Miriam's Song

 

     BOOK REVIEW:   From the very beginning, Miriam has lived in her younger brother's shadow. Thrust into the role of protective older sister before Moses was even born, she will grow up into a woman who not only keeps her family's secret but bears the burden of leading a new nation. 

     In her mind, she knows that she is serving both God and her people. But in her heart, Miriam yearns for more. She longs to experience the privilege Moses has---to talk with God face to face. But when God finally does speak directly to her, the outcome is not at all what she expects. 

     With her impeccable research and keen eye for detail, bestselling author Jill Eileen Smith offers this epic novel to fill in the gaps in Miriam's story, following her from childhood to motherhood, obscurity to notoriety, and yearning to fulfilment as she learns that what God promises He provides---in His own perfect timing. 

     BOOK REVIEW:   I was rather disappointed in this book. It spans nearly the entire lifetime of Miriam and Moses---close to 100 years. I enjoyed the first several chapters, and a few others throughout that ran steadily, but much of the story made drastic jumps, often of several years. I found it difficult to stay interested, and it felt like I got a general overview instead of an actual story. I think the book would be better if split into two books, with a steadier timeline applied.

     I like how Jill gets us thinking about Moses' perspective of being raised with Pharoah's daughter. She suggests that his family taught him well of God while he was very young, and he remained true to that teaching while living with the Pharaoh's family. Therefore his time in the palace may have been quite restless and unpleasant as he waited to be reunited with the Israelites. 

     Miriam is called a prophetess in the Bible after the Red Sea crossing, when she leads the women in songs of praise. Of course we don't know how exactly she was a prophetess, but it is imagined that she may have received visions. It is also possible that she felt jealous of Moses' connection with God. Jill did a fabulous job of keeping Moses humble throughout these encounters. He explained to Miriam that no person is worthy of seeing God, including those whom He reveals Himself to. There are several other illustrations of humility in this story--when Miriam and Aaron complain about Moses' Cushite wife, when Aaron creates the golden calf, and an instance with Aaron and his family feeling inferior to Moses and Miriam. 

     While we may not have all the details about Moses and Miriam’s lives, we know enough about the exodus to be sobered by the many times Israel failed to trust in God. They often complained and cast blame instead of remembering that God had delivered them from harsh slavery. Jill shows through Miriam’s possible experiences that to trust is always the right response. Even when God seems to be taking His time or doing strange things, His way is always best. 

     This book is interesting if you are looking for an easy account of the Bible narrative, but as a story about Miriam herself I found it to be lacking. The story simply isn't steady enough to be drawn to the characters or feel them grow through the book. With the right expectations though, it can certainly be a good read. There are several marriages in this story, and while most of them are background characters, there are a few that may not be for very young readers.  

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

     

     

     

When Twilight Breaks

     BOOK REVIEW:   Evelyn Brand is an American foreign correspondent determined to prove her worth in a male-dominated profession and to expose the growing tyranny in Nazi Germany. To do so, she must walk a thin line. If she offends the government, she could be expelled from the country---or worse. If she does not report truthfully, she'll betray the oppressed and fail to wake up the folks back home. 

     Peter Lang is an American graduate student working on his PhD in German. Disillusioned with the chaos in the world due to the Great Depression, he is impressed with the prosperity and order of German society. But when the brutality of the regime hits close, he discovers a far better way to use his contacts within the Nazi party---to feed information to the shrewd reporter he can't get off his mind. 

     As the world marches relentlessly toward war, Evelyn and Peter are on a collision course with destiny. 

     MY REVIEW:   This is the first book I've read by Sarah Sundin. I have had the impression that her writing can be fairly shallow, but this book sounded like it could have more to it, so I gave it a try. I was impressed to see that she managed to find a fresh way to bring the characters together, and I was truly glad to see how she illustrated that relying on God and accepting help from others does not make you weaker---rather it strengthens you. I often have to think to find a good theme to learn from when reading fiction, but this book really portrayed its theme well. Evelyn realizes that she can accept help from others, "not because she wasn't capable, but because he was capable". In her male-dominated career she has learned to be strong and independent---to a fault. She is convicted of turning to God only when she can't see a way out, instead of asking for His guidance on the way in, and seeks to change her approach.

     This book is full of suspense and anticipation. It is set in Germany a year before WWII broke out, when the government's methods look nice from a distance, but those who have felt the effects know better. The Jewish race feels persecution, and the Hitler Youth program is strongly enforced. Additional stress mounts when Evelyn discovers that her American blood is more Jewish than she realized, and Peter finds himself on the very opposite side of his initial approval of the government's tactics. As they find themselves trusting fewer and fewer of their friends, they of course draw closer to each other, and the last third of the book strives industriously to develop the romance that formed casually in the beginning of the story. 

      As far as this book goes, fiction is fiction. But it has character of its own that distances it from the familiar mush that abounds. It is well-written and engaging, with good lessons to learn throughout. 

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

     

 

All That We Carried

     BOOK REVIEW:   Ten years ago, sisters Olivia and Melanie Greene were on a hiking trip when their parents were in a fatal car accident. They haven't seen each other since the funeral. Olivia coped with the loss by plunging herself into law school, work, and a materialist view of the world---what you see is what you get, and that's all you get. Melanie dropped out of college and developed an online life coaching business around her DIY spirituality---a little of this, a little of that, whatever makes you happy.  

     Now, at Melanie's insistence (and against Olivia's better judgement), they are embarking on a hike in the Porcupine Mountains of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. In this remote wilderness they'll face their deepest fears, question their most dearly held beliefs, and begin to see that perhaps the best way to move forward is the one way they had never considered. 

