Confessions of a Raging Perfectionist

We all have that perfectionist in us somewhere...  we need to remember that God created us, and that we are all created special.  

Ms. Jenkins helps us to realize that we must accept ourselves as who we are, and to accept life as it comes.

With an amusing look and attitude toward life, she helps us realize what our outlook should be.

Below is a link to the first chapters of her book:

(http://files.tyndale.com/thpdata/FirstChapters/978-1-4143-7870-1.pdf)


August 16
Weight: 142 pounds
Calories: 2,260
Pants that are too tight: 3
Wrinkles: 8 too many
Resolve to lose 7 pounds and double up on eye cream.
Beauty Queen
Tara McClary’s a good-lookin’ woman—the quintessential
Southern belle. Perfectly mannered and manicured, blonde hair
and brown eyes, tall, thin, and tan. It’s little surprise, then, that
in 1990 she and her mom were crowned Mother/Daughter USA.
She’s a pageant success story, and in truth she’s the kind of woman
most of us love to hate. Problem is that once you get to know her,
you’ll have a hard time finding just cause.
I met Tara when I was a junior in college. My boyfriend, Dallas
(now my husband), and his family had known the McClarys for
years. And after reconnecting in their early twenties, Tara and Dallas
came up with an idea for a book they wanted to cowrite. As a nontitle-
holding, average girl, I felt a bit unsettled when my boyfriend
told me he was going to be working for hours on end with a beauty

queen. When I expressed my concern, he explained that he didn’t
think of her that way. She was a family friend, and besides, she wasn’t
his type; she was too perfect. He preferred the girl next door.


Problem is that in spite of Tara’s wisdom and the freedom
it brought her, I haven’t been able to stop comparing. Logically
speaking, I know I’m running a race I can’t win; someone will
always out-pretty me. But even when I’m not comparing myself
to someone else, I keep an ever-growing list of things I’d like to
change. If only I could tighten up my abs and get rid of a few
wrinkles, then I’d be content.
Yeah, right.
So if logic doesn’t snap me out of my vain haze, how will I be
able to accept myself, flaws and all? And since the pressure to be
beautiful seems to come from both the inside and the outside, is
it even possible to escape it? What’s the trick to being happy just
to be me?


Also in the book is are discussion questions, when used with a women's study group could be helpful.


1. What is your hope for this book, Confessions of a Raging Perfectionist?
That my transparency would get readers one step closer to freedom from their own impossible goals; that it would open their eyes to the strangleholds we sometimes don’t even see, but shape the way we think and spend our time; that it would get us laughing at the stuff we hide; that when brought into the open, things like vanity, materialism and desire for recognition would lose their power/hold on our minds and hearts.
2. In your book, you talk about your addiction to perfection. What were the signs that this was an issue for you?
Little things. For a long time, I didn’t let my husband see me without makeup. I got really upset/frazzled when people dropped by unexpectedly. I got easily embarrassed when I messed up, and I wouldn’t admit to struggling. And I thought I had life pretty together—that I actually didn’t struggle/mess up/sin as much as other people did.

(http://mediacenter.tyndale.com/downloads/press_kits/PerfectionistQ&A.pdf).


I would ( and will be using this book) as part of a women's ministry/ study group.

Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book

Magnificent Malevolence

From the back of the book:
This remarkable manuscript outlines the career of the prominent devil, Crumblewit S. O. D. (Order of the Darkness 1st Class)
Crumblewit provides a fiendish appraisal of the struggles between good and evil....

 Written in the style of Screwtape Letters, Magnificent Malevolence is an entertaining book.   As you follow the career of the demon Crumblewit, you understand the spiritual warfare that goes on around us each day.  One must remember  1 Peter 5:8 as they read this book.   "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour".   

 Mr. Wilson uses his knowledge of history, and combines the antics and actions of Crumblewit to show us how the church history has been affected by demons through the ages.  It is very thought provoking and makes you think about day to day life.

This was an enjoyable book to read, and will gladly add this to my library of books, and would surely recommend this to others to read.

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.”

Insourcing

This is an important book for ministry leaders.  In order to reproduce more leaders, we need discipleship.  

In his book, Randy Pope gives leaders a great method for teaching others to take the lead, how to teach our disciples.
He teaches us the TEAMS method, that we need Truth, Equipping, Accountability, Mission, and Supplication (Prayer).  These are the keys to good discipling.

This is a great book, and I recommend it to those who are in a discipleship role, or thinking about discipling.

video of Insourcing

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.”

Advice for Seekers

I can honestly say that is book is a great evangelism tool.    The language may take some getting used to at first, since it is a reproduction of Spurgeon's 1896 Words of Advice for Seekers.

