Wednesday, June 5, 2013
31 Days drawing nearer to God review
Ruth includes a lot of verses that are meaningful to her and with each day reveals Scripture that is relevant for that Chapter/Day. She offers up a prayer and space at the end of the book to where we can write what verse sticks out and is meaningful to us that day.
I really enjoy this book, and recommend it for those desiring a closer relationship, deeper and more intimate relationship with Him.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Wow its been a Year- but this is an Urgent Request for a 6yr old Boy
Fatao is six years old.
He lives in Burkina Faso with his mom, dad and siblings in a home made of rocks and mud.
He likes to play soccer and ride bikes.
He wants to be a mechanic when he grows up, just like his older brother.
Also, Fatao needs heart surgery.
When Fatao turned one it was discovered that he was suffering from a heart problem. The option for treatment was not a possibility for Fatao's family.
Fatao's father struggles to provide for his family's every day needs and his mother sells fritters to help support the family. Getting food on the table for their children is already an overwhelming task; there was no hope for providing for their son's medical needs.
In December 2010 Fatao was registered at the local church into our Child Sponsorship Program. At his first medical check-up the doctor recommended that Fatao see a cardiologist.
At the appointment with the cardiologist it was confirmed that Fatao had ventricular septal defect - a hole in his heart.
For this surgery, Fatao needs to travel to India.
The total cost of his surgery, including passport, visa, travel, the surgery itself and follow-up care, is $23,000.
BLOG ASSIGNMENT: HELP FATAO
We need your help. Please spread the word about Fatao's heart surgery on your blog. Tweet about it, Facebook about it...make Fatao known.
For more information on Fatao and his family, as well as his condition, please read our post over on the Compassion Blog. And continue to check the blog for updates on Fatao.
Also, follow us on Twitter as we will also be posting updates there (be sure to look for the hashtag #Fatao).
SEND YOUR LOVE
Sadly, Fatao's parents are not able to travel with him to India for this surgery. This is a heartbreaking situation and we want to make sure that Fatao receives an overflow of encouragement through his journey to healing. Therefore, when someone gives online they will have the opportunity to write a letter of encouragement to Fatao and this letter will be read to him before his surgery.
This is an incredible opportunity for the Church to come together and bless Fatao and his family, not only financially but also with the encouragement that we are asked to pour out everyday through the Holy Spirit.
Please keep Fatao and his family in your prayers as you blog for him!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
The Real Skinny Book Review
Michelle has a great sense of humor and tells it to you straight up - no sugar-coating it! She not only takes you through some inner healing of the heart, she also gives you her thoughts on different fad diets, exercise and how she feels you should really be living your life - through moderation, combining of different foods and exercise.
Some of the things we war with in life cannot be won by natural means. Their roots go deeper to an invisible place with unseen forces that do their best work through our ignorance. After all other efforts have failed, it's time to look deeper and let God show us the root of the fruit that is showing up in our lives, on our hips, and on our lips. Sometimes we have to get past ourselves to see what's really in the way. The truth hurts, but it's also medicine that can set you free. So don't despise the process. Hang in there, my sister. (pg 83)
This book helped me view my own weight issues in a new and different way. Instead of wallowing in self-pity and doubt, feeling like a failure, this book has lit a fire in me, making me want to lose the extra weight I carry around and keep it off. I am excited to begin my weight loss journey with a new mindset, for the last time. I can see myself incorporating many of the tips provided and making a lasting change in my life
Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Some of the things we war with in life cannot be won by natural means. Their roots go deeper to an invisible place with unseen forces that do their best work through our ignorance. After all other efforts have failed, it's time to look deeper and let God show us the root of the fruit that is showing up in our lives, on our hips, and on our lips. Sometimes we have to get past ourselves to see what's really in the way. The truth hurts, but it's also medicine that can set you free. So don't despise the process. Hang in there, my sister. (pg 83)
This book helped me view my own weight issues in a new and different way. Instead of wallowing in self-pity and doubt, feeling like a failure, this book has lit a fire in me, making me want to lose the extra weight I carry around and keep it off. I am excited to begin my weight loss journey with a new mindset, for the last time. I can see myself incorporating many of the tips provided and making a lasting change in my life
Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Sun Stand Still Book Review
Product Description
If you're not DARING TO BELIEVE GOD for the impossible,
you may be SLEEPING THROUGH
some of the BEST PARTS of your Christian Life.
