tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45233940658882042712024-03-14T02:10:25.631-05:00Faithful FinancesShe is strong and energetic, a hard worker. She watches for bargains; her lights burn late into the night.
Proverbs 31:17-18 (NLT)Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371907747160379709noreply@blogger.comBlogger1168125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523394065888204271.post-15816516266951107332017-05-16T09:18:00.004-05:002017-05-16T09:18:57.880-05:00Esther Bible Study<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Esther: Finding Yourself in Times of Trouble</b><br />
<b>Eugene Peterson</b><br />
<b>Tyndale House, 2017</b><br />
<b>English, 112 pgs</b><br />
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<b>Description:</b><br />
<b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Color with Friends. Be Drawn In to Scripture. </b><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">An unlikely queen. A murderous enemy. A miraculous turnaround. The story of Esther is breathtaking. Through study, coloring, and conversation, discover how to find your voice and grow your faith during times of trouble.</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Deepen your friendships as you gather around Scripture for coloring and conversation. </span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Drawn In</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> offers simple four-week Bible studies―perfect for groups or personal devotions. Coloring quiets your heart and mind so you can enter fully into Scripture’s stories. The Bible’s passion and personality come through in </span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The Message</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">, surprising new and old Bible readers alike. Discover the delight of being Drawn In.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><b>Review:</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Within minutes of receiving the book and looking through it, I called our women's Bible study leader and told her "I've found our next study!" I love this for so many reasons.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">First, it's a study of Esther. She has a story of quiet grace and strength and is one of my favorite females in the Bible. I could do every study on her and still look for the next one. There is always something new to learn from her. The questions (of which there are a lot for each session) are not the typical scribble-something-down-just-to-get-it-done type questions. They require a lot of thought and introspection. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Second, it's a four session study, with a background introduction from the author. The scriptures are in the book for you. (I, of course, always recommend reading multiple versions when you're doing an in depth study.) I've found that shorter studies keep the other women interested. There is a lot to dig into between sessions and that may turn some off, but we do every two weeks so that gives you plenty of time to get the "homework" done. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Third, each session has multiple parts to it. There is the scripture and questions, but there are also pages for coloring and doodling. At first, I thought it wasn't a good format for coloring, but I figured out that the spine of the book can be forced to lay flat, allowing you to get to the whole page for the coloring. I like that the scripture is broken into parts with the questions immediately following. There are also little bits from the author to help you understand some of the historical and cultural references. The end of each session has questions for reflection or additional consideration as well as a guided prayer.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">This is a new and unique format for Bible study. I'm really excited about it and look forward to doing it with our group in the fall. There are also studies on Ruth and Mary in the series. (Yes, I'll be looking forward to those too!!)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>I received a copy of the book in exchange for a review on this site and a commercial bookselling site. No additional compensation has been received, or is expected, and I was not required to write a positive review.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371907747160379709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523394065888204271.post-48194836312185368082017-05-16T09:03:00.001-05:002017-05-16T09:03:51.459-05:00Tranquility Coloring Journal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Tranquility Coloring Journal</b><br />
<b>Tyndale House, 2017</b><br />
<b>English, 112 pgs</b><br />
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<b>Description:</b><br />
<i style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Tranquility: A Prayer and Reflection Coloring Journal</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> invites you to mix creative journaling and coloring into your personal time with God. Prayers that focus on topics such as being thankful, dealing with stress and heartache, caring for yourself and others, listening for God’s leading, and waiting patiently on Him will guide your thoughts and calm your spirit. Filled with more than 100 designs to color, plenty of space for journaling, and 40 needs-based prayers, </span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Tranquility</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> will help you express your devotion to God with your whole heart</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><b>Review:</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I really wanted to like this journal. I love the "adult" coloring books and I keep a prayer/scripture journal as I'm reading my Bible every morning. So I thought this would be perfect for that. I was slightly less than excited when I actually began looking through it. Lots of the pages are in full color, most of them have a short guided prayer and only a few have ample journaling space. I'm adding some pictures so you can see what I'm talking about. </span></span></span><br />
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As you can see, lots of pages have 3-5 lines for your reflections. Some have almost full pages. I would have liked to see more space for writing and less for the coloring/full color pictures. I'm not entirely disappointed, but I would have done it differently.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">I received a copy of the book for the purpose of this review on my blog and a commercial bookselling site. No additional compensation has been received, or is expected, and I was not required to write a positive review.</span></i>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371907747160379709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523394065888204271.post-26707974868527726812016-04-20T11:43:00.000-05:002016-04-20T11:43:05.026-05:00Book Review: I Can<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zZ-Y9QwjSy0/Vxeu5U8WetI/AAAAAAAACI4/5FJ6_ngJjloTZzOPtqbczO66QACzyxTPwCLcB/s1600/Picture%2B2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zZ-Y9QwjSy0/Vxeu5U8WetI/AAAAAAAACI4/5FJ6_ngJjloTZzOPtqbczO66QACzyxTPwCLcB/s1600/Picture%2B2.png" /></a></div>
<b>I Can</b><br />
<b>By Kathryn O'Brien</b><br />
<b>Tyndale, 2016</b><br />
<b>English, 32 pgs</b><br />
<b>For ages 3-6 years</b><br />
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<b>Description:</b><br />
With a repetitive, rhythmic introduction of Philippians 4:13 (“I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength”), <i>I Can</i>
turns Bible memorization from a duty to a delight for children, using
the author’s unique teaching strategy. This purposeful presentation of
Scripture will help children memorize, understand, and absorb passages
as the author presents this powerful verse one word at a time, teaching
the meaning of each individual word before presenting the entire
passage. <i>I Can</i> builds a meaningful connection between God’s Word
and a child’s life experiences, laying a foundation for a love and
comprehension of Scripture. Parents and children will enjoy interacting
together over the passage.<br />
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<b>Review:</b><br />
I set this book out on a side table, waiting to see if my 6 year old would see it. He did and picked it up and started reading it. He worked to sound out words and got very excited when there were words he already knew. The best part though was when he got to the end and was excited to see that he had been reading a Bible verse as he read the book.<br />
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The book starts very simply with "I Can" and then has a short list of things the kid can do. It adds words to the scripture and then continues to show all the things they can do, explains that nothing is too hard for them, describes who Jesus was (and gives the plan of salvation in one page!), tells them some of the things Jesus does for His children.<br />
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The pictures are of children on a farm, doing various activities. While they're good pictures, I think more diverse pictures would have been good too. My kids don't have a farm to run around and it kinda made the little one think that he could only do the things the book says if he's on a farm. Of course, we corrected that.<br />
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But I think it's a good book and a part of a good series of books for little ones. It is clear and I didn't have to explain what any of the words meant.<br />
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<i>I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review on this site and a commercial bookselling site. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review. </i><br />
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<br />Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371907747160379709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523394065888204271.post-59107524602793235922016-04-20T11:26:00.000-05:002016-04-20T11:26:41.512-05:00Book Review: Having a Martha Home the Mary Way<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Having a Martha Home the Mary Way</b><br />
<b>By Sarah Mae</b><br />
<b>Tyndale Momentum, 2016</b><br />
<b>English, 192 pgs</b><br />
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<b>Description:</b><br />
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<b>Get your home and your heart in order in just 31 days!</b><br /><br />
Sarah
Mae wants to let you in on a little secret about being a good homemaker:
It’s not about having a clean house. She’d never claim to be a natural,
organized cleaner herself―yet, like you, she wants a beautiful space to
call home, a place where people feel loved and at peace. Where people
can really settle in with good food, comfy pillows, and wide-open
