Books, Books, and more Books

Code of Justice

2011-03-28T12:21:00.006-04:00

The helicopter started lurching uncontrollably. This was decidedly not an expected part of the sightseeing tour of Mt. Hood and Mt. Saint Helens! FBI agent Heather Sloan met the eyes of her only sibling, Kit, a deputy D.A. in Portland. Each tried to comfort the other before the inevitable crash. Confused by the pain, Heather roused herself, trying to grasp their situation in her fogged brain. Kit, weak and fading, exhorted her sister, managing to get out her last words, "Follow the drugs".

Liz Johnson's newest work of suspense, Code of Justice, has a new twist, a female FBI agent. Bruised and with a surgically repaired ACL that requires a long recovery time, Heather is put on leave and told to stay off the case. However, she manages to convince sheriff's deputy Jeremy Latham, assigned to what is now a murder investigation, that he needs her help. Her guilt over not protecting Kit coupled with a strong desire to seek revenge, not justice, causes her to push them both as they dig for the truth.

Jeremy is laboring under his own guilt over his fiance's death years before, convinced that he did not do enough to protect her. Now, as he finds himself attracted to Heather and it becomes apparent that the killer is targeting her, he finds he has to face that guilt. Will revived prayers and sharing personal fears lead Heather and Jeremy into a new relationship where they can finally put the past behind them?

I like Liz Johnson's clever, descriptive, fast paced writing style. There is some new twist almost every chapter, which draws the reader into trying to match wits with the characters. The light verbal sparring and the inner emotional conflict between Heather and Jeremy adds to the atmosphere as the story unfolds. Have some fun and read Code of Justice.

Available in both paperback and Kindle editions.

Vanishing Act

2010-08-27T15:49:00.012-04:00

Nora is huddled in a dark Lincoln Town Car parked in an alley when she hears her father's voice outside. Yanked out of the car by one of her kidnappers, she is face to face with her father and the thugs. Suddenly there is a scuffle. When the gun fires, Nora jumps into her father's car and turns the key. In reverse down the alley as fast she can go, she manages to turn around and speed forward. Her father's lifeless body lies on the ground behind her. Thus begins Vanishing Act, Liz Johnson's second book.

A year and a half later agent Nathan Andersen is relying on various tips and trails as he searches for Nora. She has competently disappeared, but the FBI knows her abductors are also searching. One of the biggest criminals in the Portland area is at large and does not want to take a chance on being behind bars for life.

The current trail leads Agent Andersen to a small town where he strikes up a friendship with Danielle, a local mechanic who is teaching an auto shop class at the local community college. In the class, we are introduced to a few quirky characters who are more than they seem.

Both Danielle and Nathan have buried problems in their pasts, much having to do with fear and regret, and erected walls around their hearts. Tough situations have caused them to rely less on God and more on themselves. Now they both are drawn back to Him and seeking guidance through prayer. And, it seems the time has come when each needs a confidant. Can Danielle trust Nathan after she has been confronted by a student, run off the road, and her apartment torn apart? Can Nathan get past his training as an agent and let Danielle know him more personally?

I like Johnson's quick action, witty conversations, and descriptive passages. The names of her "bad guys" are fun, too; Goodwill, Lurch, and the Shadow. Mystery, suspense, romance, inspiration, and fun are all rolled into one fast reading book. Vanishing Act.
I think you'll like it.

Paperback, 2010, published by Steeple Hill Books.
It can be purchased on Amazon.

Shades of Morning

2010-07-12T13:32:00.005-04:00

Marnie Wittier runs the Books and Brew coffee shop, a gathering place for the locals in Pacific Grove, California. She lives a quiet life and usually makes just enough money to cover expenses. Her loyal following asks nothing of her other than to host baby showers and other parties from time to time and that's just the way she likes it. They do not know her past and she does not volunteer much information. She feels as though she's been given a second chance by God to start a new life and her kind-heartedness and compassion leads her to do the same with others.

Everything is going along great, until her past catches up with her in the form of a lawyer's letter. After 15 years of no contact with her sister in Maine, she is informed that Rose died, leaving instructions for Marnie to become the guardian for Emmit, her 15 year old son. The notification by Taylor Cole, Rose's lawyer and Marnie's close friend whom she abandoned so many years ago, throws her for a loop. She's been found, and Emmit is going to be on a plane to California in a few days.

Unnerved but with strong ties of family loyalty pulling at her, she does the right thing and meets the plane. Totally unprepared for the task of raising a teen, she is even more dumbfounded when she discovers Emmit is a Down's Syndrome child. He challenges her daily as she learns to love him. The most frustrating moments occur when he continually gets into her "regret box", triggering memories of her earlier life.

I like the way Marlo Schalesky develops her characters and teaches us along the way. Marnie and Taylor both learn that hanging on to past sins, regrets, and fear keeps us from being whole. God wants us to to give up these things and be totally free to live in Him. We also can recognize, as the main characters do, that God gives us gifts but sometimes it takes difficult situations before we see the truth of those gifts.

While I enjoyed the book and read with anticipation to learn the whole story behind the characters, I did not particularly care for the ending, The surprise twist was a little too "mystical" for me, for lack of a better word. Other than that, I enjoyed reading Shades of Morning.

2010 paperback by Multnomah.

The Bridegrooms

2010-04-23T19:24:00.006-04:00

This latest book by Allison Pittman is light hearted and enjoyable. The whole story takes place in a week's time. There is a double meaning in the title; not only was it a story of bridegrooms destined for each of four sisters, but also the name of a traveling baseball team.

Mysteriously one night, when the oldest daughter was 8 and the youngest just a baby, their mother left and did not return home. Fast forward to their current life, where the daughters are grown, the "baby" is now a teen, and possible marriage is on the horizon. Vada, the oldest, has mothered each of them up to this point, with some help from their doctor father and their loyal housekeeper. She has a steady if not "exciting" beau, and her closest sister has secretly put out an advertisement for possible suitors; sort of like eharmony.com only in 1898!

On game day during the game between the Brooklyns Bridegrooms and the Cleveland Spiders, a spectator is hit by a home run ball and carried to the house to be doctored. Tense moments ensue.

I enjoyed the descriptions of life with sisters: their qualities, quirks, and loyalties. It reminded me a bit of Little Women. I enjoyed the descriptions of the clothing, routines, housekeeper and the local "coffee shop" if you will, where coffee and delicious pastries were available for a dime or two. Mysterious characters, conflicting emotions and a satisfying ending made for a simple but fun book.

2010, paperback, by WaterBrook Press.
I have one or two copies to give away.

This Little Prayer of Mine

2010-04-09T10:13:00.004-04:00

This Little Prayer of Mine, by Anthony DeStefano, is a very simple, colorfully illustrated book for children. It reinforces the knowledge that God listens to and answers prayer, even if you are a child.

With simple rhyming prayers, sometimes for help facing fears or asking forgiveness for unkind behavior, This Little Prayer of Mine also reminds children to be thankful in prayer and to express their joy and hopes for the future to God.

Hardback, 2010, by WaterBrook Press.
I have one copy to give away.

Dug Down Deep

2010-04-06T21:00:00.007-04:00

Editor of a magazine for homeschoolers, speaker at teen conferences, having a contract with a Christian publisher to write a book , Joshua Harris found himself living the "evangelical American dream." However, he realized it was only a surface faith that he portrayed, not one with a deep spiritual foundation. He began searching Christian doctrine and mentoring with respected preachers. And, he learned what it meant to have a sure foundation.
Dug Down Deep is the story of Harris' search and awakening to the truth of the gospel. For example, he says we are all theologians, but the main question is whether what we know about God is actually true or a conglomeration of false ideas. Our whole life can be wrong because of an incorrect foundation.

On our foundation: "Being a Christian means being a person who labors to establish his beliefs, his dreams, his choices, his very view of the world on the truth of who Jesus is and what he has accomplished..." (pg. 19)

On sanctification: "Christian growth can't be defined by whom we don't want to be like. It has to be defined by becoming like Jesus...It has to be built on real, Bible-rooted conviction." (pg.170)
"The truth of God's adopting love for me means I'm not obeying to get into his family or even to stay in the club. I obey because I'm already in." (pg. 173)

On the Holy Spirit: "To be indwelt by the Spirit of the living, eternal God is a greater gift, a more overwhelming honor than any position, any possession, any amount of wealth, or any human achievement." (pg. 186) "The truth is that there is no such thing as normal or nonsupernatural Christian living." (pg. 187) "But we can never settle for merely knowing doctrine....We need the power of God's Holy Spirit to give us 'strength to comprehend'....God's love for us..." (pg. 191)

On the doctrine of the church: "So God doesn't come out on a big stage once a year to prove himself to the world. He does something so much riskier and more daring....he makes us the show." (pg. 197)

I now know the story called "The Room" was his own dream. Harris also disliked an old tale about a train conductor who sacrifices his son in the gears of a bridge so people on the train could be saved, equating that somehow with Jesus and the cross. I never liked that story either, but could not figure out why it bothered me so. Now I know it's because it wrongly portrays Jesus as a victim.
Dug Down Deep, by Joshua Harris, is a thoughtful, well written story of a personal search for a sure foundation. It's worth reading.

2010 hardbound by Multnomah.

Here Burns My Candle

2010-04-05T17:05:00.004-04:00

This is the first novel I have read by Liz Curtis Higgs. Here Burns My Candle is the story of a Lowlander family in 1745. Lady Marjory Kerr has taken up residence in Edinburgh, along with her two sons and their wives.

She and her hand-picked daughter-in-law, Janet, love to participate in all that the upper society has to offer. The death of her husband has left her fairly well off with income from lands around a country estate. That was his love; hers was the city life and all it had to offer. While keeping her gold hidden under her chamber floor, in her heart she hides the guilt she feels from urging her husband to keep them in a fashionable residence in the city. Her sons can do no wrong: she spoils them and their wives, providing them the money to live on and a place of residence.

Lady Elizabeth Kerr, on the other hand, married Lord Donald Kerr out of love. She is a Highlander by birth and therefore from a different social level. She is an expert seamstress and busies herself much of the time with beautiful stitchery. She is not as enamored of social standing as are her mother-in-law and sister-in-law. She is kind hearted and humble. She secretly worships the moon as taught by her family, though she dutifully attends church services with the Kerrs. Unbeknownst to herself and the rest of the family, her husband has secrets of his own.

Here Burns My Candle is rich with description. At one point I felt like I should make scones and have tea! I liked the way the characters developed through adversity, and how they came to know or come back to the one, true God. Well-researched Scottish history made me think I should dig into a history book on my own.

Love, betrayal, loss, redemption; all rolled into one satisfying novel.

WaterBrook Press, 2010, paperback
I have one copy to give away.

An Absence So Great

2010-04-05T14:52:00.008-04:00

This sequel to Jane Kirkpatrick's A Flickering Light picks up where the first left off. Jessie Gaebele has moved to Milwaukee to become a photography studio assistant to the Widow Johnson. She's 18 with three years of experience behind her and a love of photography deep within her. Her goals are to earn money to send back to her family for their household support (a common occurrence in the early 1900's), save enough money to someday own her own studio, learn as much as she can about the business, and leave behind the adoration of her former boss and mentor, Fred Bauer, a married man with a family.

In An Absence So Great, Jessie struggles as she recognizes an inner voice often telling her "Don't do it" and just as often ignored, to her detriment, while she calculates different possibilities in her mind; those things she can do to generate additional income as she works to gain a respected foothold in what is considered a man's occupation. Often, verses of Scripture which she memorized as a child come back to direct and comfort her. Many of the mistakes she makes come from her desire to be in control and shape her life.

It's kind of a melancholy novel and sometimes I wanted the characters to make different choices. However, An Absence So Great and A Flickering Light are based on the author's own grandmother's life. She gleaned details from interviews, family histories and tales handed down, plus factual research supported by news of the day. Kirkpatrick takes family history and uses her imagination to flesh out what might have been.

Paperback, from WaterBrook Press, 2010.
I have two copies to give away.

Start Here

2010-03-17T19:11:00.005-04:00

The Harris twins are at it again. Their first book, Do Hard Things, challenged teens to step out and become "rebelutionaries" by doing unexpected things for God. Now they offer Start Here, full of examples, practical tips and vision.

Have a teen that needs some inspiration or has a desire to serve God in a particular way but is not sure where to start? No idea is too big or too small, according to Alex and Brett Harris.

"When we're willing to take risks, pursue excellence, dream big, be faithful, and do what's right no matter the cost, our actions shout that Christ is worth serving above all others." (pg. 63-64)

Start Here, by Alex and Brett Harris.
2010 offered by Multnomah in paperback.

I have two copies to give away.

Lady Carliss and the Waters of Moorue

2010-03-15T12:29:00.006-04:00

Another fun adventure from Chuck Black, Lady Carliss and the Waters of Moorue is the fourth in the series, The Knights of Arrethtrae.

Lady Carliss, a Knight of the Prince, sets out to find those responsible for kidnapping her friend Salina's family members. Along the way she is reunited with a fellow knight, Sir Dalton, and realizes her feelings of affection for him have not left, despite all her efforts to ignore them. Meanwhile, Sir Dalton is bitten by a mysterious, vicious, poisonous creature which is able to camouflage itself in any surrounding. She finds herself in a race against time to find the antidote to the poison.

In her search she encounters a powerful Shadow Warrior and uncovers his plot to overtake the Kingdom. Will her faith in the Prince keep her strong? Who are the mysterious Silent Warriors? Can she make a choice between the life of Sir Dalton or many innocent lives?

It's geared toward teens, but if you like to read about knights, mysteries, good vs. evil, and parables of faith, you too will enjoy this winner from Chuck Black.

Paperback, 2010, from Multnomah.
I have one copy to give away.

The Friends We Keep

2010-03-14T19:51:00.007-04:00

(note: this is a much belated review since I received the book last fall)

This is an account of the experiences of the author and of other women she consulted concerning friendships. She uses personal stories, cultural references, and historical facts to analyze friendships among women. She tries to answer questions such as why we need other women as friends, what it means to have a safe friendship, and how to embrace whatever a friend has to offer.

I stopped reading about halfway through. I found it rather boring. Susan Zacharias Davis made many references to movies, the majority of which I had not seen. Whatever comparison point she was trying to make about the way women acted towards each other in the particular movie did not mean anything to me. I am not familiar with many of the books she referenced, so again, the connection was lost.