     MY REVIEW:   This book follows two sisters as they hike and work to regain a relationship. Both struggle with knowing what to believe, or whether to believe at all. From Melanie who tries a little of everything in hopes to have the right one, to Olivia who believes only in what she can see and rationalize. This hike pushes them to their limits, and one hiker in particular makes them question what really to believe. Neither sister can connect with how the other looks at life, nor offer much grace. Beyond repairing their relationship, Melanie wants Olivia to forgive the man who was involved in their parents accident---and Olivia will have none of it. 

     I'm not sure quite how to rate this book. I enjoyed the story. Not a lot really happens, as not much time is covered throughout the whole book, but it didn't seem dragging or overly-detailed. The end does throw in some surprises. I did like that there are flashbacks included with memories of their parents and a little of what the girls felt after the accident. They are kept distinct and don't at all confuse with the current storyline. The book is labeled as contemporary fiction, which I'd say is accurate, but marketed as Christian fiction. There is a Christian theme in the last half of the book, but it's not very strong. Basically, it's an interesting, clean story, but carries little by way of lessons to learn. There is a theme of forgiveness that's good, but it's "the right thing to do" more than "through Christ we can forgive". 

I recieved a copy of this book from REVELL and was not required to write a positive review. 

 

Pearl in the Sand > 10th Anniversary Edition

 

     BOOK REVIEW:   This 10th Anniversary Edition of Pearl in the Sand includes new features that will invite you into the intriguing  story of Rahab's journey from lowly outcast to redeemed child of God. 

     Can a Canaanite zonah who made her living by enticing men be a fitting wife for a leader of Israel? 

     Rahab's house is built into a wall, a wall that fortifies and protects the city of Jericho. However, other walls surround her too--walls of fear, rejection, and unworthiness. Years of pain and betrayal have wounded Rahab's heart. She wonders whether her dreams of experiencing true love will ever come true. 

     A woman with a wrecked past. A man of success, of faith . . . . of pride. A union only God would conceive! Through the heartaches of a stormy relationship, Rahab and Salmon learn the true source of each other's worth and find healing in God. 

     MY REVIEW:   Tessa Afshar is one of my favorite authors. She takes ordinary or uncommon bible stories and brings them to life. This story is no exception. Anyone who is familiar with the Bible will know Rahab, the fallen woman who hid Israel's spies and let them down the city walls by a rope. In this book, Tessa lets us imagine what Rahab's life may have been like, and how she came to protect these men. And possibly what may have happened to her after her family was saved from the destruction of Jericho. Since we cannot know the details of her life, this is a fictional story beyond the basic storyline. 

     This book was released several years ago, and is now coming out in an updated edition. The writing has been streamlined, and a few of the Scripture messages improved. It has a been a while since I read the original edition, but I did not see many differences between the two. They are both excellent. 

     The message of redemption and worth in this story is overwhelming. It is assumed that Rahab was forced into her role as a harlot, and with the emptiness in her life and soul, felt the pull of Israel's merciful God. After her rescue from Jericho's demise, she and her family seek to join Israel's ranks. But Rahab struggles to feel worthy of God's love, and of the love of Salmon, the man tasked with instructing her family in the laws of the Lord. The scene Tessa composes of Rahab finally recognizing her worth is fabulously done. The picture of the love God has for every person is very well made.

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

Burden of Proof

 

BOOK REVIEW:   A few months before his twenty-first birthday, Ethan missed the chance to save his brother's life. Adrian was murdered on the steps of the courthouse in Jacksonville, Florida. Ever since that fateful day, Ethan has sensed a deep disconnect between the man he should have been and the one he has become. His days play out a beat too slow, his mind rehashing the scene of his failure again and again. 

     When Adrian's widow appears, asking for his help in uncovering what was really behind his brother's death, Ethan is stunned. The legal case they were pursuing was more far-reaching than he could have imagined---it could even threaten the global power structure. 

     Ethan joins the search for answers at the ultimate cost. As he enters into his own past, will he discover a means to redeem the future?

     MY REVIEW:   The option to go back and redo life, to have a second chance and make things right is one that many of us would like to have. But truthfully, it just can't happen. I found this story line entertaining---searching for Adrian's killer and discovering why they were after him. But the unrealistic aspect rather threw the book for me. 

     As Ethan goes back into the past, he is struck by how different his life is this time around. He remembers how it was the first time, but now that he can base his current decisions on that, the results are drastically different. Entire relationships are changed and people he never liked become his closest friends. But his time is limited, and he won't have another whole lifetime with them. What really stood out to me about this is how a single first impression can form a prejudice strong enough to destroy our relationship with that person. Our choices impact our lifetime, and we need to take care in forming them. Unlike Ethan, we can't go back and change things. 

     Davis Bunn's books tend to have a deep political/economic/scriptural theme, full of detail requiring the reader to pay close attention as they read. The deep theme of this book is time and the quantum time field. Someone who enjoys this subject will likely enjoy this book. But as I prefer to live in the realistic realm, it disappointed me. As far as the writing and the story it was well done, but not my style. 

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

Workplace Discipleship 101

 

     Workplace Discipleship is a primer on living and sharing Christ in our everyday workings. I was expecting a workbook, and am afraid that lent disappointment to the book. And rather than ultimately devoted to searching out practical ways of witnessing to co-workers etc, it focuses mostly on maintaining Christian principles and ethics in the workplace. Both of these rather threw me off, and I found the book hard to get into. However, it is filled with good advice and applications, some that were new thoughts to me. If one were struggling to keep their Christian ethics/morals while in a non-Christian workplace, this book could be very helpful to them. Many relevant subjects are addressed, such as: remaining constant in prayer throughout the day; being aware of current events to know how to respond to them; realizing that we are here to further God's work, not our own gain; finding ways to bring goodness, wisdom, productivity, etc into our workplace; being an example of an upstanding, honest worker; bringing light to those around us; accepting diversity and building on the strengths of it; finding appropriate ways to share the Gospel without pushing it; dealing with conflict; and so on. 

