Amy Matayo’s New Book, The Wedding Game, Is Delightful.

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I finally figured out the deal with this here blogging: do it once and do it right. And then use it anywhere you can. I wrote the blog and then just lifted it to become my Amazon.com review of Amy Matayo’s book, The Wedding Game. Lest I forget, go buy the book right now (This is the link for the paperback, the other link is for kindle.) Skip this silly review and just start reading her book.

The Wedding Game (Photo stolen from amymatayo.com)

The Wedding Game
(Photo stolen from amymatayo.com)

Oh, fine. For the skeptics, read the review below.

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Finally, I’m the first for something. The first review, and probably the first 350 pound biker type to read the book, The Wedding Game.

I usually run as fast as possible from any form of Chic Lit: it has been known to cause hives in guys like me. And it’s not like I haven’t tried to read books like this in the past. My wife has urged me to read dozens over the years. Haven’t made it through one without thinking, “Never again. I value my sanity too much.”

I made an exception for Amy Matayo. I’ve had the pleasure of being her Facebook friend for several months. We also have the same Literary Agent. A few months ago, I met her in person at a writer’s conference. I figured if the book was half as good as her wisecracks and snarky Facebook postings it would be tolerable. Support a fellow author and all that sort of thing.

I am pleased to report that her book, The Wedding Game, is one of the wittiest, funniest, most enjoyable books I’ve read in my life. It’s one of those rare gems that sucks you in on the front end and leaves you begging for a sequel.

The story of Ellie and Cannon isn’t archetypal, it isn’t preachy, it isn’t… well, you’d be hard pressed to apply any negatives to this delightful story of two people who are the winners, if you could call them that, of a reality television show. Both have their reasons for competing, both loathe each other, and both find that their relationship with each other becomes vital to their well being.

Amy uses gentle humor, slapstick, sarcasm, and spot-on depictions of male-female relationships to entice the reader to genuinely care about the characters. If you dig into the book on the surface, a great romp will bring tears to your eyes and laughter to your belly.

On another level, it’s an examination of each of their relationships with God, and how they reconcile their behavior with God’s expectations. Growth, both as a couple and as spiritual beings, is a key to the story.

Hidden twists, inventive descriptions that put you in the room with the characters, and dialogue that had to be overheard between bickering couples (it’s that authentic) leave you in awe of this first novel from an author who’s working hard at her craft. It shows in the quality of this work.

I know Amy’s working on the next book. If Amazon would let me buy it today, I’d shell out the money right now. I’m already telling friends about the book. After 28 years of marriage, I finally have a Chic book to give to my wife. I know she’ll love it as much as I did.

Buy it today. You won’t be sorry. Just don’t blame me if you can’t get Ellie and Cannon out of your head.

Oh, yeah. Guys: there’s no shame in enjoying this book. I promise not to revoke your man card if you laugh.

Last, but not least, there’s a trailer for the book. I’ve presented it below.

Sponsorship Sunday – Isaac

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We’re back to Sponsorship Sunday after a week off to celebrate the United States Marine Corps birthday, and we’re going to try and get our young fellow, Isaac, fully sponsored. Isaac was here back in June and still needs a sponsor. It’s awfully easy to become jaded to the needs of others when you are bombarded with requests for donations day after day. I know that I’ve been that way all my life. Still am, for the most part.

I hope this weekly column doesn’t have that impact on anyone in the audience. It would be a shame if it did, as I think it’s pretty low key. You can read it or not, I keep it on the same day each week, it’s never snuck in under the tent’s edge.

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Today I’d like to tell you what those kids mean to me at Grace Village. I deal with thousands of little ones every year as Santa. And I can spot a phony about 2 blocks away. I met not a one of them at Grace Village.

They are the most remarkably gentle, polite, nice children you will ever deal with in your life. All of them are so grateful for the love and care they get from the teachers and missionaries at that center. God truly works with them and their staff. Just typing the words I am awestruck by the kindness and love that abounds in that place.

Orphanage is a bad word in the United States. It is in many parts of Haiti as well. But Grace Village is an oasis of Christ’s love in a troubled country. I love those kids. I love the staff. If I wasn’t married with a job and responsibilities I’d ask to be sent there as a staff member today. I could easily spend all of my days there until God calls me home.

