The Kindle - (my late review)

I was recently given a Kindle. 

You probably know what a Kindle is, but just in case... Made by Amazon, the Kindle is an electronic device that stores books. It is small, lightweight, very thin and easy to handle.

The beauty of the Kindle is it's function. In a world that seems to be getting bigger, this is an answer to a previously un-acknowledged problem: Books take up lots of space.

It seems fitting with our advancement in technology that we would embrace something like this. The fascinating thing about new inventions and gadgets isn't necessarily the fact that they are problem-solvers, but more the fact that they create a new-found need. They somehow shine a light on a problem that we didn't know we had or maybe they create the problem for us. 

In rating the kindle, I'd score it high. It does what it does well. 

If you search through other reviews, you'll hear kudos about it's e-ink screen. (It really does look great, even shockingly good.) You'll also read about it's ability to download books quickly - which makes sense if you have any background knowledge in the weight of data. (Words don't weigh much in the digital world, except the ones found on the sites of inconsistent bloggers, of course).

So I like it... but I'd be remiss if I didn't acknowledge the fact that this is a sort of gateway drug into the future of the literary world. 

I'd like to say that books will always be around. I really really hope they are. But I think we've seen the entry into a very practical solution to what future generations will see as a given.

The artistry that accompanies books in their tangible form will be diminished if we lose interest in their weight in our hands. I think there is a sort of kinship that develops between a man and his book. You've received and pondered deep truths or even tensions from the pages that you held. If we enter into a world of digital-only text we lose something in the form of a conversation. 

This blog is a good example. I can write things here and people may or may not read them, but if I have any heavy subject to share it only translates as well as my words are arranged. And reading heavy subject matter just doesn't have the same intensity on a screen. 

I've got a friend who says every good reader does so with a pen in his hand. A book is best read when it's words are sloppily circled. When it's stained with coffee. When it's dog-eared pages are wrinkled and weak. Just like the transparency that comes with shared facial expressions during the translation of a sad story over coffee. It's also found in the laughter that ensues from the re-telling of a shared moment between two friends of the past. 

I like technology. I like the internet. It will always be a huge part of my work and pleasure. It's accessibility is nearly immeasurable. And (like the Kindle) it's becoming more commonplace among our day to day lives. That's okay. But in the same vein as Facebook, let's not get so consumed with the time-friendly nature of technology or writing on someone's wall that we miss the beauty in the lost art of letter writing. Let's not miss the feeling of slightly raised ink on a page for the speed of the cutting edge. 

So, for me... of course I'll continue to use my Kindle, but my office will always smell of old paper and my little girls bedroom will always have a bookshelf. Because as shiny and perfect as new gadgets are (and as much as I love them) there's nothing like the real thing. 

Review - Steven Curtis Chapman - "Beauty Will Rise"

Have you ever peered into someone else's hurt? Just for a second even? Have you ever caught a glimpse of something that you truly believed exceeded your deepest hope.

We don't like to talk about these types of things.

Our American spirituality (just like our "every man for himself" mentality) has taught us that we shouldn't show weakness in our belief. But on the contrary it's pretty amazing how dealing with our deepest questions draws us closer and closer to God. 

There is a hope that is deep and it is in Christ.

You know when someone truly believes - because when they enter that hurt... that deep deep well of hurt - the hope is even deeper. 

I've never seen that hope so well displayed in a record as in "Beauty Will Rise" - Steven Curtis Chapman's latest project. 

I don't typically review albums in this form. Even though I make my living in music, I'm much more prone to recommend a book title than a record. And frankly, I wouldn't throw this title out for just anyone. It's full of truth in pain, hope in sorrow. 

In addition to it's worthy themes, it really impresses me musically as well. Chapman takes his legacy of well-produced pop studio records and strips away the gloss coating. His voice is rigid at times, clearly in pain. I wouldn't doubt if he accepted first takes on his vocal tracks. He emotes heartache that's welcome. Anyone knowing his tragedy of losing a daughter believes every word that he sings - but somehow he takes it a step further in the raw arrangements of these cuts. 

Several songs stick out. One that I'll mention is "February 20th" I think it's fascinating how Chapman focuses on the day his daughter comes to know Christ rather than the day she passes into eternity. He details the simplicity of the day and his daughters eagerness to meet Christ. 

Chapman clearly understands that the well of hurt compares none to the well of hope. And the deepest of hope lies in redemption. 

Check out the newest record for Steven Curtis Chapman - "Beauty Will Rise"

Top 5

Recently commenced another book. This one sounds not unlike one of those self help "I can't figure out what I'm supposed to do with my life" books... but it was a good quick read.

StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath helps the reader to focus upon not weaknesses but rather areas of accomplishment and ability and skill. The idea actually seems like a good one. 

If little Johnny doesn't do well in science but tends to "steal the show" in math... focus on that. If he spends his entire grade school career paying attention to this "plank" that he carries around in his inability to make the grade in science he will never understand success. (Rath) teaches that by focusing only on weaknesses we never really get stronger in our strengths.

That idea seems great. And there is certainly some truth in that theory. If I could could constantly measure myself against my potential versus my previous weaknesses then I'd continue to move forward instead of trying to correct my mistakes. What's done is done, the past is the past, you can't change what's happened, only learn from it. 

Rath asks the reader to take an online assessment to determine his or her core strengths. After answering 100 or so questions you are given a top 5 list of greatest strengths. Then you are offered some suggestions as to how those strengths may help you succeed as well as potentially hinder you from moving forward. My top 5 are... 

Connectedness 

Adaptability

Individualization

Strategic

Ideation

They probably aren't far off and this was definitely a worthy read. It's good to be positive about the direction you are headed.

The one thing that I was consistently recalling as I read the book was the truth that when we are weak, He is strong. As this book somehow attempts to help correct the work ethic of goal-oriented adults, I can't help but recall the line in the popular children's hymn "Jesus Loves Me"

They are weak, but He is strong.

Anna Bartlett Warner recognized that as children of God we are inclined to notice our weakness in light of the perfection of God. It's a natural motion and frankly a healthy one. The more we recognize who we are not in Christ, the more we are motivated to become in Him. In regards to success in business, the premise is a good one. But as I grow in my relationship with Christ let me never lose sight of the areas where I'm failing, because His strength is perfect there. 

A good read...

StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath