{"id":21728,"date":"2019-03-23T22:50:57","date_gmt":"2019-03-24T02:50:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=21728"},"modified":"2019-03-23T23:13:39","modified_gmt":"2019-03-24T03:13:39","slug":"5-friday-faves-the-godfather-roaring-lambs-a-very-different-jesus-core-values-and-finally-spring","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=21728","title":{"rendered":"5 Friday Faves &#8211; The Godfather Theme, Roaring Lambs, a Very Different Jesus, Core Values, and Finally Spring"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Blog-Friday-Faves-006-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-21494\" src=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Blog-Friday-Faves-006-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"3996\" height=\"2540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Blog-Friday-Faves-006-2.jpg 3996w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Blog-Friday-Faves-006-2-300x191.jpg 300w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Blog-Friday-Faves-006-2-768x488.jpg 768w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Blog-Friday-Faves-006-2-1024x651.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3996px) 100vw, 3996px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s to your weekend! 5 favorite finds from this week:<\/p>\n<p><strong>1) The Godfather Theme &#8211; <\/strong>One of the most iconic films of all time was <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Godfather\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>The Godfather<\/em> <\/a>adapted from the 1969 novel of the same name. The story focused on the fictional New York crime family, <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Corleone_family\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the Corleone&#8217;s<\/a>. So engrossing was the narrative that two later films of the same name followed. Composer <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nino_Rota\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Nino Rota<\/a>&#8216;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=HWqKPWO5T4o\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">theme<\/a> from <em>The Godfather<\/em> is beautiful and memorable. Whether or not you&#8217;ve ever seen the film(s), you know this melody. Nathan Mills has again taken this giant of a song and arranged <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=x-P24CmIia8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a gorgeous piece<\/a> for a single classical guitar.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Godfather Theme - Classical Guitar Cover (Beyond The Guitar)\" width=\"474\" height=\"267\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/x-P24CmIia8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>[Sidebar: One of Nathan&#8217;s guitar students is doing a semester abroad in Dublin, Ireland. He heard a local guitarist playing and it reminded him of Nathan&#8217;s style of playing -at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/beyondtheguitar\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Beyond the Guitar<\/a>. He engaged the guitarist in conversation and found out that he knows Nathan&#8217;s work and follows his music. Small guitar world. Sweet little story for you who follow and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.patreon.com\/beyondtheguitar\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">support<\/a> Nathan&#8217;s music as well.]<\/p>\n<p><strong>2) Roaring Lambs <\/strong>&#8211; Many years ago, I read TV producer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.roaringlambs.org\/bob-briner\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bob Briner<\/a>&#8216;s book <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Roaring-Lambs-Gentle-Radically-Change\/dp\/0310591112\/ref=asc_df_0310591112\/?tag=hyprod-20&amp;linkCode=df0&amp;hvadid=312741934517&amp;hvpos=1o1&amp;hvnetw=g&amp;hvrand=17760084513399251957&amp;hvpone=&amp;hvptwo=&amp;hvqmt=&amp;hvdev=c&amp;hvdvcmdl=&amp;hvlocint=&amp;hvlocphy=9008463&amp;hvtargid=pla-488064168649&amp;psc=1&amp;tag=&amp;ref=&amp;adgrpid=64940825031&amp;hvpone=&amp;hvptwo=&amp;hvadid=312741934517&amp;hvpos=1o1&amp;hvnetw=g&amp;hvrand=17760084513399251957&amp;hvqmt=&amp;hvdev=c&amp;hvdvcmdl=&amp;hvlocint=&amp;hvlocphy=9008463&amp;hvtargid=pla-488064168649\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Roaring Lambs<\/em><\/a><strong>. <\/strong>Says Briner<strong>: <\/strong>\u201cIn my circles, Christians are thought of as people who are against things. I want us to be known as <strong>people who are for things good, wholesome, creative, wonderful, and fulfilling. That&#8217;s the message of the Gospel and it ought to be the message in all that we do<\/strong>.\u201d His audience was Christians but there is wisdom for anyone who wants to make a difference rather than just a reputation or wants to make a change rather than just noise. We don&#8217;t think of lambs roaring, but Briner challenged the reader to take their work to the next level but not only aiming for excellence but for a depth and breadth that touches the lives of those around them.<a href=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Roaring-Lambs-Mount-Pleasant-Granary.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-21813\" src=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Roaring-Lambs-Mount-Pleasant-Granary.