I think I am not one for deeply analyzing relationships. I have friends and am a friend. Some friendships have come and gone over the years, depending on the circumstances and situations. True friends enjoy one another's company, recognize one another's strengths and weaknesses, and value the friendship. I believe God puts us together with other women so we can strengthen them and be strengthened by them.

There are guided discussion questions at the end of The Friends We Keep.

Paperback, 2009 from WaterBrook Press.
If you are interested, I have two copies to give away.

The Golden Cross

2010-03-12T16:10:00.010-05:00

Need a little spring break? Want to go somewhere but can't? My suggestion is to pick up a good book or two and lose yourself in an adventure. The Golden Cross, by Angela Hunt, took me to 1642 in Dutch Batavia on the island of Java. It focused on the rough life in and around a wharf side tavern; the girls, the rowdy sailors looking for more than drink, and the opposing gentility who would not dare to set foot in that part of town.

Aidan O'Connor, after her father's death at sea, is left to be raised by her mother as a barmaid in a tavern near the docks. She has learned the skills of conversation, pick-pocketing, and how to deflect unwanted advances by drunken sailors. She also has a God-given talent for drawing and capturing the essence of her subjects. She meets a world-famous cartographer and artist who becomes her mentor. He wants to take her on a voyage searching for a new world to add artistic embellishments of flora and fauna to the maps he will will be making.

I did not care for the epilogue portions of the book. While they tried to give some background, I felt they were unnecessary.

Intrigue, disguises, romance, and adventure surround Aidan in The Golden Cross. If you want a fun, fast-paced book, I think you will enjoy this.

Paperback, 1998, by WaterBrook Press
I have one copy to give away.

Dancing with My Father

2010-03-03T20:30:00.005-05:00

Soothing. That's my reaction to Sally Clarkson's new book, Dancing with My Father. Personal reflection led her to realize, as she was moving day after day through task after task, she was missing something in her life. What was it? Joy. Not happiness, but the joy of delighting in God's presence.

She determined to begin focusing on recognizing how she delighted God and how she could find delight and joy in His presence no matter the circumstance. Dancing with My Father shares her gleanings. "Joy, then, comes in embracing the opportunity to be a part of his world of righteousness and preparing to live with him in that kingdom for eternity." (page 50)

Feeling worn down? Wondering where the joy is in your life? Take a stroll through Dancing with My Father and you will be refreshed.

Published by WaterBrook Press in paperback, 2010.
If you should choose to use them, there are introspective questions at the end of every chapter for more in-depth focus and study.
I have one copy to give away.

Secrets

2010-02-28T14:53:00.004-05:00

Jessica Morgan rolls into her new town, literally, by overturning her car and going off the side of the road. She spends her first night banged up and bruised in the Glenbrooke hospital. After her release she finds herself overwhelmed but somehow suspicious of the welcoming kindness of strangers who tend to her, from the handsome fireman/rescue squad member to the new landlord, fellow teacher, and even a child in the store.

In Secrets, author Robin Jones Gunn spins an intriguing tale of romance, mystery, and God's grace. Jessica is hiding something and weaves a web of half-truths, opening up only a little to those who have befriended her, but always managing to change the subject if it looks like they might in innocence probe too closely to her guarded life. As her friend Kyle tells her, "...let me tell you something about secrets....the longer you carry them the heavier they become. "

It's when Jessica consents to be a chaperone on a missions trip to Mexico that she learns the way to be in control of her life is to give it to God.

I spent a lazy few hours on Saturday reading and thoroughly enjoying this fast paced novel.

Published in 1995, by Multnomah, Secrets is the first book in Gunn's Glenbooke Series.

Primal

2010-02-09T14:20:00.006-05:00

Mark Batterson poses the question: "Is there a place in your past where you met God and God met you? In Primal, he targets our response and encourages us to remember and focus on the commandment "Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength." How do we do that?

One way is by getting our priorities straight. "The blessings of God are never ends in themselves...[they] are always a means to an end...blessing others." "...making money is the way you make a living and giving it away is the way you make a life." (page 33)

Another way is to meditate on Scripture and then live out what you learn. I was impressed by Batterson's proposition that creativity is a dimension of spiritual maturity. God is a creator. To become more like Him is to become more creative. "God is always speaking. ..are we listening? Are we taking those God ideas captive? Are we making them obedient to Christ?...Is it possible that our lack of ideas is really a lack of love?" (italics mine)...The more you love God, the more God reveals." (page 128)

Wonder where your original zeal has gone?
Need to be challenged?
Read Primal.

2009, hard bound from Multnomah.

Tea With Hezbollah

2010-02-01T16:15:00.007-05:00

Co-authors Ted Dekker and Carl Medearis are at lunch one day. During their discussion the question pops up: "What does it mean to love your neighbor?" After a bit of bantering back and forth about what it would entail if people seriously followed Jesus' teaching in the parable about the good Samaritan, Carl suggests that they go find out what people in the Middle East think. Two years later, after much planning, they start their journey in Cairo, Egypt.

This book is a first-hand account of their journey: a compilation of their travels, dangers faced, conflicting feelings as Dekker's mind starts imagining various scenarios (not necessarily good), and recorded interviews with cab drivers, sheiks, leaders of Hezbollah, Hamas, and bin Laden's brothers, to name a few. Always, they seek to find out what these men believe about Jesus' admonition to "love your neighbor as yourself" and if it is really possible to love your enemy.

Dekker gave a lot of historical background to the ongoing conflicts in various parts of the Middle East, which was helpful. It was a little difficult for me to keep straight, since while the names are familiar, I don't necessarily follow the who, what and why of each area of fighting. It was also a little disheartening, as so many of those interviewed have a disagreeable view of the US, though they were careful to say it was the government, not the people, that they disliked.

If you have any interest in the Middle East conflicts, or really want to find out what the reaction is to the question, "How do you recommend we love each other as he [Jesus] taught?", read this book.

Hardcover, 2010 by Doubleday.
You can purchase this through Random House or Amazon.com

Children's Duo

2009-12-04T09:57:00.009-05:00

Delightful! That's the best word to describe this duo of children's books. The author is Lisa Tawn Bergren. She's taken on the task of explaining the gospel message to children and she succeeds.

In God Gave us Love, Little Cub is out fishing with her grandfather.
She is not pleased when the otters are scaring away the fish!
But Grampa Bear carefully explains that they can share their fishing spot.
He tells her that showing love to others, both families and friends,
is something we can do to share God's love.
We know God loves us because he sent his Son to show us.

In the second book, God Gave us Christmas, Little Cub is excitedly getting ready for Christmas. She starts questioning her mom about Santa, God, and Christmas. Mama Bear takes Little Cub on a camping expedition to find God. Little Bear learns God is easy to find because He is everywhere. And to answer her question about how we got Christmas, Mama Bear tells her, "Jesus is the light of the world. Jesus is how God gave us Christmas."

Beautifully illustrated, simply presented, and fun to read. Your little ones will love them. I did.

Both are hardback from WaterBrook Press.
I'm keeping my copies!
(for purchase information, you can click on the books)

40 Minute Bible Studies

2009-11-14T14:46:00.007-05:00

Looking for in-depth Bible studies on various topics?
Feel like you don't know where to start or that you don't have the time to set aside?

Kay Arthur has produced just the thing for you! Her teaching team at Precepts Ministries International produces a series called 40 minute Bible Studies. These inductive study guides are designed for 6-week segments, 40 minutes a week, with notes, scripture to research, and probing questions to answer.

Published by WaterBrook Press.
Some other topics are: Marriage, Leadership, Discipleship, etc.
Kay Arthur is a gifted teacher and author, using key "precept upon precept, line upon line" steps to study the Bible. Her studies are rich in content and well worth your time.

white picket fences

2009-11-10T15:10:00.014-05:00

When I hear the term "white picket fences" I envision a sided house with shutters, tidy lawns and gardens, all encircled by a white picket fence alluding to an idyllic, perfect life within. Susan Meissner has taken that image and projected it instead as an emotional one surrounding a suburban stucco in San Diego. The well-maintained, immaculately landscaped home contains a "perfect on the outside" family with secrets.

Amanda's brother is a wanderer, both on US and foreign soil, forever beginning new jobs and leaving them after just months. His 16 year old daughter, Tally, has been raised in this lifestyle, and has become pretty adept at sudden uprootings. This time, though, her dad has taken off to Germany alone, alluding to her that he is searching for treasure their family left when fleeing the Nazis, and making her promise not to tell. Her maternal grandmother with whom she'd become reacquainted only the day before suddenly dies, leaving her alone and under child services supervision. Her aunt comes to the rescue, offering shelter and a stable home life. Yet, in white picket fences, we find a family with underlying emotional turmoil that is mostly ignored, ready to erupt.

Tally and her cousin Chase begin working on a sociology assignment, interviewing two men who survived the Holocaust. In the midst, they find intertwined lives, uncover and reveal some hidden family secrets, and struggle in learning the truth about their pasts. As Josef challenges them, "What is impossible for men is not impossible for God." (pg. 254) Will they turn to God for their answers? Read white picket fences and find out for yourself.

Paperback, 2009, from WaterBrook Press.
I have one copy to give away.

The Sound of Sleigh Bells

2009-10-17T11:17:00.010-04:00

Cindy Woodsmall brings us a new winner in her tales of Amish life, The Sound of Sleigh Bells.

Beth Hertzler hides the truth in her heart about a tragedy involving her former fiancee. Walling off all who try to enter and bring healing during her extended mourning period, she cannot let go of the past. As a buyer for her aunt Lizzy's store, she takes a trip to an Amish community in another state where she is intrigued by an intricate carving which seems to touch the pain she bears. Through the intervention of her aunt, she begins a correspondence with the gifted carver, Jonah. His letters in return begin to draw her out of her shell, as he reveals some of the lessons he's learned through a tragedy in his own life.

Close knit family, community, forgiveness, and love combine to weave a soothing tale of redemption and hope. I found The Sound of Sleigh Bells an enjoyable and quick read.

Hardbound from WaterBrook Press.
I have one copy to give away.

Extraordinary

2009-10-15T19:18:00.007-04:00

Ready for a stimulating, thought provoking book? Then grab a copy of Extraordinary by John Bevere.

Bevere is convinced we were all "meant for more" and he spends page after page citing and explaining Scripture to prove his point. God gives us the goods to live above the norm and accomplish remarkable feats. Whether we do so or not depends upon the disposition of our hearts.

Because we love God, we naturally want to please Him. What better way is there to do so than to appropriate the grace we've been given? How do we that? Through deep and abiding faith. Extraordinary contains a wealth of word pictures drawn by Bevere to illustrate his points. I especially liked his "pipeline of faith." A river of God's grace runs by our heart field. In our heart field there are sections called "Forgiveness of Sin", "Healing", "Living Holy", etc. The believer can tap into that river of grace by using his "pipeline of faith" to empower forgiveness of sin, but shut off holiness, healing, etc. because he never bothers to run a "pipeline of faith" to those sections. (pg. 152-153)

Bevere's explanation of body, soul and spirit is also one of the best I have seen. It gives new light to Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

Extraordinary

New from WaterBrook Press.
I have one copy to give away.

For more about John Bevere: www.messengerinternational.org

If God is Good...

2009-09-25T00:12:00.006-04:00

I don't want to put it down, but I have to. I am only a tenth of the way through. There is just so much my brain can absorb and digest at one time!

Randy Alcorn has written a thought-provoking treatise, tackling the age old question: "If God is good, why is there suffering and evil?" He challenges us to see spiritually the big picture of who God is and what He is doing in the world.

A few gems gleaned so far from If God is Good...

"Believing God exists is not the same as trusting the God who exists." (pg. 12)
"...most evangelical churches have failed to teach people to think biblically about the realities of evil and suffering." (pg. 14)
God did not say trusting in Him would ward off all evil and suffering (pg. 38)
"We shouldn't wait until suffering comes to start learning about how to face it any more than we should wait until we fall into the water to start learning how to scuba dive." (pg. 39)

Alcorn shares stories from people who have been through deeply painful circumstances, including himself, yet whose faith in God has grown deeper and richer. He quotes from many non-Christian sources and Christian writers, and loads his writing chock full of Scripture to continually point the reader to the God who holds all of us in His hand.

I would recommend If God is Good... Be prepared to be challenged.

2009, hardbound from Multnomah.

You Were Born for This

2009-09-19T11:07:00.005-04:00

Bruce Wilkinson, whom you may recall authored The Prayer of Jabez, has penned a new book, You Were Born for This. In it, he lays out a handbook of sorts, using seven "keys" presented to Christians for encountering and delivering miracles to those in need.

I am not sure I really liked this book as it almost seemed at times that God is put in a box, and we need to know these keys in order to unlock the box for God to work in the lives of others. In fact, Wilkinson speaks much of people "partnering" with God in order to make miracles happen. I guess it was the term I didn't like, as "partner" seems too much like being on an equal footing with God whereas I view myself as His servant. I thought referring to heaven as "Mission Control" whereby God is planning what miracles should occur and who should be the one to bring them about, kind of a cocky attitude, but it did get across the author's point that God wants to use people to reach others in their time of need.

You Were Born for This is written to suggest readers open their spiritual eyes and spiritual ears and be more aware of God-nudges; you know, those times when a thought unexpectedly drops into your mind to speak to or do something for another person and you are not quite sure why. In Wilkinson's eyes, our response is determined by the amount of our faith, and we can either limit or release God to act.

2009 hardback from Multnomah.
see: http://bit.ly/wGT7l
I have one copy to give away.

Stray Affections

2009-09-10T22:52:00.007-04:00

Haven't gotten a chance to read this yet, but here's a basic summary:

In Stray Affections, the last thing that Cassandra expects out of her Sunday is to be mesmerized at a collectors’ convention by a snowglobe. She’s enjoying some shopping time, with husband Ken at home tending their brood of four young boys, when she’s utterly charmed by the one-of-a kind globe containing figures of three dogs and a little girl with hair the color of her own. She can’t resist taking the unique globe home—even if means wrestling another shopper for it!

The beautiful snowglobe sparks long-dormant memories for Cassie, of her beloved Grandpa Wonky, the stray she rescued as a child and the painful roots of her combative relationship with her mother, “Bad Betty” Kamrowski. Life in Wanonishaw, Minnesota is never dull, though, and Cassie keeps the recollections at bay, busy balancing her boys, her home daycare operation, and being a good friend to best pal Margret. But after a strange—flurrious, as Cassie deems it—moment happens with the remarkable snowglobe, Cassie and the people she loves are swirled into a tumultuous, yet grace-filled, and life-changing journey.