hearts.<br /><br />Is it possible to find a balance? To care for your heart―and your home―at the same time?<br /><br />Journey
with Sarah Mae on this easy, practical 31-day plan to get you moving
and have your house looking and feeling fresh. But even more than that,
you’ll gain a new vision for the home of your dreams, and how to make it
a place of peace, comfort, and community. Originally published as the
e-book <i>31 Days to Clean</i> and now revised and expanded in print for the first time, <i>Having a Martha Home the Mary Way</i> will inspire you to find a happier, healthier . . . <i>cleaner</i> way to live.<br />
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<b>Review:</b><br />
There are lots of things to like about this book. It is highly encouraging. It is honest about struggles many women face regarding themselves and their homes. It is easy to read and doesn't take too long each day. It has easy to accomplish challenges and Bible study prompts.<br />
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There are cons to the book too though. Mainly in the form of the cleaning challenges. While they are easy to accomplish every day, they simply don't go far enough. Each day you're to clean your dishes, counter and sink and complete a load of laundry in addition to the challenge.<br />
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I realize that my situation is unique and not everyone is in the same life place I am right now, but I simply do not think it should take more than one day to clean a room. In all the challenges, you only wash sheets once. In 31 days. That is not my idea of clean. I just can't get with the idea of taking it so slowly to clean.<br />
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I personally feel it's easier to tackle one room (or style of room) each day of the week. My personal schedule is Monday: bathrooms, Tuesday: kitchen/dining, Wednesday: bedrooms, Thursday: office/living room, Friday: grocery shopping/meal planning, Saturday: laundry, Sunday: rest. Everything gets done every week and my home is one that I feel is tidy, clean and healthy. It's not spotless. It's not a wreck either.<br />
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Basically it comes down to finding what works best for you and sticking to it.<br />
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<i>I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review on this website and a commercial bookselling website. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.</i><br />
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<br />Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371907747160379709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523394065888204271.post-72897186899325490652016-02-25T09:39:00.000-06:002016-02-25T09:39:03.532-06:00Book Review: Veggie Tales Bible<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Veggie Tales Bible</b><br />
<b>By Zondervan, 2013</b><br />
<b>English, 1344 pgs</b><br />
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<b>Description:</b><br />
In the VeggieTales Bible, Bob the Tomato, Larry the Cucumber, and all
their VeggieTales friends invite children to join them and get to know
the Bible. In this full-text New International Reader’s Version (NIrV)
Bible, each feature is specially designed to help children understand
and love God’s Word.<br />
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<b>Review:</b><br />
I love it.<br />
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I guess I need to tell you more than that though. I got this for my 6 year old who is rocking his way through the Awana program at our church. Every week they get points for bringing their Bible and he's been upset that he only has a small Gideon style New Testament. We tried a picture style Bible with just a few stories. That wasn't anything that kept his attention. (In fact, he gave it away to someone who didn't have a Bible at all.)<br />
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So, I decided to get him his very own, every book included, Bible. We was over the moon about it. He was excited to have "every word, and every verse". He is still learning to read so he just flips through and looks at how it's arranged and the pictures, etc. But he's so excited to have his own copy of God's Word. (Wish everyone reacted that way.)<br />
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The Bible itself is in the New International Reader's Version, which I think is pretty easy to read and I haven't found any major complaints on the translation. I love that there are several Veggie Tales comic book style stories throughout the pages. Some are where you would find the Bible story that inspired it. For example, Dave and the Giant Pickle is where you will read about King David. This isn't the way for all of them though. Esther, the Girl Who Became Queen is in Psalms and Rack, Shack and Benny is in Isaiah. I think it's done more in the way to spread the stories evenly than to match up to the books.<br />
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Each book has an introduction which is quick and gives a general overview. And there are lots of "Veggie Values" throughout which point out themes in the Bible and give you ways to apply and understand them in life. There's a fairly short dictionary and several pages for notes at the back.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I received a copy of the Bible in exchange for a review on this blog and a commercial bookselling website. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.</i></span><br />
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<br />Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371907747160379709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523394065888204271.post-39832266503480012052016-02-09T11:11:00.002-06:002016-02-09T11:11:37.851-06:00Book Review: The James Code<div class="copy">
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<b><span style="font-weight: normal;">The James Code </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;">52 Scripture Principles for Putting Your Faith into Action</span></b><br />
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By O. S. Hawkins <br /> Published by Thomas Nelson </b><br />
<b><span class="fourHalf rating" title="Average Rating: 4.63 Stars"></span></b><br />
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<b>Book Description</b><br />
<em>The James Code</em> helps believers go from knowing about God to living for Him.<br />
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Bestselling author of <em>The Joshua Code</em> and <em>The Jesus Code</em>, O.S. Hawkins is back with a new book that is all about putting your faith into action.<br />
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Together, <em>The Joshua Code</em> and <em>The Jesus Code</em> have sold more than 300,000 copies. <em>The James Code</em>, designed in the same format, will capitalize on <em>The Joshua Code</em>'s
core audience of churches, pastors, and readers who appreciate the
year-long study format. With applicable truth from the book of James, <em>The James Code</em> is both practical and personal.<br />
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As with <em>The Joshua Code</em> and <em>The Jesus Code</em>, all
royalties will go to Mission:Dignity, whose mission supports retired
pastors and their wives and widows living near poverty level in their
declining years. What a meaningful way to show support and appreciation
for the work of retired pastors and their families.<br />
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<b> Review:</b><br />
I really took my time with this book. The book of James is so rich in instruction that I didn't want to rush reading this and miss something. The book itself is a smaller "gift sized" book and has 52 readings, supposedly one per week for a year. I read it far faster, but it would be great to take it that slow and really dig into the words from the Bible.<br />
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There are 13 main sections, with several chapters each. They range from stress to money to wisdom. The readings follow the book of James and only take a few verses for each. Every reading has a "Just Do It" at the end to help you put what you've read into your life.<br />
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This is an excellent book and will make a nice gift for pastors or anyone who loves reading the Bible. I really love that the book supports Mission:Dignity. That is a very worthwhile organization that I think needs more promotion and support.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I received a copy of the book for the purpose of this review. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.</i></span><br />
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371907747160379709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523394065888204271.post-48035729462893913372015-12-03T09:14:00.000-06:002015-12-03T09:14:11.409-06:00Book Review: Wicked Women of the Bible<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Wicked Women of the Bible </b><br />
<b>By Ann Spangler</b><br />
<b>Zondervan, 2015</b><br />
<b>English, 224 pgs</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Description:</b><br />
What can Jezebel, the Bible’s wickedest queen, reveal about God’s
holiness and power and even about his sense of humor? What about the
Woman at the Well—the one with five husbands and a live-in lover? And
what of the prostitute whose tears bathe the feet of Jesus in front of
people who despise her?<br />
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There are also “wicked good” women like Deborah, Ruth, Hannah,
Abigail, Esther, Mary, and more.<br />
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What do their lives tell us about God’s
invincible love and his determined plan to save us?<br />
In <em>Wicked Women of the Bible</em> Ann Spangler tells the stories
of twenty wicked and “wicked good” women in greater detail. At the end
of each story, Ann provides a brief section including additional
historical and cultural background as well as a brief Bible study in
order to enhance the book’s appeal to both individuals and groups.<br />
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The stories of these women of the Bible reveal a God who is not above
it all but who stoops down to meet us where we are in order to extend
his love and mercy.<br />
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<strong>About the Author</strong><br />
<em>Ann Spangler</em> is an award-winning writer and the author of many bestselling books, including <em>Praying the Names of God, Praying the Names of Jesus</em>, and <em>The One Year Devotions for Women</em>. She is also coauthor of <em>Women of the Bible</em> and <em>Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus</em> and the general editor of the <em>Names of God Bible</em>.
