A Breath of Hope

     BOOK REVIEW:   With her younger brother Ivar in tow, Nilda Carlson is on her way to America to join her oldest brother Rune and his family in the northern forests of Minnesota. While she sees this as a golden opportunity, she has enough experience in life to know it won't be easy. The transatlantic voyage itself proves to be an adventure, and she hopes she will feel safe in her new home.
     Rune and Signe Carlson are thrilled that Nilda and Ivar are coming to Minnesota, but life on the Strand farm remains a struggle. Rune is trying to build a house for his wife and children, but Uncle Einar Strand, obsessed with his own ambitions, refuses to help. What's more, he forbids anyone from the community to step foot on his land, leaving Rune to toil on his own. When a tragedy lays bare the truth behind Einar's anger and isolation, the Carlsons and Strands will have to come together like never before to become a true family.

     MY REVIEW:   This book is the second in Lauraine Snelling's UNDER THE NORTHERN LIGHTS series. The first book is The Promise of Dawn. I did not read the first book, and I don't think it took much away from this one. There was some background that I would have liked to know, but overall I could follow the story very well.
     The only of Lauraine's books I have read are the RED RIVER OF THE NORTH series and Daughter of Twin Oaks. I don't think I would rate this book as good as those. I found it a little boring and something about the dialogue I didn't care for. But opinions aside, the book is written well. The characters are strong and faithful, responding properly to the trials in their way (except of course for the one causing said trials). They grew and were strengthened, met good people and forged new friendships, supported each other and reached out to others. Any Lauraine fan would like this book. 
   
  I received a copy of this book from BETHANY HOUSE PUBLISHERS and was not required to write a positive review. 

The Yes Effect

     BOOK REVIEW:   We all long to do great things. But sometimes the needs of the world seem so insurmountable that we just shrink back. When this happens we need stories of God at work---stories like those in The Yes Effect---to renew our passion. 

     Luis Bush, originator of the 10/40 Window concept, recounts a lifetime of watching God move through the "yes" of His people. From communist China to the slums of Cairo, these accounts show that when God works in us, we join His work around us. True transformation is sparked when we reorient our hearts, get in sync, with God's tenderness toward the oppressed, and regain compassion for the lost. 

     MY REVIEW:   I liked this book. It is focused on spreading the Gospel, even when you don't think you can effect anything. Luis uses multiple true-life stories of people who answered "yes" to God's call, and the impact they were able to make through that.
     A huge factor in being able to spread the Gospel to those in need, is being willing to go wherever you are called. And many times, it is not a place or circumstance that makes sense to us. We think our impact is best made doing huge things in far-off lands. But that is not always the case. Often we are called to witness to the people in places we think very unlikely. Father Sama'an, in Cairo, Egypt, witnessed to his garbage man, Quidees. After committing his life to the Lord, Quidees adopted a concern for the destitute living in "garbage city", and convinced Father Sama'an to visit with them. As a result, a huge brotherhood of Christians was formed, and the formerly destitute people began to thrive, and were able to keep 80% of Cairo's garbage off the streets and recycle it to support themselves.
     Luis instigated several movements focused on the people who are most often over-looked. The 10/40 Window is the tribes between the latitudes of 10 and 40 who were most unreceptive to the Gospel, and therefore, the most over-looked. This movement focused on reaching out to them. Another movement was the 4/14 Movement, which focused on children between those ages. They work with these kids while in their most formative years. There are many other movements, but for sake of time and not revealing the entire book here, I shall leave as is.
   

  I received a copy of this book from MOODY PUBLISHERS and was not required to write a positive review. 

42 Seconds

     BOOK REVIEW:   Every interaction you have can be significant.  Forty-two seconds. That's the average length of Jesus' conversations as recorded in the Gospels. Of course not every dialogue Jesus had was written down, but this glimpse into His way of interacting makes one thing clear: Jesus deeply and eternally impacted people's lives through brief, everyday connections---and you can too.
     Jesus kept it simple, straightforward, and real. Read 42 Seconds as an inspirational primer or a four-week devotional and learn how to be like Jesus as you engage daily with those God has placed in your life.

     MY REVIEW:   This book is a paradox. It covers a deep subject, yet is an easy read. I found the pages flying by. The meaning is clear and straightforward.
     Witnessing does not come easily to me. I don't really know how. I've never discussed it with anyone, or really figured out how it is "supposed" to be done. 42 Seconds reveals that witnessing is not complicated, does not have to be hard, and is not "right" or "wrong".
     The book is divided into four sections. The first three focus on critical attitudes Jesus used in witnessing. They are: BE KIND, BE PRESENT, and BE BRAVE. Respectively,
-Realize that you can witness to the janitor, waitress, checkout attendant, everyone---no one is too low to be passed by.
-Be all there when to speak with someone---rather than being distracted or impatient, make them know you care, and give them your full attention.
-Have the gumption to stand up for what you believe, do the hard thing, and realize when something is worth fighting over and when you should just leave it be.
     The last section is titled BE JESUS. We all think we know Jesus and are following His Word, but often we mistake or misrepresent things. We need to be sure of Jesus' lifestyle and teachings, then follow them. A thought I liked was that most of us work on making our actions look right and letting thoughts and beliefs follow. But rather, we need to focus on our beliefs, then the proper thoughts and actions will follow.
     "Carl Medearis is an author, a speaker, and an international expert in Arab-American and Muslim-Christian relations, promoting peacemaking and cultural, political, and religious dialogue for reconciliation. He and his wife, Chris, have three children and live in Colorado." (back of book)

  I received this book from TYNDALE PUBLISHERS and was not required to write a positive review.