“As a believer, I know the power of forgiveness and new beginnings, and of a God, and family and friends, who love me the way I am,” Charlene Ann Baumbich says. “The heartbeat of change flows through those wonderful gifts.”

With the quirky, close-knit Midwestern small-town feel that made Charlene Ann Baumbich’s acclaimed Dearest Dorothy novels so popular, Stray Affections invites readers to experience the laughter and the healing of second chances.

WaterBrook Press is the 2009 publisher, in paperback. I have one copy to give away.

These are also video links of the author introducing the book:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/video/video.php?v=101927788491

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWwya52SkjU

Deadlock

2009-09-08T19:14:00.006-04:00

It's the Sunday after Annabeth Cooper married Whip Langford, the "Outlaw Marshal". Since there is no time for a formal honeymoon, they will be having a celebratory supper with the Brockman household after church. We find them all on their way to Riverton, where chief U.S. Marshal John Brockman is due to be guest preacher at the morning service.

Up ahead, the party spots Deputy Sotak on his horse. Intending to ask him if he would like to accompany them to church they head for the point where their trails will intersect. All of a sudden the scene of an ambush by outlaws unfolds before them. One is killed and the deputy is wounded. John and Whip head immediately to his side. Hearing the commotion, a couple of ranchers show up and the marshals borrow their horses to pursue the other outlaw. Whip quickly heads home to get his timber wolf, Timber, to help in the pursuit. After much territory is covered, Timber indeed helps them to corner Fortney. Having a captive audience while he transports the prisoner to jail, chief Brockman uses the time to preach the gospel. Fortney wants nothing to do with it.

And so begins Deadlock, the second book in the "Return of the Stranger" trilogy by Al and Joanna Lacy.

While I think the language is somewhat stilted, it's a fun and easy read. If you don't know the salvation message, you should have it memorized by the end of the book! The characters of Deadlock simply believe in Jesus as their Savior and walk out their faith. From an acquaintance who has never thought much about it to a prisoner about to be hung, they are determined to use the Scriptures to show each person the choice before them being heaven or hell, and their need for Christ.

Outlaws, bank robberies, a kidnapping or two and a walking miracle: that's what awaits you in Deadlock.

New from Mutnomah, 2009 paperback.
If interested, I have one to give away.
Purchases can be made at www.familychristian.com and www.christianbook.com.

MELTDOWN

2009-09-01T22:28:00.012-04:00

CIA agent Walker (code name Phoenix) is heading her first Special-Ops mission. Task Force Valor is seeking the source of a liquid explosive believed to be stockpiled and distilled in the Chernobyl area. After spending more time in that wasted dead zone than they want, they discover the explosive is gone. It's been moved and possibly shipped to the US. Their suspicions are confirmed when reports of explosions across the country reach them: an internet exchange outage in the Silicon Valley, a train derailment and the Hoover Dam among the list of successfully hit targets.

Meanwhile, retired Colonel Michael Lafontaine has begun a campaign to discredit the weaknesses in homeland security. He starts with a press conference urging a new commitment to the war on terror and calling upon politicians to have a backbone when dealing with terrorists.

MELTDOWN switches from Task Force Valor and their undercover operation in the Ukraine to the terrorist activities happening in the US. This is action-packed book is filled with mystery, fun, and faith all rolled into one.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel by Chuck Holton.

Offered in paperback by Multnomah.

Back to School Fiction

2009-08-31T14:29:00.007-04:00

[Note: I have a new computer and it has taken some time to get files transferred, settings fixed, and things arranged just the way I like them. I will try and catch up on my reviews this week.]

These sounded intriguing when they arrived, but I have not yet had a chance to read them.
All are paperback, 2009, from WaterBrook Press and can be purchased through www.randomhouse.com.

Summary for The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper
The future is clearly mapped out for socialite Eugenia “Gennie” Cooper, but she secretly longs to slip into the boots of her favorite dime-novel heroine and experience just one adventure before settling down. When the opportunity arises, Gennie jumps at the chance to experience the Wild West, but her plans go awry when she is drawn into the lives of silver baron Daniel Beck and his daughter and finds herself caring for them more than is prudent–especially as she’s supposed to go back to New York and marry another man.

As Gennie adapts to the rough-and-tumble world of 1880s Colorado, she must decide whether her future lies with the enigmatic Daniel Beck or back home with the life planned for her since birth. The question is whether Daniel’s past–and disgruntled miners bent on revenge–will take that choice away from her.

Summary for The Sweetgum Ladies Knit for Love
Once a month, the six women of the Sweetgum Knit Lit Society gather to discuss books and share their knitting projects. Inspired by her recently-wedded bliss, group leader Eugenie chooses "Great Love Stories in Literature” as the theme for the year’s reading list–a risky selection for a group whose members span the spectrum of age and relationship status.

As the Knit Lit ladies read and discus classic romances like Romeo and Juliet. Wuthering Heights, Pride and Prejudice, each member is confronted with her own perception about love. Camille’s unexpected reunion with an old crush forces her to confront conflicting desires. Newly widowed Esther finds her role in Sweetgum changing and is surprised by two unlikely friends. Hannah isn’t sure she’s ready for the trials of first love. Newcomer Maria finds her life turned upside-down by increasing family obligations and a handsome, arrogant lawyer, and Eugenie and Merry are both asked to make sacrifices for their husbands that challenge their principles.

Even in a sleepy, southern town like Sweetgum, Tennessee, love isn’t easy. The Knit Lit ladies learn they can find strength and guidance in the novels they read, the love of their family, their community–and especially in each other.

Summary for Rose House

A vivid story of a private grief, a secret painting, and one woman’s search for hope.
Still mourning the loss of her family in a tragic accident, Lillian Diamon finds herself drawn back to the Rose House, a quiet cottage where four years earlier she had poured out her anguish among its fragrant blossoms.
She returns to the rolling hills and lush vineyards of the Sonoma Valley in search of something she can’t quite name. But then Lillian stumbles onto an unexpected discovery: displayed in the La Rosaleda Gallery is a painting that captures every detail of her most private moment of misery, from the sorrow etched across her face to the sandals on her feet.
What kind of artist would dare to intrude on such a personal scene, and how did he happen to witness Lillian’s pain? As the mystery surrounding the portrait becomes entangled with the accident that claimed the lives of her husband and children, Lillian is forced to rethink her assumptions about what really happened that day.
A captivating novel rich with detail, Rose House explores how the brushstrokes of pain can illuminate the true beauty of life.

The Hope of Refuge

2009-08-11T20:04:00.006-04:00

Cindy Woodsmall has written another compelling tale about hope, love, and faith.

In The Hope of Refuge, street smart New Yorker Cara Moore, always living on the edge, once more finds herself uprooting her life with her daughter and running from an unsavory stalker. Stopped for a bite to eat, she is perusing her beloved diary, the one connection she she has left of her late mother. Strangely a hidden address is revealed, causing her to head for Dry Lake, Pennsylvania, an Amish colony.

She discovers it's really no place for an outsider, yet after arriving there the surroundings bring back bits and pieces of Cara's childhood and the very brief time she spent there. Torn between her inclination to fend for herself and fiercely protective of her daughter, yet desiring to unravel the mysteries from her past that keep surfacing, Cara slowly lets down her guard. Ephraim, a young man who remembers her from the past, finds himself risking his community life in order to do what he believes is right: protect Cara and help her learn the truth about her family history.

If you liked Woodsmall's Sisters of the Quilt series, you will enjoy The Hope of Refuge.

In May, Cindy Woodsmall was featured on Nightline in an interview regarding her interest and excellence in writing romance novels set in the Amish community.

WaterBrook Press paperback, 2009. I have one copy to give away.

Blue Like Play Dough

2009-08-07T16:09:00.006-04:00

I liked this book. Tricia Goyer writes a compelling story of how God shapes and molds mothers, especially through their children. She takes the reader step by step in her own journey as a rebellious teen, her unwed pregnancy as a senior in high school and the grace that was granted her as she surrendered herself more and more to God.

She lets us in on childhood memories and correlates the stretching and squishing of play dough to the challenges as a wife and mom. I identified with her homeschooling her children:
"In the choice to homeschool, I chose a challenge that still makes me ask myself, What was I thinking? at least once a week." (pg. 42) She speaks of God's faithfulness in showing up day after day and her utter dependence on Him.

In Blue Like Play Dough, Goyer underscores how different each child is and the need to assess the qualities that God creates in each one. She wondered how her children would react to working with her as she oversaw their church's teen pregnancy center. She found that it set an example of service that they would carry with them on future missions trips.

Goyer relates her struggles of comparing herself to others and feeling she fell short, and how the need to reach an unrealistic standard also carried into her firstborn's life and habits.
The desire as a mom to protect her children from hurts and mistakes is something I think we all share, along with the realization that those things are part of the molding and shaping of their lives.

Blue Like Play Dough will make you laugh, tug at your heart strings and nod your head as you recognize yourself in some fashion. It is well worth reading.

For more about Tricia Goyer, go to www.triciagoyer.com.

Published in paperback, 2009, by Multnomah.
I have two books to give away or you can purchase a copy directly from Random House.

A Perfect Mess

2009-07-23T09:52:00.005-04:00

I did not find time to read A Perfect Mess yet, so below is a summary and information about the author, Lisa Harper.

There are interactive questions for personal reflection and group discussion at the end of each chapter. A Perfect Mess has been chosen by the Canton D.E.W. group to explore Psalms and God's incomparable love.

Caught up in the self-imposed pressure to do and be all the things they think a Christian woman ought to do and be, countless women are working desperately to convince everyone, including God, that they have it all together. Few have any idea that the Creator of the universe looks at them with delight even when they yell at the dog, drive a minivan littered with French fries, or think bad words about that rude clerk at the store.

A Perfect Mess offers hope to every woman who yearns for a vibrant relationship with God but worries she isn’t good enough or doesn’t do enough to merit His affection. With characteristic authenticity, speaker and author Lisa Harper shares poignant stories from her own imperfect life to showcase the real-life relevancy of the Bible in the lives of modern women.

As she guides readers on a story-driven journey through selected Psalms, they will be inspired to experience for themselves how God’s incomparable love transforms the messiness of life into a gorgeous work of grace.

Author Bio:

Lisa Harper is a master storyteller whose lively approach connects the dots between the Bible era and modern life. She is a sought-after Bible teacher and speaker whose upcoming appearances include the national Women of Faith Conferences. A veteran of numerous radio and television programs and the author of several books, she also is a regular columnist for Today’s Christian Woman magazine. Lisa recently completed a master’s of theological studies from Covenant Theological Seminary. She makes her home outside Nashville .

WaterBrook Press, 2009 paperback

Holy Roller

2009-07-17T09:32:00.005-04:00

Julie Lyons, on her beat as a crime reporter for the Dallas Times Herald, was traversing South Dallas one late April evening in 1990. She was looking for a new angle reporting on crack-cocaine. The idea she pitched to her editor was a story about supernatural healing of addicts. Now she had to find the goods to back up her story.

Aimlessly driving, street after street, she was searching for a church that looked like it might have answers to her quest. At one point, feeling the presence of God in the car with her, she found herself stopping in front of a dilapidated building, one she would have dismissed in the natural. As she states, "I was looking for a feature story to run in the Sunday paper. What I was about to discover was a passionate, self-taught man who would introduce me to a world of spirits, healing, prophecy, and warfare waged to the death between invisible forces of good and evil. To Pastor Eddington these things were not superstition, legend, or overwrought emotion. This was reality, and over the next few months I would see it for myself." (page 5)

Holy Roller is a story of lives intertwined in a pursuit of God. Lyons writes at times with a "no holds barred" flair, exposing abuses and triumphs that she learns about in the black Pentecostal church scene at large. More than that, though, Holy Roller is a very compelling, honest tale of her own spiritual growth at the Body of Christ Assembly. She holds up her best examples, a godly pastor and his wife, a church family where people are desperate for God, and living a life of holiness is taught and expected. Always recognized is the fact that people have a choice: holiness or hell.

This riveting tale of God's love and compassion, with an emphasis on speaking truth in love and recognition of a very real spiritual battle for souls was hard to put down. It's well worth your time.

2009 in hardback, published by WaterBrook Press.

The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn

2009-07-15T20:03:00.005-04:00

Ready for a fun book? Try this one....

MacKenzie Thorn, the governor's granddaughter, teaches a GED class at Oregon State Prison. The F.B.I. receives a tip that someone wants her dead. Agent Myles (Parsons) Borden agrees to go undercover in order to protect her and winds up in the GED class. We find Kenzie and Myles slinging cleverly crafted remarks at each other. It's sort of a "love at first sight" situation which seems a little contrived. This quickly escalates into a feel of tension and electricity between them.

One of the guards offers Myles a chance to abduct her, so he does, much to her consternation. His object is to get her to a "safe house" where later he will explain who he really is. He tells her (and himself) he is just doing his job, protecting her until the agency finds out who is behind the death threat. However, Myles finds himself crossing the line as an agent, actually developing non-professional feelings for Kenzie, though there is no way he will admit it to her.

The novel switches back and forth from the perspective of each character, as they pray individually, looking to God for answers. There's plenty of adventure as they join forces (cautiously on Kenzie's part) to find out who is behind the threat. And when Kenzie "escapes" she heads back to her grandparents, their dog, Henry, and even more danger.

I liked Liz Johnson's descriptive writing in The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn. She paints a very good picture for the reader. One example: "...a gray cement barrier jumped out of nowhere. Her front bumper left a six-inch white kiss on it..." (pg. 139)

The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn was a new venture for me, as I don't tend to read books in the "romance" genre. It was fun. You see, I have personally met the author as she was a co-worker with my daughter-in-law. We were excited for her when we found out her FIRST book had been accepted for publication! And another bonus...we personally know the dog in the book, Henry. Why, he's even stayed at our house!

For more info see www.lizjohnsonbooks.com or just click on the book above.

Curious about education and background preparation for writing I asked Liz a couple of questions:

1) if you know, when/where did you get your idea for The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn?

There are a lot of little inspirations for this book. I think that a big part of developing Kenzie’s story was where I was at in my own life. I had just made two major moves in the span of six months, and I was 1100 miles from my family. I felt like the only one I could lean on was God, so reliance on Him became one of the key themes of Kenzie’s story. I also had a friend from high school who made some really poor choices and ended up in prison for five years. His sister asked me to write to him, and I did. We wrote back and forth for years, and his letters made me wonder if there was anything that would cause someone to willingly go to prison. It all just developed from there.

2) do you feel your college education prepared you enough for your current job?

