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/28920172014-04-23T10:55:00-04:002017-01-13T19:02:56-05:00Worship Wednesdays - The Evolution of a Song<div style="text-align: center;">There's a myth in the general population that songs are born whole, complete, and radio-ready. </div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Those who write songs know differently.</span></div><br>There's the way the song starts in our head, the way it first comes out, the many rewrites, and the various arrangements it takes before it's finally recorded. And even then, if that song becomes a standard piece in your repertoire, it can change forms through concerts, recordings, and covers.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">To help illustrate this point, I thought we would look at our Easter song, </div><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>There's A Light At The End Of The Tomb</b>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_HyDZHJKKXI/U1bleXh7ZvI/AAAAAAAABL0/Ta3ih4oL30o/s1600/Easter_2013_Web_Banner+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="//4.bp.blogspot.com/-_HyDZHJKKXI/U1bleXh7ZvI/AAAAAAAABL0/Ta3ih4oL30o/s1600/Easter_2013_Web_Banner+-+Version+2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="216" /></a><br>Gerald was inspired to write this song last year, when a church staff member brought this image to an Easter planning meeting:<br><br>The twist on the classic "light at the end of the tunnel" hit him immediately. In finding the idea, Gerald writes, "<i>Substituting the word 'tomb,' in the oft used phrase, for the word "tunnel" gave it a deep feeling of possibility… the sense that after the darkest of times that there is an ending and a mercy and grace in this life and the next.</i>"<br><br>From there, we began writing, as Gerald shared with us <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2013/07/worship-wednesdays-creation-of-theres.html" target="_blank">last year.</a> We knew we had only a few weeks to both write the song and prepare its performance for two Easter services.<br><br>We decided to each take a solo verse, and sing harmony on the chorus and bridge section. Gerald wrote the first verse and I wrote the second, so our original plan was to sing the verse we each wrote. But as we rehearsed, we each felt drawn to the opposite verses, so we ended up singing each other's writing - an unusual choice for us.<br><br>It was written on guitar, so we knew that would be the central instrument. We debated scoring it for the band and choir, but time was working against us. Still, this is Easter, and a big song, so to help give us a larger performance, we added in a few extra singers to give us full 4-part harmony on the chorus. We had vocal echoes during the boisterous "Let there be light" section. After singing the huge choruses, we brought it down to a gentle, reverent ending.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">And that was the debut.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">But where has the song gone from there?</span></div><br>We now sing There's A Light At The End Of The Tomb at the end of every concert. Singing it so often, we've made tweaks in the arrangement to help us better communicate the story and emotion of the song.<br><br>In this video, recorded during our St. Andrews <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.675543505830325.1073741836.178473818870632&type=3" target="_blank">Musical Residency</a> this winter, you can hear how we've removed the echoes to give "Let there be light" a more deliberate and declamatory presence. We've also changed the gentle ending to a victorious, harmonic cry. We felt this better carried the passion of the song right to the final note.<br><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/C2qj6_vZgrk" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"There's a Light At The End Of The Tomb"</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>As performed on Artisans, CHCO-TV</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br><div style="text-align: left;">In recent performances, we've made yet another change: we now sing the verses we wrote! Gerald sings the opening verse about the tomb, and I sing Mary's story in the second verse. Technically, we could sing either one, but for us, we feel there's a better balance of the voices with the current arrangement.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">Next month, we'll go into the studio to start working on our new CD! There's A Light At The End Of the Tomb will be one of the biggest tracks. Gerald's guitar will still be central, but we want a triumphant full band sound. We'll debate adding more harmony to the chorus to give it a choral quality. And we'll be open to the ideas of our producer and musicians - who knows what their creativity will bring to the song?</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">I love that songs are living, breathing pieces of creation. They can stretch and change as our circumstances, talents, and creativity shift and grow. We're constantly revisiting our songs to tweak a lyric, add a new harmony line, or find a new instrumental riff. We want to keep our music interesting, but more than that, we want every word and note to expressively serve the message of the song. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We can't wait to hear how There's A Light At The End Of The Tomb will sound in the hands of Nashville session players! Stay tuned for the next chapter...</span></div>
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page & visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/28837202014-04-19T17:41:00-04:002014-04-19T17:53:24-04:00Happy Easter!!!!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">There's a light at the end of the tomb</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">The risen Saviour breaks the bonds of an empty room </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Every face will be amazed</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">And God's glory we will praise</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">As the Son of God is lifted from His doom</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">There's a light at the end of the tomb</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/C2qj6_vZgrk" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: x-large;">Wishing you a blessed and joyful Easter!!!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: x-large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>There's A Light At The End Of The Tomb</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>By Allison Lynn & Gerald Flemming (c)2013</i></div><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/28750672014-04-16T11:07:00-04:002017-01-13T19:02:56-05:00Worship Wednesdays - "Heaven Is For Real" Movie Review<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KQ5cL0RN-FI/U06UKjloPXI/AAAAAAAABLc/n4y76JVYh_Q/s1600/IMG_3889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//2.bp.blogspot.com/-KQ5cL0RN-FI/U06UKjloPXI/AAAAAAAABLc/n4y76JVYh_Q/s1600/IMG_3889.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="240" width="320" /></a><i>Just a few days after we returned from our St. Andrews <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.675543505830325.1073741836.178473818870632&type=1&l=472b831bd7" target="_blank">Musical Residency</a>, we had the opportunity to attend a prescreening of the film Heaven Is For Real. Today, I share the thoughts I wrote that afternoon...</i>
