Outreach and the Artist–Book Review

Book Description:

Whether you are an artist whose talents are an untapped source of energy for your church or a ministry leader wanting to involve artists and the creative arts in your outreach efforts, Outreach and the Artist will renew your vision. Musician and biblical scholar Con Campbell offers encouragement, wisdom, and practical tips for evangelism with, through, and to the arts:

Evangelism with the Arts - While the abilities of Christian artists may serve the church internally, artists within the church usually have enormous untapped potential for outreach.

Evangelism through the Arts - People’s natural love for various artistic mediums provides a connection-point to exploring life’s big questions with unbelievers in non-threatening and engaging ways.

Evangelism to the Arts - Christian artists are uniquely positioned to make an impact in artistic networks, which often have no Christian witness or presence and tend to be shut off from conventional methods of outreach.

Spreading the gospel is a task worth every God-given resource we have, and artists and their creative gifts are no exception.

My Thoughts:

I like the way Con Campbell wrote this book.  There’s no name dropping of all the famous people he may have played with.  There’s no “I have arrived, you must do it my way”.  

What you will find, is Campbell’s own story of how God allowed him to use his love for jazz to reach out to the world with the message of Jesus.  Pretty simple, or at least you’d think so.  However in Outreach and the Artist, Campbell opens the readers eyes to some things that don’t work, and why, as far as outreach.  As my mother has said before “learn from my mistakes and you won’t have to make them.”  Same thing here, learn from Con’s mistakes.

You’ll also find 7 artist profiles laced throughout the book.  Again, no name dropping, as I personally have NO clue who any of these folks are.  What they do share is in what they have used their art form to minister, what doors have opened and what obstacles they’ve had to overcome, or even endure.

If you, or your church is wanting to reach out to the artsy community, this would make a great jumpstart.  Or maybe you have an art form that people just don’t seem to “get”.  Even those quirky arts can be used to the glory of God.  He is, after all, the ultimate Creator!

^{I received a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishing for review purposes.  I received no other compensation, nor was I required to write a positive review.}

Organic Outreach for Families–Book Review

This past week I’ve been reading Organic Outreach for Families by Kevin G. Harney and Sherry Harney.  I’m thinking one of my pastors has been reading the same book because he pointed out a lot of the same things on Sunday.  I’ll have to ask him if it was coincidence.

In Organic Outreach for Families Pastor Harney and his wife Sherry share from their own life experiences of ways to engage in your children’s lives, the community and the world.  One of my absolute FAVORITE quotes from this book is:

Something is very wrong if we reach our neighbors with the love of Jesus but our children feel forgotten and marginalized.  We have confused priorities if we invest more time in our church than we do in our own children.  Our first priority as parents is to love, teach and lead our children toward an authentic and life-changing relationship with the Savior.

The Harney's discuss five ways you can  share your faith with others:

• Reaching your own children with the message of Jesus
• Sharing God’s grace with your extended family
• Raising your children to be beacons of light in their schools and in the neighborhood
• Opening the doors of your home to make it attractive and welcoming
• Shining the light of grace into your broader community

Some of the suggestions for outreach are as simple as coaching your kids sports teams, or being the snack mom. I can personally attest that this one works. Some of the most meaningful relationships we have in our town were forged on the baseball field!

If you are looking for simple ways to reach out to people, this book is a great launching pad.  The ideas are easy to incorporate into your everyday life.  You may already be doing some of these things and not even realize it’s outreach.

 

^{I received a copy of this book free of charge from Thomas Nelson Publishing for review purposes.  I received no other compensation for my review, now was I required to write a positive review.}

Unglued Devotional– by Lysa Terkeurst (Review)

I have to admit, I haven’t read the original Unglued by Lysa Terkeurst.  Shocking, I know!  Therefore I can’t say yes or no as to whether the Unglued Devotional by Lysa Terkeurst is as awesome as the original.