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Roaring-Lambs-Mount-Pleasant-Granary.jpg 640w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Roaring-Lambs-Mount-Pleasant-Granary-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a>Photo Credit: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mountpleasantgranary.net\/blog\/index.php?m=05&amp;y=14&amp;d=09&amp;entry=entry140518-141012\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mountain Pleasant Granary<\/a><\/p>\n<p>A woman I only know by what her &#8220;roaring lamb&#8221; reputation retired recently. Her job was made redundant by a new software program that was adopted in her workplace. What everyone will miss, as much as they will miss her diligence to task, is the beauty she brought to her department. Her generous gift of hospitality in both decorating common areas and serving food to her colleagues made it a joy just to leave the elevator and enter that office suite. She will be so missed.<\/p>\n<p>Another &#8220;roaring lamb&#8221; work can be environmental services in a hospital. The tasks that make for a safe place to heal often go unseen and unrewarded. However, we all know personally or have heard stories of what can happen when either care or diligence aren&#8217;t exercised in this vital work group.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, award-winning cartoonist <a href=\"https:\/\/johnhartstudios.com\/meet-the-artists\/remembering-johnny\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Johnny Hart<\/a>, after coming to Christianity later in life, made an intentional decision to incorporate his faith into some of his work. Some newspapers dropped his comic strips (<a href=\"https:\/\/johnhartstudios.com\/bc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">B. C. <\/a>and <a href=\"https:\/\/johnhartstudios.com\/wizardofid\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wizard of Id<\/a>) because of this, but most continued to publish them. His work was much-loved and his intent was just to use the medium of cartoons to inform on faith issues (as some use comics to do the same with political issues).<\/p>\n<p>He died at his drawing table on Easter Eve 2007 after finishing his strip for the next day. It was fitting for this &#8220;roaring lamb&#8221;. [I wish I could post it but you can find it <a href=\"https:\/\/joshreads.com\/2007\/04\/metapost-johnny-hart-1931-2007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>.]<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Roaring-Lambs-Gentle-Radically-Change\/dp\/B0036BWQZM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Roaring Lambs:\u00a0 A Gentle Plan to Radically Change Your World<\/em> &#8211; Bob Briner<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.breakpoint.org\/2017\/06\/how-to-be-a-roaring-lamb\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>How to Be a &#8216;Roaring Lamb&#8217;<\/em> &#8211; Warren Cole Smith<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Did-His-Way-Collection-Religious\/dp\/1404187391\/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3MCW6HIWKJTCS&amp;keywords=i+did+it+his+way&amp;qid=1553358621&amp;s=books&amp;sprefix=I+Did+It+His+Way%2Cstripbooks%2C142&amp;sr=1-1-catcorr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>I Did It His Way: a Collection of B. C. Religious Comic Strips<\/em> &#8211; Johnny Hart<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>3) A Very Different Jesus<\/strong> &#8211; I am always baffled when Jesus is treated as inconsequential&#8230;some sort of weak made-up messiah of even weaker people who call themselves Christians. Maybe, the reason is because of how we Christians have represented Him in the world. This historical profoundly world-changing Jesus is so much more than is captured in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bartleby.com\/library\/poem\/5628.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Charles Wesley song<\/a> <em>&#8220;Gentle Jesus, Meek and Mild&#8221;.<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Gentle-Jesus-Meek-Mild-Slideplayer.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21814\" src=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Gentle-Jesus-Meek-Mild-Slideplayer.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Gentle-Jesus-Meek-Mild-Slideplayer.jpg 960w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Gentle-Jesus-Meek-Mild-Slideplayer-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Gentle-Jesus-Meek-Mild-Slideplayer-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/a>Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/slideplayer.com\/slide\/4813213\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Slideplayer<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Scriptures say that <strong>Jesus is &#8220;the same, yesterday, today, forever&#8221;<\/strong> (Hebrews 13:8). If this is true then we can search out who He is and what He is like.<\/p>\n<p>British scholar <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cslewis.com\/us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">C. S. Lewis<\/a>, in his <a href=\"http:\/\/www.narnia.com\/us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chronicles of Narnia<\/a>, described Aslan, the Christ-figure, very differently:<\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;Aslan is a lion &#8211; the Lion, the great Lion.