Ann’s fascination with and love of Scripture have resulted in books
that have opened the Bible to a wide range of readers. She and her two
daughters live in Grand Rapids, Michigan.<br />
<br />
Website: http://www.annspangler.com/<br />
<br />
Blog: http://www.annspangler.com/category/blog/<br />
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<b>Review:</b><br />
Such an enticing and juicy title for a book! The women she discusses were radicals. They didn't sit down and have babies and tend house like women were expected to do in Bible times. And they were radical, and in some cases faithful, enough that they were discussed in the Word of God. Their names and stories have been told for generations upon generations.<br />
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There are your typical "big names" like Eve, Sarah and Esther. But there are also smaller stories like Tamar, Michal and Gomer that don't always get lots of attention. The chapters are fairly short yet thoughtfully written. Each story has background on the times when they women lived and why they were so wicked in what they did. Why they went against social convention and expectation to become women we can learn from and study. Ruth was wicked for laying down at the feet of Boaz yet she showed a faithfulness that put her into the lineage of King David and Jesus. The extreme wickedness of Jezebel shows us that it just doesn't end well when you fight against God.<br />
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Each chapter has a "takeaway" section which is questions for reflection or discussion.<br />
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I like this book. It's good for personal study or group study. It's fun to dig into women's stories and find the greater Biblical truths contained within.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I received a copy of the book in exchange for a review on this blog and a commercial bookselling site. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.</i></span><br />
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371907747160379709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523394065888204271.post-59701246868446447952015-10-15T14:10:00.001-05:002015-10-15T14:10:08.667-05:00Book Review: Chivalrous<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Chivalrous (Valiant Hearts Book 2)</b><br />
<b>By Dina Sleiman</b><br />
<b>Bethany House, 2015</b><br />
<b>English, 368 pgs</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Description:</b><br />
<h3>
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">From the Back Cover</span></span></i></h3>
With Her Future In Jeopardy, This Unforgettable Heroine Won't Go Down<br />Without a Fight!<b><br /></b><br />Strong
and adventurous Gwendolyn Barnes longs to be a knight like her
chivalrous brothers, but her parents view her only as a marriage pawn.
When her domineering father makes plans to see her wed to a brutish man,
Gwendolyn must fight for her future. <br /><br />She's surprised, however,
for that clash to include a handsome, good-hearted newcomer. Allen of
Ellsworth arrives in Edendale searching for his place in the world, but
he finds in Gwendolyn the most unexpected of women. <br /><br />Tournaments,
intrigue, and battles--along with twists and turns aplenty--await these
two as they struggle to find love, identity, and their true destinies.<br />
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<b>Review:</b><br />
I really enjoyed this book. I have not read book one in the Valiant Hearts series but it didn't in any way impede the story of this book. There is enough "backstory" to help you understand what happened in the first book.<br />
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I'm a fan of knights and kings and that whole world of chivalry, jousting and courts. I think this book is an excellent example of that genre. The main characters, Gwendolyn and Allen, are very well developed and very easy to like. They struggle with not only their own identities but also with finding out who God is and how He relates to their lives. <br />
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The family dynamic for Gwen, while hard to read at times, was actually pretty accurate for that time and I appreciate that the author didn't gloss over the lack of women's rights at that time.<br />
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For Gwen (and even the Duchess Adela) to do the things they do in the story requires courage and no small amount of faith. They learn to set aside preconceived notions of women and become heroines of their own stories.<br />
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I liked that the author uses points of view from both main characters. It made it a little easy to figure out what was going to happen, but it was still a fun read.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>I received a copy of the book in
exchange for a review on this blog and a commercial book selling site.
No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to
write a positive review.</i></span><br />
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371907747160379709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523394065888204271.post-52896891763329371272015-10-06T09:20:00.001-05:002015-10-06T09:20:38.487-05:00Book Review: Adventure Bible<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Adventure Bible for Little Ones</b><br />
<b>By Catherine DeVries</b><br />
<b>Zonderkidz, 2015</b><br />
<b>English, 40 pgs</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Description:</b><br />
Ten stories from the Adventure Bible Storybook are now available for
toddlers in the popular and affordable padded board book format.<br />
<br />
The Adventure Bible for Toddlers starts children ages 2-5 on the
journey of a lifetime, teaching them about the Bible's great stories and
themes. Using simple text and art from the wildly popular Adventure
Bible Storybook, it helps young children grow closer to Jesus as they
learn about all God has done in the world. With ten beautifully
illustrated and iconic Bible stories from the Old and New Testament,
this sturdy padded board book will stimulate toddlers' minds and fill
their hearts with love for their heavenly Father. Parents, grandparents,
and children alike will treasure the Adventure Bible for Toddlers as a
classic addition to their read-aloud library.<br />
<br />
<b>Review:</b><br />
This is a very small board style book for little ones just learning about the Bible. My youngest has been asking for his own Bible for a while now but he's still in the "I'm going to tear pages" stage of development so we've been hesitant to get him a larger Bible. This one has made him very happy and has been read over and over already.<br />
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Each of the stories is four pages and has full color photos to go along with the story. The words are easy to read and understand. We've been using it for sight word recognition as well as getting him to remember the stories that are in the book.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I received a copy of the book in exchange for a review on this blog and a commercial book selling site. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.</i></span><br />
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371907747160379709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523394065888204271.post-16185532742826502852015-10-03T08:38:00.002-05:002015-10-03T08:38:33.398-05:00Book Review: My God and My All<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>My God and My All: The Life of Saint Francis of Assisi</b><br />
<b>By Elizabeth Goudge</b><br />
<b>Plough Publishing House, 2015</b><br />
<b>English, 310 pgs</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Description:</b><br />
<b>The captivating story</b> of the world’s favorite saint is now retold for a modern audience by one of the great novelists of our time.<br /><br /><b>Perhaps more than any other figure in Christian history since Jesus Christ,</b>
Saint Francis of Assisi has captured our imagination, for his is a
story of extreme self-sacrifice, of love to God and man. How could this
wealthy, handsome youth cast away all the advantages that were his by
birth and choose instead a career of poverty and humility? How could he
attract members of all strata of society to his mission? And how, when
his order became established throughout Europe, could he renounce great
personal power and humbly continue his life’s work?<br /><br /><b>Here is Francis, from his twelfth-century boyhood</b>
to his life as a missionary roaming the very boundaries of the known
world. Here too are the men and women who followed him―Bernard de
Quintavalle, the rich businessman; Peter Cathanii, the lawyer; Brother
Giles, the farmer’s son; Lady Clare; and so many others―all drawn
together by the personal magnetism and humble faith of their leader, all
re-created by bestselling novelist Elizabeth Goudge against a rich
medieval canvas.<br />
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Review:</span></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My God and My All: The
Life of Saint Francis of Assisi</i> does not read like a traditional biography,
rather presenting the life of the famous preacher in novel format. While this
approach allows for author Elizabeth Goudge’s writing to flow in a more readable
manner, there are times when it feels awkward to the point of unnecessary
flattery. Use of “dialog” and first-person presentation takes an unwarranted license
with the subject. </div>
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The author is clearly familiar with Catholic theology and
presents Francis from that perspective – the acceptance of Francis’s canonization
is clear as well as several other distinctly Catholic points. While this is understandable
given the dominance of Roman Catholicism at the time, a more balanced approach
as a biography would be welcome. Due to the odd format of the book (originally
published in 1959) source citation and footnotes are nonexistent. Those who
read from an evangelical perspective may stumble over usage (even the use of “saint”
as a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">position</i>, rather than a
description of a follower and believer in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord).</div>
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It’s difficult to recommend this book to anyone other than
those who are already reasonably familiar with Francis’s life. It does not
serve as a scholarly work of biographical research and it’s frankly too dry as
a novel. It’s that lack of format that hinders this from being a usable work
rather than a mildly interesting diversion.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I received a copy of the book in exchange for a review on this blog and a commercial bookselling site. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.</i></span><br />
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<br />Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371907747160379709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523394065888204271.post-45001940407224027082015-09-22T09:47:00.002-05:002015-09-22T09:47:56.305-05:00Book Review: Shoo Fly! You Can't Eat Here<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Shoo Fly! You Can't Eat Here</b><br />
<b>By Liller Hamilton</b><br />
<b>Outskirts Press, 2015</b><br />
<b>English, 24 pgs</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Description:</b><br />
He must have been very hungry because... The common housefly is an
unwelcome pest that will find its way into your home, school, business,
and even the White House to get a meal. But the kindergarten students in
Shoo, Fly! are determined not to share their well-balanced lunches with
a hungry fly! Children will enjoy reading this delightfully illustrated
book on their own, and they will especially love it when you read the
story to them and emulate the voice and action of each child. Shoo, Fly!