</div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Heaven Is For Real</span></b></u></div><br>This morning, I gathered with 100 bloggers, pastors, and journalists to watch a pre-screening of the movie Heaven Is For Real. It was about a year ago that I reluctantly read the book. I’m a person of faith, but I can be cynical of miracle stories, so I entered the book with some trepidation. My logic brain could write some of it off, but there were moments that I just could not wrap my head around. For that reason, this book became a story of faith for me.<br><br>If you haven’t read the book yet, here’s the crux of the story: Todd and Sonja Burpo are two young parents struggling to make ends meet, but otherwise living a pretty happy life. On a family trip, their 4-year-old son Colton becomes deathly ill. After surviving emergency surgery, Colton tells his family that he visited heaven.<br><br><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KqDGgAnYiJE/U06Uj4G5jaI/AAAAAAAABLo/c1b4ZHrg2tQ/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-KqDGgAnYiJE/U06Uj4G5jaI/AAAAAAAABLo/c1b4ZHrg2tQ/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="400" width="210" /></a>The story is set in small town Nebraska (<i>shot in Manitoba</i>), and the landscape almost becomes a character in the film. The lush, sweeping shots of big skies and bright fields are a constant reminder that we’re dealing with issues that are larger than ourselves, and that perhaps we see glimpses of heaven every day.<br><br>The Burpos (<i>at least as characters</i>) are the kind of Christians we rarely see portrayed on film. They’re not pious snobs, nor are they God-hates-you-Sinner caricatures. This a normal, fun, loving family, who are also people of faith. The parishioners that we meet are level-headed, decent people - the kind of church folks we meet every week in our <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/" target="_blank">Infinitely More</a> travels. Colton’s stories about heaven unfold with greater and more profound detail. He knows things that he shouldn’t know, such as recognizing a young photo of the grandfather he never met. For some, this is a sign of faith. For others, it’s the hallucinations of a sick boy. Through his parents and the church, we see the full range of human emotions enflamed by this phenomenon, and the genuine struggles of faith, doubt, and logic that should be explored by this topic.<br><br>I attended the screening with my family (<i>my Dad has written the review for the Anglican Journal</i>) and we spent the whole day talking about the film and our ideas of heaven. And that's why this film is important. For years, Hollywood avoided Christian story lines because they were seen as unprofitable. As a result, they were generally low budget, ugly, and completely unentertaining. In recent years, we’re seeing more stories of faith inspiring big budget films. Although there will always be groups who attack these stories on the perfection of their theology, I do think we need to celebrate and support this movement of film making. Stories of faith need to be told, and we need to discuss, debate, and think about the issues they share. So grab a few friends - people of faith or not - and go see Heaven Is For Real. Will it make you a believer? I don’t know. Is heaven for real? One of these days we’ll find out for sure, so let’s chat about it while we have the time.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This weekend, I wrote my 1000th blog post! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You can read it <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2014/04/my-1000th-blog-post.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page & visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/28675462014-04-13T18:11:00-04:002014-04-13T19:31:27-04:00My 1000th Blog Post!!!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You read that correctly - 1000 blog posts!</span></div><br>When I first started this blog, I had no idea where it would lead. It was 2005 and I was heading to Nashville for the first time to attend Ben Speer's <a href="http://www.stampsbaxterschool.com/" target="_blank">Stamps Baxter</a> School of Music. Gerald (my then-fiance) was watching Tech TV, and they started talking about blogging. "<i>Perfect</i>", I thought, "<i>I can write on this blog thing, and then the family and everyone at church can keep up with my Nashville adventure</i>."<br><br>So I started writing. Now even though, technically, I knew my blog was on the internet, it didn't even occur to me that anyone else would or, even could, read it. Halfway through the school, people started asking me for my blog link. "<i>How bizarre,</i>" I thought. I then found out that other blogs were sharing my link! That's when the action started. Suddenly, my 'private' stories to friends and family became a public buffet. Musicians, songwriters, publishers, and lovers of Gospel music started to follow my Adventures, and many of them reached out to me. Friendships, support, and wonderful meetings followed...<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">Another amazing thing happened on that trip. </div><div style="text-align: center;">On the final night of the school, after months of praying for direction, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had my calling into full-time music ministry. </span></div><br>Through this blog, I've been able to capture and share my creative journey. I've written posts in hotel rooms, cyber cafes, libraries, and restaurants. I've always tried to be transparent and authentic in both the joys and challenges of this kind of life. I've also tried to share a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the art of music making and worship leading.<br><br>As I've changed, my blog as changed as well. In 2005, I was a newly-engaged, actor/musician who had just received this calling as a solo Gospel music artist. Now, Gerald and I have been married 8 years and we've lived in 2 countries and 5 different homes. We've gone from individual musicians to our shared passion of <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/" target="_blank">Infinitely More</a>, a full-time, nationally touring ministry. We've written hundreds of songs, performed in all kinds of venues, and have been blessed to work with amazing musicians and songwriters. Our 4 CDs have garnered 5 national award nominations, and we start work on our next CD this summer. But more than any of that, I am now someone who has a greater knowledge and appreciation of what it is to follow God's calling on my life. I want to use all my talents and skills to draw people closer to God, so they can know His love and grace in their lives. I pray this is always reflected in my writing...