What I can say is that I’m pretty sure Lysa bugged my house to get fodder for some of these daily devotionals.  For example, hypothetically speaking of course, “The Exploder Who Shames Herself”. Ahem.  Or how about this one, “The Root of My Rot”?   See!  It sounds like she’s been in your house too, doesn’t it?

The daily devotionals are short, 1-2 pages.  There is of course a scripture reference, and a thought for the day at the beginning of each day’s reading.  Then Lysa shows us that she’s human just like the rest of, but God still loves her and ME!  She finishes each chapter with a simple prayer like this one:

“Dear Lord, some days I just don’t feel gentle.  But I do want to obey Your Word.  So right now, I ask You to help me change my perspective and walk in the gentleness You have given me.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Nothing overly profound here, just real.  Real people, living in a real world, serving a real God.  Occasionally (or more) coming unglued, but striving for wholeness through grace.

^{I received a free copy of this book from Zondervan for review purposes only.  I was not required to write a positive review, nor did I received any other compensation for my thoughts and opinions.}

Jesus Is _____. By Judah Smith (Book Review)

Christianity as a whole has made Jesus into a dull, dry rule maker who is distant at best.  In the book Jesus Is_____., author Judah Smith presents a much more personable Jesus.   He also leaves the adjective placement to the reader, making one stop and think of who is Jesus to me?

As Smith learned, asking a variety of people to fill in the blank of Jesus Is ______, can come up with responses that vary from profound and funny, to bizarre and even perverse.  Yet none of those answers surprise Jesus.

An individual or a church who is wanting to impact their community might find this book really helpful.  People aren’t looking for a dull, boring list of can and cant’s.  Rather, people are looking for a real person who can be real, and with whom they can be real.  Jesus Is.

Smith dives into topics such as:

Jesus Is Your Friend
Jesus Is Grace
Jesus Is The Point
Jesus Is Happy
Jesus Is Here
Jesus Is Alive

Now, if by chance you are a really legalistic type person who thinks Christianity is void of humor and joy, this probably isn’t going to be one of your favorite reads.  Judah Smith (who is a pastor by the way) is a wonderful writer who ads his own flavor, and his flavor is a bit spicy.  Spicy is good. Humor is good.

You can order your copy of Jesus Is______ directly from Thomas Nelson Publishing.    If you are looking for a good small group class or topic, this may be a good start for you.   There is a Jesus Is DVD Based Study Kit ($39.99),  Jesus Is DVD ($26.99), and a Jesus Is Participants Guide ($10.99) also available. 

^{I received a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishing for review purposes only.  I received no other compensation for my review, nor was I required to write a positive review.}

Stumbling on Open Ground

No matter who you are, cancer is horrible.  I’ve lost family members, friends and the child of a close friend to this monster.  My heart goes out to anyone who has to endure the torturous “treatments” that go along with cancer, including author Ken Mansfield, for the nightmare he went through not once but twice.

Having said that, the book Stumbling on Open Ground was really disappointing.  There was some insight into his life, but in a superficial sort of way, not that I was looking for gruesome details of his sickness, treatment and side effects.   The author, Ken Mansfield, spent a great deal of the book dropping names of famous people and reminiscing about his days at Apple Records. 

The opening prelude discusses the murder of John Lennon and goes on to say that “This shattering moment was our generation’s 9/11.”  I’m sorry, but there is a vast difference between John Lennon being shot and the terrorist attack on 9/11.  Truthfully, I was annoyed from this point on in the book.

Each chapter has an opening letter from Mansfield’s wife Connie.  Her few brief paragraphs give more information than his pretentiously wordy writings.  Even the prayers that he shares appear to be scripted and unreal.  But, maybe he really does start a prayer off with “I beseech thee to heal me.”

It’s not all bad.  I do like that he continually points out that he and his wife continued to trust God and grow in their spiritual walk.  There are lots of scripture references throughout the book as well.  Mansfield also gives a tithe from the proceeds to Mercy Ministries.  There is good to be found inside this book, I just thought it was wrapped up in too much fluff.

You can preview Stumbling on Open Ground  and it is also available through Amazon.