"This book is not a Snuggie. The words on these pages will not go down like Ambien. I’m not writing to calm or coddle you. With God’s help, I intend to incite a riot in your mind. Trip your breakers and turn out the lights in your favorite hiding places of insecurity and fear. Then flip the switch back on so that God’s truth can illuminate the divine destiny that may have been lying dormant inside you for years.
In short, I’m out to activate your audacious faith. To inspire you to ask God for the impossible. And in the process, to reconnect you with your God-sized purpose and potential."
—STEVEN FURTICK, from Sun Stand Still
“Steven Furtick challenges all of us—from the missionary in the third world to the family in the suburbs—to believe God for the impossible and begin living a life of faith beyond the ordinary.”
—ANDY STANLEY, senior pastor, North Point Community Church
“I don’t know anyone better positioned to challenge you to rise above mundane living and embrace faith-filled audacity than Steven Furtick.”
—CRAIG GROESCHEL, senior pastor, LifeChurch.tv
“For too long Christians have embraced a miniscule vision of faith.… Steven Furtick reminds us that the God who accomplished the impossible through the great heroes of faith still desires to do the same through us today.”
—JENTEZEN FRANKLIN, senior pastor, Free Chapel
“This book will show you that your hopes and expectations are truly just the beginning of what God can do.”
—ED YOUNG, senior pastor, Fellowship Church
Sun Stand Still is one of the most important books you will ever read. This message will inspire you to believe that God can actually do the impossible in your life, and to chase after the dreams He has placed in your heart. Not only should you read this book, but get it in the hands of the people in your life that need to embrace a bigger vision for what God wants to do through them.
In any case, there were a number of powerful insights I took away from the book.
- The key to being a disciple is being completely available to Jesus: unconditional obedience.
- Whatever you're good at, that's your calling. Wherever and wherever it may lead you, is holy ground.
- Every member of the body of Christ is a link in the life-change process of other people
- Furtick also hates the phrases "just a volunteer" and "full-time Christian ministry"
- The scope and impact of your vision will be determined by who you believe God is.
- "If you're going to pray for God to make the sun stand still, you'd better be ready to march all night!"
i received this book free from Multnomah Books as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
If you're not DARING TO BELIEVE GOD for the impossible,
you may be SLEEPING THROUGH
some of the BEST PARTS of your Christian Life.
"This book is not a Snuggie. The words on these pages will not go down like Ambien. I’m not writing to calm or coddle you. With God’s help, I intend to incite a riot in your mind. Trip your breakers and turn out the lights in your favorite hiding places of insecurity and fear. Then flip the switch back on so that God’s truth can illuminate the divine destiny that may have been lying dormant inside you for years.
In short, I’m out to activate your audacious faith. To inspire you to ask God for the impossible. And in the process, to reconnect you with your God-sized purpose and potential."
—STEVEN FURTICK, from Sun Stand Still
“Steven Furtick challenges all of us—from the missionary in the third world to the family in the suburbs—to believe God for the impossible and begin living a life of faith beyond the ordinary.”
—ANDY STANLEY, senior pastor, North Point Community Church
“I don’t know anyone better positioned to challenge you to rise above mundane living and embrace faith-filled audacity than Steven Furtick.”
—CRAIG GROESCHEL, senior pastor, LifeChurch.tv
“For too long Christians have embraced a miniscule vision of faith.… Steven Furtick reminds us that the God who accomplished the impossible through the great heroes of faith still desires to do the same through us today.”
—JENTEZEN FRANKLIN, senior pastor, Free Chapel
“This book will show you that your hopes and expectations are truly just the beginning of what God can do.”
