Anna Tan's Blog, page 75

The #atozchallenge reflection post

Eh, I thought of not doing this, but oh well.

Posting was not a problem this year because I pre-wrote everything by mid-March. During the month of April, I even revised everything to be included in a booklet to be released later this month (still working on formatting and proofing).

I started off well with visiting and commenting and all, but mid-month, practices for W;T started, and work on the ArtsEd archives kicked off and there was the ChargeUp Conference and then I went off on my vacation...

#bookreview: The Feminist Edition

I was supposed to post my review of Mosaics on release day last week (May 1), but couldn't finish it before I flew off for my holiday.

So instead, I'll give you two reviews for one today!

First up is Mosaics 2, an anthology of brilliant women writing, followed by Women's Work, a hauntingly beautiful tale.

Mosaics 2: A Collection of Independent Women by Nina Perez
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Like Mosaics: A Collection of Independent Women, Mosaics 2 is a collection of stories, poetry, art and essays th...

#musicmonday: Somebody's Hero

Because I suppose this is the appropriate time to share this song.

#fridayflash: Fleshing Susie Monahan

You’re cold and hard and lonely and I want to comfort you, but you don’t want comforting. It’s not just professionalism or “clinical” like some of the fellows here. I know, it’s my job, but I do care. That’s why I became a nurse. To make people feel happier in their saddest times. To let them know they are loved, that they’re wanted and cared for even if they’re alone.You’re so alone, Vivian. You don’t want to let me in. I mean, you listen to me sometimes, you laugh and you seem welcoming for...

#bookreview: The Dragon Chronicles

The Dragon Chronicles by Ellen Campbell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I dunno. I expected to be more excited about this anthology. I think it started off pretty well,became pretty much "meh" in the middle and then picked up again at the end.

Some of the more notable stories that I liked, in no particular order, are:

Grey (Chris Pourteau): Grey tells the story of the friendship between Amanda, a young girl, and Grey, the last dragon in the world. It's sweet - and somewhat predictable, but incredibly h...

#musicmonday: Calm My Soul | Paper Route

During rehearsals for W;T, Professor Ashford quotes Hamlet, saying "And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest."
There's a song somewhere in the universe which ends with this line, but for the life of me, I can't recall the title or the artist.

Here's the nearest.

#AtoZChallenge: Zerubbabel

Zerubbabel is the guy who started rebuilding the temple (and finished it) after the long Jewish exile. His story’s scattered in across Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai and Zechariah, so you don’t really get a clear picture of who he is and what else he does, except rebuilding the temple and being the governor of Judah, and also, apparently an ancestor of Jesus.

The thing about Zerubbabel is that there is quite a clear demarcation of his life - before the temple and after the temple, and most of this is...

#AtoZChallenge: Yearn

In all we do, a key point is to not be satisfied. This isn’t to say that you go around pointing out all the flaws and mistakes in everything we do and be a total sourpuss, making people’s lives difficult. Celebrate your victories. Rejoice in the goodness of God. Congratulate each other for a job well done, acknowledge each other’s strengths. Be content in what you’ve done and what you’ve achieved. But don’t be satisfied.

Yearn for more. Each and every day, each and every week, yearn for more —...

#AtoZChallenge: Xenia

Xenia is the ancient Greek culture of hospitality, where generosity and courtesy is shown to those who are far from home. This was necessary in Greek culture (and mythology), in case they ended up entertaining the gods unawares (a theme known as Theoxenia). This isn’t foreign to Christianity, of course. Abraham entertained an angel (also speculated to be Jesus) who promised the birth of Isaac. An angel appeared to Joshua when he scouted the Jericho. An angel appeared to both Zacharias and Mar...

#AtoZChallenge: Worth

I’m not going to talk a bunch about worshipping God because He’s worth it. You know that already. You’ve repeated it many times, in your words, your exhortations, in your song. And it’s true - He is worth it, the Creator of all that was, that is and that is to come. The Eternal one who was, who is and who is to come. That’s why we worship Him.

But that’s not really what we struggle with. We struggle with why I’m worship leading, why I should worship, why I should serve. And most times, past th...