Oh, wow! What a question. :) I’m not sure. I mean, definitely I learned a lot about writing press releases and other publicity items, but can you ever really be prepared for a job as a publicist? It’s definitely one of those jobs where you learn a lot as you go. But one of the things that my college degree taught me was perseverance. It takes a lot of work to make it through college, and it takes a lot of work to succeed in most jobs. My degree definitely set me up for success, but mostly it prepared me to work hard in whatever area I decided to pursue.

Under the Distant Sky

2009-07-10T19:35:00.003-04:00

Ready for another western? This is brought to you by Al & Joanna Lacy, authors of Outlaw Marshal.
In Under the Distant Sky, we join the family of Solomon and Hannah Cooper, proprietors of Cooper's General Store in Independence, Missouri. It is around the year 1860 and their town is a gathering place for wagon trains heading west. Those gearing up for travel are making their last minute supply purchases. With all the talk and excitement, the idea of moving west starts settling in Sol Cooper's mind and heart. He and Hannah have been diligently taking this to the Lord in prayer, seeking His guidance as to whether this is a move He really wants them to make They have to consider the possible dangers for not only themselves but for their four children as well. Hannah is reluctant, for she, as most women, see not only the adventure ahead but the security and bonds of community life that will be left behind.

After much prayer and finally confirmation that comes through former Union Army officers and friends whom Solomon and Hannah were close to while he was in the Civil War, they both settle in their hearts that they are to leave Independence and move to Fort Bridger, where they will establish another general store. They break the news to Hannah's parents who are blatantly against the whole idea, questioning that they've heard correctly, are neglecting the dangers to their grandchildren, reminding them that they are up in years and will most likely never see them again, and even though invited, will definitely not come along. Knowing the Lord has made the decision for them, the Cooper's step out in faith on their covered wagon adventure.

I think we tend to romanticize life in the old west, and the Lacys paint a good picture of the hardships. I mean, can you imagine a goal of 15 miles a day (on level ground, that is), cooking over a campfire every night, washing once a week in a river, and exposed to all the forces of nature? There are plenty of challenges along the way, with troublemakers in the group, thunder, lightning and hail, lack of water, Pawnees, rattlesnakes, etc. There are plenty of bright moments, too, with new friends made, salvations, and spiritual growth.

If you like western adventures, I think you will enjoy Under the Distant Sky.
As Ward Bond would say, "Wagons, ho-o-o!"

Published by Multnomah.

The Vanishing Sculptor

2009-06-25T23:07:00.009-04:00

(By guest reviewer, Laura Blewett)

The Vanishing Sculptor, by Donita K. Paul, follows a girl named Tipper, her friend and guardian, Beccaroon (who happens to be a large, talking bird), and an assortment of other characters including her father (Verrin Schope), an old librarian, a wizard, an artist, a prince, and a few dragons as they venture on a “quest” to find some missing sculptures that apparently hold the fate of the world within their stone. Unfortunately, in the beginning the author seems so concerned with having the characters refer to their actions as a “quest” or “adventure” that she forgets to let the reader actually experience it.

The book opens with Tipper selling off one of her father’s sculptures (he is a great artist), with Beccaroon questioning the wisdom of her decision and Tipper pointing out that they have no other source of income. They then muse over how angry the great artist would be if he found out his famous works were being sold (what else would you do with all your art?), because you see, Tipper’s father abandoned the family years ago and they have not heard anything from him since. As the story unfolds, we meet Tipper’s mother (who is flighty and self-centered and believes that her husband still lives with them) and Bealomondore, an artist who wants to be apprenticed to Schope. To satisfy her mother’s complaints about Schope not painting a view she likes, Tipper tricks Bealomondore into copying Schope’s style as a “tryout” for her father. Here the author takes the opportunity to demonstrate how Tipper is flawed and introduces the concept of a god (referred to as Boscamon) who may or may not be in control of all things, for us to mull over.

In the next few chapters, we find out that Tipper’s father really is alive; he was just trapped somehow in another part of the world and could come see Tipper’s mother at night, but did not manage to let his daughter know what was happening. Schope brings along with him a librarian and a wizard, two old men meant for comic relief. We learn that by separating a particular rock to carve three sculptures (which can, conveniently, be combined into one large sculpture), Schope may have doomed the world. Apparently the stone was a keystone of sorts, without which things (the most important of which is Verrin Schope) come in and out of existence, sometimes reassembling incorrectly. Upon Schope’s arrival back home there is no dealing with any hurt or betrayal that Tipper would have felt when seeing her absentee father suddenly appear—they are merely a happily united father and daughter and act like nothing ever happened. Furthermore, Tipper is admonished for selling the works that her father wanted kept safe (although what she should have done to keep them all fed, we never find out). They also present the concept of Wulder, a god who is involved in the lives of humanity—not just a god of absence and chance that Boscamon represents.

The three men decide to continue looking for the three sculptures and Tipper and Beccaroon tag along because they have decided to ask Bealomondore for help, thinking he’d be more likely to know where the sculptures are than a dealer or collector would (although there does not seem to be an example of this being the case). Luckily, Tipper’s mother has conveniently gone on a trip and therefore needs no attention. Over the next third of the book, the author has various members of the group use the words “quest” and “adventure” and “danger” numerous times and they stop in various towns and meet people, but nothing particularly interesting happens. The author attempts to thrill with various inventions or oddities particular to the magical world, but an interest in the characters and what happens is just as—if not more—important than the unique atmosphere in which the story happens. We merely read about how Tipper would sometimes like to say mean things that she shouldn’t and have the old men complain about how she always voices her opinion and wants to jump into something without listening to them, though they rarely, if ever, explain their actions.

Eventually the group meets Prince Jayrus, who lives as a dragon-keeper and who may or may not be used to fulfill a prophecy, and of course is handsome and charming and Tipper and he develop a “thing,” though neither demonstrate any impropriety. After Prince Jayrus and some of his dragons join the group, they visit a collector who does not want to sell the important piece he owns. After they leave, the author has the man kidnap Verrin Schope so that the group of “adventurers” can stage a rescue, Tipper can do something rash, and Jayrus can save them all from the collector. By the way, we have been told quite obviously from the start that the collector is a rather disagreeable person. He is also mean to his wife, who whimpers a lot.

At this point, which was less than two-thirds of the way through the book, I stopped reading. The characters never captured my attention, and the constant mentioning of their “quest” seemed like an attempt to artificially create excitement. Tipper’s development as a character consisted of her staging hotheaded internal debates, the other characters reprimanding her, and her debating the existence of the Wulder-god, who the other characters said influenced their actions. All of their actions seemed rather pointless, convoluted, and showy.

Overall, I thought the writing was rather simplistic and the story nothing special. Although she seemed to have an interesting concept of what she wanted to write, the author’s execution was poor and I will not be checking out anything else by her.

If you want to read The Vanishing Sculptor and let me know if you agree or not with my assessment, I have two copies to give away.

Father's Day Blog Tour

2009-06-19T15:58:00.015-04:00

This group of three books I planned to read before now, but the time got away from me. I don't suppose that happens to any of you, does it? Anyway, here are three new ones that might just be interesting enough for the men you know to pick up and finish.....

Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart looks like it might grab the attention of any youth/teen reader who likes tales of knights and kingdoms worth fighting for. The chapters are fairly short...

"Sir Dalton, a knight in training, seems to have everything going for him. Young, well-liked, and a natural leader, he has earned the respect and admiration of his fellow knights, and especially the beautiful Lady Brynn.
But something is amiss at the training camp. Their new trainer is popular but lacks the passion to inspire them to true service to the King and the Prince. Besides this, the knights are too busy enjoying a season of good times to be concerned with a disturbing report that many of their fellow Knights have mysteriously vanished.
When Sir Dalton is sent on a mission, he encounters strange attacks, especially when he is alone. As his commitment wanes, the attacks grow in intensity until he is captured by Lord Drox, a massive Shadow Warrior. Bruised and beaten, Dalton refuses to submit to evil and initiates a daring escape with only one of two outcomes--life or death. But what will become of the hundreds of knights he'll leave behind? In a kingdom of peril, Dalton thinks he is on his own, but two faithful friends have not abandoned him, and neither has a strange old hermit who seems to know much about the Prince. But can Dalton face the evil Shadow Warrior again and survive?"

The author, Chuck Black, is a former F-16 fighter pilot and tactical communications engineer. This is the third book in his The Knights of Arrethtrae series.

Check here for more information.

Eyes Wide Open, by Jud Wilhite, invites readers to find, "The real you, loved and forgiven by God, living out of your identity in Christ.

"I had it all backwards. The main thing was not my love for God, but his love for me. And from that love I respond to God as one deeply flawed, yet loved. I’m not looking to prove my worth. I’m not searching for acceptance. I’m living out of the worth God already declares I have. I’m embracing his view of me and in the process discovering the person he created me to be."

A travel guide through real spirituality from one incomplete person to another, Eyes Wide Open is a book of stories about following God in the messes of life, about broken pasts and our lifelong need for grace. It is a book about seeing ourselves and God with new eyes-eyes wide open to a God of love.

Jud Wilhite is senior pastor of Central Christian Church in Las Vegas.
Check here for more information.

The Disappearance of God, authored by R. Albert Mohler Jr., challenges Christians to study to know unchanging, Biblical truth...

"More faulty information about God swirls around us today than ever before. No wonder so many followers of Christ are unsure of what they really believe in the face of the new spiritual openness attempting to alter unchanging truth.

For centuries the church has taught and guarded the core Christian beliefs that make up the essential foundations of the faith. But in our postmodern age, sloppy teaching and outright lies create rampant confusion, and many Christians are free-falling for “feel-good” theology.

We need to know the truth to save ourselves from errors that will derail our faith.”

In the age-old battle to preserve the foundations of faith, it's up to a new generation to confront and disarm the contemporary shams and fight for the truth. Dr. Mohler provides the scriptural answers to show you how.

R. Albert Mohler Jr. is president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is also a columnist, radio host, and blogger. He has appeared on Larry King Live, The Today Show, The News Hour with Jim Lehrer, and The O'Reilly Factor.
Check here for more information.

All books are published in 2009 by Multnomah.

Never the Bride

2009-06-17T15:42:00.005-04:00

I had my doubts about this book, since the last one I read authored by Rene Gutteridge, Skid, was in my opinon, just plain dumb. And this one sort of started out that way, with the main character, Jessie, complaining about being a brunette and never finding the right guy, so much so that she's been a bridesmaid 11 times!

Yet, in Never the Bride, authors Cheryl McKay and Rene Gutteridge have teamed up to write a lively story of 34 year old Jessie. Her main goal in life, finding a husband, has yet to be fulfilled. Journal after journal, with her feathered purple pen, she has recorded desires, dreams, fantasy wedding dresses and 1256 possible marraige proposals. Enter the scene: God. She is the only one who can see Him. Some of her questions He can answer, some He can't...yet. In exchange for her feathered purple pen, He offers to write her story for her. Noting everything she has accomplished has been without Him, she asks why she should trust Him to do that. God's answer, "Of course, you can keep doing things your way. If that's working for you." Ouch! (pg. 59) He gives her 24 hours to decide.

The next day we find Jessie about to give a major presentation at work, and God shows up. Remember, only she can see Him. Flustered, she ducks out of the meeting and confronts Him, questioning why He had to show up there. God: "I'm kind of on my own schedule. I'm not in the habit of checking if it's convenient." Jessie's thoughts: 'I put my hands on my hips but I don't say anything. That does sound very God of the universe. And it feels foolish arguing that he's not working with my schedule.' (pgs. 73-74)

Throughout Never the Bride, Jessie continues to grow and learn universal truths that we tend to ignore. Pondering why God isn't hooking her up with her lifelong friend who has grown into a hunk, Jessie thinks to herself, 'I mean, I know I'm not God and can't see all things, but sometimes there are things that feel so natural and so right. As humans, how do we know that they aren't? What do we have other than our instincts?'

Trials, tribulations, mistakes, and not listening to God make for a light yet thoughtful story, and lessons learned. And for the happy ending...

Jessie: "You know, it doesn't escape my notice that this could have happened a lot sooner had I not gotten in Your way."

God: "I know."

New from WaterBrook Press, in paperback.
Available here.

Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes!

2009-06-12T14:39:00.007-04:00

Economy got you down? Longing for an adventure but don't know where to go? Then grab Robin Jones Gunn's new novel, Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes!

Summer and Noelle have been pen pals since childhood, though they have never personally met. After forty years, both have families with grown children. One lives in the United States and the other in the Netherlands. After a recent medical exam, Summer gets a call from her doctor's office saying her mammogram test result was abnormal. The doctor wants her to come in for a biopsy. Reeling from this news, and harboring fear because of her mother's early death, Summer reacts by doing an inexplicable thing: she emails Noelle and asks if the next week is a good time to visit! Off she flies to the Netherlands to fulfill a life-long dream of meeting face to face.

The two spend a delightful week, not strangers because of years of correspondence, but finally able to fill in the missing physical pieces of voice, clothing, manners, etc. Their week together, each gently probing and reacting to one another, causes internal emotional barriers to be broken, healing to take place, and more awareness of God working and weaving their lives.

Some tidbits:
(page 106 - Summer) "I learned something important about myself in that moment. I like to be in control...At the foundation of my need for control was the thought that it was up to me to make things run smoothly or at least make them go the way I wanted them to go...I was embarrassed by my need to be in control...That embarrassed me because I knew that in many cases controlling could be the opposite of trusting."
(page 115 - Summer) "I've probably even memorized it [the verse] at some point. But I want to hold onto it...There's a difference for me between memorizing something and really holding on to it in my heart." "Ah." Noelle's voice softened. "You want to own the truth and not just rent the words."

Gunn's first person style in Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes makes for a very personal treat. Picking up the book, I was immediately drawn into the story just as if it was actually taking place.
I don't think you will be disappointed.

2009 paperback from Multnomah.
Check here for purchases.
I have one copy to give away.

Saints in Limbo

2009-06-05T14:55:00.004-04:00

Saints in Limbo, by River Jordan, is kind of an odd book. In the prologue, a stranger arrives. "For a time the man and the whirlwind were one and the same. Man and Whirlwind. Whirlwind and man. But after a long moment, but still only a moment, the man stepped straight out of that wind, and without the least bit of tussle, he planted his boots on solid ground. And in this exact manner, on this kind of day, the man was born feetfirst onto the earth....He was a million miles roamed and completely at home. King to the subjects who might demand, but simple statesman to the orphan clan." (pg. 3)

The main character, Velma True, is an elderly woman who has lived alone since her husband's death. Depressed, she has taken to stringing guide lines from her front porch to various outlying areas on the property. She does not venture out past the lines. This particular day happens to be her birthday, and the mysterious stranger appears on her doorstep. He exudes a warmth, peace and comforting "light." She feels completely at ease, telling him all about her current circumstances. He presents her with a special rock. Throughout Saints in Limbo, it spirits her away in her memories, to different stages in her life. The stranger warns Velma that mysterious "scouts" will be looking for it, but not to let them have it.

