Saturday, November 5, 2011

Review of "Hadassah: One Night With The King" by Tommy Tenny

"Esther at the Palace Gate," by Botticelli 
In this post, I am going to be reviewing the book. Hadassah: One Night With the King by Tommy Tenny. This is a novel based on the book of Esther in the Bible.  This book is in the historical fiction genre, which is means it is based on historical events but the exact details do not necessarily match those in history. 


First of all, let me say that I absolutely adored this work! I particularly liked the way that the author brings us back into such different times but makes it so understandable. With his fascinating description and realistic dialogue, we can see the times and place of Ancient Persia. 

The story is written in the first-person, with the exception of a couple of framing chapters at the beginning and end of the book, and the woman's perspective gives a personal view of events that otherwise might have seemed historical and impersonal. We see how this woman's stand, in simply obeying God, changed history. But we also see the Hadassah character as someone very human and fragile, not always strong and brave, as we sometimes picture her. 


This book is a love story: a young girl wins the  heart of a king because she thinks not of how she can please herself but how she can please her master. The title, "One Night With the King" can also be a reflection on how just a short time with Jesus, our king, can change things forever for us.

I felt so inspired by this book that I actually wrote a poem about it, too! 


Next up: I really want to see the movie:: One Night with the King

Hubber Celebrates One Year At Hubpages!


Happy Anniversary, Happy Anniversary! I have been at Hubpages for one whole year and I wrote my 70th hub: an overview of my year at Hubpages. I have learned so much this year! 

A few times, I thought about leaving this site but decided against it and I'm really glad I've stayed! I have met so many wonderful people that I consider friends.

Here is the story of my journey this year:


If you would like to sign up for Hubpages, go to the sign-up page and just follow the directions. It is very easy to do and is a great place to write. 

From the Blog Roll ... and Beyond!

Hey everyone! I am featuring my favourite links this week. I hope you like them!
Image by Vintage Collective

Absolutely adorable! Peanut Butter Jelly Time from Joanna at Diary of a Mad, Fat Woman asks her three children about what needs to be done to keep healthy. Their answers may surprise you!

Excellent post on counting calories from Tyler at 344pounds. You won't have to do it forever. It's like training for a test. Once you look up the calories a few times, you'll know it.


An article about casseroles and some good ideas for making them more healthy, from Snack Girl. I love casseroles, so it was nice to read a couple of ways to make them a bit heathier!

And, if you read my blog regularly, you will know that I am trying to make it as a writer. I did lots of writing this week! Here is some of the stuff I have written lately:
  1.  Some poems There is a creative writing contest going on Hubpages right now, and it was great to do some poems, which are kind of my "first love" of writing. One was about Queen Esther from the Bible: One Night With the King, and one that I published was a poem I wrote years ago about domestic abuse.
  2.  A photo gallery I guess I don't talk a lot about my three kitties but this is a photo gallery of when my cat had kittens.
  3. One of the kittens we gave away: Fuzzball
  4.  My First Year at Hubpages is an overview of my year at the site where I write the most: Hubpages. 
Just so you know,  my latest hubs, or articles are always available in that little black and grey box in my side bar, under "latest writing" if you ever want to check out what I've been writing else where.
So, that's the roundup from this week. Hope you're having a good weekend! 


Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Review of Audrey Messner's Book

Today is Beautiful Wednesday, where I talk about accepting yourself and your beauty.

I talk about this topic because I struggle with this one sometimes and although I'm not "there" yet completely, I believe that it is one of the keys to being the women we want to be.

I heard a speaker this week talk about this topic and I wanted to share her latest book called Like Yourself, Love Your Life: Overcome Big Mistakes & Celebrate Your True Beauty.  I haven't read it yet but I would like to. It's by Audrey Meisner, from the ministry, "It's A New Day," and it is about learning to accept yourself as God does.

Just a bit of background: Audrey is married to Bob, who is a pastor, and she had always been a "Jesus girl," who loved ministry, the church and God. She was happy in her marriage but started to feel a bit bored and wanting to have a bit more "fun." 

What started as a  harmless flirtation grew into an adulterous affair, and even an unexpected pregnancy. This led Audrey into the greatest self-hatred imaginable and this "Jesus Girl" was no longer perfect and did not like herself at all. 

I think many of us can relate to the part about not liking ourselves, for some reason, and this may be why we overeat, or do other self-destructive things. I know this applies to me and this is something I have to work to overcome as I am taking this weight-loss journey. It's often very deep-seated but there and inner healing is often needed to heal our bodies from destruction. 

This book is how she learned to like herself and love her life, and celebrate her beauty, based on knowing that God loved her no matter what. I have heard she and Bob share their testimony and it is powerful. They are regular hosts of the show, "It's a New Day" and I respect their teaching and testimony.

I have included a clip from them sharing their story, too.