Monday, January 30, 2012

Agatha Christie- Mystery Novelist

     One of my favorite genres to read is mystery and pretty much my only reason for that is because of Agatha Christie's too many to count mystery novels and short stories.  Yes, of course I read other mystery novels (Sherlock Holmes, Lord Peter Whimsy, and Brother Cadfael) but Agatha Christie always will have a special place on my bookshelf. 
     I was in my early teens when I first picked up her novels.  Instantly I was captivated by her style of writing: humorous and suspenseful.  I loved her characters and how she developed them.  Now, though, having read about fifty of her novels and short stories I will admit the endings  are starting to get predictable.  Not as predictable as I would sometimes like though.  I find it quite annoying when I am talking to my brother about one of her novels and how I was surprised the end to find out who committed the murders and he spouts off with some stuff about he knew all along and the book was so boring because he had it figured out the whole way through. Nonetheless, however predictable they may end up being, there is always some new twist or a unique character that makes each of her novels stand out.
     Everybody loves a mystery, and these are just about the best.


Lois Johnson, avid writer, tea drinker, and reader but first and foremost, avid Christian.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

My Favorite Sites

     You may have noticed my gadget that lists my favorite sites and you may be wondering what they all are.  Therefore, whether you may be wondering or not, I am going to tell you and encourage you  to check them all out.
     The first one is Answers in Genesis.  This is the website for the Christian non-profit organization called Answers in Genesis.  You may know them for the Creation museum they started up in Kentucky.  On this website you can find many links to articles about creation versus evolution as well as buy books or audios about creation versus evolution.
     The second link on the sidebar is Apologetics Press.  This is a great website with many very helpful articles about several different issues including creation versus evolution, homosexuality, different world religions, and theological issues.  I have found this website to be very useful when I need to look up information about some issue.
    Blog and Mablog is the website for Douglas Wilson, a pastor and author from Idaho. On his blog he shares about many world view issues and his thoughts on theology plus much more.
      Brink the Books is a blog by four men who share about a variety of different subjects from books to worldview issues.  I often find a nice bit of humor there when I am down.
      Creation Ministires International is a creation oriented orginization composed of several acclaimed scientists based out of Austrilia.  It has much of the same information available on Answers in Genesis but both are very good resources.
      Femina is a blog run by the wife of the aforementioned Douglas Wilson, Nancy Wilson, as well as her two daughters and daugther-in-law.  They post on the cute happenings at their houses', a woman's role, and much more.
     The next link is to I Spy Animals, which I mentioned in an earlier post.  It has lots of information and pictures on many different and unique animals.  It is kid friendly but also fun for adults.
     Movieology is a website sponsored by American Vision. It provides movie reviews with an emphasis on looking at worldviews.  I have found it very helpful when wanting to check out a new movie that is in theaters.
     The Rabbit Room is a online group of authors and songwriters who post about books, movies, and many more interesting topics. They're writing is really beautiful and insightful and I definitely encourage you to check this one out.
     The Way Home is the blog of Mary Pride and her daughter Sarah Pride.  Mary Pride is the homeschooling mother of nine children and the author of the book The Way Home. They share about a women's role, marriage, and much more.
     So that is all of them.  Check them out and enjoy!


Lois Johnson, avid writer, tea drinker, and reader but first and foremost, avid Christian.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Tea Oatmeal?

     Yes I mean it.  Tea oatmeal.  It really tastes delicious.  All you do is make a cup of tea and combine it with a half cup of oatmeal and then cook in the microwave for a couple of minutes.  Then let set for a bit. For best results finish off with mixing in a bit of honey and butter.  It tastes just like the flavored oatmeal you can get at the store but is probably a good bit healthier.  I couldn't say if it is cheaper or not though.  I like it because it livens up the boring taste of oatmeal.  I enjoyed some today and had tea to drink with it as well. :)  


Lois Johnson, avid writer, tea drinker, and reader but first and foremost, avid Christian.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

I Spy Animals

     During the holiday I had the chance to hear about a blog called "I Spy Animals."  So today I checked it out and I was more then impressed.  The blog has tons of information about animals as well as many pictures.  Grownups and children alike will enjoy the fun it has to offer.  So check it out at www.ispyanimals.com and enjoy!!! :)


Lois Johnson, avid writer, tea drinker, and reader but first and foremost, avid Christian.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Movie Review- Tintin

     Over the holiday I was excited to see the new Tintin movie with family.  As a child, I grew up reading the Tintin books and thoroughly enjoying them.  Even now I still sneak them into my room and dive into the seemingly endless adventures of the young man.  Nothing excited me more then finding out that a movie was going to be made about Tintin's exploits.  The movie did not disappoint me.  The animation was breathtakingly realistic and made the movie even better (if that was possible).  The story plot was good and there was really no objectionable material whatsoever.  The adventure was lots of fun and it had much of the same humor found in the books.  Captain Haddock and the Thompson's will get you laughing as soon as you see them.  As with all movies based on books, the film strayed from the books but they did it well so it didn't bother me too much.  I would highly advise you going to see the movie and enjoying the fun adventures it has to offer.  God bless!!! :)


Lois Johnson, avid writer, tea drinker, and reader but first and foremost, avid Christian.

Movie Review- Soul Surfer

     This is my first movie review I have written so don't mock me. ;)  If you know anything about Soul Surfer you will know that it most certainly came out a few months ago.  Well, that is true.  However, due to my not wanting to see it, I did not see it until a couple days ago when I was given the opportunity to view it, which wasn't exactly my idea but there it is. :)  However, I can now say I have watched and I am not just making up criticisms without having actually watched it. :)
     So as you may have gathered, no, I didn't enjoy the movie.  Score- AnnaSophia Robb's acting was absolutely incredible and she really moved the story, score- the cinematography was incredible, and score- I thought the movie showed the family closeness very well especially between Bethany and her brothers, but there the scores pretty much end.  This has been called a wonderful Christian movie but NO it is not.  The story pretty much goes like this: Beginning- Surfing is God, she loses her arm- surfing is still God, she goes on a mission trip (which you wouldn't know was an mission trip except that they call it that)- love is God, she comes back and makes the decision to continue surfing- surfing is pretty much back to being God, competition is over- surfing and love are God together.  Then of course there was Carrie Underwood who was cast as Bethany Hamilton's church's youth leader.  Her acting was about as bad as it gets.  Because of that and the role she played as an important spiritual influence in Bethany's life, the Christian aspect was downplayed even more.  Then of course there was the immodesty, which was pretty bad, not as bad as it could have been but nonetheless bad.  I would shudder to think of my teenage brothers watching Soul Surfer with the the multiple scenes of females (girls and women) in bikinis not to mention a photo shoot that Bethany's best friend poses for in quite sultry positions.  Also, there was a scene where Bethany and her best friend go out night surfing without asking her parents (assuming they would say no).  Of course her mother finds out and is quite upset.  However, no discipline and she pretty much gets away with it.  I thought that whole scene was really unnecessary.  If there had been a redemptive purpose I would have found it much more bearable but without that it just confirmed my already negative views of the film.
     Overall I was quite disappointed with the movie.  I am discouraged that so many Christians look up to this movie as a good Christian movie.  Let me know what you think!!!


Lois Johnson, avid writer, tea drinker, and reader but first and foremost, avid Christian.
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