"In these sometimes whimsical, always honest reflections, singer/songwriter Billy Sprague offers us a fresh window to the world- a world of wonder, meaning and hope even in times of loss and confusion. Discover:

*The Unquenchable longing for eternity stirring within you,
*THe Mystery of the unseen hand that shapes our lives, and
*How chocoloate almond fudgue ice cream fits into the grand scheme of things

ice cream as a clue to the meaning of the universe will increase your desire to know more intimately the One who guides all travelers on this long and winding journey."


I first discovered this book by chance. I happened to be standing next to the author, waiting to have him sign my copy of Ragumuffin Prayers, to which he contributed, and heard him tell someone about this book. The title was catchy enough to stick in my memory and I started looking for it to read. Once I finally got it, it took a while to dig into, but then I was hooked! I stayed up all night to finish this book. Billy Sprague shares very honestly as he shares his thoughts on our place in eternity. My favorite chapter was the chapter in which Billy shares about his friendship and conversations with the late Rich Mullins. I was hoping that there would be mention of Rich and was very pleasantly surprised with a whole chapter!

I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.

This book was registered for a Ragamuffin-Rays book ray. To join this ray, please send me a private message and you will be added to the list.

How Does a Bookray work?

A book passes from BCer to BCer based on the list of members who've signed up.

To join this bookray please send a PM (private message) to nyisutter and I will add you to the list. New members will be added to the end of the list in the order in which I receive the messages. Please be aware that this is an international bookray and you may have to ship overseas. If you have a hard time shipping overseas, you can let me know and I will try to place you accordingly on the list, but I can't guarantee you won't have to ship internationally. The list of members will be listed here at the book's home page.

As a member, you will receive the book from the person listed before you. When you receive the book please make a journal entry stating that you’ve received it. Please read it as soon as you can (don't rush, just be reasonable about the length of time). After you read the book, please journal again with your comments. You will then need to PM (private message) the next person on the list for their mailing address. Mailing the book by media mail is the least expensive way (or surface mail if it's sent overseas). Please pay for delivery confirmation if mailing in the US (about 55 cents) and post the number in your journal.

If you are unable to reach the person after you on the list in a reasonable amount of time, then PM the next person on the list. If any questions come up, please send me a PM. Thank you all for participating in this bookray.

If there is no one on the list after you, please return the book to nyisutter. I will send the book out again if I get more participants.


Color code:
Green=Has read the book and passed it on
Red=Has book now
Blue=In transit to/has not journaled yet

Those signed up so far:

1. Agrace (Texas)
2. bunzrun (Virginia)
3. fflloorr (Portugal)
4. rholling (Indiana)
5. 16stepper (Arizona)
6. JDT (California)
7. caligula03 (California)
8. pambueno (California)
9. debnance (Texas)
10. eriko1908 (Minnesota)
11. TheBloody (Germany)
12. hyacinthblue (Maryland)
--nyisutter (Missouri)--

Hey, Nyisutter, It finally arrived!!!
I think I'll scoop up a bowl of rocky road to celebrate!

5/26:
Terrific philosphy book for real people!
I laughed out loud a number of times. My favorite part was the story af the cashier with the stone necklace.
And of course the wisdom of memories being treasures not anchors is something I've held onto for years. It was great to hear the story behind that song.
I think I'll start my own ice cream scoop collection!

Mailing to bunzrun tomorrow.

Catchy title and I can't wait to dive in and read about Ice Cream---one of my favorite past-times. (I used to have the reputation of knowing where a Baskin-Robbins was in any town)

I know. It's about more than that but with a chocoholic and an ice-cream-oholic in the house, I couldn't resist.

From Agrace's review, I know I will love this book.

Just started reading this last night. Haven't gotten far but am enjoying it.
Being a few years older than Billy Sprague, I am having fun with his remembering his childhood. My husband & I tape The Andy Griffith Show every day! I did not learn Amazing Grace until I was about 20 and then it was to the tune of Happy Wanderer. The first time I heard it sung as written I was in a small country church and it was sung VERY slow.

Only two examples, but it has brought back some great memories!

Having had a few major losses and/or failures in my own life I did appreciate the wisdom in Billy Sprague's words. I too need to make memories treasures not anchors. This year has been a major journey in this direction and this was one more lesson on that road.

"Ice Cream" is now on its way to Portugal. Sorry it took so long but I needed to go into town (I live in a rural area) to post it properly. Let me know when it gets to you. I was told it should be comparable to airmail if not better.

Received this book yesterday!
Thanks Bunzrun for sending it to me!

From the title of the book I expected something different. I enjoyed some parts, but on the whole, it's not my kind o literature.
Thanks Nyisutter for organisig this ray. I'm always open to new literature experiences :-)
Next stop: Rholling

It was neat to receive this book all the way from Portugal - thanks fflloorr.

Oh, how I love ice cream ... what a catchy title. I'm always hungry for anything about Rich Mullins, so it was a treat to read the chapter about Rich. The rest of the book is great, too.

I'll send it off to the next person in a day or so.

I thought I had logged this in, but realized today that I hadn't. Arrived 8/12 and is in my pile of rays to be read.

It's been a month since I received this, so this is a check in. I should be reading this book over the weekend. It will go into the mail to JDT sometime next week. I will confirm that when I write my review after finishing the book

This is a wonderful book that I'm going to hunt down and give to my brother. It talks about God and life in such real and understandable terms. There were some thoughts in here that were very helpful to me. Thank you for sharing this, nyisutter.

Received this book with the intriguing title today!Read the first chapter and already feel connected to the author's way of thinking!
Thanks for sharing this new-to-me book!

My favorite chapters were:
the first with the book title: Ice Cream as the clue to the meaning of the universe - with his symbolic ice cream dream, his down-to-earth, warm musings on life's questions, his love of ice cream, and my favorite thought: Life is a journey toward eternal delight. It is a bittersweet recipe for a delicious future that first requires crushing, sacrifice, and dying. (I would only modify that to a bittersweet recipe to a delicious awareness of the treasure of the moment... rather than a focus solely on the future)
and ch. 10: Memos to the Almighty - with specific powerful, even painful moments - and his honest thoughts: "I don't know how much prayers...influence or change God's mind".
But we pray anyway - to connect, for our own spiritual dimension - "sometimes in tears, sometimes in anger, sometimes in gratitude, often in silence..."

To be honest I skimmed through some parts, not as meaningful to me - but all in all, I really appreciated the chance to read this new-to-me book.
Thanks to all before me.
Sending on to caligula03.

The book arrived safe and sound. I will read it as soon as I can.

First let me say that I chose to read this book by the title alone. I've never heard of the author, his songs nor am I a devout person. Secondly, my mother probably has heard of the author, heard his songs and is a devout Christian. I will HAVE to get a copy of this book for her if she doesn't have one now.

So why did I find this book such a page turner when I came to it with nothing in common with the author? It's well written!

Ice Cream... has the sort of pop culture analysis that I was expecting (and didn't find) in The Ethics of Star Trek. Sprague takes the day to day experiences, including reading the comics, eating ice cream and watching The Andy Griffith Show to do an epistomological run down on how he has grown to be the person he is.

Unlike some books that are meant to be inspirational, Sprague does not preach. He's very upfront about what he believes and why he believes what he does but he does not fall into the trap of "It's my way or the highway" to true happiness, salvation or whatever. I respect him for his self restraint and respect for viewpoints contrary to his own.

In closing, read to the end of the book to the Appendices. There is a fantastic sounding ice cream recipe and a lovely lullaby by the author written for his daughter.

Released on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 at pambueno in n/a, n/a Controlled Releases.

Mailing to pambueno.