Coach Wooden's Forgotten Teams

     BOOK REVIEW:   Legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden is known for his record-breaking run of NCAA championships and for working with some of the best players in the sport. His principles for success have been used by not only coaches and athletes but also entrepreneurs and leaders of all kinds. But his reach stretches even farther than most people know---into the hearts and lives of the people who learned the game of basketball in one of Coach Wooden's forgotten teams. 

     For nearly twenty years, John Wooden ran scores of summer youth basketball camps, imparting wisdom and teaching skills to thousands of boys and girls between the ages of eight and fifteen. Most would not grow up to play professional or even college ball, but all of them found their lives changed by their interaction with the greatest coach who ever lived. In those camps, Coach Wooden also impacted hundreds of camp counselors and assistant coaches. 

     This one-of-a-kind book shares their inspiring stories, along with six fundamental lessons from Coach Wooden for a life of success and unforgettable impact on others. 

     MY REVIEW:   I had not heard of Coach John Wooden before getting this book, but it seems he was the best of basketball coaches. Pat Williams has written several books about him---this one focuses on his work with summer basketball camps for kids. The first section outlines the week of camp, then the rest of the book takes Coach Wooden's life practices and teachings and shows us the great love and care this man had for any and everyone. There is so much to learn from him---the way he valued people; his humility in giving all the credit to his teams; how he lead by example, never asking anyone to live in a way he did not already; teaching his team how to be respectful, considerate, neat, and humble; and so much more. One person said "John Wooden tried harder than any man I've ever met to be like Jesus Christ". Not until close to the end of the book when Pat is telling us about John's life does it come out that he was a Christian, but throughout the book I wondered if he wasn't. 

     This book has countless interviews, etc, with people who met, spoke with, or were impacted by Coach Wooden. It also includes wise sayings of his. A few I especially liked are: "Seek opportunities to show you care. The smallest gestures often make the biggest difference" and "Don't blame others for what you don't have. Be thankful for what you do have". Maybe my favorite lesson Coach Wooden taught was to make everyday your masterpiece. Prioritize, and do what will mean something in the end. Make time for people and relationships. Help someone who cannot return the favor. Don't waste a day, but make it worth something. 

     

  I received a copy of this book from REVELL. I was not required to write a positive review. 

Running the Good Race

     BOOK REVIEW:   In Running the Good Race, read how Dennis Blue, a man guided by his faith:

• survived the tragic loss of Dorothy's parents, John and Lucille Hacker, in a plane crash,
• flew as a missionary pilot in the Amazon bringing supplies to missionaries and Indians alike,
• discovered a stone-age tribe in the dense jungles of Amazionia,
• negotiated a peaceful outcome to a violent labor strike in Venezuela,
• assisted in the establishment of Ford Motor Company operations in the Asia-Pacific region,
• worked at senior executive level to help change the direction of the Ford Motor Company, and always
• let his personal relationship with Jesus guide his decisions.

"I want you, the reader, to experience what my wife Dorothy and I affectionately call our 'Open Door Policy'. God directed our lives through doors that He opened for us and turned our faith into our reality. Running the Good Race can be your story---if you let yourself be led through the open.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5

     MY REVIEW:   This book is a 429 page autobiography of Dennis Blue, covering his life from his birth in 1933 through his retirement from Ford Motor Company in 1988. A sequel will cover the next several years. This book was interesting to me because it was the era of my grandparents. The way of living and the customs of the day are similar to what I think my grandparents would have seen. And while Ford wasn't talked about much in reference of operations, it was interesting to read about it from Dennis' administration perspective. It sort of felt like an 'America Remembered' book, what with the period it covered. Except it was mostly out of America, but anyway. :) 

     I was impressed by the vast amount of dates quoted in this book. It's amazing! Dennis seems to remember the exact date for every single occurrence in his life, from relocating between countries, to meeting new friends, to unexpected fishing/flying mishaps. And the details are incredible. Surprisingly the book does not drag. It's all interesting to read. If you have the time. :) And there are many pictures of friends and acquaintances throughout the years, as well as aerials from flying in Venezuela, the many boats they owned from place to place, fishing prizes, and more. The book is written in such a way as to seem almost like a journal, if in a freehand font. It doesn't have the polish some books have, but it doesn't need it. There are a few instances of misspelling or awkward sentence structure, but nothing laborious. 

     A few humorous happenings I enjoyed: 1) floating too close to the shore and having the breath knocked out by a 10-pound iguana!  2) transporting a tractor to the depths of the Amazon with no roads, only rivers (complete with pictures) and 3) catching a 719-pound black marlin in Australia. 