 

^{I received a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishing for review purposes only.  I received no other compensation, nor was I required to write a positive review.}         

When Your Parent Becomes Your Child ~ Book Review

Two weeks before I received this book for review, my mother was diagnosed with dementia.  (As in the mother who raised me, not my biological mother.)   I thought the timing couldn’t be better than to get such a book at such a crucial time.   What it showed me was there have been so many little “quirks” that were tell-tale signs, we just didn’t have a clue.

I’ll be honest, this was a hard read.  The book is wonderfully written, but it is such a mirror of recent months and a foretaste of the road ahead that it was painful.  I found myself crying at times, and even having to put the book down and just walk away.

Author Ken Abraham did an amazing job of sharing his mother’s story.  He and his family where determined to help his mother, Ms. Minnie, keep her identity and dignity.  Through all of her decline it was amazing to read about her always remembering her relationship with Jesus.  Her heart’s desire was to be with Him.  Even in her most confused moments, she always was sure of Him.  What a testimony!  What a legacy she left behind.

If, like me, you are just starting this journey of a parental diagnosis of dementia I highly recommend this book.  It will give you such an insight into little things that the professionals may not tell you; and at the same time brace you for the cold hard facts that they will tell you.

Dementia is one of the world's fastest growing illnesses. Without a major medical breakthrough, the estimated 24 million people living with some form of the disease could easily jump as high as 84 million by the year 2040.

When Your Parent Becomes Your Child is a shining example of a family continuing to honor a parent even under the most difficult of situations.

_{I received this book free of charge from Thomas Nelson Publishing for review purposes only.  I received no other compensation for this review.  I was not required to give a positive review.}

God Loves Broken People–Book Review

Oftentimes when reviewing a book by a Christian author, or reading for my own growth, I come away feeling that the author has it all together and I’m the only idiot who doesn’t. The same thing happens when I hear well known women of God speak. The thing I truly love about Sheila Walsh is that she openly admits that she still has issues, that she doesn’t have all the answers and that God isn’t a genie in a bottle who pops up when we follow all the right steps.

The non perfect Christian, or the broken person as Sheila calls us, are often made to feel ashamed, embarrassed and afraid to say “hey I’m struggling here”. Sadly, there are a lot more broken people in the world than one would guess, but they just aren’t as good at pretending as others. Or perhaps, they want to be real more than to suffer silently?

Sheila shares painful personal stories from her life and the lives of others, not to make us feel sorry for her or them, but to give us the hope and assurance that no matter what we go through, God IS with us. We were never promised to not go through things, but we were promised to not go through it alone.

 

Book Description:

Readers encounter a new message about God's redemptive plan for their failures and shortcomings.

One bite of forbidden fruit is all it took to send humanity reeling from God. What Sheila Walsh unveils in God Loves Broken People is that God had a divine plan even then that is hidden underneath our pain and mistakes. God intends to wield our failures, our wanderings, and the deep hurt of our lives not only to drive us toward him but also to give us a deeper experience of his grace and healing power.

So many people, Christians and non-Christians alike, look at their wounds and sense that they are somehow beyond repair, that their moments of weakness make them spiritually defective. In this powerful book full of deep biblical teaching, Walsh encourages readers with God's truth that he is not done with them yet, that he can and will redeem their failures to create a deeper intimacy with him and accomplish his kingdom purposes.

Everyone has messed up somehow, sometime. For anyone who is not able to move beyond and experience the deep love and grace of God, they need God Loves Broken People.

You can order your copy of God Loves Broken People by going here.

 

_{Disclosure: This product was provided to me for free by Thomas Nelson Publishers. Reviews and opinions expressed in this blog are my own and I have not received any compensation for this review.}

Stained Glass Hearts– Book Review

 

Stained Glass Hearts Seeing Life from a Broken Perspective

By Patsy Clairmont
Published by Thomas Nelson

Book Description:

Much like stained glass, life's broken pieces become the prism through which God's grace shines most brightly and beautifully.