also offers an opportunity for open-ended and critical-thinking
discussion questions.<br />
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<b>About the Author:</b><br />
Liller Hamilton is a retired schoolteacher. During her tenure, she
taught preschool for more than 20 years and was the recipient of
numerous awards, including a three-time incentive award, Channel 6 TV
Teacher of the Week, District Teacher of the Year, and an Excellence in
Teaching award. Mrs. Hamilton also traveled abroad to exchange teaching
methods and experiences with foreign countries. She still lives on a
farm in the south where she was born and reared.<br />
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<b>Review:</b><br />
This is a cute, large format paperback book for a very young age child. My older kid has been reading it to the younger and they laugh so much through it that they don't always make it to the end. The phrase "Shoo Fly! You can't eat here!" has even made a few appearances at our dinner table!<br />
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The story is about a group of children who are eating a meal and a fly decides to infiltrate. It's hungry and their food looks good! It's healthy food and I guess the fly would rather eat healthy. You know, so it can keep buzzing around our heads all the time.<br />
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Anyway, the illustrations are on the left side of the page spread and it changes very subtly each time, depending on which child is shooing the fly. Their healthy lunch is on the table in front of them and they wave their hands at the fly to make it move along. <br />
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The story really is about healthy eating and it's very subtle in teaching that. It doesn't say "you should" but rather presents it as kids loving the good, healthy foods they're eating.<br />
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I sent this with my youngest to his Kindergarten class and the teacher said they all laughed and loved it! (She's far better at the voices than I am...)<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>I received a copy of the book for
the purpose of a review on this blog and a commercial bookselling site.
No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to
write a positive review.</i></span><br />
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<br />Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371907747160379709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523394065888204271.post-66877616692308604792015-09-22T09:34:00.001-05:002015-09-22T09:34:37.331-05:00Book Review: 5 Minute Bible Stories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>5 Minute Bible Stories</b><br />
<b>By Gwen Ellis</b><br />
<b>Thomas Nelson, 2015</b><br />
<b>English, 192 pgs</b><br />
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<b>Description:</b><br />
Five-minute Bible stories will help little ones understand God's love.<br />
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Selections from the successful Read and Share® Bible, part of the
bestselling Read and Share® series, are now available in a new design
and format! Parents will capture little ones' attention during story time
with these engaging retellings of classic Bible stories. Kids will
enjoy the big and bright hardcover format and the colorful, vibrant
illustrations as they learn about God's love and biblical
characters - including Noah, Joseph, David, Paul, and Jesus Christ - in a way they
can understand.<br />
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Every entry in Read and Share 5-Minute Bible Stories is just the
right length to be read out loud in about five minutes. Parents will
appreciate having readings that are easy-to-digest for kids and perfect
for a short, snug story time. Plus, each reading includes interactive
components, encouraging Scripture memory and reinforcing comprehension
with quick activities for parents and kids, so the shared fun and
learning can continue beyond storytime.<br />
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<b>Review:</b><br />
First off, the format of the book is great. It's a hard cover but it's puffy and soft, like a young reader book should be. There are 58 Old Testament and 34 New Testament stories. It is colorful and every story is only across one page span. No turning pages required while reading.<br />
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The stories are really short and for us, the 5 minutes was more for talking about the stories. We read the actual story in about a minute. Each one has a little question or statement for going beyond the story. Things like "Do you think Moses made a mistake?" or "Sometimes God asks us to do things we don't understand. We just need to obey." Those were more engaging than the story was for my kids. But these are also pastor's kids who have been raised with these stories and could almost tell us the stories without us having to read the words.<br />
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I'm impressed with the book and we're not all the way through it yet, so I'm looking forward to the rest of the book and the time that we spend talking about God's Word together.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I received a copy of the book for the purpose of a review on this blog and a commercial bookselling site. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.</i></span><br />
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371907747160379709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523394065888204271.post-61554521047007875452015-08-27T09:00:00.000-05:002015-08-27T09:00:02.703-05:00Book Review: Can You Believe It?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Can You Believe It: 31 More Stories and Devotions to Start Your Day</b><br />
<b>By Joseph Akins</b><br />
<b>Self Published, 2014</b><br />
<b>English, 108 pgs</b><br />
<b>Available online at: www.josephakins.net</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Description:</b><br />
Can You Believe It? is the second in a series of books containing short
stories and devotions that have a definite homespun flavor. If you
enjoyed Joy Comes In The Morning, make sure to order the next
installment, Can You Believe It?.<br />
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<b>About the Author:</b><br />
Born and raised in South Georgia, Joseph has never strayed far from
his southern roots. More importantly, raised in a Christian home, he
has also clung to the spiritual roots which are the foundation of his
Christian faith. The child of a WWII veteran and his Italian "war
bride", Joseph draws many of his stories from an eclectic cultural
background and happy childhood on the family farm. Having worked in
conventional ministry, lay ministry, and numerous sales positions, he
has developed a wide base of experiences which give him his "unusual"
viewpoints on everyday life.