<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">This weekend, my family is celebrating this 1000 post milestone, so I thought I'd bring the celebration online. In January, I was invited to share the story of my calling with the folks of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.675543505830325.1073741836.178473818870632&type=1&l=472b831bd7" target="_blank">All Saints Church</a>. I recorded it, simply to share it with Mom and Dad. But in the spirit of this blog, and of all that has happened since my first <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2005/06/jumping-in-feet-first.html" target="_blank">post</a>, I want to share that story with you today:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/zT0hMo42OMk" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you to each person who has joined in this Adventure so far, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and to each of you who will join us in the steps ahead.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here's to the next 1000...</span></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/28570602014-04-09T12:20:00-04:002017-01-13T19:02:56-05:00Worship Wednesdays - An Astronaut's Guide to Worship Leading - Part 2<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hBBOIBHe2q8/U0RWnwDx2UI/AAAAAAAABKY/n21kZ4Z7GQs/s1600/18170143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-hBBOIBHe2q8/U0RWnwDx2UI/AAAAAAAABKY/n21kZ4Z7GQs/s1600/18170143.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="208" /></a>Today we wrap up my 2-part post inspired by Commander Chris Hadfield's book, "An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth."<br><br>As I mentioned in <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2014/03/worship-wednesdays-astronauts-guide-to.html" target="_blank">Part 1</a>, I don't know anything Chris's personal beliefs, nor do I mean to imply anything about them by these posts. I'm just sharing my own thoughts, inspirations, and applications gleaned from his writing.<br><br>There are so many great lessons in this book about preparation, leadership, and contributing to a larger whole. But one of my favourite themes is a definition of success.<br><br>Early on, Chris adopted this attitude:<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">"<i>Throughout all this I never felt that I'd be a failure in life </i>
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<i>if I didn't get to space.</i>"</div><br>Wow. I didn't even realize you could be an astronaut if you didn't go into space. And how happy can an Earth-bound astronaut be?<br><br>In music, we love the great successes - the hit song, the huge publishing deal, the national award. Even in worship music, we've developed a culture of music hits and superstars. We create our music for God and God's people, but let's be honest - who doesn't want their song to become a worship hit? Who doesn't want to hear their song on the radio and see it rise to the top of the CCLI charts? Only a few musicians will ever have any kind of superstar success, but all career musicians will have those highs - the moments when we feel like we're in space. It you stick around in this business, you'll have an amazing performance, or a television appearance, or some other accomplishment that makes you go, "Wow, this is the best life ever!!"<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">"<i>Still, I also know that most people, including me, tend to applaud the wrong things: the showy, dramatic record-setting sprint rather than the years of dogged preparation or the unwavering grace displayed during a string of losses. Applause, then, never bore much relation to the reality of my life as an astronaut, which was not all about, or even mostly about, flying around in space. </i>
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<i>It was really abut making the most of my time here on Earth.</i>"</div><br>What is your life in music truly about? If it's about the hit song or the big win, quit now and go back to singing in the shower. We personally know several musicians for whom that is their driving force and you know what? They're miserable. They are never satisfied. They live with a constant sense of entitlement and disappointment.<br><br>If your goal is to make music for God and for God's people, then do that. Make music. Experience the joy and fulfilment of creating a song that didn't exist before your hand hit the guitar. Have a rehearsal where you take an old song and find a fresh new way to play it. Feel the frustration of that one riff you just can't nail. Wrestle with rejection. Sing for a group of people who need your message. Hear their stories, and let that inform your music. Wake up the next day and do it all over again.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">Along the way, you'll have successes of various sizes, </div><div style="text-align: center;">but let them punctuate your life and not define it. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Enjoy each step of the journey, and love your musical life here on Earth....</div><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My next post will be my 1000th blog post!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Come back this weekend as I celebrate this milestone...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page & visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/28386982014-04-02T12:27:00-04:002017-01-13T19:02:56-05:00Worship Wednesdays - Most Things to Most People <div style="text-align: center;">For today's Worship Wednesdays, please welcome my better half in life and music, Gerald Flemming!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Most Things To Most People</span></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Guest Post by Gerald Flemming<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>
</div><br>The advantages of a personal touring ministry are many. We are constantly brought into people’s lives and get to hear the stories that are foundational for their congregation and faith walk. This extends even further as we play in different denominational settings or, as we had established in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.675543505830325.1073741836.178473818870632&type=1&l=472b831bd7" target="_blank">St. Andrew’s</a>, an ecumenical service. Here we witnessed Christians worshiping. We weren’t Anglicans, Catholics, Presbyterians or any sect of Christianity. We were just Christians who were seeking the most practical Biblical choices we can make with our lives in modern times. It was an honor to witness teachers and a congregation in pure joyous teaching worship.<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RxxcFSctRQw/Uzw4yGviu2I/AAAAAAAABKI/gx8fxb65FFg/s1600/from_the_front_2web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-RxxcFSctRQw/Uzw4yGviu2I/AAAAAAAABKI/gx8fxb65FFg/s1600/from_the_front_2web.