     An excellent approach in this book is its focus on the whole day, the whole week. Bring these principles home and apply them with your family. The application that stood out most to me is on rest and keeping Sunday to refresh and revive. Even if your church duties, or whatever it may be, keep you from having a day to rejuvenate, make it up somewhere. David speaks from Marva Dawn's book, Keeping the Sabbath Wholly, to say: "Sabbath is about ceasing---stopping from our work, from productivity and accomplishment. It is about trusting that God will take care of the world and our work while we let go for a time." pg 216  It is also a day to worship God and delight in His Word. When we begin to take this wholly, it will positively impact our entire week. The book is divided into three sections: Getting Ready For Our Work / Impacting Our Workplace / and Moving Beyond Our Workplace. While self is not to be the focus, we do need to be in the right place before we can properly impact those around us. And when we have done this we can move on to our workplace and family. 

     All around I found this to be an informative guide (though possibly a little slow), and if I had read it with better expectations I think I would have gotten more from it. It is well-rounded, covering many spheres and applications, and is well-based in Scripture. 

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

The Greatest Missionary Generation

 

     BOOK REVIEW:   Most of us have heard the inspiring stories of missionaries Jim and Elizabeth Elliot, Hudson Taylor, Adoniram Judson, William Carey, or Amy Carmichael. But beyond these heroes of the faith, there were countless others who also risked their lives to share the light of Christ with the world. This book illuminates their stories---some known, some never told, until now. 

     In this book, former missionary Larry Sharp recounts their remarkable stories. Sacrificing their comfortable lives for the gospel, these trailblazers faced serious cultural, health, family, and linguistic challenges. Although they endured sometimes severe sacrifices, they never regretted being true to their calling. May the stories of this World War II generation--which Tom Brokaw dubbed "The Greatest Generation"--now inspire a new generation to follow God's leading to bring the gospel to those yet unreached across the globe. 

     MY REVIEW:   I enjoyed this book. Larry is right, we know the well-beloved missionaries, but there are so many whom we've never known. This book is divided into several sections on different aspects or locations of missionaries. I liked how that kept the book from feeling like a mere collection of stories. However, it is a book of stories, so the information is not going to be abundant. There is anywhere between a few paragraphs to a few pages on each missionary, giving a well-designed synopsis of what brought them to the field and what their impact was there. As a whole, this book packs a punch for what missionaries faced and how they dealt with it, but each story on it's own is not a full account. But that keeps the book moving and flowing together well. 

     One thing that really stood out to me is the section on family strain. Often children were sent to boarding school at an early age, because there were no schools obviously, and homeschooling was not a popular option. This was quite hard on both parents and children, and brought about various results. This was one of the many sacrifices missionaries had to make. 

     Another section is about missionaries who never left their country, but served on mission boards as secretaries, recruiters, or even those who supported missionaries by sending much needed funds. The home-front people are just as necessary and impactful as those on the field--neither can get very far without the other and it's important to remember that. 

     This book is a fount of incredible stories. Often couples each had a heart for missions, and met their spouses at various mission schools/institutions and went on their life's work together. There were even times when couples married because they could not serve as singles. Each story is inspiring and unique. Other stories of language barriers, and cultural shocks, and primitive jungle life can only cement the love of God and the lost that these missionaries had. They left everything they knew and loved, and devoted years of their lives to bring the gospel to every corner of the earth. Their example is one to emulated. 

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

The Edge of Belonging

 

     BOOK REVIEW:   When Ivy Rose returns to her hometown to oversee her late grandmother's estate sale, she soon discovers that the woman left behind more than trinkets and photo frames--she provided a path to the truth behind Ivy's adoption. Shocked, Ivy seeks clues to her past, but a key piece to the mystery is missing. 

     Twenty-four years earlier, Harvey James finds an abandoned newborn who gives him a sense of human connection for the first time in his life. His desire to care for the baby runs up against the stark fact that he is homeless. When he becomes entwined with two people seeking to help him find his way, Harvey knows he must keep the baby a secret or risk losing the only person he's ever loved. 

     In this dual-timeline story from debut novelist Amanda Cox, the truth--both the search for it and the desire to keep it from others--takes center stage as Ivy and Harvey grapple with love, loss, and letting go. 

     MY REVIEW:   I quite liked this book. It has been awhile since I enjoyed a book this much. The story was moving and sweet. The dual-timeline was done well and each chapter sported a date to keep the reader on track. It is certainly no mystery novel; as it progresses you can easily predict outcomes, but there were a few surprises thrown in. And the story is not a typical one. It's a story of adoption so you know everyone connects somehow, but the focus is on the people--what they're going through and how everything is affecting them. It's a story full of hurt and healing, sorrow and newfound joy. One of my favorite lines in the book is this one about being there for others and not making any pain insignificant: "It's not about your pain versus my pain. It's about sharing in the human experience and knowing what it is to hurt." 

     When it comes to Christian books, there are two ditches: having too much religion leaving no space for realism, and too little giving the characters a happy ending of their own strength. At the start of the book I thought it needed more of God in it, but as it progressed I saw the strong theme of ''you are precious in God's eyes; He created you and He doesn't make mistakes". It's not a story of redemption and turning your life to God as much as it's a story of belonging, and discovering that God--and those close to you--love you deeply simply because you are you. 