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Joseph is a husband, father, writer, teacher, and poor man's
comedian. He and his wife, Wendy, have a blended family of four
children and one dog. They reside in Statesboro, GA.<br />
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<b>Review:</b><br />
This is a 31 day devotion book. Each chapter is fairly short and easy to read in one sitting. The topics covered include "pet" sins, why we should believe the things God tells us, storms in our path and missing the mark in our life.<br />
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The devotions are written with a lot of heart and humor. I particularly enjoyed the stories from the author's life. From flea ridden puppies to refinishing a table, I can only imagine what kind of trouble he gets himself into on occasion. (Don't we all though?)<br />
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But beyond the humor, the application and use of the Bible is spot on. I did not find anything that I did not understand nor did I find anything that I disagreed with in interpretation. <br />
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This would be a good book for gifting as well as reading during your morning/evening prayer time.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review. This reviewer has personal connection to a member of the author's family, but that connection did not affect the review in any way. All opinions, as stated, are my own.</i></span><br />
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<br />Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371907747160379709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523394065888204271.post-32851834277589623432015-08-26T09:30:00.002-05:002015-08-26T09:30:25.732-05:00Book Review: NIV Zondervan Study Bible<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>NIV Zondervan Study Bible <span>Built on the Truth of Scripture and Centered on the Gospel Message</span></b><br />
<b>
By General Editor D.A. Carson <br /> Published by Zondervan, 2015</b><br />
<b>English, 2912 pgs</b><br />
<br />
<b>Description:</b><br />
The <em>NIV Zondervan Study Bible</em>, featuring Dr. D.A. Carson as
general editor, is built on the truth of Scripture and centered on the
gospel message. D.A. Carson is research professor of New Testament at
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. He is a
founding member of the Gospel Coalition.<br />
<br />
BUILT ON THE TRUTH OF SCRIPTURE AND CENTERED ON THE GOSPEL MESSAGE<br />
<br />
The <em>NIV Zondervan Study Bible</em>, featuring Dr. D.A. Carson as
general editor, is built on the truth of Scripture and centered on the
gospel message. An ambitious and comprehensive undertaking, Dr. Carson,
with committee members Dr. T. Desmond Alexander, Dr. Richard S. Hess,
Dr. Douglas J. Moo, and Dr. Andrew David Naselli, along with a team of
over 60 contributors from a wide range of evangelical denominations and
perspectives, crafted all-new study notes and other study tools to
present a biblical theology of God's special revelation in the
Scriptures. To further aid the readers' understanding of the Bible, also
included are full-color maps, charts, photos and diagrams. In addition,
a single-column setting of the Bible text provides maximum readability.<br />
<br />
The accessible and fresh interior design will capture your attention
and enhance your study experience. Along with your purchase, you'll also
receive free electronic access to the <em>NIV Zondervan Study Bible</em>.<br />
<br />
Features include:<br />
<ul>
<li>Over 60 scholarly contributors </li>
<li>Over 1.2 million words of new content </li>
<li>Over 3,000 pages packed with in-depth study tools </li>
<li>Nearly 20,000 all-new, comprehensive verse-by-verse study notes </li>
<li>Customized, theologically rich, illustrated book introductions </li>
<li>6 section introductions to literary genres ("The Pentateuch," "The
Historical Books," etc.) </li>
<li>Full-color interior with extensive use of over 60 colorful charts, over
90 maps, and hundreds of photos </li>
<li>Comprehensive library of over 30 articles by award-winning scholars on
topics such as "The Bible and Theology," "The Glory of God," "Covenant,"
"Love and Grace," and more </li>
<li>Cross-reference system </li>
<li>Complete text of the New International Version </li>
<li>Concordance with over 35,000 Scripture references </li>
<li>Free electronic access to the study Bible</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<b>Review:</b><br />
This is not a small Bible. This is a heavy, massive, well done Bible. The editor has clearly worked hard compiling the information, pictures and then putting it together in a very usable format. I don't think I've ever seen this many maps in a Bible. There is one in almost every book. If there isn't a map, there is probably a chart or illustration. Seriously, there is nothing left to wonder about in this Bible. It has notes at the bottom of the page to help explain the verses. Every book has introduction pages which help the reader to know things like author, date, audience and structure of the book. The section introductions help put the related books into context with each other.<br />
<br />
At the back are articles that are not long but will help you in your understanding of the scriptures. Bear in mind though, while these are well researched and written and the authors are "award-winning scholars" they are not God and their words are not part of the canon of the Bible. They are opinions based on their experience and research.<br />
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The best part about the Word of God is that it's alive. It will speak to you when you spend time in reading and study. It will comfort you, encourage you, teach you. If you listen to the Holy Spirit while you're reading and really spend the time to get into the words you'll find that you can understand more of it than you might think you can.<br />
<br />
The access to the free digital version is quite handy as well for portability reasons. An iPad is much lighter than this huge book.<br />
<br />
The only criticism I have is with parts of the translation itself. The "new" NIV translation changes a few things from the 1984 version that really make a difference in the translation. For instance, the difference in Hebrews 12:2, which now says "the the pioneer and perfecter of faith" instead of "the author and perfecter of our faith" makes a difference. Author and pioneer are very different in meaning. Even the Holman translation of "source and perfecter" is much better. Basically the difference, in my very humble and not award-winning opinion, is that author or source tell me that the faith originates there, with Jesus. A pioneer is someone who goes out and explores or charts new territory. And while Jesus has charted a new territory for our faith, it began with Him. There was nothing He had to go out and find. <br />
<br />
Anyway, if you're looking for a deeper study Bible, this is a great one. If you're needing a portable Bible for going to church or something, the digital version of this is great, but the paper one will build your biceps.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I received a copy of the book in exchange for a review on this site and a commercial bookselling site. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions, as stated, are my own.</i></span><br />
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<br />Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371907747160379709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523394065888204271.post-7707917928234588862015-08-11T14:47:00.001-05:002015-08-11T14:47:18.374-05:00Book Review: Believe, Kids Edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Believe, Kids' Edition</b><br />
<b>Randy Frazee, General Editor</b><br />
<b>Zonderkidz, 2015</b><br />
<b>English, 224 pgs</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Description:</b><br />
Written for kids 8-12, <em>Believe: Kid’s Edition</em> is part of the
national church-wide campaign led by bestselling author Randy Frazee
that takes kids on a journey to become more like Jesus in their beliefs,
actions, and character.<br />
<br />
They know the story of the Bible, but do they know what it means?
Adapted from the ground-breaking new Believe campaign from bestselling
author and pastor Randy Frazee, the <em>Believe: Kids’ Edition</em> takes kids on a thematic tour through the Bible and shows them how to think, act, and be more like Jesus.<br />
<br />
As children ages 8-12 walk through the three big categories of
Christian life—beliefs, practices, and virtues—they’ll begin a journey
that will take them closer to the heart of Jesus and deeper into the
words of Scripture. They’ll learn what the Bible has to say about
everything from the nature of God and the identity of Jesus, to prayer,
worship, and the fruit of the Spirit. Foundational and faith-building,
this book can be used by individuals or in conjunction with the
all-church campaign.<br />
<br />
<b>Review:</b><br />
<br />
Amazing.<br />
<br />
Oh, I need to say more? Well, this is an excellent book. It is written in a meaningful and understandable way for this age group. It is arranged into three sections: think, act and be. It tells stories from the Bible and uses scripture memorization as well as asking questions for reflection and comprehension.<br />
<br />
I have an 8 year old who has already made a profession of faith but who has had a hard time understanding "what now?" He is a proficient reader so I got this for him to work through. He has been reading it and asking us questions as he has them. The majority of the chapter is scripture but they have thoughts and ideas for kids to learn what the scripture means.<br />
<br />
I cannot recommend this book enough. Everything I've seen from the Believe line of books has been outstanding.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review on this blog and a commercial bookselling site. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.</i></span><br />
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371907747160379709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523394065888204271.post-24170707380395580302015-07-14T12:41:00.002-05:002015-07-14T12:41:52.579-05:00Book Review: Believe Storybook<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Believe Storybook: Think, Act, Be Like Jesus</b><br />