I was about halfway through Saints in Limbo before I was curious enough to read on and see how it would end. There are dark appearances of a scout described as something with "gray arms", or "a strangely rubbery body," to a "smoky winged thing." There are spiritual nuances. A grown son that has some maturing to do, a young girl who hitchhikes to the town, a sensible bar owner, plus a no-nonsense friend all team up to aid each other. Velma eventually emerges from her depression and is freed to hope in the future.

Saints in Limbo is newly published in paperback by WaterBrook Press.
Check here for more information.
I have two copies to give away.

The Night Watchman

2009-06-04T16:33:00.006-04:00

I thought this book was really good. It is the first fiction I've read in a long time that was authored by a male. I was not disappointed. Mark Mynheir has written a gritty suspense novel, The Night Watchman.

The main character, Ray Quinn, is a homicide detective sidelined by an ambush in which he was severely wounded and his partner killed. Currently employed as a night watchman at a swanky apartment building complex, he is implored to try and solve a murder-suicide case which takes place there and is deemed closed. The deceased pastor's sister insists that the conclusion is not right. Curiosity aroused, Ray searches through the files and uses his police contacts to delve into finding the answers. He finds himself on the trail of nightclub owners, exotic dancers, politicians and crooked cops.

Ray reminded me a lot of the Bruce Willis character in "16 Blocks". Mynheir's descriptive words make the reader feel Ray's tiredness, pain, "get me through the day" attitude, and his passion for his friend 'Jim' (Beam) who spends the time after his evening shift with him, plus his love of the greatest action hero ever, John Wayne (170 DVD's and counting). Also realized is his need to get the real answers as to why things aren't quite right with the case conclusions.

Mark Mynheir has the background for writing a very realistic, believable novel, as he is a detective with the Criminal Investigations Unit in Central Florida, and has worked on narcotics units, SWAT teams, and in high-risk situations.

If you like mysteries and crime scene investigation entertainment, I think you will enjoy The Night Watchman.

Paperback from Multnomah.
You can find more information here.
I had two copies to give away. Now I have one.

Stealing Home

2009-06-01T09:17:00.007-04:00

I love the game of baseball. What better summer pastime is there? So with curious anticipation I began Allison Pittman's new novel, Stealing Home.

The setting is 1905, and the Chicago Cubs are ready to begin a banner year. However, their star catcher, "Duke" Dennison has missed much of the training period, for reasons that the club is not making known. Apparently his alcoholism has gotten the better of him, and he's been sent to recover in the small, "dry" town of Picksville, Missouri. He is relatively unknown there except to the sheriff in whose house he boards and his daughter Ellie, a ticket agent at the railway station. Ned, a long-time admirer of Ellie's who runs the feed store and whose office is crowded with baseball newpaper clippings, is one of the few who immediately recognizes him.

Being much a ladies' man, Duke flirts with Ellie and charms the other ladies in town. The townsmen revere him once he's recognized. Morris, a 12 yr. old Negro boy, (this is 1905, remember) crosses the tracks to spend his days in town running errands for various townspeople to earn money he stashes away in order to eventually leave. He's polite, courteous, a hard worker, and is wiser about God than most. He finds much acceptance, to a point, though Ellie and Ned are genuine in their concern for his well-being.

Duke discovers Morris' talent for throwing a baseball and begins to think of helping someone other than himself, for a change. Possibly there will be a berth in the Negro leagues? Duke and Ned team up with Morris's help to build a baseball diamond on unused land across from the railway station. Eventually all the men of the town join in construction and friendly games ensue. It's here that Morris' pitching arm is thoroughly tested. Suddenly, tragedy strikes and threatens to break the spirits of those involved. Will faith and renewed love be enough to carry them through?

Stealing Home is new from WaterBrook Press.
In paperback, it is also available here.
I have one copy to give away.***edit: the copy is now taken.

Amish Love

2009-05-28T19:37:00.001-04:00

What’s all the hubbub about Amish fiction? Major media outlets like Time and ABC Nightline are covering it, and authors like Cindy Woodsmall are making the New York Times bestseller list regularly. What makes these books so interesting?

Check out the recent ABC Nightline piece here (http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=7676659&page=1) about Cindy and her titles When the Heart Cries, When the Morning Comes, and When the Soul Mends. It’s an intriguing look at Amish culture and the time Cindy has spent with Amish friends.

And don’t forget that Cindy’s new book The Hope of Refuge hits store shelves August 11, and is available for preorder now.

Mother's Day Books

2009-05-08T12:52:00.009-04:00

If you have teenage daughters you might enjoy reading Dear Mom. Below is an exerpt...

Every mom knows how communicating with a teenage girl can be difficult, even impossible at times. One-word answers. Defensive conversations. Daily arguments. How typical for teens to put up such barriers. All the while, moms truly long to know what their daughters really think.

Best-selling author Melody Carlson, whose books for women, teens, and children have sold more than three million copies, bridges this chasm with trusted insight. She speaks frankly in the voice of the teen daughters she’s written for and she tells it like it is: struggles with identity, guys, friendship, and even parents—it’s all here. The straight-talk to moms covers such things as “I need you, but you can’t make me admit it,” “I’m not as confident as I appear,” and “I have friends. I need a mother.”

Instead of focusing on outward behaviors, Dear Mom looks at a young woman’s heart and reveals to moms:

· how to talk to teens so they hear,

· how to connect despite the differences of perspective or years and experiences,

· and how strengthen the bond every mom and daughter ultimately wants.

The lively chapters in Dear Mom can be dipped into topically or used as a read-through tool by moms and daughters alike to understand what motivates or deflates, troubles or inspires—and just in time for Mother’s Day and all the Mother’s Days ahead.

I enjoyed Amy Wallace's previous two novels in her "Defenders of Hope" series. I look forward to reading Enduring Justice Below is an exerpt...

In Enduring Justice, Hanna Kessler’s childhood secret has remained buried for over two decades. But when the dark shadows of her past threaten to destroy those she loves, Hanna must face the summer that changed her life and the man who still haunts her thoughts.

Crimes Against Children FBI Agent, Michael Parker knows what it means to get knocked down. And when the system fails and a white supremacist is set free, Michael’s drive for retribution eclipses all else.

A racist’s well-planned assault forces Hanna and Michael to decide between executing vengeance and pursuing justice. When the attack turns personal, is healing still possible?

This thought-provoking novel deals with healing from sexual abuse, the balance of justice and mercy, and maintaining mixed-race friendships in the midst of racial tension. Readers who enjoy investigative thrillers by Dee Henderson, Colleen Coble, and Catherine Coulter, and who watch crime dramas like Law & Order: SVU, Criminal Minds, and Without a Trace will love this book—and the entire series.

My first reaction to Mama's Got a Fake I.D, was that it bordered on feminism and the "me syndrome". The author, Caryn Dahlstrand Rivadeneira, writes from her own perspective on her identity crisis that developed when she became a mother. She longed to go back to being known as an advertising copywriter, editor, writer, etc. using her skills and living her dreams. Anything more than "just a mom". About halfway through the book it got a little more interesting as she finally got past all the whining about identity and got into how we as women and moms can open ourselves up to being known for our gifts and callings in God. As a mom of four I know the times I experienced discouragement and wondered if I would find out who "I" really was. God's promise to me was that family was what I was currently called to invest in and He would be with me as I walked out this particular portion of my life. He used the family to cause me to grow and mature in the things He deposited inside.

I think the real meat of Mama's Got a Fake I.D. finally arrived on page 171. In a discussion on opening up, revealing our hopes and dreams, and living as God made us, Rivadeneira states "Tell you what, sisters: This means that this new, real I.D. you've been given comes with responsibility and expectations--to reach out and help other moms who are trapped as you once were. All moms need to know that God created us special with a purpose that extends beyond motherhood--and that it's okay to want to be know and loved for who God made us to be".

As I look around at the many moms I know, I see much more than the "mom I.D." I see gifted office decorators, artists, choreographers, cooks, seamstresses, writers, prayer warriors, waste managers, care givers, hair stylists. dental hygenists, teachers. Most of all, I see servants in the body of Christ. That's the best I.D.

All three books are paperback, and published by WaterBrook Press.

They can be purchased through www.randomhouse.com.

I have one copy of each to give away.

Two New Jane Kirkpatrick Books

2009-05-01T20:12:00.003-04:00

Any history buffs or quilters out there?

I really liked Jane Kirkpatrick's Change and Cherish Historical Series, which featured Emma Giesy and her life story as she moved west with her husband in the 1800's. He and several other men were members of a scouting party sent out by their religious leader seeking to establish a new communal colony. They eventually founded the Aurora Colony in Oregon's Willamette Valley.

With that in mind, I was excited to get my hands on this beautiful new non-fiction book, Aurora: An American Experience in Quilt, Community, and Craft. It is a combination history book and quilt book. Featured are quilts made by members of the colony, family photographs, histories, and lush descriptions of the fine colony crafts and skills which intertwined the colony members with the surrounding villages.

Kirkpatrick's detailed research with the Aurora Colony Historical Society and direct contact with descendants of colony families makes this hardback book a rich delight to read.

If you like historical fiction, get ready for Jane Kirkpatrick's newest novel, A Flickering Light. It was inspired by her grandmother who traveled and worked as a photographer's assistant in the early 1900's.

"Fifteen-year-old Jessie Ann Gaebele loves nothing more than capturing a gorgeous Minnesota landscape when the sunlight casts its most mesmerizing shadows. So when F. J. Bauer hires her in 1907 to assist in his studio and darkroom, her dreams for a career in photography appear to find root in reality.
With the infamous hazards of the explosive powder used for lighting and the toxic darkroom chemicals, photography is considered a man's profession. Yet Jessie shows remarkable talent in both the artistry and business of running a studio. She proves less skillful, however, at managing her growing attaction to the very married Mr. Bauer.
This luminous coming-of-age tale defly exposes the intricate shadows that play across every dream worth pursuing--and the irresistible light that beckons the dreamer on."

This is the first book in Kirkpatrick's Portrait of a Woman series.

Both books are published by WaterBrook Press.
They can be purchased through www.randomhouse.com

Gardening Eden

2009-04-24T17:02:00.004-04:00

Right in vogue with the new emphasis on going green, Michael Abbate has written Gardening Eden. His vocation as a landscape architect led him to study and see the connection between our use of Earth and the admonition given to Adam and consequently, the rest of us, to care for it.
Genesis 2:15 "The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." (NIV)

Abbate writes of our need to become good stewards of the earth, just as capably as we steward our finances. "If one of our responsibilites as human beings is to be the gentle gardeners of the earth, we have to steady ourselves, take a deep breath, and face the realities of our planet's health. We have to honestly investigate the condition of our environmental checking account." (pages 62-63)

The author discusses currently headlining environmental conditions. He writes of the interconnections between plants and animals, habitats and man. He challenges us as stewards to take the responsibility to oversee the viability of all the interconnections. A portion of the book is dedicated to various tips for cultivating our earthly Eden. Some are: eat locally, grow your own food, recycle, reduce fuel use, weatherize your house, use biodegradable materials, use less water, etc. Many things a lot of us are already doing, but there are challeneges to go a step further. We are Gardening Eden not only for ourselves, our neighbors, but for future generations.

Published by WaterBrook Press, released in 2009.
This is paperback, printed on acid free, recycled paper, containing 20% postconsumer waste.
I have one copy to give away.
You can find purchasing information here.

10 Dumb Things Smart Christians Believe

2009-04-23T21:04:00.006-04:00

You know those emails? The ones that sound too good to be true? "Microsoft is doing a survey and if you send this email to 10 people they will track it and send you $50". Yes, you know the type. If you're like me, you head to this site and see whether or not your suspicions are correct.

Pastor Larry Osborne takes this a step further as he sets out to debunk 10 Dumb Things Smart Christians Believe. In a delightful, tell-it-like-it-is, conversational style, he presents ten beliefs Christians tend to entertain. He calls these "spiritual urban legends".

Some of the chapter headings: Faith Can Fix Anything; Forgiving Means Forgetting; A Godly Home Guarantees Godly Kids; God Has a Blueprint for My Life. Osborne challenges the reader to be as the Bereans and check every belief against Scripture.

Careful reading of Scripture can reveal these answers regarding spiritual urban legends:
(pg 19) Faith...is designed to guide us on a path called righteousness...it will take us exactly where God wants us to go
(pg 31) ...It[forgiveness] doesn't start with the wrong that was done to me; it starts with the wrongs that I have done to others.
(pg 60) ...there is little emphasis on the kinds of decisions we commonly stress over. Instead the primary emphasis is on godly character and daily obedience as our pattern of life.
(pg 69) Our job is not so much to find something; it's to become someone---a reflection of his image and character no matter where we find ourselves.
(pg 100) Every trial or hardship calls for the same response: obedience. We are to do the right thing no matter what the outcome.

I especially enjoyed Dumb Idea 9: A Valley Means a Wrong Turn. Osborne divides valleys into three categories; "God Sent Me Here", "I Messed Up", and "Who Knows Why". There are different responses for each situation. Three questions to ask when in a valley are: "Why Am I Here?" "How Should I Respond?" and "What Can I Learn?" Those are questions I've learned to ask myself and encouraged my children to do when in a tough situation. As Osborne states, "There are always lessons to be learned and character to be built no matter what the cause or what the valley."

10 Dumb Things Smart Christians Believe. Are some of these familiar? Have you really studied Scripture to see if it actually says what you *think* it says? You might be surprised.

Larry Osborne is a teaching pastor at North Coast Church in Vista, California.

2009 Paperback published by Multnomah.
Purchases can be made through: www.amazon.com, www.familychristian.com, and www.christianbook.com

I have one copy to give away.

The Treasure Principle and Experiencing the Spirit

2009-04-10T13:59:00.009-04:00

Want to get excited about storing up your treasure in heaven?
The Treasure Principle just might give you the push you need.