     A huge theme of this book that I really loved is the the practice of helping others. Harvey was one of the most loving, helpful people despite his rough life and appearance. He may not have had the resources to help in traditional ways, but he did some pretty selfless things for those he could help. And in turn, he was helped and given a chance to prove himself reliable based only on the giver's generous heart. So little can be so much to someone who needs it. 

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

     

Why Am I Not Healed

       BOOK REVIEW:   Pastor Glen Berteau approaches life-altering events with firsthand insight. In the parking lot outside his church, soon after writing this book, he suffered cardiac arrest and died. Following the lack of oxygen and trauma to his body from the repeated electric shocks that revived him, his chance of survival was extremely slim. For five days his family and friends refused the devastating prognosis.....and prayed the way he taught them to pray. 

     Now, walking out his miracle, Pastor Glen wants to help other believers understand the power we have in the spirit realm to command mountains to move. 

     Do you struggle to know if it is God's will to heal? Let Pastor Glen share his gripping story with you as he counters seventeen hindrances to prayer for healing---and many powerful healing Scriptures and declarations. With the signposts presented here, you can rise up in your God-given authority and declare, "Devil, your request has been denied."

     

     MY REVIEW:   This book is very straightforward: you can pray away any illness. I read the book with some trepidation. There are good solid christians who die of illness; we live in a fallen world with imperfect bodies that are not immuned to disease. How can we declare that we don't have to be sick? Can we really claim to have authority over what perhaps God has allowed to befall us for whatever reason? Glen sounds so sure and gives no backing down, but I don't know that I'd take it to the extreme he does. 

     However, as I reviewed the book, I found many solid principles: 

1. We cannot use the power of prayer as a mere tool at our disposal. We have to be in constant communion with God and His Word. "You must rise with the Word in your life." -pg 16
2. When the four men brought their lame friend into the house where Jesus taught, the way was crowded so they entered through the roof. Miracles don't come on a platter, "if you want to get your miracle, you have to make a great effort, and that means you may be inconvenienced." -pg19
3. Jesus didn't just heal physical ailments, He began with spiritual ones. But here is one of my biggest hiccups with the book: Glen goes on to say "sin is connected to physical sickness."-pg 23   I don't believe that the wealthy healthy man is always the christian, and that the poor sick man always is not. God says that He blesses the just and the unjust, and we do live in an imperfect, fallen world. That's not to say that sickness is never the result of sin, but it's an area I need to study more myself. Glen writes, "Jesus wants to heal you, but first He wants to forgive your sins.... I need to look at not just my physical body but all the areas in my life that God needs to adjust."-pg 31   Yes, but then he writes, "it will be easy to receive your physical healing when you get your life right spiritually... if there are issues in your spirit, it will eventually show up as some form of physical illness."-pg 32    I believe that illnesses can often be the result of sin in one's life, but to put such an unswerving point on it feels overstepped. 
4. We have to put the majority of our time and efforts into our relationship with God, because that is what will stand for eternity. I really needed this reminder: "The spirit world is more real than the physical world. It is eternal. It has always existed and it will always exist."-pg78    If we do not know what God's word says, we will be easily led astray by good-sounding, but false, doctrine. 
5. Often God promises us something and it takes a good long while to come about. Did we hear God wrong? Did He change His mind, or did I do something to affect it? There will be in-between times in life when we just have to trust God and wait. "We all go through the in-between times. You may never understand, but one day we will get to Heaven, and we will get those answers."-pg131   There are usually obstacles to overcome in our lifetime, obstacles that would overwhelm if we knew them before they came. Often it is a blessing not to know what is ahead. At the end of it all, if we turn from God where else can we turn to? So trust, and stick it out. 

     All in all, I give the book a good review, for although I think it does overstep in instances, the material is good and well-written. The subject of prayer is one that can never be over-studied, and no one single book (excepting the Bible), can be an absolute guide to it.  One of the later chapters has a list of seventeen reasons why we may not be healed. While I may not agree that there is always something we can change to be healed, it is a good list to consider for any person, as it contains common pitfalls to every Christian. 

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

An Appalachian Summer

     BOOK REVIEW:   In 1933 Louisville, Kentucky, even the ongoing economic depression cannot keep Piper Danson's parents from insisting on a debut party. After all, their fortune came through the market crash intact, and they've picked out the perfect suitor for their daughter. Braxton Crandall can give her the kind of life she's used to. The only problem? This is not the man---or the life---she really wants.
     When Piper gets the opportunity to volunteer as a horseback Frontier Nursing courier in the Appalachian Mountains for the summer, she jumps at the chance to be something other than a dutiful daughter or a kept wife in a loveless marriage. The work is taxing, the scenery is jaw-droppingly gorgeous, and the people she meets along the way open a whole new world to her. The longer she stays, the more an advantageous marriage slips from her grasp. But something much more precious---true love---is drawing ever closer.

     MY REVIEW:   Ann Gabhart's books are a step above most of the Christian novel genre. Her romance isn't as cheesy and overwhelming, and there is a bit more depth in her books; though they are still light novels.
     I really enjoyed the concept of Frontier Nurses. These women lived in the mountains and ministered to the people living there. Much of their job was midwifing. Piper's job was to courier supplies and such between bases, either by foot or horseback. These delicate city girls spent the summer mucking stables, milking cows, and riding through the mountain mazes.
     The secondary characters in this book were fun: there is the charming young boy in the hospital, the grouchy mountaineer with rifle ready, the steady nurses, and the fellow couriers. The main characters were good to. But despite this the book was just a bit on the dry side. It seems like many pages were used to get little done. More could have been said for the time Piper spent in the mountains, more about the situations she ran into and the people she met. While I enjoyed the aspect of the nursing system, my attention wasn't always held.
     This book did bring out faith better than some novels do: traveling in the mountains calls on more faith than most plot lines, and Piper had conversations with several people who illuminated the difference between knowing Jesus from going to church, and having Him in her heart.
   
