I have added a lot of new bargains from Bookcloseouts to the bargains page. Also, check the pull-down menu on the other pages of my site, go to “biography” and take a peek at the list of books about books I am working on adding there. I still have many to include. I will eventually have the whole pull-down menu transformed to be a resource for lovers of books and literature, but I make no promises about how long it will take!

I have been derelict in posting some more of my personal top ten lists. While you’re waiting for me to get off my dead (fill in the blank), here are some lists from Dr. G. (George Grant), which are far superior to mine, anyway.

You gotta serve somebody, as Bob Dylan sang. You can be a slave to sin and to Satan, or you can be a slave to God. What I don’t understand is why so many people want to be enslaved to the wrong thing.

Romans 6:21 makes clear the result of being enslaved to sin: “What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.”

Being God’s slave is not just the opposite of enslavement to sin; it is totally, fundamentally different, and superior to any concept of freedom of which we could conceive: “But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.” (Rom. 6:22)

There are times I have taken my children to a public place and had complete strangers ask if we are homeschoolers (I’ve also had them ask if we were Mormon after counting the number of bodies in one family). I’ve also asked the homeschooling question of other families I have encountered. There is a clean-cut and (normally) unsullen look on the faces of many homeschooled children. They look different than the “normal” children one sees in the world. We know that the outward appearance is not of ultimate importance; it is what is in the heart that matters most. But what is in the heart often becomes evident in our appearance. And appearance is one indicator of whom we serve. We have a picture of this in certain professions requiring uniforms; policemen, firemen, doctors and soldiers all wear special clothing to both help them in their jobs and to help others respond properly to them.

All of which leads me to direct you to a link for an article about body piercing (warning: there are some photos of people with various piercings). Piercing of the body, as well as tattooing and other forms of body modification, according to scripture and tradition, is an indicator of slavery and alliance with a certain tribe or group. It is a pagan practice. Lest you think the author, Dr. Peter Hammond, is just an old fuddy duddy who can’t get with the trends of today, read his biography. As my son Pieter says, he’s a cool dude. He is a modern-day Paul, preaching the gospel in some of the most dangerous places in the world (southern and eastern Africa, especially the Sudan and Zambia), often carrying an AK-47 over his shoulder to defend himself against the radical, government-supported Muslims who hate his Christian ministry, Frontline Fellowship. He points out that the people he sees convert to Christianity from tribal paganism are anxious to throw away their piercing jewelry and that they repudiate the markings they have made on themselves. How sad that so many in our country are going the opposite direction, even in the church.

Remember that we must serve someone. The choice should not be difficult. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Can you tell what kind of mood I’ve been in while not feeling tip-top…right now music is more appealing than books. And I have discovered something wonderful! A while back I told you about a college group called “Indelible Grace” which set old hymns to new tunes. Here’s another talented group from Prairie Bible College with a Celtic flair. Their music is lovely. They have several whole songs available to download as mp3’s at Amazon, search for them under “PBC & Onora” in the music downloads section.

I have discovered the music downloads section at Amazon. Here are a couple more to try: Alison Krauss, who sang for “O, Brother, Where Art Thou,” and some Christian bluegrass from Ron Block (the second link has Alison Krauss singing background vocals and playing fiddle).