     This book tells of Dennis' life working for Ford, fishing every possible chance, and having the faith to follow God's leading. 

  I received a copy of this book from BOOKCRASH and was not required to write a positive review. 

Pasta Chili.....then.....Leftover/Spaghetti Pizza

I tried a new recipe last week---Pasta Chili. Basically your regular red chili soup, but with pasta (in this case spaghetti) added in, and cheese melted on top. It gets thick like a casserole, but has that chili-ish taste. With pasta. I can't find the original recipe, but there are 300 variations on Pinterest, which is where I got mine (of course 😉). 

Anyway, it wasn't a big hit. Of course, only half the family was here that night to sample it, but I don't think they would have been too cracked over it. Usually, I'm biased enough (being the cook) to like anything I make, but I didn't even care for it. I think with some variation I would have, but not as I made it that night. 

And as it goes, I ended up with FAR too much left over, and no one interested in eating it. Problem.

Then this evening, I for some unknown reason was thinking about a macaroni and cheese pizza I made last summer (also Pinterest). That led to the idea of making a pizza out of my leftover pasta chili. And I've heard of spaghetti pizza, so it would be basically that. Why not try it???

I made a basic pizza crust and pre-baked it 15min. Then i spread an inch of spaghetti-like substance over it. I then sprinkled on some chopped raw carrots. I don't know where that idea came from, but it seemed a good idea. Finally, some shredded co-jack cheese. Because all pizza needs cheese. 10min longer in the oven, finishing with a mild broil (to melt the cheese and make everything golden brown and bubbly. It also takes care of that slightly watery center that likes to present itself). 

Ta-da!!

I was impressed!! It turned out rather good. Definitely better than eating the plain leftovers. 

And the carrots were indeed a good idea. 

Unimaginable

     BOOK REVIEW:   Is God dying? That's what some people think and want. They say Christian beliefs and our way of life aren't relevant anymore. but what critics and even many churchgoers don't realize is the life-changing importance of Christianity.
     Showing how the world without Christianity would be a dark place, Unimaginable guides you through the halls of history to see how Jesus' teachings dramatically changed our world and continue to be the most powerful force for good today. Learn:

• How Christianity has stood against the evils of slavery (more than once), racism, eugenics, and injustices toward women and children. 
• Why democracy, freedom as a universal value, and modern education and legal systems owe much to Christianity. 
• How Christians throughout the ages have demonstrated the value of human life by sacrificially caring for the sick, handicapped, marginalized, and dying.
• How people of faith are extending God's kingdom through charities, social justice efforts, mental health initiatives, and other profound ways. 

This provocative and enlightening book is for anyone concerned about where our world is heading. 

     MY REVIEW:   I was a little unsure about this book. I didn't know if it would veer into some strange theories, or present weird suppositions. But I was pleased with it. The book is divided into three categories: The World Before Christianity; The World Without Christianity; and The World With Christianity. The Greeks and Romans seem to be the main characters.
     The first section tells of life before Jesus' ministry. Superstition ran rampant. People were fearful of death and all things unknown. Life expectancy was very short. Anyone of a different race or standing were considered below par. And so on. There was a portion on the many god's of the Greeks and Romans, and Rome's evil rulers. It was interesting to read about them a bit.
     The second section is after Jesus' ministry, into the 1800's. Charles Darwin, Karl Marx, Ludwig Feuerbach, Freidrich Nietzsche, and Sigmund Freud are considered the "Big Five" who led us away from the Judeo-Christian setting. Then we have several prominent atheists who came onto the scene. They are followed by the communism crowd: Adolf Hilter (opposed by Winston Churchill), Benito Mussolini, Josef Stalin, Mao Zedong, Ho Chi Minh, Pol Pot, and the Kim dynasty. It is shown how atheism is so deeply embedded in communism, and how spectacularly the original goal for communism failed.
     The last section discusses first how churches around the world are helping poor and needy people and enriching their lives. Then there are several chapters on why Christians were so hated by the Romans. He discusses how the hope, equality, and love that are so fundamental in Christianity were the things that drew people to it, yet it was also these things that so infuriated the rulers. The hatred then escalated after Nero blamed them for the fiery destruction of Rome.
     This book was written by Jeremiah J. Johnston. I found it to be written quite well, not dry or requiring massive effort to read through.

  I received a copy of this book from BETHANY HOUSE PUBLISHERS and was not required to write a positive review.