  I received a copy of this book from REVELL and was not required to write a positive review. 

The Key to Everything

     BOOK REVIEW: Peyton Cabot's fifteenth year will be a painful and transformative one. His father, the heroic but reluctant head of a moneyed Savannah family, has come home from World War II a troubled vet, drowning his demons in bourbon and distancing himself from his son. A tragic accident shows Peyton the depths of his parents' devotion to each other but interrupts his own budding romance with the girl of his dreams.
     Struggling to cope with a young life upended, Peyton makes a daring decision: he will retrace a journey his father took at fifteen, riding his bicycle from St. Augustine, Florida, all the way to Key West. Part declaration of independence, part search for self, Peyton's journey will bring him more than he ever could have imagined--namely, the key to his unknowable father, a longed-for reunion, and a calling that will shape the rest of his life.

     MY REVIEW:   Valerie Fraser Luesse had me with her first book, Missing Isaac, and I've read each of her books as they've come out. This is the third one, and I liked it equally to the rest, but had to admit that for one reason they are not the quality of books I consider them to be. Valerie writes Southern tales of love and loss and picking up and going on. But while many good core lessons can be applied from her stories, she doesn't put the stock in God's being the Redeemer as ought to be. It's been over a year since reading her previous books, so I may be remembering wrongly on those, but for this book it's true. So while I will continue to pick up her books for that true Southern grace which each expounds, I cannot give them quite the rating I would first wish.
     This book is the tale of a fifteen year old lad who suffers loss, and great loneliness with it. Feeling distanced from his father, he takes off on a bicycle trip mimicking one taken twenty years before, from St Augustine, FL to Key West. I looked up the distance after reading the book and its 470mi, the last 7 of which are crossing the Atlantic. One thing about this book is the characters' "just knowing", for instance, Peyton just knew it was time for this trip, and later just knew his parents had been at the old abandoned homestead he stumbled upon. It adds to the Southern charm, but I don't know that I'd consider it very realistic or reliable. Anyways.
     On this trip, Peyton came across various helpful people who put him up for the night, and made a deep impression on his trip; some of them he remained lasting friends with. That was a highlight for me, that people were so hospitable and gracious and just loved whomever they met. The book is set in 1947 so such a thing would not be as unusual as it is now. I think that is why it's so becoming. It's not just something that should be, it's something that was but has been lost.
     And I can't forget this important vein of the story, the Peyton and Lisa vein. At the end of his trip whom should Peyton find there but Lisa. Of course. But we knew that would happen, because his father first met his mother on his trip so we can't be too surprised. The love story in this book is different from many others. It has the genuine Southern feel to it that makes you root for the characters and know that they are going to face hardship but get through it anyways. While it has its flaws (for starters, these guys are only fifteen years old) it's endearing.
     In the end, I enjoyed the book. It is light, and probably won't leave you feeling like God has worked great things in another life, but the steadying that Peyton found is reassuring. In a day when everyone is on the hunt to 'find themselves' we realize that such things only bring out our selfishness and the desire for others to change around our characters. There are those who really do not know where they are meant to be, or even who they are meant to be. They do not need to 'find themselves', they need to turn to God. And perhaps, sometimes, they may benefit from doing that unusual something that bonds them to the one they've felt distanced from. 

  I received a copy of this book from REVELL and was not required to give a positive review. 

One Small Step

     BOOK REVIEW:   Change your world one small act of compassion at a time.   Can ordinary people make a lasting impact on the world around them? Matthew Barnett’s answer is an emphatic Yes! In One Small Step, the founder of the Dream Center shows that it is not as daunting as you think. It all starts with a heart open to the leading of the Holy Spirit and a willingness to do as He asks. These small steps—most often very simple acts that can be done by anyone, anytime—require only our obedience and follow-through.
     With inspiring stories and scriptural insight, bestselling author Matthew Barnett calls you to set aside your fears and boldly embrace the life-changing adventure of becoming the hands and feet of Jesus to the broken people right outside your front door.
     You will soon discover that “random acts of kindness” are not so random after all.

     MY REVIEW:  Matthew Barnett pastors the Dream Center in Los Angeles, CA; a place of refuge and second chances for anyone who comes to their door. They help thousands of people each week. In the introduction he writes: “Do I have all the answers? No! Not even close. This book is not about solutions; in fact, it is about something greater. It is about doing good and having no clue how to make sense of it. It is about the Holy Spirit, the encounters we face daily and the willingness to break free from a me-centered world to embrace the messy life of someone who is willing to step out. It is about taking risks for people who most others would say deserve their fate, dreaming for people who have lost their dreams and refusing to give in to reasons that hold back compassion.”
     I got so much good insight from this book—I could fill this whole review with quotes from it. I consider the book to be as much about change in yourself as in doing good for others. Thirteen chapters—Thirteen ‘steps’, each with a page at the end to record ways you can follow God's nudges.
          Follow the Nudge. We are often nudged to do a small deed of kindness, etc, that is out of our comfort zone, habit, or schedule. Get into the habit of acting on them—don’t let fear keep you back. Even if it seems unimportant. The smallest things can make a huge difference.
          A Life-Changing Step. Being willing to take a step that requires giving up all that we have and are, and leaves us vulnerable and relying completely on God.
          The Steps You Think You Cannot Take. Take the big step that looks unattainable. Rejoice in each small win. Rely on God to give you the strength for each step of the way.
          Make Everything A Big Deal. Every step forward is a win—celebrate it, in yourself as well as others. Never underestimate the power of encouragement, for it can turn a person’s resolve around.
          The Small Steps That Change Lives. Those who are falling, or have already fallen, do not need judgment, but love. Rather than holding what they have done against them, give them a reason to rise again.
          Step On Toes. Be willing to call out talent or potential in those who can’t see it for themselves. Graciously accept others calling you out when you don’t realize your own potential.
          Step Out Of Yourself. Lose the selfish focus and look to serve others.
          When You Feel You Cannot Move. Sometimes we come to the end of our capacity to move forward and God calls us to rest. We may need to gain strength for the way ahead. It’s not failure, it’s maintenance.
           One Small Thought. Don’t dismiss that thought that seems out of the box or impossible—yours and other’s. Try it out, see where it goes. Just because it hasn’t been done doesn’t mean it can’t be.
          The Attitude of A Servant. Be so full of serving others that you have no time to wallow in self.
           The Risk-Taking Step. Be willing to step out before you have all the answers. Be brave despite your fear.
             Step To The Future. It’s not too late. You’re not too far gone. You can still turn your life around and live in hope for the future.
          Leave A Local Legacy. You don’t have to be a celebrity to leave a legacy. Be the one who is remembered for always being there, always loving, always giving.