—ED YOUNG, senior pastor, Fellowship Church
Sun Stand Still is one of the most important books you will ever read. This message will inspire you to believe that God can actually do the impossible in your life, and to chase after the dreams He has placed in your heart. Not only should you read this book, but get it in the hands of the people in your life that need to embrace a bigger vision for what God wants to do through them.
In any case, there were a number of powerful insights I took away from the book.
- The key to being a disciple is being completely available to Jesus: unconditional obedience.
- Whatever you're good at, that's your calling. Wherever and wherever it may lead you, is holy ground.
- Every member of the body of Christ is a link in the life-change process of other people
- Furtick also hates the phrases "just a volunteer" and "full-time Christian ministry"
- The scope and impact of your vision will be determined by who you believe God is.
- "If you're going to pray for God to make the sun stand still, you'd better be ready to march all night!"
i received this book free from Multnomah Books as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Love Food Book Review
Product DescriptionStruggling with weight issues? Do you love food? Chantel says you can have your cake and eat it, too! Encouraging you to enlist food as an ally, she helps you implement the 80/20 rule---eat healthy for 80% of the time and indulge yourself the other 20%. Her revolutionary diet-and-fitness plan works---Chantel lost 200 pounds!
Go ahead. Get passionate about the food you eat.
You don’t have to hide it. You can love food and lose weight at the same time! The secret, which you’ll learn about in Love Food and Live Well, is to know when to have carrot cake and when it’s time for just a carrot.
For most dieters, food is the daunting factor that trips up our best intentions to lose weight and get fit. Let Chantel Hobbs teach you that food is not the enemy! It’s our attitudes toward it that defeat us. Losing weight does not require being deprived of the foods you love and being forced to eat boring, tasteless meals, and left feeling hungry most of the time. Turn food into your ally by following Chantel’s 80/20 rule: A full 20 percent of the time, splurge on the foods you love and incorporate them into celebrations and social occasions. The remaining 80 percent of the time, choose food on the basis of delivering maximum fuel for your body and ultimate health. Simply by having freedom in what you eat, you can train yourself in self discipline and achieve sustainable weight loss, being free from food anxiety.
Using personal inventories, original recipes, food plans, and new, detailed exercises for strength training and aerobic fitness, Chantel will inspire you to live well in every area of life. What are you waiting for? Start the pursuit of a life lived well and healthy: body, mind, and spirit.
THis was a good read- not the normal diet or quick fix.
Thanks B&B Media for this review copy.
Go ahead. Get passionate about the food you eat.
You don’t have to hide it. You can love food and lose weight at the same time! The secret, which you’ll learn about in Love Food and Live Well, is to know when to have carrot cake and when it’s time for just a carrot.
For most dieters, food is the daunting factor that trips up our best intentions to lose weight and get fit. Let Chantel Hobbs teach you that food is not the enemy! It’s our attitudes toward it that defeat us. Losing weight does not require being deprived of the foods you love and being forced to eat boring, tasteless meals, and left feeling hungry most of the time. Turn food into your ally by following Chantel’s 80/20 rule: A full 20 percent of the time, splurge on the foods you love and incorporate them into celebrations and social occasions. The remaining 80 percent of the time, choose food on the basis of delivering maximum fuel for your body and ultimate health. Simply by having freedom in what you eat, you can train yourself in self discipline and achieve sustainable weight loss, being free from food anxiety.
Using personal inventories, original recipes, food plans, and new, detailed exercises for strength training and aerobic fitness, Chantel will inspire you to live well in every area of life. What are you waiting for? Start the pursuit of a life lived well and healthy: body, mind, and spirit.
THis was a good read- not the normal diet or quick fix.
Thanks B&B Media for this review copy.
Book Review Jesus in Present Tense
In Jesus in the Present Tense, Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe explores the “I AM” statements of God—from His burning bush conversation with Moses, to His powerful reassurances to the Israelites, to Jesus’s startling claim to be the Light of the World.
Many Christians find themselves mired in past regrets or future fears, but the name of God itself reminds readers that God wants them to live in the present. The more readers understand and apply God’s I AM statements from the Old and New Testaments, the more they will realize God’s peace and joy. Then they will be free to live, serve, and know God more richly in the present tense—which is just where He wants them to be.
