refreshing, possibly even invigorating
923786
Fair Trade, organic, and fabulous taste! My non-tea drinking husband even requests it now. This is a surprisingly fresh tasting tea. Congo Bongo was my first purchase from the SerendipiTea line of teas. I highly recommend this flavor.
1377587
Open the book to any page and the joy, irony,and melancholy of this poet's sensibility will stun you. It is a model of being alive to all that is before us everyday. It encouraged me to pause, notice, and reflect on the most seemingly insignificant to most majestic that surrounds me on a daily basis. Each haiku is the poet's experience, and yet somehow it became mine as well. This is a calming, and refreshing read that is at the same time provocative.
3207220
I am not normally a romance novel reader. I wound up reading this specifically because the author, Lorena Bathey is a Facebook friend, and she offered me a complimentary copy. In return, the least I can do is express how charmed I was by this hopeful and colorful little tale.
I was pleased with the positive ways in which most of the characters behaved themselves- usually finding win-win situations in the face of situations that required extremely open minds.
It's a welcome and refreshing departure from the doom, gloom and angst of so much that the media is pushing on us right now. I think we need stories like this in our culture, in order to remember how to hope again, and push on.
Enjoy!
2700364
Art and its offspring are less about creating something than about making visible that which has always existed but which has not been available to our senses.  Applied to the aural sphere, this music accomplishes exactly that: one gets the sense one has always "known" these works while realizing they are nevertheless "new," revealed by the skill Jack Andrews brings to this art.  A sense of pleasure at "recognizing" his music makes obtaining his album exciting and rewarding.  These "opera" remove me from the tedium of the constant repetition of daily life events and allow me to indulge in new spaces, new moments, new sensations as seasoned as Creation itself.  These are exciting children he has brought into my consciousness; yearning, fulfillment, pleasure, are all accessed thanks to his gift of musical revelation.  Hardly intrusive, decidedly satisfying, I'm delighted to have "rediscovered" the vibrations Jack has unveiled.  I thank him for his gift of this music.
4567220
I know that the title mentions women, yet I believe this would be a great book for anyone. I can't say that I learned anything earth shatteringly new, yet it was refreshing and reaffirming, reminding me of my need to pray for my family, church, neighborhood, and nation! Not only that, but it reinforced the importance of physical exercise by giving tidbits and sound teaching on both spiritual and physical health. If you're looking for a great little jump start to Spiritual and Physical fitness all in one, you should scoop up this book.
3812180
This book is engaging to read, and I was especially pleased by the new ideas it caused me to contemplate.  I also found the resources provide in its notes section to be useful.  Finally, I liked the tone--it neither brainlessly rejected technology, nor did it brainlessly celebrate it.
3030856
I cannot even count the number of times I get tired of seeing the same rhetorical trite memes plaguing Facebook.  People attempt to be innovative by posting inspirational quotes that we have all seen before, but they use different fonts and/or quirky designs in an effort to give them some zest.  Enough already.  That is why it is so refreshing to see a book like this one full of original thoughts.

"Now Think on That!  A Collection of Thoughts for Positive Daily Living! Volume I" is that beacon of motivation that comes along just in time.  These are genuine affirmations that we can all relate to as we struggle with this thing called life.  If this book doesn't change your life, it will at least make it a little brighter.  And if you are anything like me then you will be eagerly awaiting the future Volumes to come!
899827
I'm not sure whether my favorite section is "little is the new big," or "March 4th,"  but in a world saturated with overwrought self-help books, this light-handed approach is refreshing and memorable!
1990308
As a relatively new member of Westside Community Church (the church Gabe and Ken discuss in this book) I can personally and enthusiastically attest to the "unstuckness" of this church. I was drawn to it, (after reluctantly leaving a fairly stuck church), not just because of what I saw, but what I experienced, much of it highlighted in this book. It was encouraging to me to read about the journey that got them here (not always pretty) and the mindset and commitment that will take "us" into an exciting, dare I say "fun" future of helping people find and follow Jesus. That's why I recommend this book. The approach has clearly worked (to date) and is still working. Hopefully, as more people (including pastors) explore and experiment (see Transition "Commandment" #4) with what is so clearly presented in this book, "unstuckness" will become the new "normal" of operation for many more ministries, (not just churches).
701896
"Refreshing"
He IS good.
You know it, but this helped to shift my paradigm of thoughts about it in all circumstances.
4358060
While it would be a mistake to call OEND upbeat or candidate for album of the year, it's definetly enjoyable.  The music is soft and alluring with a simplicity that makes it somewhat refreshing, a change at least from ordinary.  And the lyrics (while they may not be as easily heard in the song) are profound while fitting well with the benign flow of the songs.  So, all in all, it doesn't rip, but at times a quiet listen is what you need.
4188392
In the midst of a non-stop barrage of fearfull news, and tragedy upon tragedy, it is most helpful to be able to refresh one's spirit, one's soul. This book provides a soul-restoring breather and more. With its live examples, and helpful instructions about how to find reasons for gratitude, and how to share, I feel calmer, with a renewed sense of optimism. This is no preachy text. Yet clearly it is inspired by a pair of lives lived with a strong sense of the eternal. I find comfort and guidance in their stories and lessons.
Now, my task is to try to limit the number of friends to whom I will send the book. So many of us need the encouragement, need the sense of wonder that courses through this work. I am grateful for its appearance in my hands, for its messages in my life.
Read, enjoy, follow...
2812418
I enjoyed reading Contagious, it is one of those special books - like early Steven King novels, that seems to compell you to keep reading.  You know the type of book that feels refreshing, and when you are finished you aren't tired, but feel pumped and rejuvenated!  I mostly read theory and philosophy, and teach college art courses, so I have to read a lot of intense, dry stuff to be able to give lectures, but this was a nice change of pace.  I recommend this 100% to anyone looking for a good, easy read.

