Friday, December 28, 2012

The Girl’s Still Got It




The Girl’s Still Got It

This is a great book about Ruth.  Liz Curtis Higgs gives a great introduction to the book, and then in her creative style begins to dig deep into the book.   Liz Curtis Higgs takes us deep into the history and culture of the day, and helps us envision what it would be like, as she unravels the book of Ruth.  
Liz Curtis Higgs, writes with a style that is easy to read, and is a wonderful Bible teacher.  Only she can bring the words of the Bible alive the way she does.   At the end of the book, there are questions that make this book good study tool for small groups or Bible studies.   I highly recommend this book.

Friday, December 14, 2012

90 Days Through the Bible




90 Days Through the Bible

This is a great resource for those wanting to read the Bible in less than a year.
It gives you daily chapters to read, a summary of the chapters, in a devotional form.  It is written in an easy to read and understandable way.   This helps to understand what has been read and then it gives thoughts for reflection on what you read in a question form.
This would be a good book for a Bible study or a discussion group.  It gives resources where to find a discussion guide for groups if needed. 
I enjoyed reading and using this book, and would definitely recommend to anyone, young or old in Christ.

Trauma and Grace





Trauma and Grace

This was an interesting book dealing with trauma, especially PTSD.   I found it very informative and very accurate.   It was great to see how the author put them self into the trauma victims place, and found a help to deal with the common but silent problem in our society.  The answer is God.
I recommend this book for anyone dealing with or knowing persons dealing with PTSD.

6 Verses That Can Change Your Life





6 Verses That Can Change Your Life

 I would highly recommend this book; it is a good book for small groups or a Bible Study.  It covers verses that are applicable to everyday living.  Mr. Barnett takes you through life’s journey and things we deal with day to day; such as trust, assurance, patience, peace courage and joy.  In each of these we are given verses that are easily memorized and teach us how to always come back to Him, and to have faith in Him.   I enjoyed this book and found it easy to read, and very applicable to everyone’s life.
Disclosure of Material: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookCrash.com book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive, review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Friday, December 7, 2012

When Bad Christians Happen to Good People:






When Bad Christians Happen to Good People: Where We Have Failed Each Other and How to Reverse the Damage




This is a must read for Christians who have been hurt by other Christians and for those who need to be reminded that Christians need to live as real followers of Jesus and not rule enforcers. The author relates many stories of people who were rejected and judged by church members who focused on legalism instead of grace.   This is one of the best books available on how Christians continue to damage the cause of Christ. Mr. Burchett starts with an example from his own life involving his daughter. She had a terminal physical condition that posed no threat to anyone. However, the church decided that she was unwelcome in the nursery because of her problems.
 If you have been injured by the church or know of others that have been then this book is for you. On the other hand, because we all are human and at various times commit many of the sins covered in this book, it should be required reading for all Christians.

  “I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review”.

Monday, December 3, 2012

A Women's Guide To Reading The Bible In a Year

This is a great book for a women's Bible study or small group.    It gives a weekly reading plan,  and then a small devotional regarding the reading and questions to follow up.     This is a good book for those who want to read the Bible using a planned organized method.

Walking on Water when you feel like you're drowining


This book is written by two authors that have personal experience with depression and anxiety. 
Tommy Nelson starts off with obvious problems that can affect many overzealous and prideful preachers.  His first few lines and words begin with how his Bible study grew from15 to 160.  Then proceeds to tell how he grew his church from 100 to 4,000.    How can one cope with the stress of performing for this many people?  It also brings to my mind how one man can shepherd so many people.  
Steve Leavitt tells us how his anxiety and depression came from the loss of his wife, and the steps he took to deal with his struggles.
 This book focuses on a biblical approach to healing emotional distress with a holistic cure that integrates the mind, body, and spirit. Even when we feel truly alone, God is holding us in His hand.  It has many suggestions and helpful insights to dealing with depression and anxiety.
I do think this is a must read for many pastors and those in ministry.  


Disclosure of Material: I received this book free from Tyndale Publishers through the book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive, review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Daily Wisdom for Women



This is an excellent devotional!  I highly recommend it to every woman.  This devotional is written just for women, and relates to our everyday life.    It covers every topic from our self image, to our emotions.  A definite read!

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Bad Girls of the Bible


I really enjoyed this book, Not only has Liz Curtis Higgs done her research, but she's a great storyteller, as well.  By first placing each featured woman's story in the appropriate historical setting, and then creating a similar story in current times, Curtis Higgs does as any good pastor would, giving the reader a sense of how lessons from the Bible can be helpful today.  It helps when an author can take something that happened in the past and relate it to something present. The way the stories are written, do make the reader stop and think about current issues and how today's problems are no different from thousands of years ago. There is redemption for all of us if we stop and get on the right path.