     I really enjoyed this book. It was a good read, but also an easy one. It didn’t bog down, overwhelm, or stall out. Matthew wrote in a very honest and down to earth way that revealed his own humanness which only strengthens the book.

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

Daughter of Rome

     BOOK REVIEW:   When the daughter of a prominent Roman general meets a disinherited Jewish immigrant, neither one can dream of God's plan to transform them into the most influential couple of the early church. Nor can the anticipate the mountains that will threaten to bury them. Their courtship unwittingly shadowed by murder and betrayal, Priscilla and Aquila slowly work to build a community of believers, while their lives grow increasingly complicated thanks to a shaggy dog, a mysterious runaway, and a ruthless foe desperate for love. But when they're banished from their home by a capricious emperor, they must join forces with an unusual rabbi named Paul and fight to turn treachery into redemption.

     MY REVIEW:   This is the most recent of Tessa Afshar's books, her eight one I believe. She chooses less prominent biblical characters to explore stories of, and this book is written around Aquila and Priscilla, the couple who gave shelter to the Apostle Paul at some point. There is so little known about this couple, thus this book takes great liberties with the story. I enjoyed the story though, imagining what this couples' life may have been like, the fears and trials they may have encountered.
     Priscilla is portrayed as a young woman who's father had died, leaving her in the care of her wealthy, though selfish brother who left her to live as a pauper in his illustrious home. She had made friends with Christians Jews and through them met Aquila, who had recently been disinherited by his father because of his belief in Jesus. Her unfailing love and care of those around her -- even those who wished her harm -- is an image of the love of Christ we ought to portray.
     I wish we knew more about Aquila and Priscilla--theirs would be a tale to behold. We know that they were Christians, and would possibly have been persecuted in some manner because of it. We know that they were tent makers. And we know that they were friends of Paul the Apostle, who gave them credit for strengthening the Christians around them. They seem to be strong, devout followers of Jesus. We today miss something by the ease of our lives. We don't have to chose life or Christ, we get both.
     This book was interesting, as it gave a potential glance into the lives of the early Christians. It is a novel of sterner stuff than most, but remains one just the same. The relationship of Aquila and Priscilla is a dominant theme, with the lessons of love and forgiveness towards everyone to be gleaned around it. 

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

From the Grave

     BOOK REVIEW:   Lent is a time for recalling our death to sin and life to God. From the Grave aids in that by combining A. W. Tozer's best reflections on faith, suffering, and spiritual progress. Each daily reading is paired with Scripture to guide hearts in the way of the cross, the "pain-wracked path" to life.

     MY REVIEW:   Lent is not a season I know anything about, beyond its being a season of remembering and preparing for Easter. I picked up the book mainly because it was Tozer.
     The book is a compilation of daily readings taken from A. W. Tozer's books and sermons about various related topics. The index will tell where each reading was taken from. Many are from his book "The Root of Righteousness". Each reading is accompanied by a Bible verse selected by the publisher. The book is technically written by Tozer, though I would love to see how it would be written had he compiled the devotional on his own.
     The chapters are divided between seven weeks, Monday-Saturday. The subjects are such as: 'The Uses of Suffering', 'True Faith Brings Commitment', and 'Raised with Christ'. I really enjoyed the book. It is full of convicting passages, yet always brings out the hope and joy we have when we truly die to self and live in Christ. Perhaps the most convicting passages to me were those on the Cross. One line says: "So we talk a lot about the deeper life and spiritual victory and becoming dead to ourselves---but we stay very busy rescuing ourselves from the cross". We as Christians know we have to die to ourselves and live in Christ, but we don't always understand how completely we have to die--we try to find a compromise that allows us to remain in partial control. This book really challenged me to surrender completely.

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

The Characters of Christmas

     BOOK REVIEW:   Learn something new this Christmas.   We hate to admit it, but after reading the same Luke 2 story of Christmas for years--or even decades--we get a little bored. That's why The Characters of Christmas was written, to help you take a fresh look at the Christmas story by getting to know all the characters who played a part in Jesus' birth.
     As you slow down, engage your imagination, and enter into the stories of these men and women, you'll see the most important character--Jesus Christ--with new eyes. And with discussion questions and a Christmas song suggestion at the end of each chapter, it's perfect for engaging your whole family.