"Life is no doubt full of difficulties, but it is also filled with promise and possibility," says best-selling author and WOF speaker Patsy Clairmont. In Stained Glass Hearts Clairmont guides readers to view the difficult experiences of life through the lens of God's grace. Using art as a theme, and likening people to stained glass windows, she shares that it's when we're surrounded by darkness that His healing light shines most brightly within us. Encouraging women to step back and see life from this new perspective, Patsy offers help and hope for the dark places of life.

Along with character studies of women in Scripture, and modern-day, relatable stories, each chapter includes:

Chalice—memorable quotes

Mosaic—recommended music

Spires—scriptures and readings

Litany—sample prayers

My Thoughts:

I love Patsy Clairmont’s wit and insight.   I can hear her voice as I read her rich, impassioned words.  The once agoraphobic Patsy now enjoys life to the fullest, and expects those around her to do the same.

Stained Glass Hearts isn’t an “everything will turn out sunshine and roses book”.  It’s more of a “when life hands you lemons, make pink lemonade” kind of book.  Patsy understands, and points out, that in this life there will be times when we don’t understand why…and it’s ok to admit we don’t have an answer, lest our answer be trite and faulty. 

At the end of each chapter there is an “Art Gallery” section, where Patsy has graciously lists suggestions for museums, poetry, music, scripture and prayers to help you see the beauty in life and in living.

One of my favorite quotes from the book is “One thing I’ve learned after circling the block of life at breakneck speed is that you need a sense of humor to survive aging – actually to survive life.  Otherwise a case of ornery can seize you, and you’ll break out in cranky.  And that’s never cute on anyone.”

Although I read Stained Glass Hearts in one setting, it’s a definite slow read.   I’ll be rereading, digesting and experiencing this book over and over through my stained glass heart.

 

^{I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.}

Raising Hell (Book Review)

 

When author Julie Ferwerda contacted me about reviewing her newest book I was a bit hesitant.  Why?   Because in her new book “Raising Hell”, Ferwerda attempts to prove that there is no hell.  Yeah, seriously.

Ferwerda says “I spent months researching before I finally came to the overwhelming conclusion that the teaching of hell, as in the doctrine of eternal torment, is simply a “tradition of men” that had pagan origins and eventually worked its way into Christianity through the Latin church, several centuries after Christ.”

My Thoughts:

Sorry, I’m not convinced. Blame my Pentecostal church upbringing if you must.  If we were/are in need of a savior, then there must be something to need saving from.    Julie’s biggest proof is erroneous translation from language to language throughout the years.  Granted there probably has been some error in that area, but if we start picking apart everything with what could have, should have, might have, maybe didn’t, we’ll change the Word so much that we won’t know what it’s about anymore.

While I don’t agree with Julie’s idea that hell doesn’t exist,  I do agree with her on one very major issue.  We, “the church”, need to spend more time spreading the gospel, the GOOD NEWS.    What is the good news?  Luke 2:10-11  And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a savior which is Christ the Lord.

We need to tell the world about God’s love for us.  His provision, His deliverance, His protection…..tell them the GOOD news and you’ll see them drawn to Him for who He is, not for an “easy button”.

If you would like to find out more information about author Julie Ferwerda, or her book Raising Hell you can go to her websites by clicking on the links above.

  

_{Disclosure:  I was given a free copy of this book for review purposes only.  The thought and opinions herein are strictly my own.  I have received no other compensation for my review.}

Thunder Dog–Book Review

Thunder Dog The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust at Ground Zero

By Michael Hingson with Susy Flory
Published by Thomas Nelson

Book Description:

A blind man and his guide dog show the power of trust and courage in the midst of devastating terror.

It was 12:30 a.m. on 9/11 and Roselle whimpered at Michael’s bedside. A thunderstorm was headed east, and she could sense the distant rumbles while her owners slept. As a trained guide dog, when she was “on the clock” nothing could faze her. But that morning, without her harness, she was free to be scared, and she nudged Michael’s hand with her wet nose as it draped over the bedside toward the floor. She needed him to wake up.