This little gem is authored by Randy Alcorn, founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries. Based on Matthew13:44, the book evolved after a perspective-changing event when a judgment was held against him for participating in non-violent protests at abortion clinics. By his own choice he relinquished his pastorship so that his church would not be held liable to pay the abortion clinic. Fortunately he and his wife were living debt-free at the time. Because of the judgment he could not legally own any assets, and could not work at more than a minimum wage job. Thus began his journey from earthly to heavenly treasures and increased joy and ability to give as a steward of God.

More information here.

Experiencing the Spirit, by Henry and Melvin Blackaby, is a rich work exploring foundational truths about the gift and the work of the Holy Spirit in a believer's life.

A few examples:
(pg. 12) "The doctrine of the Holy Spirit is distinctive to the Christian faith. No other religion has anything like it. What believers in Jesus Christ have come to know and experience through His gift of the Spirit brings them into a relationshiip with God that's inaccessible in all other religions of the world."

(pg. 34) "The Holy Spirit must give us the ability to both recognize and respond to God."

(pg. 56) "When it comes to serving God, total dependence is better than talent and
determination."

(pg. 59) "The Spirit brings Christ to be real and personal in our lives...we experience our relationshiip with Him [Christ] through the presence of the Holy Spirit."

(pg. 60) "Pentecost was heaven's gift to enable those who would obey the Lord."

(pg. 72) "For apart from the active presence of the Holy Spirit, there's no possibilty of an individual or a church doing anything but practice religious activity."

Do you want to experience a full measure of life in Christ? Intimate relationship and committed obedience are two characteristics God is looking for. Search out the Holy Spirit and truly find Christ living in you.

Find more information here.

Clutter-FREE Christianity

2009-04-03T15:10:00.003-04:00

Ever concerned about your heart condition? Do you wonder if God is really hearing your prayers? Is there something "wrong" in your approach to God and your relationship with Him? Are you ever in doubt or confused as to whether your actions please Him or not?

In this well written and easy to understand book, Clutter-FREE Christianity, author Robert Jeffress cuts to the heart of the matter (pun intended) and provides some answers.

A few gems:
(pg. 5) - "The essence of the gospel is a changed life that comes from a transformed heart"

(pg. 9) - "God understands that the basic issue in life is the condition of our heart. Unless our heart is right, nothing else can be right".

(pg. 21) - "To be like Jesus means to live like Jesus, and that means allowing God to have the final say in every part of life".

(pg. 40) - "...spiritual transformation is a joint project involving God's power and our effort".

Jeffress goes on to describe various "heart" conditions, poses questions, and gives examples to help us knit our hearts to God's.

An excellent book, this is published in paperback by WaterBrook Press.
I have one copy to give away.
You can also purchase it through Random House.

The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived

2009-03-27T15:22:00.006-04:00

The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived is chock full of “how to” advice on studying Jesus’ approach to people and situations in order to successfully accomplish all that you desire. The author, Steven Scott, does a great job of relating parables and biblical situations to current living. He is constantly encouraging the reader to pursue the principles laid out in Jesus’ life and apply them. He gives numerous personal examples of how his own study and application allowed him to succeed in business. He also honestly tells us of the many times he failed. Scott’s premise is that we all need to mentored by someone. Why not the perfect human---Jesus?

Some of the points gleaned are:

*Jesus effectively communicated because he understood his listener

*Understanding someone else’s frame of reference is key to getting a message aross

*We need to study Christ’s manner in order to have effective relationships.
Did Christ react or respond? Does your manner reflect your message?

*Creating a safe environment for open and honest discussion is necessary

*Success and positive performance comes from a secure and caring relationship

Scott writes from a background in marketing and sales. A major part of The Greatest Man Who ever Lived relates his personal experience creating television advertising. He aimed high and often used celebrities to endorse a product. Personal fortune resulted from successful campaigns.

I must admit, at this point I am only halfway through the book The only television at home is PBS. On the rare occasion that I do see cable television, I am annoyed by the repeated commercials and take the endorsements of a product with a large grain of salt. I usually rip out the ad inserts in magazines so I can enjoy the articles without the advertising. Because I am not a businessman, marketer or a salesman, I found all the marketing references rather tedious after awhile.

However, we all are salesmen of ourselves. Scott’s premise that The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived can be a mentor for us in all areas of life and relationships rings true.

Hardcover from WaterBrook Press, 2009
I have two copies to give away.
Purchases can be made from: www.randomhouse.com

If Tomorrow Never Comes

2009-03-25T12:22:00.005-04:00

Jimmy and Kinna, childhood sweethearts, have been married for twelve years. Kinna married expecting happiness ever after to include husband, home, children. Oh, she has the husband and home, all right, but it’s the children part that eludes her. Her focus is not on her husband or their marriage, but the lack of children.

Jimmy wonders what happened to the woman he loved? He doesn’t understand the all-consuming need for a child. His construction job is difficult, with a boss who is cutting corners in order to beat a deadline. Because of his past upbringing by an alcoholic, widowed father, Jimmy is hesistant to speak up and set things straight. In fact, he is hesistant to do much of anything.

Kinna is bound and determined to have the desire of her heart. Apparently God does not want to answer her prayers, so she repeatedly takes matters into her own hands to the detriment of her marriage and relationships. Things come to a head one day when Jimmy is fired. He comes home and Kinna is not even concerned about the drawn look on his face. She is only consumed with the fact that it is again the right time to try for a baby. She is frustrated as Jimmy refuses and confronts her, for the first time, with his declaration that the word LOVE by her standards is spelled G-I-V-E M-E.

Only with the help of some “angels” does Kinna begin to recognize her destructive actions and surrender to God. The same "angels" help Jimmy to confront his shortcomings and face his own fears.

If Tomorrow Never Comes, by Marlo Schalesky, is a poignant novel of hope and redemptive love.

The author, Marlo Schalesky, writes from personal experience with infertility.

2009 Paperback from Multnomah.

I have one copy to give away.

You can also purchase it here.

Don't Let Me Go

2009-03-20T14:23:00.004-04:00

David Pierce was a little startled when his fifteen year-old daughter, Chera, declared she wanted to climb a mountain. She'd just finished reading Into Thin Air about a failed Mt. Everest attempt. Climbers died. David wasn't so sure about her idea. But, he entertained her desire and made it a father/daughter activity.

Don't Let Me Go is his journal of sorts, a mixture of thoughts, contemplations, and reflections as he navigated this special period of his daughter's teen years. Together they faced Pike's Peak, a couple of marathons, two other Colorado mountain climbs and then attempted the ultimate, Mt. Ranier. They found their own definition of success in their trials, ultimately concluding that life is the journey you take and the perspective with which you face what comes your way. Dreaming, working, training, and focusing on a goal caused growth both spiritually and mentally, and a very special father/daughter bond formed.

Since I grew up in the western United States, I thoroughly enjoyed his descriptions of the imposing mountains, terrain, and breathtaking panoramas. I was dismayed at how unprepared they were as they attempted their runs and climbs. I could foresee disaster waiting to happen.
What they gained was a better understanding of God's majesty and grace.

Softcover by WaterBrook Press. I have one copy to give away.
Purchases can be made at www.amazon.com, www. familychristian.com, and www.christianbook.com

a Day with a Perfect Stranger

2009-03-06T13:29:00.005-05:00

Mattie sees her business trip as a chance to get away and sort things through. Ever since her husband, Nick, came home declaring he’d had dinner with Jesus, he was a changed man. He read his Bible, prayed, participated in men’s groups, spent more time at home with her and their daughter, even did small things around the house. He was no longer the workaholic that she didn’t like. She wasn’t sure she liked him this way, either!

On her flight one of her seatmates began making small talk and Mattie found herself explaining her thoughts, frustrations, even divorce contemplations. “Jay” continued to ask her gentle, probing questions, causing her to consider things about God she never even thought about before.

A brief example:

Mattie: “You said something a minute ago. You said that if God designed people for an intimate conversation with himself, then we are incomplete without him. But don’t you think that God is just a crutch for some people?”

‘Jay’: “I suppose that depends on what you were created for,”…”If you were created for life without God, then he’s a crutch. If, on the other hand, the very reason you were created is for an intimate relationship with God, then he’s not a crutch. He’s the fulfillment of what you were created to be.” (59-60)

A Day with a Perfect Stranger is the sequel to Dinner with a Perfect Stranger, also by David Gregory. I think you will find it as delightful as I did.

Published by WaterBrook Press.

I have one copy to give away.

You can also find it online at www.randomhouse.com

The Echo Within

2009-02-27T14:37:00.004-05:00

The Echo Within is a new book by author Robert Benson. Here are a few tidbits from the jacket:

Written out of his own lifelong seach for and response to the calling voice of God, Benson recounts his discovery of the meaning of vocation, work, and purpose through the ups and downs inherent in family life, professional choice, and spiritual experience. The book is suggested as a way for readers to explore:

How to love the work you do, and the process of doing it.
Ways to sense God's pleasure in your pursuits, both in the pursuits and in you.
Whether you fall into your vocation as a destiny or you chart that course.
How to begin living with added dimensions of meaning and purpose.

Robert shares with widsom, humor, and heart what he's learned--and how you can discover your calling too.

I didn't think this little book was much more than a meandering text of the author's own musing on life. It was sort of "this could be your own idea of a vocation, or it could be a God-planned idea; you decide." In other words, there was not much substance. If you want to know if God is speaking direction to you, I suggest you delve into the Bible, journal, and seek out wise pastoral counsel.

In hardback, from WaterBrook Press.
If curious, I have two copies to give away.
It can also be purchased at www.amazon.com, www.familychristian.com, or www.christianbook.com.

OUTLAW MARSHAL

2009-02-19T15:18:00.000-05:00

Wagon Train. Gunsmoke. Wyatt Earp. Have Gun Will Travel. The Rifleman. Wanted: Dead or Alive. Cheyenne. Sugarfoot. Bonanza. Myriad numbers of westerns were TV fare as I was growing up. Easy plots, too. The respected sheriff (good guy) faced the outlaw or crooked townsman (bad guys). There was always reasoning before the reluctant “doing his duty” shoot ‘em up scene. The good guy always won, and sometimes the bad guys took to heart a learned lesson and became upstanding, law-abiding citizens of whatever western town they were in. Ahhh. Simple.

Since it’s been a long time since there have been any good westerns around and an even longer while since I’ve read any books in the western genre, I thought it might be fun to read Outlaw Marshal, book one in the new Return of the Stranger series by Al and Joanna Lacy. In a nutshell:

“A good deed grants outlaw Whipley Langford early release from prison

and a friendship with Chief U.S. Marshal John Brockman. Another good deed

gets Whip framed for murder and looking at life through a hangman’s noose.

John arrives just in time to reveal the true murderers and lead Whip to Christ”

Like the TV westerns, I found this book to be very simplistic. Perhaps that was the author’s intent. As I began reading, it struck me that even western frontiersmen were saved. Hmm. Curious. Never thought of that before. Marshal Brockman (in the book he’s always Chief Brockman, but that made me think more of a fireman) carries his Bible in his saddelebag and at every opportunity tries to lead the outlaws he encounters to Christ. When he arrests them, as he locks them up in jail, on the road as he delivers them to prison, and when he visits them. Hardly a page goes by where the gospel is not preached. The reader learns very quickly the steps to salvation: recognize your sin, realize you are going to hell if you aren’t saved, receive Christ, get baptized, then go out and serve.

A Multnomah paperback, I have two or three copies to share.

It can also be purchased here.

About The Authors: Al Lacy is an evangelist and author of more than one hundred historical and western novels, including the Journeys of the Stranger, Angel of Mercy, and Mail Order Bride series, with more than three million books in print. JoAnna Lacy, Al’s wife and longtime collaborator, is a retired nurse. The Lacys have been married over forty years and live in the Colorado Rockies.

Triple Play

2009-02-13T20:12:00.005-05:00

for couples only is a boxed set of two popular books by Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn, for women only and for men only. Do you find yourself wondering if you are speaking a foreign language when he looks blankly at you? Does he get frustrated because you don’t agree with what seems to him a straightforward and logical approach to a problem?
You are not alone. These books may give you a better idea of how to love and support one another in a language you both understand.

Hardback, from Multnomah. It can be purchased here.

A few months ago I reviewed Love as a Way of Life. Now out is a companion, The Love as a Way of Life Devotional. This little gem by Gary Chapman is a 90 day devotional covering the seven distinguishing characteristics of a loving person, such as “kindness”, “patience”, and “forgiveness” to name a few. Each day has a scripture, a little story, and ends with a short prayer. Great food for thought.

Hardback, from WaterBrook Press. It can be purchased here.

Gripping. Intense. Remarkable. Just a few adjectives that come to mind after finishing I Do Again by Cheryl and Jeff Scruggs. It is the true story of their marriage. Years of emotional frustration led to an affair, then a divorce.

Cheryl: Selfishness, anger, looking for someone else to blame. Being in control. Entertaining negative thoughts. Allowing her heart to cross a line emotionally. Rationalizing. Choosing to ignore “warning signals.” Divorce in her mind and heart. Divorce for real.

Jeff: Worry. Not understanding. Pain. Betrayal. Anger. Suspicion. Renewed relationship with God.

Cheryl thought the freedom she envisioned would lead to peace and happiness, but it didn’t. She found herself once again on an uneasy path. This led her into the arms of a loving God who faithfully carried her, step by step, on a new road to a relationship with Him. Eventually this road, seven years later, led to reconciliation, restoration and remarriage with her husband, Jeff!

Big lessons learned? Relinquishing control. Commitment. Obedience to God. His perfect timing. It’s not about you, but about God and His purposes. God designs marriage not to make you happy, but to make you holy.

Well worth reading, this paperback is published by WaterBrook Press. It can be purchased here.

Intimate Issues

2009-02-12T21:49:00.003-05:00

Valentine’s Day is almost here. Any specific thoughts come to mind, ladies?
Red…Chocolate…Roses…Love…Intimacy…Relationship…God? Can you add anything more?

Linda Dillow (Satisfy My Thirsty Soul) and Lorraine Pintus have teamed up to write this collection of insights about fears, hopes and concerns with regard to marital intimacy. They started with a nationwide poll of over one thousand Christian women to seek out 21 of the most asked questions on the subject. Then they set out to answer those queries using a mixture of scriptures, biblical insight, experts’ advice and testimonials.

One example of a block to intimacy is a self-image problem with which women often deal and which is not biblical.
They urge the reader to:
1) thank God for how he made you
2) remember your husband chose you
3) find a balance to accept yourself and be responsible for what you’ve been given

Tastefully written, practical and biblically based, Dillow and Pintus offer every woman hope that her marriage relationship can be all God intended.