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="198" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Wednesday Worship at St. Andrews, NB</i></div><br>This was the Wednesday evening service that we started in St. Andrews. It was predicated on the paradigm that we started with Rev. Drew MacDonald at St. John’s York Mills, called the Gathering. It was a simplified service that was teaching and music based. In St. Andrews, it was less dialogue driven and more teaching driven which suited the people there a little better. Within a few weeks of starting the service, it was one of, if not the best attended services within the local townships. As much as I’d secretly like to believe that it was because of the music, I really don’t think it was. Between the tremendous meal and conversations that happened prior to the service, and the ideal that it was an all inclusive service, there was created a sense of community almost instantaneously. There was a vibrant need that seemingly wasn’t being satisfied by any of the Sunday morning services for these people. I think on some level they felt as if they were helping to create and shape a worship that served them more directly and idiosyncratically. <br><br>Let me say first and foremost, I am in no way against liturgically based services. I think they are the backbone of our faith and have an intellectual veracity that is both necessary and edifying. And even the best worship band would be hard pressed if they were up against an amazing choir doing Mozart’s Requiem. However, there are often times an enormous gap between this service and the moral and spiritual countenance of our everyday life. Where do we test our ideals and the quandaries of everyday living? Where can we as individuals admit defeat, exhaustion, pain, horror…and feel relatively safe? <br><br><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Is it possible that we could have a conversation around the idea that both of these services are necessary for a well-rounded spiritual life?</span> </div><br>I realize that I’m touting an ideal here. It’s just an interesting experience seeing the different pieces of the spiritual pie doled out to different people with varied needs. And instead of there being the unfortunate and unnecessary culture war that can often take place in churches, you could have a bonded sense of dual purpose intended on serving the whole soul, instead of just prioritized pieces. <br><br>There are churches all over that are experimenting with this idea, and the interesting outcome is that they are, by and large, flourishing. They have, on average, a higher attendance rate as well as a higher rate of personal ministry involvement. The offshoot of this, of course, is that they end up with more resources that feeds back into the community creating many different types of momentum.<br><br>There are many people out there who, on some level, feel that this approach defiles tradition That it is in some way an affront to the purity of what Church has been and should continue to be. And I know I have a personal agenda, but I question this calcification of approach, as something that could conceivably turn young people away from the church to more digestible forms of worship. I’ve heard people and priests use the adage, ‘You can’t please everyone.’ And it’s absolutely true, particularly with limited resources, but within those frameworks it might be time to start a Wednesday night service, where the food is great, the conversation is meaningful, the teaching has an immediate and practical relevancy…and the music isn’t bad either ;)<br><div><br></div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Next week, Worship Wednesdays returns with Part 2 of </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2014/03/worship-wednesdays-astronauts-guide-to.html" target="_blank">"An Astronaut's Guide to Worship Leading"</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page & visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/28146412014-03-26T10:44:00-04:002017-01-13T19:02:56-05:00Worship Wednesdays - An Astronaut's Guide to Worship Leading - Part 1Last year, I and millions of other followed the space adventures of Canadian astronaut <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AstronautChrisHadfield" target="_blank">Chris Hadfield</a>. As Commander of the International Space Station, Chris made it his job to share the space experience with those of us who will never get more than a few feet off the Earth's surface. His photos showed our planet's captivating beauty, and his videos of life in space made everyday activities like shaving, brushing your teeth, or even crying truly fascinating. <div><br></div><div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aDaC_MtE1VQ/UzLkWDO0eEI/AAAAAAAABJ4/7wET7Uv1CMU/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="//2.bp.blogspot.com/-aDaC_MtE1VQ/UzLkWDO0eEI/AAAAAAAABJ4/7wET7Uv1CMU/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="212" width="320" /></a>I recently read Chris's book, An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth. In the book, he shares many of his space adventures, but he also shares the unique life of an astronaut. The book is filled with inspiration and life lessons, so I started thinking, <i>"What can this book teach me as a musician and worship leader?"</i>
</div><div><br></div><div>For the next few weeks, I'll be writing posts inspired by this book. As a personal disclaimer, I'll say that I don't know anything about Chris Hadfield's personal faith or religious practices, and I don't mean to imply anything about them through this writing. But I would hope that these posts actually fit the original intention of Chris's book - to take the extraordinary experience of being in space, and apply it to life here on Earth. </div><div><br></div><div>I underlined many favourite quotes in the book, and this is the one that keeps coming to mind. On an online Q&A, Chris was asked "Are astronauts religious?" and his answer:</div><div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"...they run the gamut from devout to atheist, </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>but whatever the personal belief system, </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>space flight tends to reinforce it."</i></div><div><br></div><div>I find that fascinating, because I imagine if I was ever in space and could see our planet and universe from that perspective, I'd probably fall face down in praise of the Creator. But it got me thinking about our role as worship leaders, and I asked myself, </div><div><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"When we're leading people in worship, are we reinforcing their belief system?"</i></div><div><br></div><div>There are many reasons people go to church or attend a night of Christian music, and one of them is to reinforce their beliefs. They want to know that this story, this thing they've committed to, is true. In ministry, we can obsess over 'reaching the lost' and 'saving souls', but the entire faith journey is so important. Once we've 'reached' and 'saved,' what then?</div><div><br></div><div>I believe one of our roles as worship leaders and Christian artists to bolster the faith of the faithful. Average attendance in today's church is once every two to three weeks. In between those visits, a lot can happen to shake someone's faith - anything from a family illness to a horrible news story to a personal failure can put a crack in their faith foundation. They're not 'lost' again, but they might be looking for the back door.</div><div><br></div><div>In that moment, we have a responsibility to help them reinforce the faith they have. From our song choice to our prayers to our conversation at coffee hour after the service, we can use all the colours on our palette to remind them of God's love, forgiveness, and mercy. We can never make someone believe or force them into faith, but by demonstrating God's love, by creating community, and by drawing them into honest and beautiful worship, we can remind them of the grace they've already found.</div><div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">And when that happens, there's less room for doubt. When we allow God to fill our vision, our faith can only grow stronger. As hymn writer Fanny Crosby said it:</div><div><br></div><div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"...but purer, and higher, and greater will be </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see."</i></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>How are you reinforcing the faith of your worshiping community?</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Share your thoughts in the comments section!</b></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page & visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>