&#8221; &#8220;Ooh&#8221;, said Susan, &#8220;I&#8217;d thought he was a man. <strong>Is he&#8230;quite safe?<\/strong> I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.&#8221;&#8230;&#8221;Safe?&#8221;, said Mr. Beaver&#8230;&#8221;Who said anything about safe?<strong> &#8216;Course he isn&#8217;t safe. But he&#8217;s good.<\/strong> He&#8217;s the King, I tell you.&#8221;<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Jesus-Narnia-Mark-Meynell.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-21815\" src=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Jesus-Narnia-Mark-Meynell.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"896\" height=\"373\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Jesus-Narnia-Mark-Meynell.jpg 896w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Jesus-Narnia-Mark-Meynell-300x125.jpg 300w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Jesus-Narnia-Mark-Meynell-768x320.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 896px) 100vw, 896px\" \/><\/a>Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/markmeynell.files.wordpress.com\/2013\/02\/narnia-aslan-roars.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mark Meynell, <em>Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The night before the crucifixion of Christ, a large mob of both religious authorities and Roman soldiers came for him in the dark of night (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.trusting-in-jesus.com\/Arrest-of-Jesus.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">John 18:1-14<\/a>). If he had resisted, by the might of His power seen previously, they would need large numbers to insure his arrest. Jesus did not resist arrest. He went of his own accord, knowing his journey to<a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutjesuschrist.org\/crucifixion-of-jesus-christ.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> the Cross<\/a> was at hand. For our sake, He laid down His own power&#8230;His own life (<a href=\"https:\/\/biblehub.com\/philippians\/2-8.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Philippians 2:5-8<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/biblehub.com\/john\/10-18.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">John 10:17-18<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>We admire first responders &#8211; those who run into danger for the sake of those who can&#8217;t save themselves. Everything we know, when we read both the Gospel and other religious (and secular) texts, is that Jesus was this kind of different.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The question for all of us is &#8220;what will you do with this Jesus?&#8221; <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/markmeynell.wordpress.com\/2013\/02\/06\/the-rebellious-privacy-of-god-rowan-williams-on-narnia-in-the-lions-world\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>The Rebellious Privacy of God: Rowan Williams on Narnia in &#8220;The Lion&#8217;s World&#8221;<\/em> &#8211; Mark Meynell<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>4) Core Values &#8211; <\/strong>A friend of mine this week raised the question of what were my family&#8217;s core values. I hadn&#8217;t thought of that&#8230;in a long while. Not even sure I&#8217;ve wrestled with my own core values lately.<\/p>\n<p>We hear of the core values of organizations.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Core-Values-Multi-Works-Limited.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-21816\" src=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Core-Values-Multi-Works-Limited.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1087\" height=\"475\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Core-Values-Multi-Works-Limited.png 1087w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Core-Values-Multi-Works-Limited-300x131.png 300w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Core-Values-Multi-Works-Limited-768x336.png 768w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Core-Values-Multi-Works-Limited-1024x447.png 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1087px) 100vw, 1087px\" \/><\/a>Photo Credit: <a href=\"http:\/\/mwltd.com.sa\/index.php\/systems\/core-values\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Multi Works Ltd.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The military publicizes and trains its personnel with core values in mind&#8230;differing somewhat depending on what branch of the military.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Core-Values-AF-mil.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21817\" src=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Core-Values-AF-mil.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2850\" height=\"1877\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Core-Values-AF-mil.jpg 2850w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Core-Values-AF-mil-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Core-Values-AF-mil-768x506.jpg 768w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Core-Values-AF-mil-1024x674.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2850px) 100vw, 2850px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Core-Values-media-defense-Asia-Sorenson.