The Willis Clan returns!!

Brenda and Toby Willis and their – they have 10! – children were to perform at Summerfest in Ashland City, but the huge storms came that night.  So if you missed them, join us for a free concert Saturday night, August 15th, for – maybe a hoe-down!  Well, there may not be room enough on the performance stage at A New Thing  to see them dance, but we will love this family’s performance of  original and traditional irish/celtic tunes.   Their website is thewillisclan.com

Book Review – Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl

I am having so much fun reading this new book – I took a break to see what others are saying about it – I saw Jared’s post and thought it was so good that I asked him if I could post it.  I’ll write one when I finish it.  Meanwhile, run down to my bookstore and buy your copy or borrow mine.

From Jared Totten’s  Critical Thinking blogspot:

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Book Review: Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl by N.D. Wilson

In the span of one paragraph, N.D. Wilson made me break out in goosebumps then made me laugh and cry at the same time. His writing in Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl from Thomas Nelson Publishers evokes emotion like the best fiction, scratches the brain like the best philosophy, and stirs a love for Creator and creation like the best theology.

His bursts of thought are not always clear-cut and linear, rather they seem to be confusing and unrelated at times. As his ideas shape the chapters, however, and the chapters form the book, a step back reveals a beautiful piece of work.

And this, I think, was no accident. Wilson’s premise is that the universe we live in is a work of art and the masterpiece of The Artist. It is a drama, a play, and God is the Author. And so, just as his writing style reflects, there are surprises, twists, and turns. It doesn’t progress in an uneventful, gradual incline.

The best dramas have real tragedies, the best paintings have both shadow and light. Thus it makes sense that the best of all possible worlds made by an Artist/Author will have real tragedies, both shadow and light.

N.D. Wilson writes like Donald Miller on uppers and caffeine. He writes like someone with ADD who has sat through too many college-level courses on philosophy and art appreciation. He writes like I imagine Chuck Palahniuk (author of Fight Club) would if he found Jesus and switched to non-fiction.

My favorite book of the year, hands down.

You can read the entire thing online for free at Google Books. However, that’s kind of like choosing to look at a Rembrandt on the internet rather than having one to hang on your wall. Yes, I thought that highly of this book, but that’s just me. You have fun with your pixels.

**   ***   **   ***  **

I can’t improve on this above review; but … I’m still adding my own:

Notes From the TIlt-a-Whirl by N. L. WIlson  (october 2009)

Life is a giant, crazy circus, and our home is the tilt-a-whirl that tosses and confuses us.  But it is exhilarating and loads of fun.  Wilson asks all of life’s big and little questions and takes it all in with the wide-eyed wonder of a curious, energetic child.  He takes us with him, through the real Poet’s poem, into the Writer’s Theatre and  weaving (spinning!)  in and out of The Play.

This is a delicious book and I love the way he spontaneously tastes life’s moments and experiences like a child, but includes references to the classics, philosophy, and art.  A creative, must-read for all who want to see the ordinary as extra-ordinary – maybe it really is!  This brings forth praise to the Great Creator!

Failing Forward – Join this book discussion group

I mentioned this great book in the book review section under John Maxwell’ Helpful Books.   Ted Thompson will head -up a discussion group this August and/or September.   We’re spending a couple of weeks getting feedback on interest, times and dates – so contact us (e-mail or call Jo Ann at 792-9651) if you are interested in reading through this book and getting together each week to share discoveries.