Yes, it’s that anointed. Please take a few minutes and pray about your ability to help these beautiful kids. Your emails touch me greatly every day. I will never use my lists or influence to nag for funds. I appreciate the voluntary nature of our relationship and will continue to respect that gift you give to me.

Be blessed and consider sponsoring Isaac and his extended “family” at Grace Village. I know my sponsorship of two little girls is a huge plus in my life. I wish the same joy for you.

This week’s child is: Isaac

Isaac

Isaac once had the opportunity to learn to ride a bike and says it’s his favorite thing to do. Isaac came to Grace Village with his brother Romual and they both remain close to one another. Isaac would like to be an engineer some day so he puts a lot of effort into his studies, especially math. Isaac’s prayer request is for his family.

Isaac came to Healing Haiti in September, 2008. Isaac and his brother Romual are orphans, both or their parents are deceased.

Birth Info
Birthdate: September 26, 1999
Place of Birth: Cap-Hatien, Haiti

It is my hope that one of you will find your heart touched by this child and take up a bit of Christ’s work by sponsoring them for an extended period. My wife and I are sponsoring a pair of sisters and I look at it this way – I only gave up the equivalent of a fast-food dinner each day to change the life of a child. Healing Haiti will do the right things for these children and I have full confidence in their work. I am not affiliated with them, they don’t endorse this blog, nothing like that at all. I just love kids (can’t be Santa and not love children) and know that Grace Village is the difference between life and death for many of these children. Please open your heart and prayerfully reflect on the opportunity God’s giving us to sponsor these children. Some of them have come out of slavery and have some of the toughest lives you could imagine prior to Grace Village.

Just click the link and it will take you directly to the page where you can sponsor this week’s child. And if God is particularly good and that child is sponsored when you get there, please grab another smiling face and change their life instead. My goal is to put Sponsorship Sunday out of business as quickly as possible and take that day off each week. Thank you. God bless you for your generosity.

Some of the finest people you’ll ever meet. The hands and feet of Christ.

Mr. President, You Can’t Do That.

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But he’ll sure try. You see, Barack Hussein Obama has the press on his side. To recap for those of you who slept through Thursday, he promised to set aside certain provisions of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) because the public got angry when they realized he’d lied to them about keeping their policies and doctors.

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I know the Associated Press doesn’t use the word lie for this one, but that’s what it is. The legislation clearly sets it out and it was there all along. Even when Nancy Pelosi rammed it through in the middle of the night. Remember: You have to pass it to find out what’s in it.

Now our esteemed president (yes, capitalization is correct here) is offering to let it slide. But that’s the funny thing about laws: they are laws. The ACA isn’t his personal will writ large, it’s a law. One of those things that can only be corrected by another act of Congress and then signed by the president. No option to just “do it my way” and let people have their old policies. That would be dictatorship and rule by fiat.

Chew on that for a minute: the law means what the president says and nothing more or less. And next week, when he changes his mind again, it means something else. And when you let that slide, as his allies in the press have so far, it means we have no laws. We have the rule of one man. One very vain and self-centered man.

Since I know that none of you wish to be subjects, rather to be citizens, you’d best watch out for the imperial kleptocracy that’s emerging here. Once you give the president a precedent to do this it’s going to be awfully hard to go back. None of the insurance companies are keen on this either. They don’t know what to expect and as a result they are opting to stick with the letter of the law. Those policies aren’t coming back. And, without a doubt, the blame will be cast at the horrid capitalist swine who run the companies. (Keep in mind, they were making money on the old policies or they wouldn’t have sold them. But to go back now exposes them to huge liabilities.)

If Barack Obama wants to change the health care law, he’d best have Congress put it in a bill and pass it. He can sign it. But until then, no more rule by fiat. Simon Says is no way to run our country.

Petra Isn’t Just A City In Jordan.

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I have a confession to make: I wasn’t a very good Christian for a great share of my life. (Mom, it’s not mandatory that you print this and mail it to me. I’ve already confessed to this one!) And by not a very good one, I mean someone who had such deep doubts about God that I tried to avoid exposure to anything even vaguely Christian so as to avoid puncturing my skepticism. As a result of that boneheaded outlook I missed out on lots of great things, including Petra.

Petra still rocks!

Petra still rocks!

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I was the smart guy who wouldn’t listen to Christian rock on a bet. No, not as long as (name the commercial band) was playing would the likes of Petra or Stryper grace my radio. I mocked the genre, mocked the people who listened, and mocked the message. Call me Saul.