With a busy day of meetings and an important presentation ahead, Michael slumped out of bed, headed to his home office, and started chipping away at his daunting workload. Roselle, shivering, took her normal spot at his feet and rode out the storm while he typed. By all indications it was going to be a normal day. A busy day, but normal nonetheless. Until they went into the office.

In Thunder Dog, follow Michael and his guide dog, Roselle, as their lives are changed forever by two explosions and 1,463 stairs. When the first plane struck Tower One, an enormous boom, frightening sounds, and muffled voices swept through Michael’s office while shards of glass and burning scraps of paper fell outside the windows.

But in this harrowing story of trust and courage, discover how blindness and a bond between dog and man saved lives and brought hope during one of America’s darkest days.

My Thoughts:

Loved it!  But I guess I need to be a little more wordy, huh?   The author does and exceptional job of painting  vivid images of his miraculous escape from the Twin Towers.

The book switches back and forth from retelling the horror of 9/11, and learning about both the author and the guide dogs life and training.  I learned more about living with blindness in these 200+ pages than I have in my 40+ years.

What I liked most was Hingson’s sharing his faith in God, and how in the midst of that nightmare, he cried out to God and God answered him.   He quickly points out that it was because of God and the prayers that were going up on his behalf that kept him alive on September 11.

I received a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers for review purposes only.  I received no other compensation for my review.   The thoughts and opinions shown here are strictly my own.

Not A Fan–Book Review

 

If Jesus were to sit down with you right now and have a DTR (Define the Relationship) conversation, how would you respond? Are you truly his follower or just a fan—or perhaps someone who doesn’t even care about the difference? Not a Fan invites you to make Jesus not merely the object of your admiration, but the very center of your life.

Description: 

Are you a follower of Jesus?

Don’t answer too quickly.

In fact, you may want to read this book before you answer at all.
Consider it a “Define the Relationship” conversation to determine exactly where you stand. You may indeed be a passionate, fully devoted follower of Jesus. Or, you may be just a fan who admires Jesus but isn’t ready to let him cramp your style. Then again, maybe you’re not into Jesus, period.

In any case, don’t take the question—Are you a follower of Jesus?—lightly.

Some people don’t know what they’ve said yes to and other people don’t realize what they’ve said no to, says Pastor Kyle Idleman. But Jesus is ready to clearly define the relationship he wants with his followers.

Not a Fan calls you to consider the demands and rewards of being a true disciple. With frankness sprinkled with humor, Idleman invites you to live the way Jesus lived, love the way he loved, pray the way he prayed, and never give up living for the One who gave his all for you.

My Thoughts:

Not a Fan by Pastor Kyle Idleman is one of those in your face, make you stop and really think kind of books; with a bit of dry humor and sarcasm thrown in to boot.  To read the prologue click here (I recommend this).   To read Chapter 1, click here (yeah, ditto).

One of my favorite sections of this book says:

I have found that when someone goes through a difficult time or a painful circumstance, who or what they are truly following is often revealed.  When our first response to suffering is to turn to anyone or anything other than Jesus it may reveal that our affection is divided and we are following someone or something other than Jesus.

OUCH!!

Personally, I think every “Christian” should read this book and truly evaluate your relationship with Jesus.   It’s that good!  Not a Fan is confrontational, as was Jesus.   It’s also liberating, as was (and is) Jesus.  

 

 

 

I received a free copy of this book from Zondervan for review purposes only.  The opinions expressed here are strictly my own and I received no compensation for my review.

Hungry For God (Book Review and Give Away)

 

“In your heart you feel the longing---an emptiness that can't be satisfied by food, or friendships, or entertainment, or success, or anything this world can offer. Only God can fill the void. More than you know, you hunger for God. In Hungry for God, critically acclaimed author Margaret Feinberg puts you in touch with your desire for intimacy with your Creator and what it takes to find fulfillment.”

Each chapter offers discussion questions for small groups, Bible studies, and book clubs.  The book comes in paper back and audio book format.

To preview the first 16 pages of the book, click here.