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-21818\" src=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Core-Values-media-defense-Asia-Sorenson.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"680\" height=\"446\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Core-Values-media-defense-Asia-Sorenson.jpg 680w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Core-Values-media-defense-Asia-Sorenson-300x197.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px\" \/><\/a>Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pendleton.marines.mil\/News\/News-Article-Display\/Article\/682291\/core-values-university-creating-a-campus-for-marines\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Asia J. Sorenson<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Corporate strategist and author <a href=\"http:\/\/sandsleadership.com\/about\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ben Sands<\/a> has written <a href=\"http:\/\/sandsleadership.com\/discover-personal-core-values\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a super helpful piece<\/a> on discovering your core values. He talks about how our core values are those few we lead out with in our lives.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/sandsleadership.com\/discover-personal-core-values\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>How to Discover Your Personal Core Values (and Why You Must!)<\/em> &#8211; Ben Sands<\/a><\/p>\n<p>So I went through this article and his list of values. He also gives a 4-step process for narrowing down to our core values. I&#8217;m still working through it, but below are my list of values (that I need to fine-tune to a Top 5, and then determine guiding principles, per his prescription):<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Belonging\/Inclusion<\/li>\n<li>Collaboration\/Teamwork<\/li>\n<li>Community<\/li>\n<li>Compassion\/Kindness<\/li>\n<li>Dependability<\/li>\n<li>Faith<\/li>\n<li>Family<\/li>\n<li>Gratitude<\/li>\n<li>Honesty\/Transparency<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>How about you? Sands calls our core values our &#8220;safety net&#8221;. Otherwise, we don&#8217;t really have a mooring to dock our lives. I&#8217;m thinking he is right. What do you think?<\/p>\n<p><strong>5) Finally Spring &#8211; <\/strong>While this week marked the coming of Fall in the Southern Hemisphere, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.livescience.com\/65019-spring-equinox-today.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">we in the North finally have Spring<\/a>. Yes. Just a few pics of the glorious flowering around us right now.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Spring-Flowers-3-Mar-2019.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-21819\" src=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Spring-Flowers-3-Mar-2019.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2016\" height=\"1512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Spring-Flowers-3-Mar-2019.jpg 2016w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Spring-Flowers-3-Mar-2019-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Spring-Flowers-3-Mar-2019-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Spring-Flowers-3-Mar-2019-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2016px) 100vw, 2016px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Spring-Flowers-4-Mar-2019.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-21820\" src=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Spring-Flowers-4-Mar-2019.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"4032\" height=\"3024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Spring-Flowers-4-Mar-2019.jpg 4032w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Spring-Flowers-4-Mar-2019-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Spring-Flowers-4-Mar-2019-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Spring-Flowers-4-Mar-2019-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 4032px) 100vw, 4032px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/2015-April-Spring-Flowers-Flowering-Trees-024-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-21821\" src=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/2015-April-Spring-Flowers-Flowering-Trees-024-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"4320\" height=\"3240\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/2015-April-Spring-Flowers-Flowering-Trees-024-2.jpg 4320w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/2015-April-Spring-Flowers-Flowering-Trees-024-2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/2015-April-Spring-Flowers-Flowering-Trees-024-2-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/2015-April-Spring-Flowers-Flowering-Trees-024-2-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 4320px) 100vw, 4320px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Spring-Trees-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-21822\" src=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Spring-Trees-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"960\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Spring-Trees-2.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Spring-Trees-2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Spring-Trees-2-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Spring-Trees-2-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-March-days-The-COlorful-Cottage.