The Saturday Six

One.

This video gave me goose bumps. It's from Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee. Full choir and orchestra (which, of course, won me over right there) singing The Revelation Song, but they also have soloists in nine different languages. So beautiful.

Two.

I don't know what it's like where you live, but our city has been filled with delays and snow days in the last couple of weeks. So much snow, and so many slick country roads! If that's happening at your house too, and you're running out of ideas to keep your kids occupied (and from shouting I'm borrrrrrrrrrred), take a look at these 3D snowflakes. Not your average snowflake, and if you go the extra step to marble the paper, it could make a great winter decoration!

Three.

I don't know if you're a fan of the conversation heart candy for Valentine's Day, but if you are, you need to read this article - and keep a brown paper bag handy! (I'm only a fan of the SweetTart version of them, so I'm okay!)

Four.

Okay, first of all, if there's ever an elaborate coffee taste test adventure like this one again, someone please tell me how to sign up for it!! I happened upon this article this week to learn some of the best tasting/priced coffee options. Interesting to read, if you like coffee, but also interesting to find out our all-time favorite didn't even make the list. And also, as a side note, we did try Death Wish a couple of years ago. Loved the taste, but for my body, it really was a death wish. I can't ask that of my vital organs ever again. So that one is out for me. (Only time in the history of my coffee-drinking life that I thought coffee might actually kill me. I was so scared, I cried.)

Five.

Ryan and I love to pray together and do it often, but I really like this idea of a prayer date. Never heard of such a thing before!

Six.

Several months ago, I happened upon the book Nearing Home by Billy Graham. I don't even remember now where I found it. I'd never read anything by him before, but since he recently passed away, I think I was curious to read his thoughts on the end of life. (I just looked and discovered he died almost a year ago. Why does it seem so much more recent than that?)

Anyway! Since last week was a busy week and this book looked like it would be a fairly easy one to read, I chose it for my book of the week.

I'll begin with the assumption that I don't have to introduce you to Billy Graham. :) He published Nearing Home back in 2011, which means he probably wrote it a year or two before that, and throughout the book, he mentions he's probably in the last season of his life. Obviously the Lord had a few more years in store for him, but at the time he wrote the book, he was ready and waiting to go to Heaven. (His wife, Ruth, died in 2007, and he mentioned how eager he was to be reunited with her.)

I confess I had to giggle a few times as I read, because when Ryan and I were at a Mark Lowry concert a couple of years ago, he talked about what it was like to meet and hang out with Billy and Ruth Graham. (Because, you know, don't we all!) Mark said Billy was a hypochondriac, and as I read along, that's all I could hear in my head whenever he mentioned his various ailments and how he didn't think he'd live much longer. I have no doubt Mark knew what he was talking about!

Having said all that, I don't think I've ever seen a book quite like this one before. He had retired from traveling and speaking when he wrote this book, so part of his intent in writing was to share the gospel in a way that he still could. The plan of salvation is very clearly outlined in it, and it's a very important component to include when you're writing for people who may be older or ill and know they don't have much time left. But it's not just an evangelism book.

He talks about the importance of thinking about your own mortality and making plans and decisions while you still have your thoughts and wits about you, so your loved ones don't have to make those decisions later. (And that's an important thing to think about even if you're young and healthy while you're reading, because the truth is - you never know!)

But the part I loved most was his reminder (probably to himself as much as to his readers) that just because you're older or fighting an illness or disease, it doesn't mean you have lost your purpose. Every day that you wake up on this earth is a day that God has a plan for you, and you should be excited to embrace whatever He has.

It's also a great admonition for all of us who would consider ourselves young and healthy to remember that those who are older have so much to offer us. They've lived through so much and have great advice and wisdom. We'd do well to ask for it and live by it - not push them away as an inconvenience.

The book is written in a very speaker-esque style. It's simple, easy to understand, and full of stories and illustrations. (Word illustrations. Not pictures.)

I feel a little guilty saying a book by Billy Graham wasn't my favorite read of the entire year, but while it wasn't perhaps the most captivating book I've ever read, it did have a lot of really helpful information tucked inside. I learned things that will help me as interact with and encourage those in my life who are older or approaching the end of life. And I'm reminded to live with purpose, because if God does allow me to live a long and full life, I want to do well with it. I want to leave something of value for those who come behind me.

Who should read this book? If you're older or facing terminal illness, this would be a great read for you, not only from a practical side, but from a faith-perspective. If you're walking alongside anyone older or facing illness, this could be a good guide for allowing you to better understand how they may be feeling. If you feel you don't have a proper appreciation for the older people in your life, this might help you understand why they are so valuable and why you should soak up their wisdom. If you prefer simple explanations, this is a great resource. It's not academic or written above the understanding of the average reader.

Even if it doesn't go on my top 50 must-read list, I still appreciate what I learned!