My Thoughts:

One of my favorite quotes from this book is “I’m convinced that people today know a lot more about how to become a Christian than about how to be one.”   As pointed out by the author, the reason is that we don’t spend enough time with God, studying His word and listening to His voice.   We aren’t hungry for God!

Have you ever wondered “God is that you talking, or was that me?”  I think we’ve all been there at some point.   Margaret Feinberg points out some practical, Biblical ways to hear God’s voice more clearly.  She also shows you how to respond when you realize that you really did miss God…now what?

Give Away:

I will give away one copy of this book at 8pm one June 18, 2011.  If you’d like a chance to win, just leave me a comment below.  Be sure to leave a way for me to get in touch with you!

Disclosure: This book was provided for review purposes for free by Zondervan. Reviews and opinions expressed in this blog are my own and I have not received any compensation for this review.

Regret Free Parenting–Book Review

Regret Free Parenting, by Catherine Hickem is by far the BEST book on parenting I’ve ever read.  Why?  Well, partially because it uses a lot of scriptures to back up her points.  Mostly I think it’s because instead of pointing out all the faults of little Susie and Joey it makes you take a look at your own heart, motives and Christian walk.

The initial reading of this book was rushed in order to complete my review in a timely manner.  However, now that I’ve completed this task I’ll be rereading and working through this liberating book.  Then I can put an addendum to my review testifying of how it helped me and ultimately my children!

 

I received a free copy of this book for review purposes only.  I was not compensated in any other form for my review.  The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

City on Our Knees (Book Review)

 

Amazing, beautiful things happen when people have the courage to live, work, and pray in the spirit of unity and peace. Often, though, to make these amazing things happen, we have to step out of our comfort zone and into a world we find uncomfortable or intimidating. Sometimes that world is physical; other times it can be emotional, relational, or spiritual.

City on Our Knees shows this, encouraging you to take the first step. It offers stories of people who have stepped across lines. Lines of discrimination, persecution, doubt, prejudice, pride, bitterness, self-isolation, and despair. I pray and hope that you will be inspired to see how just one person, or one small group, can be a mechanism for change. 

God can use us right here. Right now. All we need is faith that He has our best in mind. And believe me—He does.

—TobyMac

 My thoughts:

City on Our Knees is real life stories about ordinary people who embraced  the hand they’d been dealt in life, and forever changed the world around them.  If you’re tired of making excuses…it’s too hard, I’m too old, I’m too young, I’m too poor….read about these amazing people, who through the power of God impacted the world for His glory, not theirs!

You can purchase a copy of City on Our Knees from Amazon.

Disclaimer:

The thoughts and opinions expressed here are completely my own.  I received a free copy of The Strategically Small Church for review purposes only.  I received no other compensation for my review.

The Strategically Small Church (Book Review)

 

The Strategically Small Church is an effort to change the way people think about small church ministry. Because the values of the church growth movement have so pervaded all discussions about Christian ministry, congregation size has become the primary indication of church faithfulness and success. As a result, many–maybe most–people think of small churches as disengaged, irrelevant, and even disobedient.

The Strategically Small Church is an effort to show that the small-membership church is uniquely equipped to meet the challenges of ministry in the 21st century. Instead of being disengaged, irrelevant, and disobedient, small churches are better positioned than their larger counterparts to adjust to cultural changes and become authentic expressions of Christian faithfulness. They don’t need programs, growth charts, and consultant analyses. The small church has everything it needs, for the leader with eyes to see.

My thoughts:

By reading the title, you may think this book is kicking the mega church.  However, that is not the case.  Instead, author Brandon J. O’Brien, points out ways that the small church can best utilize it’s size, location and resources to impact its local area.    This is not a “make your church grow book”!!  It’s a “despise not the day of small beginnings” book.

Not all churches are called to be mega.  Not all churches are called to have program after program after program.  Find you churches area of influence and focus on that!   If the church down the street has a soup kitchen, don’t start one of your own and compete for hungry people….send workers down there to help them!  It’s not about us!  It’s about HIM!

If you would like to download the first chapter, for FREE, click here.   You can purchase your own copy of The Strategically Small Church from Amazon.