Karen Davis with the B&B Media Group, Inc. sent me a copy of Jesus In The Present Tense: The I AM Statements of Christ for the purpose of my review. The book's author is none other than Dr. Warren Wiersbe, an internationally known Bible teacher, author of the popular "BE" series of Bible commentaries and the former pastor of The Moody Church in Chicago.
The "I AM" statements of Jesus found in John's gospel are some of the most poignant examples of Christ's proclamation of His divinity--and understanding them is crucial to our growth in our love for Christ. After initially dealing with the "I AM" statements that are found throughout the Old Testament, beginning with Moses' conversation with the Lord in the book of Exodus, Wiersbe addresses with the seven metaphorical "I AM" statements:
1. I am the bread of life (John 6:35; John 6:48; John 6:51)
2. I am the light of the world (John 8:12; John 9:5)
3. I am the door of the sheep (John 10:7; John 10:9)
4. I am the good shepherd (John 10:11; John 10:14)
5. I am the resurrection and the life (John 11:25)
6. I am the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6)
7. I am the true vine (John 15:1)
He also takes a couple of surprising turns in dealing with what are known as the absolute I AM statement of Christ (found in John 6:20; John 8:24; John 8:28; John 8:58; and John 18:5) and also what he calls the neglected I AM--Psalm 22:6:
"But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people."
Certainly a good read and great way to do a study on I AM.
Many Christians find themselves mired in past regrets or future fears, but the name of God itself reminds readers that God wants them to live in the present. The more readers understand and apply God’s I AM statements from the Old and New Testaments, the more they will realize God’s peace and joy. Then they will be free to live, serve, and know God more richly in the present tense—which is just where He wants them to be.
Karen Davis with the B&B Media Group, Inc. sent me a copy of Jesus In The Present Tense: The I AM Statements of Christ for the purpose of my review. The book's author is none other than Dr. Warren Wiersbe, an internationally known Bible teacher, author of the popular "BE" series of Bible commentaries and the former pastor of The Moody Church in Chicago.
The "I AM" statements of Jesus found in John's gospel are some of the most poignant examples of Christ's proclamation of His divinity--and understanding them is crucial to our growth in our love for Christ. After initially dealing with the "I AM" statements that are found throughout the Old Testament, beginning with Moses' conversation with the Lord in the book of Exodus, Wiersbe addresses with the seven metaphorical "I AM" statements:
1. I am the bread of life (John 6:35; John 6:48; John 6:51)
2. I am the light of the world (John 8:12; John 9:5)
3. I am the door of the sheep (John 10:7; John 10:9)
4. I am the good shepherd (John 10:11; John 10:14)
5. I am the resurrection and the life (John 11:25)
6. I am the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6)
7. I am the true vine (John 15:1)
He also takes a couple of surprising turns in dealing with what are known as the absolute I AM statement of Christ (found in John 6:20; John 8:24; John 8:28; John 8:58; and John 18:5) and also what he calls the neglected I AM--Psalm 22:6:
"But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people."
Certainly a good read and great way to do a study on I AM.
Book Review: The Truth About Dating, Love, and Just Being Friends
Product Description
Chad Eastham, with his typical wit and wisdom for teens, brings much sought after advice on girls' favorite topics including dating, love, friendship, and other important stuff.
Chad shines some much-needed light on these major issues for teens. Rather than let their feelings navigate them blindly through their tumultuous adolescence, Chad offers clarity, some surprising revelations, and answers to some of their biggest questions: How do I know who to date? When should I start dating? How should I start dating? Is this really love? And, Why do guys I like just want to be friends?
Packed with humor that adds to the sound advice, this book will help teens make better decisions, have healthier relationships, and be more prepared for their futures. Just a few things girls will learn include: Five things you need to know about love; Eight dumb dating things even smart people do; Ten reasons why teens are unhappy; and Ten things happy teens do.
Any teen can live a happier, healthier life: they just need to hear The Truth.