Although the book is written for those who haven't found Christ yet, Spurgeon’s message reminds us  that we can’t do anything.   We are not worthy of God’s love, but He is not angry with us. He loves us and accepts us, mistakes and all, because we are His children. This is a great reminder to confess our shortcomings to Him, let His grace and love cover them, and walk free of guilt and shame.

I really liked the quality of this hard backed book, with its attractive cover that will last for a very long time.   This would make a great gift for anyone.

video link

I received this book free from Attic Books. 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.”

When God Makes Lemonade

WHEN GOD MAKES LEMONADE is a collection of 68 short, but true stories about people who have experienced some trying situations.   The author uses the idea, of turning our troubles into positives.   God will take our problems, troubles, and hard times and use them as a teaching or learning process to help grow and stretch us.   Don Jacobson has shown his readers this, in his book When God Makes Lemonade.

Some stories made me smile, some made me laugh, and many made me cry.  But they all had one element in common...they changed how I looked at hard situations and tragedy in my own life

These short stories written by real people teach us all and encourage us that even though we can't always see the good in our troubles, God uses life changing experiences so we might encourage and help others out along the way.

Don Jacobson begins the book with his own personal story of just how God walked with him when his life was in jeopardy.  Picking up his shotgun and taking a spare moment to venture off into the woods to try it out, Don was more than amazed when his gun malfunctioned and he ended up shooting himself. Failing to leave word behind to his wife of his intentions, his only companion was his dog, Big Boy. Not knowing how bad things really were, he heard the voice of God guiding him along the way.

The stories in When God Makes Lemonade are from everyday people who are surprised by unexpected sweetness in the midst of sour life circumstances.   There's no question that life gives us "lemons," like issues with health, employment, and relationships.  But when those lemons become lemonade, it's as refreshing as a cold drink on a hot summer day.

So if you're struggling beneath the weight of unemployment, depression, broken relationships, an unexpected death, or any of life's other difficulties, this book is for you.

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.”

True Woman 101

From the website:

Join Bible teachers Mary A. Kassian and Nancy Leigh DeMoss and share with the women you serve the key fundamentals of biblical womanhood in this eight week study. Each week includes five individual lessons leading to a group time of sharing and digging deeper into God’s Word. 
If you’re tired of the world’s cheap imitations and knock-offs—or if you’re tired of clichéd advice, shallow caricatures—then this foundational teaching and insight from God’s Word is for you!
Thousands are tossing the world’s brand of womanhood and joining a quiet counter-Revolution. Find out why.

If you are a ministry leader and looking for a good Bible Study this is it!   I was impressed the second I saw it, from the cover design, to the bright and colorful inside.   It is well a well written study aimed at women, to teach them about Biblical womanhood.   I will be using this study personally as well as in my own ministries.  

I don't think you will be disappointed with this one!

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.”

Eradicate

ERADICATE: BLOTTING OUT GOD IN AMERICA identifies two major problems causing the spiritual and moral decline in our country: the secular agenda to blot out God, and the complacency and silence of Christians. David Fiorazo helps you understand, combat and overcome the anti-Christian agenda, apathy in the Church and the decline of morality in culture.

‘Eradicate’ exposes the anti-Christian movements in America and gives you a thorough understanding of the foundational battle for truth. With 78% of Americans claiming to be Christians, how did it get to the point where Christianity is having less of an influence on our culture than culture is having on Christianity? Too many believers have conformed to our culture and we’re now suffering the consequences as a nation.

 Eradicate examines:

·                     Why Truth Matters

·                     God, The Gospel, and Government

·                     The NEA Agenda

·                     Planned Parenthood's Buried History

·                     President Obama's Faith And Fruit

·                     Truth Has Left The Media

·                     Why They Love To Hate Sarah Palin

·                     Normalizing Homosexuality

·                     Soul Pollution

·                     Social Justice and the Bible

·                     Counterfeit Christianity

This isn’t some little book,  at 368 pages, it will take some time, but it  is well written and hard hitting. It is easy to read and keeps you captivated.

As parents, we are warned, that  if we aren’t educating our children, the world will gladly take on the  role of educator for us.  David Fiorazo shares his view that parents and the church should be doing a much better job of educating and equipping the body of Christ to have the courage of the early followers of Christ.   And yes, the media has influenced our belief system which has caused Americans to become susceptible to what they read and watch.  They have become a very lazy society.

This book is a must read for every Christian,  we must read more of the “world view” type books to keep us informed about what is going on in our society today.  We as Christians must keep informed and I feel that this book is a great resource for any library.

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.”