Restorer WINNER and SECOND RUNNER UP!

Right, well I shall be good and spare you the tale of misery, woe, sinus infections, and Fire Marshall visits to the store cast myself upon your mercies, and most importantly, post who won the lovely book!

ABBIE

with a total, rather astronomical number of  39,000 points scoops up the slot for first place AND the lovely signed copy of the Restorer!

BARIE

with a total, also astronomical number of 31, 000 points scoops up the slot for second place  AND the unannounced second prize a copy of  THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM which is an awesome documentary on one of most spectacular extra-Biblical proofs of the Christmas Story. I watch it several times a year, and am amazed every time I see it. There's a lovely tie-in for Easter too, Barie so don't wait for NEXT Christmas to watch the DVD.

Send your snail-mail addresses to my e-mail if you would please, winners, and I will get them in the mail this week!

Got Sick AGAIN

Gosh the flu isn't fun. This is my second go round with fever, chills, aches, and other annoyances. I actually was home from work yesterday recovering, and today, I'm working on tabulating points. Hang in there scouts, adventurers and way-makers! Should have a winner by the end of the week provided I don't go under again!

BOOK REVIEW POINTS DOUBLED

All right today is the LAST DAY of the contest, and I should have results for everyone by Monday of next week. However, I am going to ask that you start tabulating your own POINT SCORES and e-mail me where you think you are point wise, this will make the counting and checking for me, go faster. You can do that anytime between 12/11/09 and 12/14/09. Also today anyone who writes and posts reviews for

BRYAN DAVIS
DONITA PAUL
or WAYNE THOMAS BATSON

TODAY ONLY

will receive double the points.

Double POINTS for Book Reviews!

Wow, just looking at all that glorious posting going down there with the songs and hymns is amazing guys! Keep at it. Remember, you've got till December 10th to find your songs, find the history, and post it to claim your glorious points.

Today however, I'm adding to that DOUBLE POINTS for anyone who posts reviews of Jonathan Roger's books.

Double Points for Book Reviews OF

That's right, I'm also going to do two more of these.

Today ONLY you get double the points for reviews of L.B. Graham's books, and Eric Reinhold's books.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.

Life is crazy right now. And I'll be honest, I'll be glad when this contest is done on the 10th (it's been fun but I haven't done half the things I wanted to have you guys do mainly because of time constraints) and I can just get back to idly blogging about stuff for a while. :-D

It's Christmas.

I work in Retail.

Nuff Said.

However, for the last two days I'm going to have one final assignment which is not book related. Well it is and it isn't.

Stories,  songs,  and history hidden in tunes all factor into Sharon Hinck's  The Restorer series.  The interesting thing is that our world too has a vast and relatively unknown history behind the hymns and worship songs sung today. It's amazing the stories you uncover when you scratch the surface of a hymn. I was blown  away by the story behind the Christmas Song "Good King Wenceslas" and I think you will be too. That's something to share after this contest though, when I have a moment to breath.

Right! Your assignment is this:

 Pick a hymn, praise and worship song, or Christmas carol. Then use the internet or books to find out the history behind it, and post the most fascinating thing that you find here in the comments.

This can be done more than once.

However, if two people pick the same hymn/worship song/ Christmas carol, the one that posts their findings first, gets credit.

Also in the post, provide a link back to where you found the information or the book that you took the information from.

For internet research on something, I'm going to ask for three links--and yes the wiki counts. For books, just one will be fine.

That's all. Have fun!

Oh wait.

Wait.

I mentioned points, didn't I?

1000 points for each hymn/praise and worship song/ Christmas carol that you find the history of and share with the rest of us.

Two days.

48 hours.

This is going to be interesting. ;)

SATURDAY DEC. 5th ONLY

Anyone who reviews  Christopher Hopper's Rise of the Dibor or the The Lion Vrie gets their points for those reviews DOUBLED. COTSK does not count.