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-21731\" src=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-March-days-The-COlorful-Cottage.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-March-days-The-COlorful-Cottage.jpg 600w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-March-days-The-COlorful-Cottage-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a>Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thecolorfulcottage\/photos\/gm.419183938889769\/1368309203311859\/?type=3&amp;theater\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Colorful Cottage, Facebook; An Extraordinary Day<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Bonuses: <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.karatippettsdocumentary.com\/buy?fbclid=IwAR0D2L116DDFw-i8vFjV3Rtjn3vUNOZrFfetZEhMjRCm88QJ8gvMjz4ylW4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>The Long Goodbye<\/em><\/a> is finally available for purchase and rental. We watched it last night. Wow! Just wow!<a href=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Kara-Tippetts-The-Long-Goodbye.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-21701\" src=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Kara-Tippetts-The-Long-Goodbye.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"620\" height=\"620\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Kara-Tippetts-The-Long-Goodbye.jpg 620w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Kara-Tippetts-The-Long-Goodbye-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Kara-Tippetts-The-Long-Goodbye-300x300.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/www.mygrandeprairienow.com\/49305\/from-sunrise-house-to-forever-home-teen-finds-adoptive-family\/?fbclid=IwAR2Ex8vInyMd2iMi2xLWJhmxig2pevxhVIxluRS0akmjOB6SKhDOZq7DrQw<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Reading-to-your-children-Homegrown-Learners-Facebook.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-21729\" src=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Reading-to-your-children-Homegrown-Learners-Facebook.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"960\" height=\"960\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Reading-to-your-children-Homegrown-Learners-Facebook.jpg 960w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Reading-to-your-children-Homegrown-Learners-Facebook-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Reading-to-your-children-Homegrown-Learners-Facebook-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Blog-Reading-to-your-children-Homegrown-Learners-Facebook-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/a>Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/homegrownlearners\/photos\/a.596173113777776\/2289441744450896\/?type=3&amp;theater\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Homegrown Learners, Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n<p>One of my <a href=\"http:\/\/thehesaidshesaidexperience.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">favorite bloggers<\/a> (a &#8220;roaring lamb&#8221; herself) on dealing with criticism from readers:<\/p>\n<div class=\"fb-video\" data-allowfullscreen=\"true\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thehesaidshesaidexperience\/videos\/359818184865805\/?comment_id=359822514865372\" style=\"background-color: #fff; display: inline-block;\"><\/div>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Pronouncing French Vowels - An English Rap\" width=\"474\" height=\"267\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/zPU9U-vN4_A?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>[This has been a week of hard and hard-to-understand events. They drive us to think and pray and reach out to serve.]<\/p>\n<p><em>In the wake of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-asia-47677523\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the terrorist attack in New Zealand<\/a>, your community needs you.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Wherever you happen to live, your community needs you to show up and say words out loud, because white silence is violence.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Your people need you to acknowledge that Muslims are people who Jesus loves, and that whether we agree or disagree with their beliefs, nobody deserves this.<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"text_exposed_show\">\n<p><em>They need you to pray against terrorism, violence, and white supremacy, but also to do something about it.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>They need you to shut down jokes and little comments that make targets out of people of color or other faiths. Don\u2019t let them slide. Make supremacists uncomfortable.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Your community needs you because only when white people, a LOT of white people, actively stand up and stand with those who experience oppression, terrorism, and loss of life because of the color of their skin and their place of worship, will the terrorists understand that they have lost. That their sickening philosophies are not welcome, even among other white people.