Sunday, November 24, 2013

The Wayfinding Bible




The Wayfinding Bible is a very unique idea. In this Bible the reader is able to navigate through the Bible in three different directions.  There is the “Flyover” route, which is the quickest way to read through the Bible.  In only 54 readings you gain a chronological overview of the events of the Bible.   Then there is the “Direct” route.  In 215 readings you can a full angle of the entire Bible and how it fits all together.  Then last but not least there is the “Scenic” route, where in 386 readings you can learn the wisdom and fullness of God’s word.
I travelled through bits and pieces of each, and found this to be very informative, it sure keeps you reading and learning God’s word.  I think that this has become one of my favorite Bibles.  It is written in the New Living Translation, which means it is easy to read and understand, the font size is a good size to read, not overly large and not too small.  It contains lots of charts and information, and easy to navigate as you read through each chapter in every book.

Wayfinding Bible book trailer can be found at: Wayfinding Bible Trailer


I received this book free from the Tyndale Publisher . I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Take Time to Be Holy



Take Time to be Holy contains a year’s worth of classic selections from Samuel Logan Brengle – a groundbreaking leader in the Salvation Army whose writings on personal holiness have been touching hearts and inspiring readers for over a century.  Each day’s reading will deepen your understanding of what holiness is; how, through Gods’ grace, it is available to each of us; and how experiencing it will make God more real to you than ever.
I love to read devotional books, one always gets inspiration and uplifting messages.  It amazes me how when you read these books, how God can reach down and give you what you need for that very day, and moment in your life. 

This devotional is compact and easy to read.  In the front you find a biography of Mr. Samuel Logan Brengle.  This is a book that one would love to have in their library to read over and over again. 

I received this book free from the Tyndale Publisher . I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Friday, November 22, 2013

Made to Last

Miranda Woodruff has it all. At least, that's how it looks when she's starring in her homebuilding television show, From the Ground Up. So when her network begins to talk about making cuts, she'll do anything to boost ratings and save her show--even if it means pretending to be married to a man who's definitely not the fiance who ran out on her three years ago.

When a handsome reporter starts shadowing Miranda's every move, all his digging into her personal life brings him a little too close to the truth--and to her. Can the girl whose entire identity is wrapped up in her on-screen persona finally find the nerve to set the record straight? And if she does, will the life she's built come crashing down just as she's found a love to last?


This is an interesting romance novel.   It has an appealing story line, you almost feel at home and apart of the characters’ lives. 
The one thing I do appreciate about this novel is the fact that the characters all turn to and rely on their faith in God.  All throughout the story, the characters face things that we (the reader) may have faced one time or another in our life. 

The one thing that I didn’t like was the fact the main character takes on a man’s role.   I firmly believe that God has certain things for women to do and things for men to do.  I feel that this story is pushing to have women take a step into the man’s role.  
I received this book free from the publisher . I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Reliable Truth

What do science, history, and logic have to say about the reliability of the Bible?

This book presents in a profound way how the Bible reflects the true nature of reality. Reliable Truth is about seeing the world as it is while debunking the myths, legends, and false beliefs about the Bible.
There is a type of Christian faith which seems to be quite common where people accept a Christian belief that is not dependent on reason or evidence. They believe that any type of historical investigation on their part is not necessary. They seem to have no desire to know about Jesus as a person of history . . . I cannot share this point of view. I am profoundly convinced that the historic revelation of God and Jesus of Nazareth must be the cornerstone of any faith that is really Christian. Any historical questions about the real Jesus who lived in Palestine [twenty] centuries ago is therefore fundamentally important to develop a strong faith.

This is a good book to read for those who like to read books on apologetics.   Mr. Simmons has done a good deal of research on the subject of the Bible, and has written a great book.  We are told in 2 Timothy 3:16 "  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,  that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."  Mr. Simmons has done a wonderful job in defending that the Bible is the inspired word of God.  

I challenge anyone who does not believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God to read Mr. Simmons book, and I also think that all who read the Bible should read this book.