     MY REVIEW:   When I got this book I expected it to be about those characters we know little about, revealing more details about them. But it wasn't, and that was a good thing. The reason we don't know much about these characters such as Simeon, Anna, and the Wise Men, is because so little was recorded about them. Therefore we cannot find a book that reveals indepth looks at them. Rather, this book showed how each character, however insignificant or unimportant, was selected by God to point to His Son, Jesus.
     Each character in this book points to Jesus' birth. They also display something about surrender to God, even before personal relationships with Him were a thing. Take Joseph for example. He gave up more than we realize when he remained loyal to an unmarried pregnant woman. Such a thing would surely have destroyed his character. And Mary herself took on much ridicule and censor. The shepherds and wise men are another example. They had obviously heard the prophecies, and unlike the religious men who knew every word inside out and backwards, these men believed and traveled to see their Messiah.
     Another focus near the end of the book, is that of Jesus' earthly family. Not every one of His earthly ancestors are shining beacons, yet God included them, and often brought good through them. He didn't exclude those who sinned, lost their way, or were looked down on by men. God is no respecter of persons, and His earthly family proves that. To quote from the book, "Jesus has come for outsiders and the sinner, the outcast and the powerless. In a word, He has come for you." No one is exempt from the love of God.
     I enjoyed reading a book like this throughout the month of December. It made Christmas more front and central. It also reminded me that everyone included in Jesus' birth and every Christian since then and today, points to God.
   
    I recieved a copy of this book from MOODY PRESS and was not required to write a positive review. 

Jesus Skeptic

     BOOK REVIEW:   Can we know if Jesus actually lived? How has one figure influenced our world so dramatically?   A respected journalist set out to find the answers---not from opinion but from artifacts. The evidence led him to an unexpected conclusion.
     A first-of-its-kind book for a new generation, Jesus Skeptic takes nothing for granted as it explores how Christianity has impacted and shaped our culture, including how followers of Jesus helped to abolish slavery, establish public education, found modern hospitals, support women's rights, drive racial reconciliation, and fight for justice and progress in a multitude of arenas. In a generation that wants to make the world a better place, we can discover what humanity's greatest champions had in common: a Christian faith.

     MY REVIEW:   This book is written, not as a means to explain Christianity and Jesus and enforce belief in Him, but to show how history proves His existence, and to share the impact He has on the world even today. It does not push down your throat, neither does it judge any who do not follow Him. It merely, yet pursuasively, presents the facts that Jesus Christ lived on the earth and His influence has been felt and is still being felt in ways far beyond our realization.
     One of the many ways His influence is being felt is education. Christians started schools to teach their children so they could read the Bible. This gave rise to universities. The top ten universities in the world were founded by Christians, eight of them for the purpose of Bible learning. Many of the rest of our universities were founded by Christians as well. Without this drive, would schools and education have arisen?
     Hospitals and medical advancements are also influenced by Jesus and His followers. Many are named after Christian saints, and founded by Christians. Hospitals originated with Christians following Jesus' command to care for the sick. Then their universities started branches to advance medical learning so they could help more effectively. Again, without this drive, would hospitals be what they are today?
     Another field is science. Ninety-eight percent of scientists from the Scientific Revolution were Christians, including Isaac Newton, Johannes Kepler, Robert Boyle, and Blaise Pascal. Many of their discoveries were found as they studied their God through His creation.
     As far as whether Jesus lived on the earth and if it can be proven, a major factor is that many writers from His era, both believers and nonbelievers, mentioned Him in their writings, and in reference to other well known and believed persons of the time.
     In short, I really enjoyed this book. It was fascinating to see the daily influences that I never before realized. A review cannot do this book justice, you shall have to read it for yourself and discover how Jesus has changed your life.

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

Narrative Apologetics

     BOOK REVIEW:   The Bible is a narrative--the story of God's creation, humankind's fall, and God's plan of redemption. And it is filled with countless smaller stories that teach us about people, history, and the nature of God. This comes as no surprise. After all, we are hardwired to tell stories because we are created in the image of God. Despite this, we often attempt to share out faith with others not through story but through systems, arguments, and talking points---methods that appeal to the mind but neglect the imagination.
     In this ground-breaking book, scholar and author Alister McGrath lays a foundation for narrative apologetics before considering the many ways in which it can be used. Exploring four major biblical narratives, enduring stories such as Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia, and personal narratives from figures such as St. Augustine and Chuck Colson, McGrath shows how we can both understand and share our faith through the use of stories.

     MY REVIEW:   When it comes to evangelizing, the use of narratives is useful, even necessary. Narratives/stories can share truths beyond the realm of explanation. Alister makes many references to C. S. Lewis, and his "Chronicles of Narnia". To quote one instance:

 "Lewis was drawn to Christianity on account of its intellectual capaciousness, its narrative structure, and its imaginative appeal. It told a story that made sense of things, without being limited to what could be understood or grasped by human reason." 
"C. S. Lewis summarizes the intellectual virtues of Christianity succinctly and elegantly: 'I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen--not only because I see it, but because by it, I see everything else.' "

A caution in this book, and thus a persuasion for narratives, is that evangelizing becomes too much about the right theology and argument and neglects the love and meaning in the gospel. Using narratives helps us share--for example, the love of Christ--in a more relatable way. Alister uses the illustration of a camera: to use narratives to explain is like opening the shutter on a lens to reveal the image. I had not before considered the impact or argument of narrative evangelizing. I enjoyed reading the book and seeing the author's take on it. I consider the book to be well written, though it definitely requires concentration, as it uses deeper English than I use in everyday conversation.