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>POC cannot do this for us. It is up to us to fill our lives and words and deeds and spaces with so much love and inclusivity that white supremacy cannot fit. That it is squeezed out. We do this by how we react to jokes and comments, what we say or do not say, what we do, how we speak about and treat Muslims and other folks in the margins. Again, we don\u2019t have to agree with their theology, but are we kind? Are we gentle? Are we protective of the oppressed? Do we shut down casual racism and xenophobism when we see and hear it?<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>It\u2019s up to us.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>It\u2019s up to you. <\/em>&#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/cattieprice\/?__tn__=kCH-R&amp;eid=ARAWrgsA7s8tN8KfTmI1L87TW9l61FOXqiDIj2QX_1grJwsWOj2iZh0m1Hb9a5QRSMp8ok3T_AeurFFU&amp;hc_ref=ART73ivgm3wlh3H0WjxK8nEUyU866qbSVk69dK-cV4RigKgSAd2FLOJJSPTEYhHqOw0&amp;fref=nf&amp;__xts__[0]=68.ARC0jJApc58N13KHqx7_NZnZ3k1CVG2n2A6Sk-E67-KGePQUAr17ENfEzTirvRT94VkYlt-WzW_viqNlxzU3xpzw-UzLyFua-PkxW-KeKDCu7K8sGYlgN9dQrHLlOEARrf12oxQcLDzLfoUtch-Os3NaR4lAK24y47XeB4t_PdTvkqj6kDTQqAFN6_OEDd03MegoUfyBKfqv3IPpjcDRtIR2jPgQvb7fObAV8begssPwJVCtrkvErCZ_o6ktYitM6HPBjO45aKZkeppb0ySIWzHcqw-z6aUNkrhw_6T-3-4MmdnXXL0vUg-B6vG3tleRMU_lbVlBdJzKFhH1fnBl4-ZsFMK4QtlFDSOkDvpBFD7_\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cattie Price, Facebook (with permission)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/m.dw.com\/en\/aid-agencies-in-race-against-time-after-cyclone-idai\/a-48034299?fbclid=IwAR1sPbvYG32gmKl7R_pbmeAeZXB5WheLLxse8_96meE277Mnpl0ZUF0LggA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Agencies In Race Against Time After Cyclone &#8211; Mozambique<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bpnews.net\/52593\/280-christians-killed-in-attacks-in-nigeria?fbclid=IwAR2EGy9RJEdqWqN4FU3oU5jjH_4fJiY9LOGjJAjfcOddA5IcfER1_HFeKsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>280 Christians Killed in Attacks in Nigeria<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/careynieuwhof.com\/thoughts-church-age-terror\/?fbclid=IwAR1E9Cbj6Yf08-Cd5Lctz_xWvtN7fJd0Cmi5RaxqRFY9QpDYxuPgZgR69f0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Thoughts on How to Be the Church in an Age of Terror and Tragedy<\/em> &#8211; Carey Nieuwhof<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here&#8217;s to your weekend! 5 favorite finds from this week: 1) The Godfather Theme &#8211; One of the most iconic films of all time was The Godfather adapted from the 1969 novel of the same name. The story focused on the fictional New York crime family, the Corleone&#8217;s. So engrossing was the narrative that two &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=21728\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">5 Friday Faves &#8211; The Godfather Theme, Roaring Lambs, a Very Different Jesus, Core Values, and Finally Spring<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"yes","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[926,1229,34,1070,1628,1705,1618,1148,183,1000,147,808,1801,903,2556,2547,2776,33,18,2819,1732,5130,317,263,2611,432,870,3752,789],"tags":[216,7003,2548,5651,2516,35,37,1909,7004,7005,658,573,6305,1230,232,2048,7006,1802,7007,1835,949,324,7008,7009,1136,4474,7010,7011,7012,4412,2633,7013,1079,7014,3487,6498,7015,7016,5827,7017,7018],"class_list":["post-21728","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-attending-or-focus","category-beauty-of-gods-creation","category-books","category-cancer","category-character","category-conversations","category-courage","category-critical-thinking","category-culture-religion","category-easter-and-lent","category-family-2","category-film","category-friday-faves","category-grace","category-grief-and-loss","category-guitar","category-hospitality","category-inspired","category-jesus","category-kindness","category-leadership","category-legacy","category-lessons-learned","category-lives-full-of-god","category-love-your-neighbor","category-music","category-neighbors","category-purpose-in-life","category-relationships","tag-adoption","tag-ben-sands","tag-beyond-the-guitar","tag-blogging","tag-bob-briner","tag-books-2","tag-c-s-lewis","tag-carey-nieuwhof","tag-cattie-price","tag-charles-wesley","tag-church","tag-classical-guitar","tag-core-values","tag-flowering-trees","tag-flowers","tag-foster-care","tag-french","tag-friday-faves","tag-gentle-jesus-meek-and-mild","tag-jesus","tag-kara-tippetts","tag-language-learning","tag-mark-meynell","tag-narnia","tag-nathan-mills","tag-new-zealand","tag-nino-rota","tag-prince-caspian","tag-raising-readers","tag-reading","tag-roaring-lambs","tag-rowan-williams","tag-spring","tag-spring-equinox","tag-terrorism","tag-the-colorful-cottage","tag-the-godfather","tag-the-he-said-she-said-experience","tag-the-long-goodbye","tag-tragedy","tag-warren-cole-smith"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pauPAB-5Es","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21728","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=21728"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21728\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21824,"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21728\/revisions\/21824"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=21728"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=21728"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=21728"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}