I received this book free from The B&B Media Group . I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Extraordinary Grace

From the Publisher: Do you feel like a broken branch on God's famly tree? Do you feel like God chooses the super spiritual and the "perfect" but you're on the outside looking in?
Are you afraid he won't accept you because you're not perfect?
God is not looking for perfect people. He's looking for those who need his extraordinary grace.In this encouraging book, Dr. Gary Chapman and Chris Fabry explore the lives of people who abandoned themselves to the love and mercy of God.
God is ready to forgive, restore, and give an abundant life.  He wants to showcase His mercy and love through you.
If you long to connect with God at a heart level, if you're struggling to understand your brokenness and how past and present mistakes can be forgiven, this book will encourage you. When you hear this good news and truly experience it in the heart, you'll discover the path to spreading God's grace to others.
Discover the hidden treasure of God's extraordinary grace!

To me, grace is such an important issue in the Christian life.   Without grace we are nothing.  Without grace we are lost.  Gary Chapman and Chris Fabry have written an excellent book on grace.   As they put it:  GRACE = God's Riches At Christ's Expense.  I love the way they take you through the Bible, showing you instances of grace and showing us how it applies to us, today.
There is also a study in the back of the book, which one can do on their own or as a group study.   The book is easy to read, great for a new believer, a non believer, basically everyone.   It has an attractive cover, the pages are beautifully printed, so it would make a lovely gift. (Maybe even a Christmas gift).  This will certainly be a book that remains in my library and loaned out over and over again.
I received this book free from the MP News Room . I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Sunday, November 17, 2013

A Search for Purple Cows

A wife and mother's amazing journey from darkness into a life fully restored in God's light.
A whimsical comment from a kind stranger, 'Be sure to search for purple cows,' brings hope to a woman and her children fleeing from a life filled with trouble. In A Search for Purple Cows, Susan Call reveals to the world how painful a relationship can be when love deteriorates into a cycle of abuse and betrayal. Her moving memoir chronicles how she first met her husband, a handsome, stylish, generous man with whom she worked. Eventually they fell in love, married, and had two children. Their life seemed idyllic -- they had a beautiful home and everything a family could desire. But soon, inside those walls, Call was tormented by her husband's alcoholism, domestic abuse, and infidelity that cast her family into a world fraught with fear and despair. God found her in the midst of her pain, and showed her, through the unlikely source of a Christian radio station, that a journey toward Him was possible even in the most unthinkable circumstances. Call eventually found the strength to move on and start anew. Written with candor and grace, A Search for Purple Cows will leave you laughing, crying, and believing that God is present and able, ready to bring hope and healing.

Susan Call has written a great tool that can encourage women all over how to break the cycle of domestic abuse.  One thing people don't realize, that she has brought out into the open, is that abuse isn't always physical.  The mental and emotional abuse is hard for people on the outside to see.   I applaud Ms. Call on what she has written.

I also appreciate the fact that she leans on her faith in this book, and I hope that others in her situation will do the same.

I received this book free from The B&B Media Group . I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Seasons of the Heart

A queen, an educator, a missionary, a pastor s wife. Some of them single, some married, some widowed, some mothers. All of them, like women today, knew the joys and heartaches of life. But the bond that drew this generation of women together and connects them to women today was their heart for God and devotion to Christ. In this year s worth of devotions, you will find spiritual insights from godly women of the past who, like us, struggled with sin, loneliness, and disappointments yet rejoiced in God s love, mercy, grace, and providential blessings. Join them in the various seasons of their hearts and find timeless encouragement and wisdom from one generation of women to another. Authors include Ruth Bryan, Anne Dutton, Isabella Graham, Elizabeth Julia Hasell, Frances Ridley Havergal, Sarah Hawkes, Susan Huntington, Harriet Newell, Katherine Parr, Susannah Spurgeon, Anne Steele, and Mary Winslow. 366 days of Scripture verses and brief devotional meditations that provide timeless truths, encouragement, and wisdom for your daily walk with God - Updated language makes meditations accessible to modern readers - Brief, inspiring biographies of each of the contributing authors - Excellent gift for Christmas, graduation, Mother s Day, and birthdays for women of all ages.