<b>Edited by Randy Frazee, with Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton. Illustrated by Steve Adams</b><br />
<b>Zonderkidz, 2015</b><br />
<b>English, 256 pgs</b><br />
<br />
<b>Description:</b><br />
Presented by bestselling author and pastor Randy Frazee, the <em>Believe Storybook</em>
shows children how they can think, act, and be more like Jesus. With 60
old and new testament stories from the Bible that showcase the themes,
combined with captivating and dramatic illustrations by Steve Adams,
children and adults alike will be inspired to become more like their
savior and the person they were meant to be.<br />
<br />
The <em>Believe Storybook</em> is part of the national church-wide
program led by bestselling author Randy Frazee that shows children how
they can think, act, and be more like Jesus.<br />
<br />
<strong>About the Authors</strong><br />
Randy Frazee is the senior minister at Oak Hills Church in San
Antonio, Texas. Oak Hills is one of the largest churches in America,
where Randy teaches and leads in partnership with pastor and author Max
Lucado. An emerging leader and innovator in spiritual formation and
biblical community, Randy is the architect of The Story church
engagement campaign. He is the author of <em>The Heart of The Story, The Connecting Church 2.0, The Christian Life Profile Assessment</em>, and coauthored <em>Real Simplicity</em> with his wife Rozanne.<br />
<br />
<b>Review:</b><br />
This is a very well written story book for children. There are 30 chapters. We read one per day. Each chapter has an Old Testament story, a "Jump to Jesus", a New Testament story and questions/thoughts about the story.<br />
<br />
The stories range from Adam and Eve to Zaccheus. Each chapter has a theme that ties the stories together. The include God, Salvation, Humanity, Eternity, Joy, Love and Sharing My Faith. The stories are short and very kid friendly. There isn't anything in it that needed extra explanation for my 5 year old, but it wasn't too easy for my 8 year old either. It's very well done.<br />
<br />
Each chapter starts with a Key Question which is answered through the stories. I looked at the question earlier in the day (we read the stories at bedtime) and would ask them throughout the day either the key question or one very similar. That got them thinking about the question more than just as we read the stories. I also tried to ask them what the previous story was about. Most of the time they could remember but they weren't always able to remember the wording of the key ideas.<br />
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It's a good book. I don't have any other Believe books from the series but this is so well done I'm considering looking for more.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I received a copy of the book in exchange for a review on this site and a commercial bookselling site. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review. </i></span><br />
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371907747160379709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523394065888204271.post-47407205540750557272015-06-23T12:42:00.003-05:002015-06-23T12:42:40.655-05:00Book Review: Bedtime Devotions with Jesus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Bedtime Devotions with Jesus</b><br />
<b>Thomas Nelson, 2015</b><br />
<b>English, 336 pgs</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Description:</b><br />
Trustworthy devotional moms and dads can use to make bedtime family time, faith time.<br />
<br />
After the busyness of the day is done, before your child nods off to
sleep, snuggle up to read God's Word and daily reminders about how much
He loves and takes care of us. <em>Bedtime Devotions with Jesus</em> is a
collection of prayers and devotions written by pastors, pastor's wives,
children's ministers, and other church leaders. In this book are
valuable lessons on such topics as thankfulness, obedience, trusting
God, being kind, loving others, and many more. God's Word comes alive
using simple language, and the devotions are featured with delightful
illustrations of teddy bears. This book will teach children ages 4-8 the
value and joy of spending time with God every day.<br />
<br />
Each devotional includes a scripture, a brief devotional reading, a
prayer, and a meaningful takeaway that helps children build a strong
foundation of faith. This is the first children's book in the hugely
popular MyDaily™ Devotional line. Devotionals for adults in the MyDaily
series have sold more than 173,000 copies.<br />
<br />
<strong>About the Author</strong><br />
<em>Dr. Johnny Hunt</em> is the senior pastor of First Baptist Church
of Woodstock, Georgia. He is a sought after speaker who holds
conferences each year for men, senior adults, and youth. He is the
president of Timothy Barnabas Ministry designed to encourage pastors and
their wives. Devotionals by Johnny Hunt include <em>The One Year Devotional Prayer Book, The One Year Devotional Prayer Book Vol. 2, Pathway to Discipleship</em>, and <em>Walk Through the Word</em>.<br />
<br />
<b>Review:</b><br />
This is a super sweet, easy to read and easy to understand devotional book for children. It covers one year of nightly readings. The chapters are each written by a different person, but they're edited well so as to be a cohesive grouping.<br />
<br />
The chapters cover things like forgiveness, being part of God's family and the gift we have in Jesus. Each day is only one page, with just a few paragraphs. It begins with a scripture and always has a short saying for the child to remember and take away from the reading.<br />
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There are cute teddy bear drawings throughout the book and the included ribbon helps the parent to find their spot each night.<br />
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I can see this as a gift for either a new believer and their family or a baby.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review on this blog and a commercial book selling site. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review. </i></span><br />
<br />Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371907747160379709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523394065888204271.post-36292873793277113922015-05-25T11:37:00.003-05:002015-05-25T11:37:46.310-05:00Book Review: Women Are Scary<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h2 class="a-size-large a-spacing-none" id="title">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Women Are Scary: <span class="a-size-large" id="productTitle">The Totally Awkward Adventure of Finding Mom Friends</span></span></span></h2>
<b>By Melanie Dale</b><br />
<b>Zondervan, 2015</b><br />
<b>English, 240 pgs</b><br />
<br />
<b>Description:</b><br />
A popular blogger offers solid advice to forming mom relationships, leading readers from acquaintances to lifelong friends.<br />
<br />
Too many women are frazzled and lonely, isolated in their minivans
while schlepping bags, strollers, and munchkins to and fro across town.
It doesn’t have to be this way.<br />
<br />
In this hilarious yet thought-provoking guide to “momlationships,”
blogger Melanie Dale uses a dating analogy to help women get more
intentional about bonding with each other.<br />
<br />
“We are better together,” she writes. “We make each other better
moms, better humans. We need each other, because mothering is just too
darn hard.”<br />
<br />
Using humor and stories from the trenches of motherhood, <em>Women are Scary</em> leads readers from acquaintances to lifelong friends.<br />
<br />
“This is our journey to each other,” Melanie continues, “to finding
our people and being other people’s people, learning how to bless each
other and not destroy each other.”<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Review:</b><br />
I cannot tell you how much I have needed this book! I'm a pastor's wife and sometimes it's really hard to make good friends. There are women who want to get close to the pastor's family just to get "dirt" on them. There are women who only want to tell me how to run my family and raise my kids. It's really hard to find women who just want to be my friend. Who just want to get to know me and go clothes shopping. Who want to laugh with me instead of at me.<br />
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I love this book. I love the humor in it. I think the author and I could be wonderful friends! One quote from Doctor Who and I knew she was "my kind of person". <br />
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This book has been particularly useful to me as we've just moved to a new church and a new city. I'm meeting new people. I get to decide who I am and present myself, with no apologies, and they can either accept me or not. I'm learning not to get myself too tied up in others opinions and expectations. <br />
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But more than that, I'm learning how to enjoy being around other women. No kid stories necessary. There are some awkward moments, but I'm learning how to minimize that and how to move into meaningful relationships.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I received a copy of the book in exchange for a review on this blog and a commercial bookselling site. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.</i></span><br />
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<br />Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371907747160379709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523394065888204271.post-77601772449892605612015-03-14T14:56:00.002-05:002015-03-14T14:57:45.090-05:00Book Review: After a Fashion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>After a Fashion</b><br />
<b>By Jen Turano</b><br />
<b>Bethany House, 2015</b><br />
<b>English, 352 pgs</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Description:</b><br />
Miss Harriet Peabody dreams of the day she can open up a shop selling
refashioned gowns to independent working women like herself.
Unfortunately, when an errand for her millinery shop job goes sadly awry
due to a difficult customer, she finds herself out of an income.<br />
<br />
Mr.