In paperback from WaterBrook Press, I have two copies to give away.
The book can also be found at www.amazon.com, www.familychristian.com, and www.christianbook.com

Christian Writers' Market Guide 2009

2009-01-28T14:29:00.006-05:00

Do you like to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and leave a trail of your thoughts, insights, ideas? Do you feel like you have valuable life experiences to share? Do you wish to enthrall others with fanciful adventures or pass along the truths you’ve gleaned from your study of Scripture?

If so, you may want to pick up a copy of

Christian Writers' Market Guide 2009

For over 20 years, author Sally Stuart has produced this amazing resource filled with trusted content. The only one of its kind, the 2009 edition includes the latest information on more than 100 editors and publishers, conferences, writers' groups, and more. Not only are these listed and indexed in the book, but this year readers will get a code in the book and on the included CD-Rom for accessing more updates through the year on author Sally Stuart's web site, www.stuartmarket.com.

This highly-recommended resource for beginning and veteran Christian writers, agents, editors, publishers, publicists, and those teaching writing classes is completely updated and revised to feature the latest on:

more than 1,200 markets for the written word
416 book publishers (32 new)
654 periodicals (52 new)
96 literary agents
100 new listings in Resources for Writers
226 poetry markets
316 photography markets
25 African-American markets, and
166 contests (29 new)

New from WaterBrook Press, it can be purchased through:

www.Amazon.com
www.ChristianBook.com
www.FamilyChristian.com

Never Say Diet

2009-01-14T09:52:00.004-05:00

Just in time for the seasonal resolutions that come with the New Year territory is Chantel Hobbs' Never Say Diet. Her writing reflects the title. She does not want people to diet but rather change their lifestyle and approach to food.

The book has three parts. In the first section, Chantel explains five decisions that you, the reader, need to make in order to truly lose weight and achieve a healthy life. First is to stop making excuses! She lists twenty that can keep us from taking the first step toward a healthy lifestyle, a few of which are: “I don’t have enough hours” “I’m too old” “I have too much weight to lose” and “I have the fat gene”.

The author writes this book from experience, as she started out in 2001 at age 29 weighing almost 350 pounds. Her first step was to surrender the weight battle to God. She understood she had a choice. With God’s help, she committed to choosing to lose weight and get fit. “I didn’t need the unconditional love of strangers; I needed unconditional commitment from myself.” (pg. 15) Very openly, the author details her background, her struggles, pitfalls, the steps she took, her successes. Over and over again, she emphasizes that the most difficult aspect is changing the way we think. That has to be done with God’s help.

The second section of Never Say Diet is a suggested fitness plan, with food and meal lists, detailed exercises (with photos) and places to record progress. The third section fields common questions and answers. Also emphasized is that the lifestyle is not just for you only, but for your whole family. It’s right in tune with all the articles concerning childhood obesity that are prevalent today.

I found Never Say Diet easy to read, informative, and encouraging.

Published by WaterBrook Press, I have one book to give away.

I also have a copy of The Never Say Diet Personal Fitness Trainer to give away. The handbook is a 16 week, Scripturally based plan for healthy eating and exercise.

Both paperbacks can also be purchased from CBD and Amazon.com.

Only Nuns Change Habits Overnight

2009-01-03T00:22:00.002-05:00

This short book, less than 200 pages, is billed as “52 Amazing Ways to Master the Art of Personal Change.” The main premise of the author, Karen Scalf Linamen, is that we are often too content to stay in the same old rut. Doing the same things repeatedly, we are often surprised when we keep getting the same results. At the end of each section, she offers questions and steps for diagnosing and pursuing changes that we desire.

I thought her main point, that we all have developed habits that produce either good or bad fruit, was well put when she wrote “Habits are the little anchors that keep us from straying very far from the lifestyle to which we’ve become accustomed, whether that lifestyle makes us happy or miserable” (pg. 54). Linamen notes that often habits are sometimes unnoticeable unless we really stop and think about why we act certain ways.

While it is humorous, I found it to be too “cutesy-poo” for my taste. Loaded with personal anecdotes, there are many of her own habits listed that she is aware of, desires to change, but so far hasn’t. I tired of the constant parenthesized side notes within sentences.

Page 120 began the meatiest portion of the book, with action #39. Finally, prayer enters the text. Even though there were a few Biblical passages previously listed for reference, it is in this section that Linamen actually suggests the reader pray, ask God, and expect to receive answers. Also presented is a very clear message of the importance of a personal relationship with Christ.

Only Nuns Change Habits Overnight is published by WaterBrook Press.
I have two extra copies if you are interested; just drop me a note.
It can also be purchased here:

Living Rich for Less

2008-12-20T00:44:00.005-05:00

Living Rich for Less is an easy-to-grasp handbook of suggestions and proven ways for developing a lifestyle that you desire. In energetic fashion that jumps from the pages, author Ellie Kay relates the motivation she had to work on ridding her family of debt. She uses her personal experience of being a military wife and raising 7 children to persuade the reader that anyone can live a debt-free life.

The chapters are interspersed with websites of various organizations that can be consulted for places to give (time, materials, money), ideas for business, tools for financial calculations, and online sites for comparison shopping. I was impressed with her detailed explanation of the FICO score and how it’s figured and the practices of credit agencies.

Ellie Kay espouses the 10/10/80 rule: give 10 percent, save 10 percent, and be smart in how to spend the other 80 percent. She starts early on with developing an attitude of giving in all areas. She reminds us that the goal is to be out of debt and living contently in order to give more.

Her key principle to remember: R.I.C.H.

Redemption: Claim financial redemption and admit you have a problem
Instruction: Submit yourself to wise instruction
Commitment: Absolutely commit to put any unexpected income toward debt repayment
Hope: Befriend a companion named Hope

As a Dave Ramsey fan, I was curious as to how Living Rich for Less would compare with his publications. Most of the same principles are presented but in a slightly different fashion. Where he presents a detailed, steady, step by step process for getting out of debt, Ellie Kay gives mostly helpful tips and suggestions.

This is a good primer for someone who may never have looked at practical ways of spending less. Ellie Kay said she had the mindset that saving, spending less, and being out of debt in order to give more away was her “business.” That’s a key principle to making Living Rich for Less work for you.

Ellie Kay is a featured family finance expert in numerous magazines and newspapers.
Published by WaterBrook Press.
I have two copies available to give away if you are interested. Just drop me a note.

It can also be purchased from the following sites:
www.Amazon.com, www.ChristianBook.com, www.FamilyChristian.com

When the Soul Mends

2008-12-08T12:18:00.004-05:00

Hannah has been living in an Englischer town, under the care of her aunt Zabeth who previously left the Old Order Amish community years before. She is working toward a degree in the medical field, something she would not have been allowed to do in her community. Close emotionally to Martin, a man raised by her aunt, she is helping him to raise his niece and nephew.

In the opening chapter, we find Hannah driving into Owl’s Perch in the midst of a funeral service for her good friend Matthew’s brother who tragically died in a shop fire. She is unsure of her reception after fleeing home under cloudy circumstances two years before, ostracized by her community. Her sister Sarah’s strange phone call begging her to come concerns her enough to cause her to make the bold trip.

Cindy Woodsmall’s new novel, When the Soul Mends, details Hannah’s struggles for finding help for her sister’s mental illness that will be allowed by the leaders of the community, acceptance, reconnection, and dealing with her conflicting feelings towards Paul, the young man she had been courting two years before. Woodsmall does a great job intertwining the various family and friend relationships. Envisioning Hannah’s assessments of Old Order Amish and Englischer customs, the reader can empathize with her wavering between the two.

Salvation, forgiveness, concern, understanding, love: all these and more are found in When the Soul Mends.

Published by WaterBrook Press, this is the third novel in the "Sisters of the Quilt" series by Cindy Woodsmall.

If you are interested in a very enjoyable book, I have two copies to give away.

My Mother's Wish

2008-11-17T16:10:00.005-05:00

Ellee sets out to distinguish herself from everyone else in her small town. She does not want to settle for the proper life her mother envisions for her. She rebels in small ways: the backwards direction she writes in her diary, the way she writes across the lines, and shortening her name to Ellee from Eleanor. All of it fits the best word she knows, “contrariwise.”

In My Mother’s Wish her father accepts her the way she is yet her mother is disappointed in Ellee’s constant need to be different. Strife ensues and we find Ellee taking off for parts unknown. I felt like there were pages missing because in one chapter she is leaving Missouri in July and in the next we find her at a truck stop diner in Nebraska just before Christmas. She misses home. A waitress shows concern, a truck driver offers her a ride which she readily accepts, and lo and behold, drops her off at her home without her revealing any details about herself. She returns to find her mother accepts her at last, as demonstrated by the fact that she has written Ellee instead of Eleanor on the Christmas list tagged to the refrigerator, and her mother’s lone wish is to have her back.

A very quick read, I found this little book too cute. There was no meat to it. Assuming the author is using this short narrative to get across the idea of unconditional love that God gives to each of us, this does not cut it for me. Give me the real Christmas story any day.

Published by WaterBrook Press and written by Jerry Camery-Hoggatt.
If you are curious, I have three books to give away.

Books can also be purchased from:

www.Amazon.com
www.ChristianBook.com
www.FamilyChristian.com

Me, Myself, & I AM

2008-11-04T13:20:00.003-05:00

Ever think about what your life was like before Christ? Ever wonder about your current focus? Ever think about where you are headed in the future? Want to understand your relationship with God in a deeper way? Me, Myself, & I AM is a tool you could use to help you as you sort through these questions and myriad others. It’s like a ready made journal, asking pointed questions to get you started thinking and giving you a place to log a concrete record of your journey in life.

Some of the questions assume a cultural literacy on the part of the reader, such as:

If your life before you became a Christian were a movie, its title would be:

Animal House

As Good As It Gets

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

It’s a Wonderful Life

The reader is encouraged to be transparent and answer questions honestly; not as you think they should be answered but your own current assessment of you.

You can go in order or skip around to whatever interests you at the particular time you choose to examine your thoughts and actions. Fun, serious, or thought-provoking, Me, Myself, & I AM can be a springboard for either your own spiritual walk or group discussions.

Co-authored by Matthew Peters and Elisa Stanford.
Published by Multnomah.
Available for purchase at www.Amazon.com, www.ChristianBook.com, or www.FamilyChristian.com.

I have two extra copies if you are interested.

How Would Jesus Vote?

2008-10-27T10:33:00.004-04:00

Jerry Newcombe and the late D. James Kennedy of Coral Ridge Ministries examine political issues that voters face not only now, in the 2008 presidential race, but those that are ongoing.

The authors drawn attention to the fact that voters with a traditional Christian worldview see issues and their solutions differently than other voters. At least, the authors believe we should, since our beliefs should be based on what the Bible says.

Some issues addressed are abortion, the death penalty, war, education, and economics, to name a few. Kennedy and Newcombe challenge the reader to vote from an informed view by applying faith and obedience in the ballot box.

Published by WaterBrook Press, you can purchase it here.

Bon Appétit

2008-10-22T15:58:00.004-04:00

Lexi leaves her Seattle area home to pursue her dream of becoming a pastry chef. She switches places with the daughter in the Delacroix family, owners of not only the bakery where she worked in Seattle but also two bakeries in France. She settles into spending her working hours supervised by members of the Delacroix family at each of their bakeries, creating delicious pastries as directed.

Her education at L’École du Pâtisserie, sponsored by the family, begins just a few weeks after she arrives. She will have 16 weeks to prove herself and earn her diploma. In order to do so, she must end up in the top ten percent of her class. Will she pass the final exhibition of her baking skills?

Lexi cautiously makes friends, develops a devotional time where she is not only feeding her body but also her soul, and looks to God for help in sorting out what direction she should take. Good food, new friendships, a little romance…will she stay in France or decide to return to America? Authored by Sandra Byrd, the novel delightfully portrays Lexi’s struggles as she tries to find her way. There are even a few recipes included!

New from WaterBrook Press, this is the second book in Sandra Byrd's French Twist series.
I have two copies to give away to an interested party.

The Shape of Mercy

2008-10-14T04:04:00.006-04:00

Any Susan Meissner fans out there? If so, you will like her new novel, The Shape of Mercy.

Raised in an atmosphere of affluence, Lauren sets out to disprove her family’s expectations. In her opening monologue she states: “This is the treasure the impoverished forget they have: the ability to choose a new road. They may struggle all their lives to on it, but at least they chose it for themselves. This is why I went looking for a job to earn a paycheck I didn’t need. Not because I wanted to prove I could earn my own money, but because no one expected me to do it. When you only do what is expected of you, you never learn what you would’ve done had you chosen for yourself.” (page 5)

A sophomore English major, Lauren is hired to transcribe a journal that has been handed down through the family of an elderly woman. Mercy Hayworth details the frenzy surrounding the colony where she lives during the time of the Salem witch trials. Mercy seeks God for answers and demonstrates abundant forgiveness. As she slowly peels back not only the layers of Mercy’s life but that of her employer, Lauren begins to realize her own perceptions of people are sometimes misguided and not based on truth. She finds and faces her own self-imposed perception of “not measuring up” and is released into a new freedom.

This was beautifully written and difficult to put down. A little intrigue, a little romance, some self-examination, much forgiveness, abundant mercy: all are wrapped together in Meissner’s The Shape of Mercy.

If you are interested, I have two extra copies.
New from WaterBrook Press. It can be purchased here.
You can find more about the author here.

For Young Men Only

2008-10-09T10:20:00.003-04:00

This new book by Jeff Feldhahn* and Eric Rice* sets out to give helpful answers to young men in their quest to understanding young women. Taking basic questions, they surveyed up to 1,000 young women and catalogued their answers. Their wives, Shaunti Feldhahn+ and Lisa Rice^, consulted groups of high school girls in settings where they felt free to speak candidly about those qualities in their male peers that meant the most to them. The girls were a mixture of Christians and non-Christians. Random surveys were also conducted at malls.

I’ll admit it. I was curious. Having raised three young men of my own, I wondered what this book would tell my sons about young women that they didn’t know. After all, they had a mom and a sister who could definitely clue them in on the female mind. At least we thought so. After reading For Young Men Only I asked myself, “Have things changed since I was a young woman?” Apparently not. My daughter read it and came to the same conclusion. We don’t understand why they don’t get us. Still.

While the answers were no surprise to us females, they were to the authors. Here are two examples: Chapter 2: “Why ordinary guys have a real chance with great girls. A: A girl is most attracted to a guy’s hidden qualities.”

