Cookies N’ Cream

Cookies N' Cream Whew, where has the month gone? June started off with a bang and I still feel like I’m running. I remember a great, but exhausting week of Vacation Bible School. A quick, but weary journey to Alabama. Oh yeah and the many nights of staring at the computer screen in hopes of catching up. Many of those nights I drew comfort from a bowl full of cookies n’ cream ice cream. Mmmmm, whoever thought combining cookies with ice cream – a big thanks to you! Oh yeah and a big thanks to my sister for introducing me to Ben and Jerry’s Chunky Monkey ice cream. Banana flavored ice cream with chocolate chunks and walnuts. Oh my!

Now I’m normally not a ice cream person. I enjoy ice cream every once and a while. For some reason this month I should have been avoiding the ICE CREAM aisle. One temptation I often fall into are the BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE sales at the grocery store. Now for paper products this is a good deal! For ice cream, not so good!

Unfortunately, while a great comfort, ice cream does nothing for the hips or thighs! I joined Curves back in March and I had been doing pretty good until June. I’ve missed several workouts this month! Nights of ice cream and no workouts! What a month!

I’m looking forward to July! Not because I’m going on some fantastic vacation, but just to have some time to breathe and get a sense of normalcy. Oh yeah and just a few bowls of ice cream here and there.

A Christian Chiller

The Departed
By Kathryn Mackel

Kathryn Mackel’s novel The Departed is described as a Christian Chiller. At first glance it seems like these two words are an oxymoron. What could be scary about a Christian novel? This novel will change your mind! This book will definitely make you aware playing around in the spiritual realm can result in some scary results. With a contemporary storyline set in Raven, Massachusetts, Kathryn draws readers into the lives of a couple and the evil that threatens to destroy them.

Due to recent experiences with the spiritual world, Joshua Lazarus has become a well-known medium with a popular television program. While his show is popular among the masses, Joshua’s methods are quite fake and misleading. In the midst of Joshua’s success, his wife Maggie lingers out of the spotlight in order to give her handsome husband the appearance of being single for an adoring audience. Maggie eventually finds her own niche at Safe Haven, a day care center. Through Safe Haven’s owner, Amy Howland, Maggie discovers and accepts the Christian faith. Unfortunately, the new believer is caught between her husband’s success and the destructive forces that Joshua has unknowingly unleashed.

Not only does Maggie have to contend with her husband’s bizarre experiences with hearing voices, she also comes in contact with the occult where the ringleader wants to take over Safe Haven. Meanwhile, Joshua’s lack of understanding for Maggie’s new faith causes a larger strain in their already fragile marriage. Joshua becomes increasingly involved with what he deems to be the spirit world actually trying to communicate with him.

Mackel has written a very believable plot that introduces subjects that are prevalent right now. Their currently is a popular TV show on ABC called the “Medium.” Being an entertainer in Hollywood pits people in unrealistic situations. Readers can easily see how Maggie would be pushed to the side as a spouse and later how her faith would crash with her husband’s career. There are a lot more aspect to this book such as the tale of a father’s revenge and the real existence of occults that make this novel an eye opening, but entertaining read.

Now if you are new to this genre, it actually has been around a while. I think any avid Christian reader who likes to read books that are not considered your normal pat and nice Christian fiction will agree Frank Peretti is the “king” of this genre. After reading The Departed, I have to say Kathryn Mackel is the “queen.” After reading The Departed, don’t miss Mackel’s The Surrogate, an equally entertaining Christian Chiller.