Mark Batterson's New Book "Primal"

I recently started reading Mark Batterson's new book "Primal" and it has been incredible.  Just to give you a little background, he is the author of the book "In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day" and I can say without reservation that the book was life changing for me. It played an incredibly large part in my decision to give up my job and embark on a two and a half month mission trip to Mexico.

This book "Primal" has much the same feeling for me.  I am an avid reader, and to be honest, for months now I have not been able to sink my teeth into any book that I've picked up.  Not so with "Primal" - I find that there is something in Mark's message that rings true in the deepest part of my soul.  I feel that over the last year the Lord has been taking me on a journey to simplify; to shed myself of many of the material trappings and activities that pull me away from an intimate relationship with God, rather than further into one.


Mark's book brings to life through words what I feel the Lord has been calling me to; calling us all to.  We need to get back to the basics.  He talks about the simple commandment that Jesus gave to "Love God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength" and breaks the book down into sections where he describes just how to do that in each of these areas.  We've heard this verse a thousand times, but I can guarantee you that you've never heard some of the things that Mark has written here.  What he wrote about Adam and Eve on Page 97 made me stop and think, and what he says about Idea Stewardship and taking our thoughts captive on Page 117  is something that I never considered before. 

Mark is the master of the one liners.  Here are just a few:

"I've discovered that when I've lost my way spiritually, the way forward is often backward."
"You cannot listen to just half of what the Holy Spirit is trying to say."

"It's much easier to act like a Christian than to react like one."

"Don't underestimate the spiritual significance of even one act of compassion done in the name of Christ.  That one act of Spirit-prompted compassion can change the course of history."

"Prosperity isn't measured in dollars.  In fact, material prosperity has nothing to do with spiritual prosperity."

"One way we glorify God is by exploring and educating ourselves about everything He has created."

"All truth is God's truth."

"The mind and the soul are not enemies.  As the mind expands, so does the soul."

"Creativity is a dimension of spiritual maturity.  To become more like the Creator is to become more creative."

If you are looking for a book start the new year off with, I would highly recommend "Primal."


Visit Mark's blog, evotional for more inspiration.

My Favorite Thing

These are some of my favorite pictures from Christmas - this is Tyler, my great-nephew, and this is his first school picture which my sister, Brenda, turned into a Christmas ornament.  Every year we go next door on Christmas morning to my sister Debbie's house where Tyler lives with his mom & dad, and every year I think back to that first Christmas when Tyler came home as a very sick little baby, whom the doctors did not expect to live into the new year. 

It's a long story, but Tyler was born with some very serious medical problems, one of which necessitated heart surgery at two months old.  We were all very scared that first Christmas, and there were many prayers that were offered on his behalf.  I am thrilled to say that Tyler defied every odd that was against him, and has astonished the medical world and ours.  He is now five years old and is going to public school.  We serve a healing, incredible, miraculous God, and I am reminded of that every single Christmas morning.

My Hillbilly Christmas

Yes, he is a relative, but I'm not going to tell you which one....

Two Little Puppies From Arkansas Enjoy Their First Family Christmas