The author, Scott Sigler, gives free podcasts of his novels on iTunes.  Of course, it takes a long time for him to read through a book, so you might be better off just buying it.  I do enjoy the podcasts too though.  He is a pretty entertaining, colorful character.
2629280
Poetry is normally pretty lost on me, but I thoroughly enjoyed this compilation. The way Hightower breathes new life into some of the western world's most well known stories was refreshing and truly enjoyable. I was particularly taken with the change in perspective. It's a subtle shift, but it made me realize I'd only ever heard these tales recounted in the third person. Hearing them told through the voice of one of the actors brought new meaning, depth, and interest to them.
4450574
Treat yourself to this refreshing, renewing book! Bryan Welch's BEAUTIFUL and ABUNDANT restores breath, spine, and meaning to environmentalism. His arguments, vision, and meditations engage the intellect as well as thrill the spirit. Welch says that we can "build the world we want". He invites us to tap out a fresh path and be the "new upstart" with the "bright new ideas".
  Welch turns what has become a largely despairing environmentalism on its head and twirls a joyful sparkle back into it. We are powerful, he writes, and we can make our vision reality. Welch composes a new and wonderful narrative, a visionary, possible story.
  One of my favorite paragraphs from the book reads: "Environmentalism [as currently constructed], like other faiths, identifies all human beings as sinners. But environmentalism offers no forgiveness and no salvation".
Welch does not deny the realities of melting polar bears and disappearing ice caps; he's up to his eyebrows in facts, figures, and realities. But he loves this planet beyond dysfunctional cynicism and sees that many of the human inhabitants on earth perhaps choose to behave as if nothing is wrong because they have not yet envisioned what the world could be if we yoked conscience with pleasure.
  Indeed, the world which Welch envisions and invites us to sip, swill, and suppose with him, as if he'd found a sumptuous banquet we can all share, is not the world we have certainly, but neither need we wear sackcloth and ashes and be engaged in self-mortification, perpetually confessing our part in ruining things.
The world which Welch envisions is not the world we have, but is a beautiful and abundant world chock-full of imagination, optimism, ethical fairness, and humor. In the chapter, "Austerity is a Drag," Welch writes "I sometimes ask people to name the most humorous environmentalist they know. I generally get a blank stare".
  Know anyone who is about to change their life? Wants to change their life? Graduating? Getting divorced? Getting married? Beginning a new job? Losing an old job? This is a book for them and for you! This is a book everyone will read with wonder and delight. Reading it, you might just feel as if you've had a transfusion of life force blood from Wonder Woman or Superman because you will likely experience the elation of feeling able, ept, and powerful, and -best of all--  that you and the rest of the world are one and the same, beautiful and abundant!
3983692
What a refreshing read, even for me. I've been following Mark via his Daily Apple for years and thought that this book would be 100% review of everything he's written about on the blog. But even as soon as the introduction I began to understand that this book was going to help me put together all the pieces into a framework for my training mentality. More than detailing each separate component, I gathered a theory of training that will help me improve on my own in the future. Mark and Brad are "teaching me to fish" instead of just handing over tonight's dinner. Burned out? Plateau of progress? I have a toolbox to address these on my own in the future. And as with anything Primal, it's a lifestyle that I can apply 24/7. Not just when I'm out training or coaching someone else.

Most helpful for me, however, is that much of the theory that is used here for endurance training can be applied to my particular sport of choice, CrossFit. After years as a recreational cyclist, I transitioned to CrossFit for the community and thrill of being able to "lift heavy things" without worrying about how it might make me heavy and slow on the bike. Recently I've been concerned that my aerobic engine isn't as awesome as it was right after I quit cycling, but this book has given me hope and a plan to jump start that skill and maintain it without sacrificing the strength, speed, and power I need for anaerobic competition.

Thanks guys, keep the Primal knowledge coming!
2469647
My only regret is that this book didn't last longer. Lomas does a great job of making his point, and perhaps that's enough. I wanted more examples and more exegesis, but in the end, it isn't necessary. He gives us a solid starting place of Grace. What more do we need? It's a refreshing and easy read.