Oliver Addleshaw is on the verge of his biggest business deal yet when
he learns his potential partner prefers to deal with men who are settled
down and wed. When Oliver witnesses his ex not-quite-fiance cause the
hapless Harriet to lose her job, he tries to make it up to her by
enlisting her help in making a good impression on his business partner.<br />
<br />
Harriet
quickly finds her love of fashion can't make her fashionable. She'll
never truly fit into Oliver's world, but just as she's ready to call off
the fake relationship, fancy dinners, and elegant balls, a threat from
her past forces both Oliver and Harriet to discover that love can come
in the most surprising packages.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Review:</b><br />
I greatly enjoy Jen Turano's books. I have read many of them over the past few years and have enjoyed them all. Like most romance-y novels out there, there isn't anything surprising with the main characters. I like the reveals that occur regarding their pasts and their insecurities. I like the supporting characters and am looking forward to the next novels in the series which I'm certain will be as entertaining as this one. <br />
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Harriet has a very interesting past and it has helped shape her into a strong woman who knows what she wants and what she believes. It was hard to read that a Christian character would lie and concoct a story to the magnitude that she does with Oliver, but I can also see that she did it with a pure heart and a real desire to make things better for her future. Doesn't make lying right, but it doesn't make the character evil, either. <br />
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I received a copy of the book from Bethany House for the purpose of
this review. No additional compensation has been received and I was not
required to write a positive review.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371907747160379709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523394065888204271.post-70624439547739576562015-03-14T14:48:00.001-05:002015-03-14T14:48:19.726-05:00Book Review: Berenstain Bears Country Cookbook<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>The Berenstain Bears Country Cookbook</b><br />
<b>By Mike Berenstain</b><br />
<b>Zonderkidz, 2015</b><br />
<b>English, 96 pgs</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Description:</b><br />
It’s <em>The Berenstain Bears' Country Cookbook!</em> Bear lovers
everywhere are sure to find favorite recipes for fun food in this new
kid-friendly, cookbook—ranging from Bear favorites that use honey and
berries to delicious main meals and breakfasts, and even Berenstain
favorites like Jan Berenstain’s famous Green Lasagna.<br />
<br />
Featuring breakfast, lunch, main meal, and dessert recipes as well as
kid-friendly cooking tips such as food and measurement conversions,
this is sure to become a go-to cookbook for delicious and fun recipes
kids can cook with an adult.<br />
<br />
<strong>About the Author</strong><br />
<em>Mike Berenstain</em> grew up watching his parents, Stan and Jan,
working together to write and draw these lovable bears. Eventually he
started drawing and writing about them too.<br />
<br />
<br />
Review:<br />
I love the bears and Bear Country and all the cute stories that the Berenstain family has produced over the years. I really love this cookbook too. My kids are at the age where they're wanting not only more say in what we eat, but more responsibility in the kitchen. From the moment we started looking at this book when it came in, they've been excited about the recipes in it!<br />
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Each section starts with a cute little story and the recipes are really kid-friendly and adaptable for those with dietary concerns. The recipes are easy to follow and most don't have a huge ingredient list. They're not extremely complex and there isn't really anything new and ground breaking, but presenting them as something the Bears eat has my kids interested in at least trying something different.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I received a copy of the book from Book Look Bloggers for the purpose of this review. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.</i></span>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371907747160379709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523394065888204271.post-27912682410237732152015-01-25T08:38:00.001-06:002015-01-25T08:38:09.242-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Daniel Cure: <span>The Daniel Fast Way to Vibrant Health</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
By Susan Gregory and Richard J. Bloomer </span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Zondervan, 2013</span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">English, 336 pgs </span></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Description:</span></span></span></b><br />
One of the most popular fasts in recent years has been the Daniel
Fast, a 21-day period of prayer and fasting based on the Old Testament
prophet's fasts recorded in Daniel 1 and Daniel 10.<br />
<br />
The Daniel Fast is a partial fast, in which certain foods are
restricted and others are consumed. This fast is similar to a 'purified'
vegan diet; in addition to the exclusion of all animal products, no
additives, preservatives, sweeteners, caffeine, alcohol, white flour, or
processed foods are allowed.<br />
<br />
With the Daniel Fast people can eat as
much Daniel-Fast-friendly food as they would like. Though most people
begin the Daniel Fast for a spiritual purpose, many are amazed by the
physical transformation that takes place. Many with high cholesterol
experience a drop to healthy levels; people who have wrestled with
weight issues are suddenly able to lose the pounds. The vast majority of
participants following the Daniel Fast report a general sense of
well-being and increased energy.<br />
<br />
Recent published scientific studies of
the Daniel Fast have confirmed these findings, with additional benefits,
such as a reduction in systemic inflammation, a reduction in blood
pressure, and an improvement in antioxidant defenses.<br />
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<em>The Daniel Cure</em> will help readers take the next step by
focusing on the health benefits of the Daniel Fast. By following the
advice in this book, readers will convert the Daniel Fast from a
once-a-year spiritual discipline into a new way of life that can begin
any time of the year. In a nation suffering an epidemic of obesity and
its resulting ills, <em>The Daniel Cure</em> may be just what the Great Physician ordered.<br />
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<em>The Daniel Cure</em> includes a 21-Day Daniel Cure Devotional,
four chapters detailing the lifestyle diseases of obesity, type 2
diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and inflammation, eleven chapters of
recipes and meal planning advice, a recipe index, complete nutritional
guidance, and an appendix detailing 'The Science behind the Daniel
Fast.'<br />
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<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Review:</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is a very descriptive book. It tells you a lot about the science behind the diet/fast. It is by no means an easy diet or lifestyle to adopt. It is something that should be undertaken after careful study, consideration and a discussion with your doctor about whether or not you can do this.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are chapters and chapters about the science that is described in the book description. I appreciate that the authors make every effort to inform your decision. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> The 21 day devotional and the recipes are the part that I really was interested in with this book. They're excellent. You get more than just a basic salad, shake or soup with these recipes. Of course, the authors also give a lot of help with meal planning and that will really help you stay on the diet. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is something that my husband and I have been interested in for a while and we're working toward being able to do the fast. We're weaning ourselves off caffeine and processed foods. The author is very careful to tell you not to just start this on one day. You have to rid yourself of the toxins from the junk in our foods and it is not an easy process. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you're looking for a good solid reference about the diet this is your book. You can always find more recipes online if you're not interested in the ones in the book.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for a review on this blog and a commercial bookselling site. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.</span></span><br />
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371907747160379709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523394065888204271.post-78608930964712934662015-01-17T15:09:00.003-06:002015-01-17T15:09:47.810-06:00Book Review: Stealing From God<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Stealing From God</b><br />
<b>By Frank Turek</b><br />
<b>NavPress, 2014</b><br />
<b>English, 304 pgs</b><br />
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<b>Description:</b><br />
If you think atheists have reason, evidence, and science on their side, think again! Award-winning author Dr. Frank Turek (<i>I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist</i>)
will show you how atheists steal reason, evidence, science, and other
arguments from God in trying to make their case for atheism. If that
sounds contradictory, it’s because it is! Atheists can’t make their case
without appealing to realities only theism can explain. In an engaging
and memorable way, <i>Stealing from God</i> exposes these intellectual crimes atheists are committing and then provides four powerful reasons for why Christianity is true.<br />
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<b>Review:</b><br />
Frank Turek makes a salient case in Stealing From God: Why Atheists Need God To Make Their Case that the atheist worldview unintentionally relies on theistic foundations from which it derives its order. Turek cleverly alliterates the theme of theft by assigning each of the six major chapters as C.R.I.M.E.S. – C-Causality, R-Reason, I-Information & Intentionality, M-Morality, E-Evil, and S-Science.<br />
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Each of these chapters takes apart the prevailing atheistic positions on the listed subjects and displays a clear logic that undermines the positions. The logic and discussion in each chapter is clear and presented in an easy-to-understand language. Turek’s obvious intention is to make his conclusion that God exists readily understood by virtually any reader. There is no slight-of-hand or logical obfuscation occurring here.<br />