In this book you will learn:
* What should guys never do, what should girls never do, and do you know if someone likes you?
* If you are going to date, what kind of boundaries should you set up at the beginning to ensure a healthy relationship?
* How can you honor God through healthy relationships?
* What does being "just friends" really mean?
* What are the top 5 tips on finding true love?
All in all I think that this book should be on every teen girls book shelf. I don't know that the guys would take the time to read it as it does feel a little like it is geared towards girls but there is a lot of info just for the guys also (Why do girls go the the bathroom in groups or pairs?)
I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255
Chad Eastham, with his typical wit and wisdom for teens, brings much sought after advice on girls' favorite topics including dating, love, friendship, and other important stuff.
Chad shines some much-needed light on these major issues for teens. Rather than let their feelings navigate them blindly through their tumultuous adolescence, Chad offers clarity, some surprising revelations, and answers to some of their biggest questions: How do I know who to date? When should I start dating? How should I start dating? Is this really love? And, Why do guys I like just want to be friends?
Packed with humor that adds to the sound advice, this book will help teens make better decisions, have healthier relationships, and be more prepared for their futures. Just a few things girls will learn include: Five things you need to know about love; Eight dumb dating things even smart people do; Ten reasons why teens are unhappy; and Ten things happy teens do.
Any teen can live a happier, healthier life: they just need to hear The Truth.
In this book you will learn:
* What should guys never do, what should girls never do, and do you know if someone likes you?
* If you are going to date, what kind of boundaries should you set up at the beginning to ensure a healthy relationship?
* How can you honor God through healthy relationships?
* What does being "just friends" really mean?
* What are the top 5 tips on finding true love?
All in all I think that this book should be on every teen girls book shelf. I don't know that the guys would take the time to read it as it does feel a little like it is geared towards girls but there is a lot of info just for the guys also (Why do girls go the the bathroom in groups or pairs?)
I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255
Wild Olive giveaway
Wild Olive Tees
We have taken one of our favorite graphics, “transform your mind”, and paired it up with one of our favorite things… a super-soft hoodie.
You’re going to love the way it looks AND feels.
And in celebration of our new, limited-run hoodie, we’re giving it away!
FIVE of our new hoodies, to be exact.
You can enter one of three ways… or to increase your chances of winning, enter all three ways.
Just be sure to link up below or leave a comment on our blog, letting us know what you’ve done!
1. Grab the new “transform your mind” button below and post it in the sidebar of your blog. Post about our giveaway on your blog, and be sure to link back to our site. Then link up below, or leave a comment, along with your blog’s URL, letting us know about your fancy new button. (Our “comment” link is at the top of this post…so don’t panic when you can’t find it at the bottom!)
2. “Like” us on Facebook, if you haven’t already (there’s a “like” button at the bottom of this post). You can even be “Friends” with us! If you already “like” us, then just update your status with news about our giveaway.
3. Follow us on Twitter, if you don’t already (there’s a “Tweet” button at the bottom of this post). And tweet about our giveaway.
For each of the above, you’ll receive one entry. Do all three, and you’ll receive five entries. WOOT!
Contests ends at midnight EST on March 1st. All FIVE winners announced on Wednesday, March 2nd.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Being a Voice in the dark
Recently i went to a retreat- The Destiny Project through Rhythms of Grace Coahing
www.rhythmsofgracecoaching.com wow what an incredible gift and amazing time away with God.
Here is some information about the retreat which can also be a conference call:
The Destiny Project Journey* is designed to call forth women who know they were meant for more and empower them to bring lasting change to the world, in the name of Christ. We will guide you at a life-giving pace through a proven Visioneering Process using eight coaching tools.
You will learn to...
Connect with God from your heart and learn to listen as He speaks into your life.
Discover your true identity in Christ and your deepest life purpose and be able to describe them authentically.
Envision what is possible when you align your life with your unique core values.
Reframe the story you tell yourself about the obstacles that currently and historically stand in the way of fulfilling your destiny.
Create clearly defined visionary goals and next action steps that flow out of who you are and where God is at work in your life.