Chapter 6: “How to talk and listen to a girl without looking like an idiot. A: A girl wants a guy to talk to her. But to really make an impression with her, a guy just needs to listen.”

Each chapter is devoted to a survey question and answer, and then gives explanations, practical tips, and ideas for better relating to young women. For Young Men Only, written in a light-hearted and engaging way, is simple and easy to read. If you know a young man who is having a hard time understanding how to relate to young women, this book might be a good start.

I have two copies to give away.

Published by Multnomah, you can find more information at the following sites:

www.foryoungmenonly.com
www.Amazon.com
www.ChristianBook.com
www.FamilyChristian.com

*also authored For Men Only
+authored For Women Only
+^co-authored For Young Women Only

The Encore Effect

2008-09-25T10:15:00.003-04:00

“Encore!” the audience shouts. “Encore!” They are on their feet, clapping, sometimes hooting, sometimes whistling. The performance was so moving, so deeply felt, they want more. I think the term has lost its edge over the years and become almost commonplace. When I was growing up, it happened when the performance was over-the-top extraordinary. Lately, when I have attended plays or concerts, the immediate reaction at the end of the performance is for the whole audience to jump to their feet and begin the “routine” for more. It’s almost become expected by the cast or performer. And, oftentimes, while I think the performance may have been solid or well-done, I don’t think it should be in the category of extraordinary.

So, it was with this background that I read The Encore Effect by Mark Sanborn. The purpose of the book is to cause you to think about your “performance” in whatever you do. Are you “just” doing your job? Or, are you doing the best you can, working with excellence, known with distinction? If people want more from you, and demand more, then you have achieved the Encore Effect.

Sanborn encourages us to prepare and practice for our roles, whatever we do. As Christians, we should aspire to be remarkable performers so that we may glorify God. The author lists nine reasons he believes Christians should strive for remarkable performance. Each chapter has an “intersection” where the author poses a challenge to apply our faith in our daily life. My favorite quote: “Perhaps the biggest danger you face is believing that your navel is the center of the universe….All the pitfalls discussed in this chapter fall under the umbrella of self-absorption. So what is the antidote? We must unseat self and put God at the center of our lives.” (pg.121)

The Encore Effect is a good motivational book. If you feel as though you are losing your edge, or are just coasting along in your work, this may give you the needed boost to get up and get back on track, with purpose.

New from WaterBrook Press.

Author Bio: Mark Sanborn is the best-selling author of The Fred Factor and You Don’t Need a Title to Be a Leader. An internationally acclaimed motivational speaker, Sanborn is president of Sanborn & Associates, Inc., an idea studio for leadership development. Having served as president of two national organizations, he regularly keynotes meetings in the United States and abroad—speaking on leadership, team building, customer service, and mastering change. He and his family live near Denver , Colorado .

The Road of Lost Innocence

2008-09-21T17:12:00.004-04:00

Have you seen or heard news reports about child prostitution? Do you find it hard to believe it exists in this day and age? Reading The Road of Lost Innocence should make a believer out of you.

The author, Somaly Mam, uses this emotionally moving book to recount the story of her life. Page after page details what she remembers of her early years, the sadness and fear when sold into prostitution by her “grandfather” at the age of 12, the atrocities committed, the suffering during the time she was abused in brothels, and her eventual rescue.

She discusses the cultural mores and attitudes that allow child prostitution in Cambodia and bordering countries. She recounts the early beginnings and continuing efforts to rescue girls from their lives of slavery and restore their dignity while preparing them for jobs they can use to support themselves. The discouragement and difficulties in finding honest policemen and government officials who were not willing to look the other way are noted. She details her search for funding and the establishment of AFESIP (Acting for Women in Distressing Situations) based in Cambodia.

Through sheer survival and strength of will, the author began and continues her humanitarian efforts. This was a tough book to read and must have been a tough book to write, as it harshly details a situation that continues even as you read this review. I hope it brings her healing, but I wish she and those she rescues could know the complete Healer.

Published by Spiegel and Grau, this book can be purchased here.
A portion of the proceeds from sales will be donated to the Somaly Mam Foundation.

If you are moved to help in the fight against human trafficking, check out www.somaly.org

Saturdays with Stella

2008-09-09T19:30:00.005-04:00

Hot off the press is a fun new book from Multnomah, Saturdays with Stella. Anybody who has ever had a dog, especially a puppy, will be able to relate. For those who have not had the pleasure, the author, Allison Pittman, creates great word pictures of her trials and tribulations as Stella becomes a part of the family.

The solution for energetic, wild, puppyhood, thought Allison, would be a 6 week obedience class. To her surprise, she gained a spiritual benefit as she learned more about her relationship with God through the weeks of training her puppy. Each chapter relates a new week in training and a new insight to God’s grace, mercy, and love.

Moments of defeat and moments of triumph. All are contained in this delightful, heart-warming book, Saturdays with Stella.

New from Multnomah, you can purchase it here.
You can learn more about the author here.
Giveaway copies are spoken for.

Wild Goose Chase

2008-08-27T09:46:00.009-04:00

Wow! That's my reaction after reading Wild Goose Chase. I felt excited even before I started and I wasn't sure why. Mark Batterson's energy and passion for pusuing God just leaps off the pages!

The title is somewhat misleading if you think about it. My Random House dictionary defines a wild goose chase as "a wild or absurd search for something nonexistent or unobtainable". Do you ever feel that pertains to your walk as a Christian? However, the title Wild Goose Chase is chosen from a Celtic Christian name for the Holy Spirit, An Geadh-Glas, meaning "the Wild Goose." Through personal anecdotes and scriptural references, the author challenges the reader to come out of his Christian "cage" (i.e. the safety of the church) and live out the adventure of following Christ.

Some tidbits, pages 8-9:
"...many, if not most, Christians are bored with their faith...
...too many of us end up settling for spiritual mediocrity instead of spiritual maturity...coming out of the cage means giving up the very thing in which we find our security and identity outside of Christ."

Batterson outlines six "cages" in which Christians find themselves: Responsibility, Routine, Assumptions, Guilt, Failure, and Fear. He challenges us to be courageous, come out of our cages, and live a life of spiritual adventure.

Uncertain about where you are going? Are you looking for something more? Read Wild Goose Chase. It might just shake that cage door open.

Mark Batterson is the lead pastor of Washington, D.C.'s National Community Church.

New from Multnomah, the book is available for purchase here.
I have one copy to give away.
For more info, also see: www.chasethegoose.com

A Trio of Children's Books

2008-08-18T14:54:00.010-04:00

Three delightful new children’s books are due out this month from WaterBrook Press.

Dandi Daley Mackall penned When God Created My Toes and God Loves Me More Than That. Large, colorful illustrations drawn by David Hohm accompany the rhyming lines in each book.

When God Created My Toes*
features a little girl wondering about God’s reaction when he created her toes, knees, hands, etc. Each question is asked in a light-hearted, rhyming form, such as “When God created my eyes, could I see him too, playing peek-a-boo?”
I liked the way each query featured a penciled drawing on “lined school paper” accompanied by a lavishly detailed colorful illustration on accompanying pages.

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A little boy wonders how high, deep, wide, loud, soft, etc. is God’s love for him in God Loves Me More Than That.* Colorful, whimsical illustrations fill the pages.

“How much love does God have for me?
More than the letters between A and Z.
More than the bumbles in a bumble bee.
God loves me more than that!”

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Lisa Tawn Bergren brings us another special offering in God Gave Us Heaven.** In this precious book, a little polar bear cub spends a day fishing with her daddy and asks him, “Papa, what’s heav’n?” There follows a litany of more questions and well-thought out answers as to how wonderful heaven will be.

“Can we take our stuff to heaven?”
“No, we won’t need our stuff there….
“Sometimes we think we need stuff, but it’s just more weight for us to carry.
Our best stuff doesn’t weigh anything at all---stuff like love, family, friends, and faith.
That’s where our real blessings are.”

Also tucked inside this book is a simple presentation of the gospel message of Jesus being the bridge between us and God. Illustrations are beautifully done by Laura J. Bryant.

*tested by my 2 1/2 year old granddaughter. She liked the first one I think because she knows what her toes, knees, etc. are. The second has broader concepts which may not have meaning yet for her, though she did like the pictures.

**my granddaughter enjoys these pictures, but the story/questions are for a slightly older child.

New from WaterBrook Press. All three are hardcover.
I currently have one set to give away.
They can also be purchased here.

Love as a Way of Life

2008-07-17T20:32:00.003-04:00

In a previous book, author Gary Chapman focused on five “love languages”, laying out the concept that people respond to others relationally based on five primary ways love is given and received: affirming words, quality time, gifts, acts of service, and physical touch. If we learn to “speak” the other person’s love language, and vice versa, things may go great. However, if we do not, then the relationship may not go well at all.

Chapman assumed that if people understood and learned how to speak the correct language to those around them, they would do so all the time. However, what he found was that people were not necessarily eager to speak the correct language because it might be contrary to their natural tendencies.

Before penning Love as a Way of Life, the author spent time studying and surveying, and realized that oftentimes people fail to love others properly because there is no foundation of real love.

“Love is not an emotion that comes over us or an elusive goal dependent on the actions of others. Authentic love is something within our capabilities, originating in our attitudes and culminating in our actions. If we think of love as a feeling, we shall be frustrated when we can’t always work up that feeling. When we realize love is primarily an action, we are ready to use the tools we have to love better.” (pg. 6)

Chapman identifies seven traits of a loving person and proceeds to devote a chapter to each of them. The “quiz” for personal assessment at the beginning of each chapter, definitions, and the down-to-earth examples throughout the book lead the reader to introspective reading. Recognizing self-centered love and turning from that to habitually loving others unselfishly is the goal.

This new hardback from WaterBrook Press, Love as a Way of Life, can be purchased here.
I also have two* copies to give away.

*now one

skid

2008-05-28T16:29:00.010-04:00

Hank takes a job as an undercover investigator for an airline to assess their on-board service in their competitive quest for passengers. Always polite and positive due to his Christian background and personal faith, he both puzzles and annoys not only the crew but also the passengers he interacts with who are having an extraordinarily rough day.

Flight 1945 is no ordinary flight. Hank’s seatmate, Lucy, is trying to get over her split with her boyfriend and discovers him to be traveling on the same flight with a new love interest. One passenger “dies” enroute. Anna Sue, who the crew believes is emotionally challenged, has traveling with her her companion animal, a pot-bellied pig. Somehow Chucky gets loose and has the passengers and crew scrambling to catch him. A jewel thief attached to an FBI agent is being extradited to Amsterdam and believes there is someone on board who wants to kill him. Topping off this scenario we have a man sitting nearby who is carrying hidden diamonds to a grandmother he’s never met, a fake federal aircraft inspector and finally, a pilot-less cockpit.

Bordering on funny (lots of comedic misunderstandings) and just plain dumb, Skid, by Rene Gutteridge, is an easy, fast read that requires little thought. The gospel and comments regarding faith are scattered here and there for good measure, but there is no enduring lesson to ponder. It was not my cup of tea, but if you need something very light and simple, you might enjoy it.

New from WaterBrook Press, I have 3 (now 2) copies to give away.

Also available for purchase here.

Healing Promises

2008-05-12T11:22:00.006-04:00

Where do you go and to whom do you turn when your world is falling apart?

Those are some of the questions the characters in Amy Wallace’s new novel, Healing Promises, find themselves asking. Healing Promises is a well-written, compelling book which kept me turning the pages to see what the next chapter would bring. It was a difficult read only because of the emotional subject matter.

Sara is an oncologist whose Christianity leads her to pray with her patients and connect with them during ongoing treatments. Her faith is shaken to the core when her husband, an FBI agent, is brought to the hospital for treatment for a gunshot wound. The doctors treating him find more than just a wound; extensive tests lead them to discover he has cancer. All these years she’s been espousing God’s healing promises. Does she really believe what she’s told her patients?

Emotionally painful also is the job her husband, Clint, has with the FBI Crimes Against Children Unit. He is in the midst of tracking down a serial kidnapper of young boys when he receives his cancer diagnosis. The powerlessness he feels as he undergoes chemotherapy and his inability to effectively help his partners also challenges his beliefs.

There are some other characters’ underlying stories woven through the book. All are dealing in one way or another with their faith in God. Hope, trust, anger, pain, wrestling with God; all these emotions are portrayed. Wallace’s characters are fictional but the struggles are real. Again and again they are pointed to the source of truth.

Read Healing Promises. You may find some for yourself.

This is book two in Amy Wallace’s “Defenders of Hope” series.
New from Multnomah, it can be purchased here.

If you are interested, I have two copies to give away.

A Mending at the Edge

2008-04-21T12:31:00.002-04:00

A Mending at the Edge is the third and final novel in Jane Kirkpatrick’s Change and Cherish series of historical novels. The books are based on the life of Emma Wagner Giesy, a German-American woman raised in a religious communal society. The author weaves the myriad details gleaned from extensive research with a fruitful imagination and presents the readers with a captivating tale of life in the 1850’s.

For background: as a young woman Emma questions, rather than accepts, the Bethel colony’s communal life; the intent that everything done is for the sake of the colony as a whole, not the inhabitants as individuals. Emma is not one to listen quietly but instead speaks her mind. She wants others to recognize and value that women can think, too. She is skeptical as to motives behind actions that others seem to accept like obedient sheep. She tires of the refrain “for the good of the colony.”

When her husband becomes the trusted leader of a scouting party to begin a new settlement in the western territories that will become Oregon and Washington, Emma convinces the community leader to let her go too. Wilhelm is hesitant yet determines it might be a chance for her to know “all that a woman’s lot entails,” perhaps settling for once and for all her issue with conformity.

Throughout the series, we feel Emma’s struggles as she wrestles with the yearning for independence and recognition. The pinnacle of this wrestling comes to a head in A Mending at the Edge when tragedy strikes. Emma is devastated and angry with God. Even more reluctant to yield to any community help, she makes poor decisions. As a last resort, she finds herself fleeing to the new western settlement and becoming once again a part of the communal society she tried so hard to flee.

Emma’s husband and other community members always attributed circumstances to God’s goodness and direction, whereas Emma was so blinded by an independent spirit and pride she could not or was not willing to do the same. She wanted purpose, but did not seek God’s direction. She exemplified Phil 2:21 rather than Matt 6:33. At the conclusion of A Mending at the Edge we find Emma content in her relationships in the community. Did she reach that same relationship with God? I hope so.

New Release from WaterBrook Press