After 40 years of performing, Petra finally got me to a concert last weekend. I’m sad to report that my backside is very sore from kicking myself for this mistake. I have to add Petra to the list of things that may have changed my life for the better if I’d been open enough to listen to them years ago.

Having seen the Rolling Stones, AC/DC, and numerous other acts that started out in that era, I’m pleased to report that Petra stacks up with any of them, and exceeds the Stones by a wide margin.

Incredible vocals, guitar and bass with the best of them, and great drumming are what makes this band a keeper. I saw them at the Cedar Valley Church in Bloomington, MN. Just a quick walk from the Mall of America, it’s a small venue. The band, however, has a big sound. A sound that used to fill the largest venues on a regular basis.

I have to admit that I didn’t know any Petra songs by heart when I walked in the door. I will be remedying that in the future. The songs I heard Saturday left a mark on my soul. They are some of the songs that form the portfolio for most modern worship bands in contemporary churches. These guys can write and perform.

What sets their music aside from many others is the style of the vocals. Think Journey with Christ. This music speaks strongly to people my age because we were weaned on guitars, hair, and spandex. The soaring vocals (I think I stole that from a late night infomercial) are exactly what I want to listen to when I tune in to the radio. Petra brings not just that sound, but words that tell Biblical stories. Stories of the life of Christ, His Crucifixion, and His resurrection. On the surface most people would wonder how they can make that into a rock anthem that works? The answer is … danged if I know, but it works. You find yourself singing along and rocking out with the band.

Perhaps more importantly, I found myself rocking out with the audience. The audience that I’d mocked and scorned in my youth. I felt a hollow sadness for a part of the night for how I’d treated these people. They were nerds for Christ. But they knew all the words, they bopped with the beat, and they had lived their lives in Christ while I was still lurking around some scuzzy bar in Naples, Italy.

They knew all the words. That thought came back to me over and over Saturday. The audience had embraced this sanctified lifestyle as kids and kept it up until this very moment. Gray and paunchy like me, they had worshiped God during their youth when I was trying very hard to avoid His mercy and love. What a dolt I was back then. Probably still a dolt in many ways, but at least now I’m trying to play a bit of catch-up and savor these things I missed back then. It’s never too late to be a teenager.

I shot quite a bit of video that night – and I’m not going to ruin the band’s reputation with my patented shaky video style. Instead I’m putting a few of their videos below. Thanks, Petra, for a great concert on Saturday. And, to my fellow Christian music fans, my apologies for my negative attitude in the past. I’m honored that you kept the genre growing while I was looking for the truth.

Petra In Buenos Aires.

Petra playing Creed (Farm Aid, 1992)


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It Was Way More Than A Ham Dinner.

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All across the United States restaurants went out of their way to honor veterans on Monday. I even got up early and went to cash in on my freebie. Someone forgot to send me the memo that the joint would still be packed at 1930 on a Monday. If you live in Minnesota, that’s way after “The Norwegian Dinner Hour.” You can usually count on the place starting to empty out at 1900, dontcha know?

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Instead of risking being late for work, I abandoned the major chain (no hard feelings, glad to see you doing well and all) and headed to Old Country Buffet. You can stop the eye rolling. I like the place. Good coffee, Rice Krispy bars, pot roast, ham, mashed potatoes, etc. Comfort food.

Best Veteran's Day meal ever.

Best Veteran’s Day meal ever.

I didn’t even ask about getting the military discount. I leave that one to the younger men and women who have taken over in the wake of my generation moving on to the important things: getting fat and bald. I paid my tab and hung my coat on the back of the chair.

A quick tour led me to the carving table where a giant slab of ham beckoned. If you can’t have bacon, ham is close enough. The young man at the carving station asked for my order and quickly filled it – and a giant hunk of ham it was! As I turned to head to my table he said, “Did you serve.”

Given the context of being served in a restaurant it took me a moment to figure out what he meant. I suppose the Casper Society (WARNING: autoloading sound file) hat on my fat head was a giveaway. And in that moment there was no finer, more welcome, better tasting meal in all of the world than what I had in my hand. “Yes, I did. A long time ago.”

“Thank you, Sir. I appreciate it.”

Finest meal I’ve had in a long time. And a well mannered young man who will be in my prayers when I go to bed tonight.

The meal may have cost me a bit on the credit card, the recognition and respect were priceless.

God Bless America – there’s hope for us yet.