</div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/27750272014-03-19T15:27:00-04:002014-03-19T15:46:24-04:00Worship Wednesdays - Changing of the Seasons...In theory, we should be switching from Winter to Spring some time soon. Looking out my window at our icy, snowy neighbourhood, it's hard to tell that life is hiding in the dirt, ready for that one sunny day to start a new journey of growth.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">This week is a changing of the seasons in our home.</div><br>On Sunday, we left St. Andrews By-the-Sea, New Brunswick. For a little over 2 months, we lived in a cozy house in this beautiful small town as Musicians in Residence at All Saints Church.<br><br>Our initial goals included introducing contemporary music to the congregation and building the worship teams. It was hard to tell what that would look like exactly until we arrived at the church and started to meet the community. Over the 2 month period, we started a contemporary ecumenical service, played for the Sunday worship, appeared on local TV, led the choir, started a worship band, wrote & arranged new songs, worked with the youth group & Sunday school, hosted workshops, taught private lessons, performed concerts, and enjoyed all the town had to offer.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">There are too many wonderful moments to share with you, but I want to share one of my favourites:</div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>One Wednesday, we were preparing for the evening worship. This was our week to debut the worship band - a brand new venture for this church. Soundcheck and rehearsal were finished. Folks were gathering for the evening meal, chatting and finding their tables. Sounds of clanking pots and laughter were coming from the kitchen as dishes made their way to the buffet. Children were chasing each other around the tables as smiling parents told them to slow down.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>I was feeling a few pre-worship jitters - would the band be okay? Would the tech all keep together? What if people didn't want a band? Gerald gently grabbed my arm and turned me to face the busy room. He whispered in my ear. "Five weeks ago, none of this was here." And he was right. In just a few weeks, something wonderful had grown from an empty room and a powerful idea - </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: x-large;">what if we tried church in a new way?</i></div><br>We're so grateful to the people of All Saints for inviting us for this musical adventure, and to the community of St. Andrews for sharing their lives with us.<br><br>So this week, we're changing seasons in our home. We're looking back over the lessons of the past season, giving thanks, and wrapping up loose ends. And we're looking forward into the next season - a new CD, our first concert tour of the prairie provinces, and a pile of other dreams and plans we've just started to sort through.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">The adventure begins again...</div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You can see the photos we took during our St. Andrews adventure <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.675543505830325.1073741836.178473818870632&type=3" target="_blank">HERE.</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And this is this interview we had during our first week:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/-D0vgtN06y8" width="420"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page & visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/27330492014-03-12T10:40:00-04:002014-03-12T12:06:16-04:00Worship Wednesdays - Relaxing in the Storm...<div style="text-align: left;">Well, today's blog is receiving a last minute rewrite. Originally I had written:<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"As you read this, we'll be on the road, driving home to Ontario..."</i></div>
<br>Now, I need to write:<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"As you read this, we're still in St. Andrews, not knowing when we'll drive home to Ontario..."</i></div>
<br>All last week, the weather reports for this week's drive were perfectly clear. Then Monday morning, we awoke to a switch in the forecast. Snow, freezing rain, and storms were predicted for every stretch of our 3-province, 2 day drive home.<br><br>Much discussion, a little stress, and a few phone calls led to the decision to stay put until we could find a 2 day window of clear weather.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">A little ironic that our arrival here in St. Andrews was also delayed by January storms!</div>
<br>As someone who loves making plans, changing them isn't always my strongpoint (<i>anyone else want to testify?</i>) But I'm learning to actually enjoy change, and find the blessings in a schedule thrown off course.<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here's how we're using this scheduling change to our advantage:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">We're going to rest a little, after 2 months of intense work. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">Instead of a rushed day of prep before the drive, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">we're taking care of a few tasks a day, to enter the drive in a more relaxed state.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">We're continuing to book concerts on our <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/Calendar" target="_blank">Prairies Road Trip</a> concert tour. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">We're going to visit our favourite St. Andrews restaurants one more time. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">I'm moving next week's To Do List to this week, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">to knock down the list and give us more open time when we get home.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">I'm going to watch <a href="http://www.ted.com/" target="_blank">TED talks</a>, which remind me of the </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">power of thinking and following through on great ideas.</div>
<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This week, I encourage you to embrace change as it comes your way. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Seek blessings in the chaos, and you'll find grace and peace in unexpected places.</span></div>