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In particular, the fifth and sixth chapter’s tackling the subjects of “evil” and “science” are timely responses to “new” positions promoted by the most famous authors from the “New Atheist” movement, such as Dr. Richard Dawkins and the late Christopher Hitchens. Specifically, the discussion of perspective on understanding evil and the possibility of good coming from it are important. The recognition of the limit of human understanding in deference to God is clearly written and logically defended. As Turek surmises, “…evil turns out to be an even bigger problem for atheism. Christianity has a reasonable explanation for evil and a solution to it. Atheism has neither.”<br />
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The audience for this book is wide – individual readers will find a solidly presented apologetic on a number of current topics, groups will find ample fodder for discussion and learning. Likewise, pastors and other leaders who are regularly confronted with opposing viewpoints will find this book an excellent primer on Christian apologetics.<br />
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Turek holds an earned doctorate in Christian Apologetics from Southern Evangelical Seminary and has authored or co-authored three other books: I Don’t Have Enough Faith To Be An Atheist, Correct, Not Politically Correct and Legislating Morality. He hosts the weekly television programs I Don’t Have Enough Faith To Be An Atheist and CrossExamined With Frank Turek. <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I received a copy of the book from the publisher for the purpose of a review on this site and a commercial bookselling site. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.</i></span><br />
<br />Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371907747160379709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523394065888204271.post-39706952928724385492015-01-16T12:44:00.003-06:002015-01-16T12:44:53.768-06:00Book Review: Esther: Royal Beauty<br />
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<b>Esther: Royal Beauty</b><br />
<b>By Angela Hunt</b><br />
<b>Bethany House, 2015</b><br />
<b>English, 352 pgs</b><br />
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<b>Description:</b><br />
When an ambitious tyrant threatens genocide against the Jews, an inexperienced young queen must take a stand for her people. <br /><br />When
Xerxes, king of Persia, issues a call for beautiful young women,
Hadassah, a Jewish orphan living in Susa, is forcibly taken to the
palace of the pagan ruler. After months of preparation, the girl known
to the Persians as <i>Esther</i> wins the king's heart and a queen's
crown. But because her situation is uncertain, she keeps her ethnic
identity a secret until she learns that an evil and ambitious man has
won the king's permission to exterminate all Jews--young and old,
powerful and helpless. Purposely violating an ancient Persian law, she
risks her life in order to save her people...and bind her husband's
heart.<br />
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<b>Review:</b><br />
I really enjoyed this novelization of the story of Esther. The story is told from a rotating point of view, between Esther and Harbonah (the king's eunich), which is unique to any other stories I've read about Esther. The eunich's point of view serves to help us understand the king and his motivation better and to tell a lot of the historical background of the story.<br />
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I was extremely impressed with how well researched the book is. I can't recall another fiction book lately that has had footnotes at the end. There are parts that the author admits she had to "fill in" and fictionalize but they are consistent with the story and the Biblical account of Esther.<br />
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I love how personal it got with her and the king's children and how she was torn about her love for the king, since he was of a different faith. I found it really hard to put down and have already recommended it to other women I know in the church!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I received a copy of the book from Bethany House for the purpose of a review on this blog and a commercial bookselling website. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.</i></span><br />
<br />Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371907747160379709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523394065888204271.post-57255984177469799102014-12-27T14:08:00.002-06:002014-12-27T14:08:12.697-06:00Book Review: The Daniel Fast<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>The Ultimate Guide to The Daniel Fast</b><br />
<b>By Kristen Feola</b><br />
<b>Zondervan, 2010</b><br />
<b>English, 224 pages</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Description:</b><br />
<em>The Ultimate Guide to the Daniel Fast</em> is an inspiring resource
for Christians who want to pursue a more intimate relationship with God
through the 21-day commitment to prayer and fasting known as the Daniel
Fast. As you deny yourself certain foods - such as sugars, processed
ingredients, and solid fats - you will not only embrace healthier eating
habits, you’ll also discover a greater awareness of God’s presence.
Author Kristen Feola explains the Daniel Fast in easy-to-understand
language, provides 21 thought-provoking devotionals for each day of the
fast, and shares more than 100 tasty, easy-to-make recipes that follow
fasting guidelines. In a conversational style, Feola helps you structure
the fast so you can spend less time thinking about what to eat and more
time focusing on God.<br />
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You will also discover that “to fast” means “to
feast” on the only thing that truly nourishes? God’s powerful Word. For
more info, please visit www.ultimatedanielfast.com.<br />
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<b>Review:</b><br />
This is a simple to read and use quick start for a Daniel Fast. It's based on the book of Daniel in the Bible where Daniel refuses to eat the rich food at the Babylonian court. He asks to be tested on a simple diet and ends up healthier than the others who were eating all the delicacies and rich foods.<br />
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The book describes fasting and why it's important and how to prepare before the fast begins. It also gives you 21 days of devotions and a lot of recipes to get through the three week fast. The fast is intended to be a start to a healthier diet and lifestyle. It gives you a nice list of foods to eat and foods to avoid. (It's going to be hard to give up caffeine/coffee...) Really though, the list isn't bad. It's getting all the junk out of our diets that I'm not entirely sure we're supposed to be eating anyway. Sugars, refined carbs, dairy, meat, bread and artificial sweeteners...it's a heavy list but the point is well made that it's 21 days to make your body healthier.<br />
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The recipes and meal plans are really easy and I'm looking forward to trying them as we start our 21 day fast. We're still in the planning and preparing phase but we're looking forward to the changes it will make in our bodies and diets.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I received a copy of the book in exchange for a review on my blog and a commercial bookselling website. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review. This is not intended in ANY WAY as medical advice. </i></span><br />
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371907747160379709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4523394065888204271.post-82396002432796179272014-12-20T13:09:00.000-06:002014-12-20T13:09:24.949-06:00Book Review: Pray the Scriptures When Life Hurts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Pray the Scriptures When Life Hurts</b><br />
<b>By Kevin Johnson</b><br />
<b>Bethany House, 2014</b><br />
<b>English, 128 pgs</b><br /><br /><br /><b>Description:</b> <br /> Find Hope Through Praying the Scriptures<br /><br />What do you do when prayer feels futile, an endless rehashing of your problems? If one of the most practical reasons we pray is to obtain strength from God, then we need to understand how that happens. Prayer is about more than making requests. In addition to our agony and questioning, Scripture teaches us to also offer up our surrender. We can voice not only loneliness, resentment, and frustration but also peace, hope, and worship. When we let Scripture teach us a breadth of prayers, we begin to be filled with God's fresh life.<br /><br />Interweaving his own story of inner anguish and physical illness, Kevin Johnson takes you through nine key Scripture passages that will help you find peace. Each passage is broken down into smaller portions, paired with short phrases to prompt you to pray Scripture back to God. <br /><br />Learn how to talk to God in your pain. <br /> <br /><b>About the Author: </b><br />Kevin Johnson is the creator of the first-of-its-kind Pray the Scriptures Bible and the bestselling author or coauthor of more than fifty books and Bible products for adults, students, and children. With a background as a youth worker, senior editor, and teaching pastor, he now leads Emmaus Road Church in greater Minneapolis. Kevin is married to Lyn, and they have three grown children. Learn more at www.kevinjohnsonbooks.com.<br /> <br /><b>Review:</b><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"> This is a fairly short, 10 chapter, book which can be used to help you deal with your emotions and hurts in a Biblical way. The chapters cover agony, loneliness, questions, resentment, requests, frustration, peace, surrender and hope. I like that the author is raw and open about his life and uses lots of examples from personal struggles. There is much wisdom in this book. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Each book has a few short pages of devotion/instruction and then several journaling style prompts using the Bible to work through the discussed emotion. I also like that the book doesn't only handle "negative" emotions. It has a very uplifting tone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">I'm not sure about the use of this book. Obviously it is useful for those who are struggling, but I think it's more of a personal study guide than a group workbook. It could be used that way, but I think it would be more effective in use with a counselor or a very small group.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I received a copy of the book from the publisher for the purpose of a review on this blog and a commercial bookselling website. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.</i></span></span>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371907747160379709noreply@blogger.com0