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

Unscripted

     BOOK REVIEW:   Line Producer Danny Byrd is known in Hollywood for being someone who gets things done on time and under budget. But when his reputation takes a beating after his partner---and former best friend---makes off with their investor's money, Danny has but one chance to redeem himself and restore his ruined career.
     LA lawyer Megan Pierce has sacrificed years of her life proving herself to impossible bosses, only to find herself disgusted at their snobbery and their specious business practices. When an opportunity to actually make a difference comes her way, she knows she has to grab it---even though she's not entirely clear what "it" is.
     Danny and Megan are each other's best hope for redemption. What they never could have imagined was that they might also be each other's best hope for love.

     MY REVIEW:   Davis Bunn is a favorite author of mine, so I was delighted to review his latest book. Sadly, I was disappointed by it. I haven't read his last several books so I can't say whether it's been a decline or if this one is an exception. The story is about a movie producer and his hectic time with a tight-deadline film which may be what threw me off---it's an unfamiliar field to me and therefore harder to relate to. The story felt so fast it was a little difficult to keep up. And yes, the characters suffered, but their "blessings" were hard to believe. Danny magically stumbled into a perfect town set and a perfect actress-material girl with amazing untrained talent; a high-end agent offers him a renowned actress; and with only a title and no script, they write as they film. Is it possible? Maybe, but for a Christian author I was disappointed that the blessings and redemptions received felt more man-given than God-given.
     There was a good cast of secondary characters though. Megan's parents were so accepting of Danny, and the townsfolk were so tight-knit and willing to do anything to help out Danny and film. And in Davis-style there is a mystery to solve: who is unwilling to see this film or Danny succeed, and why? It was a bit of a let-down when it was revealed, but at least it wasn't obvious.

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

The Words Between Us

 

    BOOK REVIEW:   Robin Windsor has spent much of her life under an assumed name to avoid association with her infamous parents. She thought she'd finally found sanctuary running her used bookstore in quiet River City, Michigan. But when she receives an eerily familiar book in the mail on the morning of her father's scheduled execution, Robin is thrown back to the summer she met Peter Flynt, the perfect boy who ruined everything. Why would Peter be making contact now? And why does she have a sinking feeling that she's about to to exposed all over again? 

     With evocative prose that recalls the classic novels we love, Erin Bartels pens a story that shows that words--the ones we say, the ones we read, and the ones we write--have more power than we imagine. 

     MY REVIEW:   This book has depth that a lot of fiction lacks, but for a Christian book, God is pretty scarce. Thus my opinion is, I really enjoyed this book, but I wouldn't recommend it as a deep inspirational story. It is a good fiction story that gives a warm feeling, but if you're looking for a good inspirational story it will disappoint. And I was disappointed in the language. While not profane, it could have been cleaner. 

     The book switches between 14-year-old Robin in a new town trying to adjust to her parent's crimes and avoid recognition, and 33-year-old Robin still trying to avoid recognition while attempting to keep her charming bookstore in business. Not able to trust easily, she only had one friend in school whom she left when she thought he turned on her, and now has only two who try to keep her from being completely hermited away in her little shop. Out of the blue her friend from school begins to send her the old books she had returned to him when she left, books that had forged a bond between them and gave Robin something to live for. Through this and the crazy scheme cooked up to try and save her store, Robin slowly begins to forgive her parents and release the tension in her past and forge a new future for herself. The storyline is different and unique which alone makes it refreshing. 

     I was a little disappointed how the story ended. We basically know what's going to happen, but we still want to read it. I know books can be hard to end, but I think this one could have been better. Restoration was made so we can close it happily, but it's a little open-ended. But all in all a nice story. 

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

   

Forged Through Fire

     BOOK REVIEW:   When Mark McDonough was a teen, a catastrophic fire claimed the lives of his mother and younger brother. It also left Mark with burns on over 65 percent of his body. During a long and painful recovery, his faltering faith in God was strengthened by a remarkable near death experience. Numerous reconstructive surgeries and postoperative rehabilitation motivated him to become a physical therapist. His work with burn, disease, and trauma patients inspired him to become a reconstructive surgeon, working to help those who suffer as he has. McDonough has overcome numerous other adversities on his journey, including addition and a stroke. Now he shares his incredible true story of survival and perseverance to bring hope and healing to those dealing with great physical and emotional pain.

     MY REVIEW:   Some people have easy lives and don't appreciate it; after reading this book I realize I am one of them. I cannot imagine surviving the immense suffering Mark endured, both by his burns and the loss of his mother and little brother. And if that wasn't enough, throughout the years he lost another brother, suffered a stroke and numerous other afflictions, and battled addiction. Yet through it all he kept his faith in God. He certainly had lows in his relationship with God, but was always able to find his way back.
     The first half of the book especially flipped between past a present frequently, and was done well to avoid confusion. It gave the backstory without requiring many long chapters, which kept the story moving. The first two-thirds of the book cover Mark's time in the hospital recovering from his burns; the rest covers his adult life til present. I really enjoyed the book, especially the first portion of it. After he left the hospital, the story seems to skim over the next years. I don't know how it can really be avoided without giving numerous and cumbersome details, but the feel of the book changed a little. And a lot of that would be due to Mark's moving on with life and not only recounting his hospital experiences.
     A challenge to me in this book is Mark's career change. He had pondered becoming a surgeon but went the route of physical therapist instead. Later he decided to pursue medical school even though he would have to take college classes around his full-time job, pass his medical test, get accepted into medical school, and would be nearly 40 by the time he could establish his own independent practice. But his thought was this:  "Then again, I acknowledged that if I nixed the idea altogether, I'd still wake up at forty wondering what might have happened had I taken the first step toward such a goal."  Often we feel we've missed the time to realize our dreams, but all it takes is one step forward followed by others and we can still get there.

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