The Lie








This is a book I highly recommend to everyone! Ken Ham has thoroughly and giftedly explained his view on why Evolution is not a science but a belief system in which scientists who were not even there when the world began came up with. He then compared Evolution to Creation which is a fact that is known through the Bible, a book that has been written my men but inspired by God who has always existed, knows everything and created the world.  This is a brilliant tool to counter evolution with the truths of the Bible.
Ken Ham's main thesis is that evolution is just another religion in competition with the traditional Christian viewpoint based on the Bible. He is a scientist as well which adds some depth to his arguments, but mostly he deals with the general concept of what constitutes a religion and then proves that evolution is just that. He mostly seeks to expose the underlying bias that the world has today towards evolution to explain our origins and how this bias is unfounded. He's not a polished writer, but his book reads very direct, probably the same way he gives his presentations in schools across the English speaking world.

 “this book is published by Master Books, a division of New Leaf Publishing Group.”


Friday, October 26, 2012

Made In Heaven

Made in Heaven
Ray ComfortJeffrey Seto






This is a wonderful book, that I would recommend to anyone; especially those homeschooling. 
A full color, detailed photograph accompanies a two page spread of text, the book briefly covers a specific animal or element in nature and how it results in better and more advanced technology.  The book surveys over 30 different inventions and technologies and how their design was inspired by something completely natural.  How the glow of cat’s eyes innovates road reflectors The naturally sticky inspirations for Velcro and barbed wire A fly’s ear, the lizard’s foot, the moth’s eye, and other natural examples are inspiring improvements and new technologies in our lives.
We are surrounded daily by scientific advancements that have become everyday items, simply because man is copying from God’s incredible creation, without acknowledging the Creator. The authors also show that where scientists fall short, then the solution can be found through a careful look at God's natural creations.  Even a simple object such as a flower or a wing has microscopic complexities beyond imagination.  Principles and physics formulas uncover their basis in God's designs.  This is not simply a book of worthless trivia and facts but rather it tells a story of how science and nature are created by an intelligent creator.


I received this book free from http://www.newleafpublishinggroup.com/

Thursday, October 25, 2012

I Am A Woman Hear My Roar





All women are worthy women, and women must know we are important in the Kingdom of God, fighting a spiritual battle that cannot be ignored.
Such battles are to be won—and can be won—while we depend on God for protection and providence. The strength and wisdom of a woman in her divine assignment do not come from herself but from God. We have afflictions, suffering, and trials, but God has given us the victory.
This was a great lead into the book, but in the end I was a little disappointed in this book. First of all in the length of the book, and the content was basic content for most Christians.  The book is based on scripture and would be good for new or growing Christians.

I received a complimentary copy of I Am A Woman Hear My Roar  as a member of the   
    Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team.  Visit dorrancebookstore.com
    to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

I Didn't Sign Up For This





In this book, writer Aaron Sharp focuses on 1 Kings 19 and Elijah specifically. Why? Elijah probably felt like he didn't sign up for what he was going through, and sometimes we feel like we didn't sign up for what we are going through either. Aaron Sharp unpacks 1 Kings 19 to show the detours Elijah went through in his life and how God was working, even if Elijah didn't see or know that truth. We need to be reminded too that detours aren't always easy, but God is working beyond our capacity to see or comprehend.
In this book, Aaron Sharp shares what he has learned in the sometimes painful detours he has lived through in his life. The wisdom he gained and the struggles he went through are suggestive of what some of us have gone through also.
There are other Biblical people whose experiences Aaron Sharp briefly shares with the reader, and then he helps the reader to seeGod's hand in his/her life. This book helps to give comfort; we aren't alone in what we suffer.
We often get frustrated about our expectations because they revolve around us while God is focused on his purposes. When we are thinking of just our future or our family's future we are thinking of ourselves and not of people we don't know, this gives me the impression that we need to try to take time each day to focus on the needs of others while not neglecting our families, or ourselves. Also, everyone will experience times of sadness, doubt, fear, and depression and it's unspiritual to hide these emotions
This book seems like it would benefit people who want to understand better why they are going through the detours of life and need encouragement and Biblical reasons while they are going through them. People who read this book will be given a deeper understanding that there will be times that God stays silent, times when he decides to intervene, and times when he decides to speak.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I viewed this e-book (galley) free from the publisher through Netgalley.com. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

When Bad Christians Happen to Good People/ Adam and Eve






When Bad Christians Happen to Good People: Where We Have Failed Each Other and How to Reverse the Damage




This is a must read for Christians who have been hurt by other Christians and for those who need to be reminded that Christians need to live as real followers of Jesus and not rule enforcers. The author relates many stories of people who were rejected and judged by church members who focused on legalism instead of grace.   This is one of the best books available on how Christians continue to damage the cause of Christ. Mr. Burchett starts with an example from his own life involving his daughter. She had a terminal physical condition that posed no threat to anyone. However, the church decided that she was unwelcome in the nursery because of her problems.
 If you have been injured by the church or know of others that have been then this book is for you. On the other hand, because we all are human and at various times commit many of the sins covered in this book, it should be required reading for all Christians.

  “I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review”.






This book by Ken Ham is a great book for children.  It takes in apologetics, creation , and the disobedience that led to sin, and the world the way it is today.
This book helps us respond to the growing confusion facing children today with Biblical responses to many questions.
I give this book 4 stars.  It would have been helpful if it was broken down into chapters.

§  “this book is published by Master Books, a division of New Leaf Publishing Group.”