 

Disclaimer:

The thoughts and opinions expressed here are completely my own.  I received a free copy of The Strategically Small Church for review purposes only.  I received no other compensation for my review.

 

 

 

Love Remains – Book Review

LOVE REMAINS (August 2010)
Book 1 of the Matchmakers Series

Nashville native Bobby Patterson has just returned home after many years away to take a position with the Tennessee Criminal Investigations Unit. His new job: lead a task force investigating potential real estate fraud connected with the Middle Tennessee Historic Preservation Commission. Zarah Mitchell, who’s worked at the Commission for more than a decade, is about to face a piece of history that could ruin the life she’s built in Nashville: Bobby Patterson—her first love and the reason her father kicked her out fourteen years ago. When Bobby realizes Zarah is part of his investigation, he is tempted to use his grandmother’s not-so-subtle setups as a way to learn if Zarah is involved in the fraud. Zarah, at her grandmother’s suggestion, tries to put the pain from the past aside to see if any love remains between her and Bobby. But when she learns he’s been investigating her, will she be be able to forgive him a second time?

My thoughts:

Truthfully, I prefer period books.   Modern day settings, not so much.   This story is wonderfully written, by a very talented writer.  The characters are introduced and built upon in such a way as to to make you feel like you really know each one.  Personally, I found it hard to get wrapped up in this one, but that’s just a personal preference with no ill reflection on the book or writer!

To learn more about author Kaye Dacus, check out Kay's website.  You can order your own copy of Love Remains from Amazon.

“The Thorn” – Book Review

Lancaster County, with its rolling meadows and secret byways, may seem idyllic, but it is not without its thorns. The Rose Trilogy is the stirring saga of two Amish sisters, and the events and decisions that change their lives.

Spirited Rose Ann Kauffman has long enjoyed a close friendship with the bishop's rebellious foster son. Rose's older sister, Hen--who knows more than she should about falling for the wrong man--cautions her against him, but Rose is being courted by another, and so dismisses the warnings.

Hen Kauffman Orringer's impulsive marriage to an outsider divided her from the People, a decision she regrets now that she has a daughter of her own. As Hen struggles to reclaim aspects of Amish culture, her very modern husband pushes back, and the two soon come to an impasse. Can she find a way to reconcile her longing for the Old Ways with the life she has chosen?

My thoughts:

Believe it or not, this is the first time I’ve read a Beverly Lewis book.  I’ve always heard great things of her books, but had no first hand experience with her work.  Now, thanks to this review, I’ll have to make up for lost time!

The Thorn is a beautifully written romance novel.  Notice I said ROMANCE not SMUT!  There is a big difference!  The author does a wonderful job of intertwining (and explaining) the Amish way of life, Biblical truths and blooming relationships.  This was one of those books that I couldn’t wait to have a free moment to read.  It’s also a book I can put into our library and know that it’ll be good reading for my girls as they get older.

The Thorn is the first book in the new Beverly Lewis series, The Rose Trilogy.  The second book, The Judgment will be available in April 2011.  (I can hardly wait to get my hands on that one!)

You can order your copy of The Thorn directly from Bethany House by clicking here.

Disclosure: This product was provided to our family for free by Bethany House. Reviews and opinions expressed in this blog are my own and I have not received any compensation for this review.

 

 

The Edge of the Divine

 

Award-winning vocalist, speaker, and author Sandi Patty uncovers the crucial decision every woman must make to leave a life of regret and find a life of freedom and joy.

Every woman reaches an unavoidable crossroads where she either spirals into a life of shame and regret or walks proudly in the freedom of God's grace and goodness. In The Edge of the Divine, Sandi Patty takes readers to the heart of the crucial choice to cling to the hope God gives.

Women discover that they can leave a life of wondering for a life of wonder. Wonder at the infinite love of God, at His inexhaustible mercy, and His refusal to let us wallow far from His blessings, hope, and grace. But first, as Sandi shows, women must walk to the edge of the divine and decide to jump.