<br>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We've just finished our season as Musicians in Residence at All Saints Church in beautiful St. Andrews By-The-Sea, New Brunswick. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Follow our adventures at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/InfinitelyMoreBand" target="_blank">www.Facebook.com/InfinitelyMoreBand</a> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page & visit us every Wednesday!</i></div><div><br></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/26927482014-03-05T11:42:00-05:002017-01-13T19:02:56-05:00Worship Wednesdays - Celebrating Ash Wednesday<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Ic_xo3pft4/UxZ2gxtel3I/AAAAAAAABJg/J2xw2tWoxwQ/s1600/Ash+Wednesday+Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="//4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Ic_xo3pft4/UxZ2gxtel3I/AAAAAAAABJg/J2xw2tWoxwQ/s1600/Ash+Wednesday+Poster.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="400" width="308" /></a>Tonight is our final Wednesday service here at All Saints, St. Andrews. We have a finale concert on Friday, and one more Sunday morning. I can't believe how quickly our time has flown...<br><br>When we realized our final Wednesday would be Ash Wednesday, we started a little debate. Our Wednesdays have been contemporary, active, informal, and ecumenical. Would we keep that format for Ash Wednesday? Would people want to revert to a more traditional model of worship for this particular day?<br><br>We decided that our Wednesdays were working well and attracting new people, so we'd stick with our format. Rev. John invited clergy from different churches to participate in the planning and leading. We wanted to mark this special day in the Christian calendar with a different touch on the music, so we incorporated a sung psalm and some Taize choruses.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here is our service outline, including music titles, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">for tonight's Ash Wednesday worship:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Trumpet voluntary.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Responsive reading crafted from the book of Joel.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Piano solo for reflection.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Opening Congregational Music: </div><div style="text-align: center;">All Creatures of Our God and King <br>Refiner's Fire</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Psalm 51 - musical setting by Infinitely More</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Solo: Lighter and Brighter and Deeper, </div><div style="text-align: center;">written by Gerald Flemming, performed by Infinitely More.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">An Ash Wednesday Message</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Imposition (distribution) of Ashes</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">During the Imposition of the Ashes: </div><div style="text-align: center;">Wait For The Lord (Taize)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Live in Charity (Taize)</div><div style="text-align: center;">For God So Loved - written by Gerald Flemming</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Closing Congregational Song: </div><div style="text-align: center;">What Wondrous Love is This</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Closing Prayer and Benediction</div><br><br>We'll have the worship band play on the opening and closing songs. During the imposition of ashes, we'll just have guitar and voices for a more pared down sound.<br><br>I love the flow of this service. As with every Wednesday, we'll start with a meal, and continue our worship around the tables in the Parish Hall. I love that we've incorporated both hymns and contemporary worship music. I like that we're participating in the ancient ritual of the ashes, while singing songs written in recent church history.<br><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>How are celebrating Ash Wednesday? </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Please leave your thoughts in the Comments section...</b></div><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We're spending the winter as Musicians in Residence at All Saints Church in beautiful St. Andrews By-The-Sea, New Brunswick. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Follow our adventures at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/InfinitelyMoreBand">www.Facebook.com/InfinitelyMoreBand</a> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page & visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/26498042014-02-26T10:39:00-05:002014-02-26T10:45:15-05:00Worship Wednesdays - The Story Behind "Living Manna"In the months that followed our <a href="http://allisonlynn.blogspot.ca/2009/05/please-pray.html" target="_blank">car accident</a>, we were riddled with ongoing concerns - some physical, some financial, and all emotional. We had already left Nashville, and were hunkered down in my parents' home for a few months to heal and regain our footing. I found myself sitting up very late one night, consumed by my worries. As I sat in the quiet of the living room, I needed to be reminded of God's daily presence in our lives.<br><br>I thought about the story of the manna in the Old Testament. God only provided enough sustenance for the day, not simply to provide the necessary nourishment, but to teach the people that He would show up tomorrow. God could be trusted to provide for us today, tomorrow, and every day.<br><br>The word "manna" drifted around in my brain, and paired with the words from the Lord's prayer, "<i>Give us this day our daily bread.</i>"<br><br>As a lover of Easter, I believe strongly in the Living God, so suddenly, the words started to form a pattern:<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Living manna, living bread...</span></div><br>A verse formed...<br><br>The second verse wanted to follow the same pattern, and 'water' and 'blood' seemed to be the natural progression. A recent conversation about the need for the Trinity in worship songs came to mind, and the third verse found its theme. As the night drifted on, the lyric took shape...<br><br>As I wrote the words, a lilting melody came to mind. In the early hours of the morning, I finished Living Manna.<br><br>I kept it to myself for several weeks. "<i>Just a little song for me,</i>" I thought. A trusted friend and worship leader came to visit, and we started sharing songs. She asked if I'd been writing, and I sheepishly pulled out my new lyric and melody. As I sang, she started to play on the piano. We sang Living Manna over and over and over.<br><br>I finally shared the song with Gerald, who wrote a beautiful guitar arrangement. We sang it in concerts and during worship, especially during Communion services. Eventually, Living Manna earned a spot on our debut <a href="http://www.infinitelymore.ca/store" target="_blank">Infinitely More</a> recording.<br><br>Today, we share Living Manna everywhere we go, reminding each of us that we have a God who feeds us, who cleanses us, and who is complete.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I recently asked my Dad to take photos </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">inspired by the words in the song. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here's the brand new lyric video for Living Manna:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/R4nhQhJPyt8" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span style="font-size: large;">We're spending the winter as Musicians in Residence at All Saints Church in beautiful St. Andrews By-The-Sea, New Brunswick. </span>