It will change your life forever. You walk away with a clear understanding and knowing of who you truly are. I mean deep down know the truth about your heart, values and your passion. It's made very clear.
The women that held this certain retreat also run an Organization- Generation Justice. which you will find more info out on facebook. But it's about Human trafficking and lighting up the world in all the dark places. It's about making an impact and changing lives forever, for generations to come.
I would encourage anyone who happens to read this and stumble across this blog post to get educated. Look into the Destiny project. Look into Human trafficking, Fair Trade prodcuts.
Here are a few sites to encourage you and help you on this journey- so you cna be a voice in the dark.
www.notforsalecampaign.org
www.thejusticeconference.com
www.ihsionline.org/ssblog Sak Saum amazing products handmade
www.somaly.org
www.sctnow.org
www.globalexchangestore.org
www.rhythmsofgracecoaching.com wow what an incredible gift and amazing time away with God.
Here is some information about the retreat which can also be a conference call:
The Destiny Project Journey* is designed to call forth women who know they were meant for more and empower them to bring lasting change to the world, in the name of Christ. We will guide you at a life-giving pace through a proven Visioneering Process using eight coaching tools.
You will learn to...
Connect with God from your heart and learn to listen as He speaks into your life.
Discover your true identity in Christ and your deepest life purpose and be able to describe them authentically.
Envision what is possible when you align your life with your unique core values.
Reframe the story you tell yourself about the obstacles that currently and historically stand in the way of fulfilling your destiny.
Create clearly defined visionary goals and next action steps that flow out of who you are and where God is at work in your life.
It will change your life forever. You walk away with a clear understanding and knowing of who you truly are. I mean deep down know the truth about your heart, values and your passion. It's made very clear.
The women that held this certain retreat also run an Organization- Generation Justice. which you will find more info out on facebook. But it's about Human trafficking and lighting up the world in all the dark places. It's about making an impact and changing lives forever, for generations to come.
I would encourage anyone who happens to read this and stumble across this blog post to get educated. Look into the Destiny project. Look into Human trafficking, Fair Trade prodcuts.
Here are a few sites to encourage you and help you on this journey- so you cna be a voice in the dark.
www.notforsalecampaign.org
www.thejusticeconference.com
www.ihsionline.org/ssblog Sak Saum amazing products handmade
www.somaly.org
www.sctnow.org
www.globalexchangestore.org
Soulprint
Product Description
There never has been and never will be anyone like you. But that isn’t a testament to you. It’s a testament to the God who created you. The problem? Few people discover the God-given identity that makes them unlike anyone else. Mark Batterson calls this divine distinction our soulprint.
God would like to introduce you to yourself.
In Soulprint, Mark pours the contagious energy he’s known for into helping you experience the joy of discovering who you are and the freedom of discovering who you’re not. The wonderful fact is that your uniqueness is God’s gift to you—and it’s also your gift to God.
A “self-help” book that puts God at the center rather than self, Soulprint encourages you to recognize and explore the moments of your life that determine your future. Along the way, you’ll find that you’re not just turning the pages of a book. You’re turning the pages of your remarkable, God-shaped, world-changing life.
In his book SoulPrint: Discovering Your Divine Destiny, Pastor Mark utilizes key moments in the life of David to show the reader how to realize God’s true purpose for our lives. Past mistakes, hidden sins, and watershed moments are avenues that God utilizes to create the unique masterpiece that becomes one’s identity. By performing a self-assessment, it is possible to make the person looking back in the mirror the same person that God sees--this, Mark says, is where we find our destiny and His will for our lives.
SoulPrint was a challenging book primarily because it hit so close to home at such a critical time. I am excited about this “evolution of character” that God desires, although I know that it will require significant energy, dedication, and openness to take the steps required to fulfill the full potential of God’s destiny in my life. It is not simply a quest to redefine my image or obtain a new identity, but rather the natural result of “desperate people take desperate measures.” I strongly recommend this book for anyone seeking meaning and fulfillment in life--this can only come by seeking and finding God’s perfect will for your future
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.