My Opinion:

LOVED IT!   But I guess I need to add more to my review, eh? 

Although I’m awestruck by Sandi’s voice, I can’t say I’m a “fan”.  I don’t own any of her recordings, and I’ve never been to a Women of Faith meeting.   So to be honest, I don’t really have a reason for having picked this book to review, other than the fact that the title “The Edge of the Divine” was intriguing.Oddly enough, it may have been one of those “on the edge” decisions that Sandi discusses in her book.

In a genuine, humorous and transparent manner Sandi openly discusses her divorce, remarriage, bouts of depression, obesity, Lap-Band surgery,  and her blended family (not necessarily in that order).    However, the point isn’t the trials, but the opportunity to step over the edge of despair into the divine blessings that only God can bring out of our messiness.

One of my favorite quotes from this book was “Find something you like about yourself, and decorate it.”   So I did just that!  I painted my nails for the first time in years….and someone at the little league game complimented me on it!

To order your copy, click here.

This book was provided for review by Thomas Nelson Publishing.  All opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Friendship for Grownups (Book Review)

Former Facts of Life star Lisa Whelchel shares her experiences of growing up without true friends and how she learned to find and develop them as an adult through God's grace.

Not many people can say they lived their most crucial developmental years on the sound stage of a wildly popular TV show. But that's exactly what happened in Lisa Whelchel's life. As a child, she learned to guard her heart so tightly to avoid true hurt that she found herself unable to form lasting friendships as an adult.

Friendship for Grown-Ups details her experiences of learning to come out of her shell, to trust, risk, and become vulnerable by God's grace and find meaningful friendships. Readers encounter her captivating story and refreshing perspective on life's most precious gift—and they find practical tips for their own friendships along the way.

First let me just say, that I am NOT a touchy feely kind of gal, nor do I fit the “emotional female” stereotype. I say this, to warn you that my review is probably drastically inhibited by those factoids.

So the fact that the first lesson in this book is, and I quote “It is Okay to be needy” was a big turn off to me.  Needy is not something I find at all appealing (unless I’ve given birth to you and you’re still young-ish).

However, after bypassing all the needy, clingy issues (makes me cringe just to think about it) I did find some nuggets here and there.  Topics such as determining which friends are safe with what types of personal information; conflict management and a look at varying types of friendships appear to be helpful.

Also included in the book are:
~Questions for Reflection or Discussion
~ Appendix One: You Gave Me a Friend
~Appendix Two: Practical Steps for Developing and Growing Friendships
~Appendix Three: Conversation Prompts

I’ve read Lisa’s books in the past, and for the most part have enjoyed them.  This particular one left me feeling glad that it was a free book for review, and not one I’d purchased.

 

Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of this book for review purposes.  I received no other compensation.  The thoughts and opinions in this review are strictly my own.

Homeschooling for the Rest of Us (Book Review)

Some people have the impression that they can't homeschool because their family, children and home aren't perfect. Sadly, some homeschoolers feel pressured to carry the image of being the "perfect homeschooling family". Let me just tell you right now, they LIE! None of us are perfect, none of our methods are perfect and certainly none of our kids are perfect.

In Homeschooling for the Rest of Us, Sonya Haskins helps to debunk the myth of perfectionism in homeschooling. She also gives lots of helpful tips and sage advice for those contemplating taking the plunge into homeschooling.

In this practical, encouraging guide, Haskins shares tried and true ideas on how to:

- Discover a realistic vision of homeschooling for your family
- Help your child get excited about learning
- Find a routine that fits your goals and lifestyle
- Nurture a Biblical worldview in your child's heard and mind
- And much more!

Whether you are already homeschooling or just considering it, this book offers the support, answers, and flexible strategies to help you succeed. So get rid of the mental image of the "perfect homeschooling family", look at your own family and decide that you can do this! For those of us with perfectionistic tendencies, this book is a great reminder to lighten up and enjoy the trip!


Homeschooling for the Rest of Us: How Your One-of-a-Kind Family Can Make Homeschooling and Real Life Work