</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Follow our adventures at www.Facebook.com/InfinitelyMoreBand</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page & visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/26073182014-02-19T09:18:00-05:002017-01-13T19:02:56-05:00Worship Wednesdays - Hosting a Youth Group Songwriting NightOne request of <a href="http://www.anglicanparishstandrewsnb.ca/2013-events/2013_infinitely_more_music.html" target="_blank">All Saints Church</a> was giving musical support and resources to their youth group. Even though a few teens play instruments, the group hasn't done any musical actives in the past. We wanted an event where everyone could participate, so we decided to have a group songwriting night.<br><br>Our first task was simply to get the conversation started, so after the welcome meal, we gathered around in a circle and started asking questions about God and church.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">What do you like about church? </div><div style="text-align: center;">What don't you like? </div><div style="text-align: center;">What do you get out of youth group? </div><div style="text-align: center;">Do you see a place for yourselves in worship?</div><br><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_IhmWB-BO5Y/UwO6esRoB7I/AAAAAAAABJQ/V7d5h1p7vqE/s1600/IMG_3663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-_IhmWB-BO5Y/UwO6esRoB7I/AAAAAAAABJQ/V7d5h1p7vqE/s1600/IMG_3663.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="240" /></a>As the teens talked, we gathered the ideas on a large flip chart, so everyone could the see their collected thoughts. Next, we looked for a theme. Community was a big one, as was connectedness. We talked about the importance of a hook. Not simply a title, but an idea that would serve as the cornerstone for the whole song. From our notes, we pulled the hook <b>"Connected to the Life."</b><br><br>Next, we flipped over a new piece of paper, and talked about song form. They understand the basics of verse and chorus, so we found a strong place for our hook in the chorus, and started to build. As they saw the hook on the paper, the lyrics began to flow quickly. Soon it was time to create a verse. We went back to our original brainstorming.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">Which of these original ideas would lead to our chorus? </div><div style="text-align: center;">How could we shape them into lines? </div><div style="text-align: center;">Could we make them rhyme?</div><br>We had a verse and a chorus - so what about music? Gerald pulled out his guitar and started playing with ideas. He gave them a few options, and the rock/pop melody with grinding electric guitar was the unanimous favourite.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">After a few passes, our song was done!</span></div><br>We wrote out the lyric so the whole group could sign it. We invited the parents in to hear our results. And we gained permission to share the song during this week's Wednesday and Sunday services.<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8HTd-1zwJb8/UwO6ZaoyKNI/AAAAAAAABJI/_1HVbpiV8ME/s1600/IMG_3661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//4.bp.blogspot.com/-8HTd-1zwJb8/UwO6ZaoyKNI/AAAAAAAABJI/_1HVbpiV8ME/s1600/IMG_3661.JPG" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="263" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Our songwriting team!</i></div><br>I love this activity for older kids and teens. It allows them to share their own thoughts and ideas. It explores creativity and language. Because it's a group write, no one person has to carry the full pressure of a completed song. If your group has a number of musicians, you can teach them to perform the song and use it in worship. And perhaps most importantly, it allows your youth to discover, and your congregation to hear, the worship voice of our young people.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>What are some music activities you've done with youth groups?</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Leave your thoughts in the Comments section...</b></div><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We're spending January and February as Musicians in Residence at All Saints Church in beautiful St. Andrews By-The-Sea, New Brunswick. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Follow our adventures at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/InfinitelyMoreBand">www.Facebook.com/InfinitelyMoreBand</a> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page & visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/25768242014-02-13T15:05:00-05:002017-01-13T19:02:56-05:00St. Andrews By-the-Sea Concert<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We've been having such a great time here in St. Andrews, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">we've decided to host a concert for the community!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you're in New Brunswick, or have friends in the area, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">please join us for this special night!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9aRdIT5LPLI/Uv0lNXcv_7I/AAAAAAAABI4/1ApjdGo5R1Q/s1600/IM+Poster+-+All+Saints+March+7+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="//1.bp.blogspot.com/-9aRdIT5LPLI/Uv0lNXcv_7I/AAAAAAAABI4/1ApjdGo5R1Q/s1600/IM+Poster+-+All+Saints+March+7+2014.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="640" width="494" /></a></div><br>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/25269632014-02-05T11:40:00-05:002014-02-05T13:40:06-05:00Worship Wednesdays - Hosting a First Band RehearsalThis week, we're trying something bold for the Parish of St. Andrews - we're starting a worship band!<br><br>Worship bands are nothing new, but in this church, a band is a very new concept. Until now, music has been exclusively led by organ and choir, with the occasional guest musician. We know there are instrumentalists in the congregation, but getting them to stretch outside their comfort zones and help us lead worship has been a new challenge.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;">Last night, we hosted our first rehearsal, and tonight, we'll debut the band in worship.</div><br>Bringing a group of musicians together for the very first time has some unique challenges, so here are some things we've tried to help make the first rehearsal a success:<br><br><b>Learn About Your Team</b><br>We're new to this parish, so we've spent the last few weeks just getting to know the musicians. Some have come for private lessons, which has been great. Others have joined us in jam sessions, or have grabbed us for conversations after church. We've tried to get a sense of who reads music, who learns by ear, who is super confident, and who might need a little encouragement. All of this helps us work with the players as individuals to make the most of their talents and offerings.<br><br><b>Set Everyone Up For Success</b><br>This is our mantra for working with a band or choir! As you learn about your team, you'll learn each player's strengths and weaknesses. Use this knowledge to put each player in a place to succeed. If you have a highly skilled player, give them a chance to solo and really use their talents in a full way. If you have a beginner player, ask them what songs feel comfortable to them, and then feature them on a special number.