There never has been and never will be anyone like you. But that isn’t a testament to you. It’s a testament to the God who created you. The problem? Few people discover the God-given identity that makes them unlike anyone else. Mark Batterson calls this divine distinction our soulprint.
God would like to introduce you to yourself.
In Soulprint, Mark pours the contagious energy he’s known for into helping you experience the joy of discovering who you are and the freedom of discovering who you’re not. The wonderful fact is that your uniqueness is God’s gift to you—and it’s also your gift to God.
A “self-help” book that puts God at the center rather than self, Soulprint encourages you to recognize and explore the moments of your life that determine your future. Along the way, you’ll find that you’re not just turning the pages of a book. You’re turning the pages of your remarkable, God-shaped, world-changing life.
In his book SoulPrint: Discovering Your Divine Destiny, Pastor Mark utilizes key moments in the life of David to show the reader how to realize God’s true purpose for our lives. Past mistakes, hidden sins, and watershed moments are avenues that God utilizes to create the unique masterpiece that becomes one’s identity. By performing a self-assessment, it is possible to make the person looking back in the mirror the same person that God sees--this, Mark says, is where we find our destiny and His will for our lives.
SoulPrint was a challenging book primarily because it hit so close to home at such a critical time. I am excited about this “evolution of character” that God desires, although I know that it will require significant energy, dedication, and openness to take the steps required to fulfill the full potential of God’s destiny in my life. It is not simply a quest to redefine my image or obtain a new identity, but rather the natural result of “desperate people take desperate measures.” I strongly recommend this book for anyone seeking meaning and fulfillment in life--this can only come by seeking and finding God’s perfect will for your future
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.
BookSneeze: Voices of the Faithful 2
Product Description
A new year's worth of inspiring stories from the front lines of faith.
"A willingness to go is all they have in common," says Beth Moore and Kim P. Davis, speaking of their friends on the front lines who are spreading the gospel around the world and with whom they collaborated to create this book. This second book of 366 daily devotionals features stories of God's faithfulness, written by hundreds of missionaries worldwide.
From stirring miracles to heroic adventures, this second volume highlights those who daily go to the outer limits of spiritual devotion.
A follow-up to the first book which has now sold 300,000 copies.
Voices of the Faithful, Book Two" is more stories from around the world--stories of believers serving and at times sacrificing for their God. In America, we can easily forget about our brothers and sisters in other countries.
It's book like this one that help us remember to pray, and to not take our freedoms and faith for granted. Over 300 missionaries contributed to this volume, and each one will move you to a richer, deeper faith.
And an appreciation for those who are called to go and serve away from home. Or to serve where home is a dangerous place. Each devotional is a daily reading, brief but so rich!
At the end of the book there is an Index of Devotion Titles by the month including the Bible verse used, this is handy for looking up that particular story you were interested in and may want to share with someone else, to let them know what your inspiration was for the day. Looking just for the Scriptural references? There is an index for that, another lil' blessing.
Another gift at the end of this book is the gift of salvation, the steps for leading a life with Christ, I believe this is an important part in any christian book, its nice to see it in this wonderful devotional!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising
A new year's worth of inspiring stories from the front lines of faith.
"A willingness to go is all they have in common," says Beth Moore and Kim P. Davis, speaking of their friends on the front lines who are spreading the gospel around the world and with whom they collaborated to create this book. This second book of 366 daily devotionals features stories of God's faithfulness, written by hundreds of missionaries worldwide.
From stirring miracles to heroic adventures, this second volume highlights those who daily go to the outer limits of spiritual devotion.
A follow-up to the first book which has now sold 300,000 copies.
Voices of the Faithful, Book Two" is more stories from around the world--stories of believers serving and at times sacrificing for their God. In America, we can easily forget about our brothers and sisters in other countries.
It's book like this one that help us remember to pray, and to not take our freedoms and faith for granted. Over 300 missionaries contributed to this volume, and each one will move you to a richer, deeper faith.
And an appreciation for those who are called to go and serve away from home. Or to serve where home is a dangerous place. Each devotional is a daily reading, brief but so rich!