I love devotional books, and this is no exception.  I believe that devotions are a very important part of our lives, and Ms. Kelderman has taken the writings of many  Godly women in different phases of their lives and shared them with us.   Each woman is an inspiration and I feel that this devotional is a must for all women to read.  No matter what your day is like, what your feeling, I know that you can relate to these women, and share the depth of their faith.  
I received this book free from www.crossfocusedreviews.com  . I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”




The Secret Keeper

With her love for all things old-fashioned, Jennifer Burns has often been told she's an "old soul," but no one is prepared for the young woman's decision to set aside her modern life in favor of the Old Order Amish world. Yet Jenny does exactly that, adopting Plain dress and settling in with Samuel and Rebecca Lapp while she works as a mother's helper for the bishop's wife--a far cry from her former job in the city.

The people of Hickory Hollow are curious about the beautiful young seeker among them, one handsome Amishman in particular. But he is not the only man vying for Jenny's affections, and Jenny faces many challenges in the Proving time the brethren have set for her...challenges of the heart, as well as the spirit.


As usual Beverly Lewis has written another book on the Amish lifestyle.   This time she takes it from a “seekers” point of view that is someone from the outside wanting to join the Amish faith.    I believe that Ms. Lewis has done a lot of research on the topic, and has done a fair job with it.   As she points out with two of her characters, Katie and Jenny, the Amish life is not for everyone, and you have to have the heart for it.   It is a wonderful, peaceful lifestyle that many “worldly” people either crave or reject.   
As always, in her books, Ms. Lewis has the usual relationship ups and downs, and the usual predictable ending.  For those who enjoy reading the Amish fiction, you will love this book.

I received this book free from the publisher . I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”



Peril

Dr. Thomas Reeves is at the pinnacle of his career. The Department of Defense has awarded him a lucrative contract for his new research into superior autobiographical memory, which promises the ability to create combat troops able to quickly learn complex battle plans and enact them perfectly under the most demanding battlefield scenarios.
An elite unit has received neural grafts from fetal cadavers of genetically altered brain cells with enhanced NMDA receptors. The results are remarkable . . . until the recipients begin suffering hallucinations, nightmares, paralysis, . . . and death. Dr. Reeves searches for answers, but DOD insiders want him to stop the search.
The situation becomes public when pediatric ICU nurse Morgan Adams, Dr. Reeves’s daughter, is taken hostage by three research subjects in an attempt to force Dr. Reeves into disclosing why they are sick. If answers aren’t revealed within twenty-four hours, patients in the pediatric ICU will be killed.
This spine-tingling conclusion to the Bloodline Trilogy raises spiritual and ethical dilemmas torn directly out of today’s headlines. When does life begin? How far does commitment to family go? And can the sins of the father ever be forgiven?


Jordyn Redwood uses her knowledge as a critical care and emergency nurse to enrich the theme of the novel.  The third in the trilogy, I like the way she integrates the characters from the other novels.   It is a good fast paced suspense that keeps you wanting more.   You won’t want to put this book down.  Ms. Redwood keeps you wondering what is happening next.   It is intriguing that she broaches the subject of PTSD, as many of our soldiers are coming home with this, and I feel that she did well in her research of the subject. 
Most of all,  I do like the fact that Ms. Redwood puts God in the center of everything, and that she keeps her characters reminding one another to keep the faith.  No matter what God is in everything we do.

If you like suspense and mystery I highly recommend this book, and the other two in the trilogy.
I received this book free from the publisher  http://www.kregel.com . I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”


Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Innovation's Dirty Little Secret

Innovation has a dirty little secret that sets apart the serial innovator from the one-hit wonder. In Innovation’s Dirty Little Secret, Larry Osborne, a respected pastor and frequent consultant to business leaders, reveals the hidden secret behind serial innovation and shows leaders how to navigate the landmines of innovation in ways that will provide new levels of stability and creativity to any organization.

Innovation’s Dirty Little Secret is a good book for those in leadership.   In this book, one will learn what can harm, hurt or in other words killers for leadership.  It helps recognize the dangers of growth and teaches you how to avoid those dangers.   It also looks at three of the biggest wrongdoings in leadership that will kill any ministry.
I also liked the questions that were asked after every section, the author has covered many areas of leadership that can help someone look into themselves and search what is needed.  Such as looking into programs that are taking lots of your time, but not seeming to be working or producing. 
This would be a book that I would have anyone in leadership read.  It will be a book in my library that is read and reread many times.



I received this book free from www.crossfocusedreviews.com  . I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”




















I received this book free from www.crossfocusedreviews.com  . I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”