<br><br><b>Start With Prayer</b><br>We're not just leading music, we're leading worship. We begin each rehearsal with prayer to give thanks for our talents, to offer them back to God, and to remind us of our role as worship leaders.<br><br><b>Share The Roadmap</b><br>At the start of each song, share the roadmap of the song. Let the players know the intro and ending, where the repeats happen, and any special notations. A seasoned band will start to know these things instinctually, but in the beginning, mark these things out clearly. Knowing where you're going at the start of the song will help everyone feel more confident and unified.<br><br><b>Allow Lots of Time</b><br>We didn't know what to expect with this first rehearsal, so we allowed plenty of time. Our rehearsal was held on a different day than the service, so we didn't feel the pressure of having to play the songs that night. We also started with only 2 songs, instead of the full 5 song set. This meant we could really take time to work the material. After working through details, we played each song several times to get used to listening to each other and following Gerald's guitar lead.<br><br><b>Remember to Check In </b><br>As a band grows in unity, asking questions should become second nature, but on a first rehearsal, people can feel a little overwhelmed. Instead of asking for help, they may just keep silent, affecting both the music and their experience of the rehearsal. Be sure to check in with each player throughout the rehearsal, especially when you've asked them to take the lead on something, or if you know the song is new for them.<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We're spending January and February as Musicians in Residence at All Saints Church in beautiful St. Andrews By-The-Sea, New Brunswick. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Follow our adventures at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/InfinitelyMoreBand">www.Facebook.com/InfinitelyMoreBand</a> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page & visit us every Wednesday!</i></div><div><br></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/25101302014-02-02T22:16:00-05:002017-02-03T11:07:48-05:00Our "Artisans" Interview!Just after we arrived here in St. Andrews, we were interviewed for a local TV show called "Artisans". The show features local and visiting musicians to Charlotte County, New Brunswick.<br><br><div style="text-align: left;">The show generously allowed us to post the interview to our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/infinitelymoreband" target="_blank">YouTube channel</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's the entire show. You can watch our interview, and at 20:33, </div><div style="text-align: center;">we sing our song, "There's A Light At The End Of The Tomb."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/-D0vgtN06y8" width="420"></iframe></div>Infinitely Moretag:infinitelymore.ca,2005:Post/24487132014-01-22T14:36:00-05:002014-01-22T15:58:26-05:00Worship Wednesdays - 6 Ways to Teach New Songs Quickly!One of the biggest requests at All Saints has been for new songs, and new ways to sing familiar songs. Most worship leaders and music directors know that music should be taught to a congregation slowly, allowing all members to learn the melody and take in the meaning of the lyric.<br><br>With only 8 weeks for our residency, we don't have the luxury of time, so we're having to look for creative ways to teach new music. Our goal is to leave at least 10 new songs in their repertoire than can be sung after we leave.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here are some of the tools and tricks we're using to introduce new songs:</span></div><br><b>Stretch, Don't Leap</b><br>This is a congregation that sings from a hymnal. If we brought in the latest song from Third Day or Switchfoot, they'd be lost, they'd stop singing, and we'd lose their trust. Instead, we're starting with what they know by singing contemporary arrangements of well known hymns. Then, we're stretching out into new songs that have hymn-like sensibilities, like "In Christ Alone," "10,000 Reasons," and "My Heart Is Filled With Thankfulness."<br><br><b>Work the Prelude </b><br>As people are gathering for worship, we're playing new songs that we want to teach them over the next few weeks. Even if they're not participating in the singing, the melodies will start to seep into their musical subconsciousness. The same can be done with anthems, postludes, and Communion songs.<br><br><b>Use Social Networking and YouTube</b><br>Most popular worship songs and hymns have lyric videos on YouTube. Each week, we're posting a video of a new song on the church's Facebook page. We're also posting them on our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/InfinitelyMoreBand" target="_blank">Infinitely More </a>page for those who aren't church members. We post them a few days before the service and encourage folks to turn up their speakers and sing along.<br><br><b>Create MP3s</b><br>We often create our own arrangements of well known songs, or at the very least, sing them in a different key than the original artist. To help the choir and band learn music, we're creating mp3s and emailing them to the musicians along with the sheet music. Again, we do this a few days in advance so they can have time to prepare for the service.<br><br><b>Let People Know What You're Doing</b><br>During our first week, we realized that some people were singing the hymns exactly as they usually sing them, and not necessarily at the tempo that we were playing. Last week, before the service, I announced, <i>"Sometimes, singing an old song in a new way can help to reopen the message to us. This week, we'll be playing some hymns that we know you'll love, but we'll be playing them with a slightly different style. If it feels a little different, just follow Gerald and his guitar, and we know we'll have a great time singing!"</i> Even this simple piece of instruction encouraged the congregation to listen, and it helped with both the new arrangements, and the new songs.<br><br><b>Teach The Children</b><br>Okay, this seems sneaky, and maybe it is, but it works. Most services have a 'children's focus'. Studies show that these simplified lessons resonate powerfully with adults as well. We're using this time to teach new songs to the children. For songs that are kids only, we'll teach them directly in the Sunday School, but for songs that are also appropriate for the fuller congregation, we'll teach them during the children's focus. By having this slow, direct teaching time, we can teach a full song to the congregation, and also ensure that the church's repertoire has some songs that are appropriate for youth services.<br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We're spending January and February as Musicians in Residence at All Saints Church in beautiful St. Andrews By-The-Sea, New Brunswick. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Follow our adventures at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/InfinitelyMoreBand">www.Facebook.com/InfinitelyMoreBand</a> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page & visit us every Wednesday!</i></div>Infinitely More