At the end of the book there is an Index of Devotion Titles by the month including the Bible verse used, this is handy for looking up that particular story you were interested in and may want to share with someone else, to let them know what your inspiration was for the day. Looking just for the Scriptural references? There is an index for that, another lil' blessing.
Another gift at the end of this book is the gift of salvation, the steps for leading a life with Christ, I believe this is an important part in any christian book, its nice to see it in this wonderful devotional!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising
Q&A with Missy Buchanan B&B Media
Q&A with Missy Buchanan
Even when age creeps up on the body and mind, and life changes from what it once was, is it still possible to have a purpose in life? When it is no longer possible to venture out and do the things you once loved, can you still find a reason to look forward to each day? Missy Buchanan, a leading expert and advocate for senior adults, believes that you can. Buchanan wants to encourage older adults to find their purpose, share their stories, and make an impact on those around them.
Q: What made you decide to start ministering to and writing books for older adults?
Well, as a middle-aged adult, I never had any intention of becoming an author of books for older adults. But because of the journey that my own aging parents were on, I realized how they had become disconnected from their church as their lives changed. They started off as active older adults and then that circle got smaller as they had more needs and physical limitations. As I would visit them at their retirement community, I would also see so many others that were just like them. They needed spiritual encouragement. And so that’s why I got started. The first book began as a project just for my own parents. I wrote devotions and kept them in a loose-leaf notebook. But others started asking for them and things just spiraled from there.
Q: What do you think children need to know about their aging parents?
What I realized personally was that I had been so caught up in my parents’ physical needs that I had neglected their spiritual needs. They were no longer connected to their church, at least in regular worship attendance, and that had been such a huge part of their lives. I almost made that mistake of just totally missing that, and that was the point where I began to write. I looked and there were other books written about older adults but not very many that were written to them and for them. So the first thing I would tell their children is to pay attention not only to their physical needs but also to their spiritual needs.
Q: What is your opinion about role reversal with children and their aging parents?
I hear the whole idea of role reversal where the older parent becomes a child and the grown children become the parent, and I understand what they are talking about because my own parents became more dependent on me. But I think that when we refer to it as a role reversal, and we begin to think of our aging parents as children, we strip away their dignity. We rob them of respect and we overlook the fact that they are not children. They have had a lifetime of experiences that a child has not had. And I think that is an important difference that grown children need to think about and pay attention to. It’s more of a role shift in responsibilities and not a role reversal. I know how much it hurts an aging parent to feel like they are being treated like a baby or like a child.
Q: Other than aging adults, who else has benefited from your writing?
A friend of mine in an assisted living facility asked me to bring some books for one of her tablemates. Her tablemate explained that these books were for her adult children. “They don’t understand what it feels like to grow old, and I can’t seem to make them understand, but your books say it better than I ever could.” My books are all written in the first person as if an older adult is speaking directly to God. There are a lot of adult children that are buying them for themselves and older adults buying them for their grown children.
And I’ve heard of different youth groups that have been reading my books in order to better understand what it’s like to grow old. Instead of just mocking their older peers, they are learning that they share a lot of the same feelings—feelings of insecurity, feelings of fear. As a result of reading the books, one youth group in Tennessee has even adopted the residents of the senior living center across from their church.
Q: How can faith change our idea of growing older?
So many see aging as a punishment, and they dread it so much. But even though it is difficult to be limited by an aging body, they need to look at it as a gift that God has given them. They still have so much to give. They have great wisdom to share and stories to share. I always tell my older friends that their story is not yet over.
Missy Buchanan is the author of Talking with God in Old Age: Meditations and Psalms and
Living with Purpose in a Worn-Out Body: Spiritual Encouragement for Older Adults (Upper Room Books).
Click here to watch Missy Buchanan’s recent interview with
Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts and Roberts’ 86-year-old mother.
Visit Missy Buchanan’s website, www.missybuchanan.com, and blog, http://missybu.wordpress.com/.
Become a friend on Facebook (Aging and Faith) and follow on Twitter (MissyBuchanan).
Talking with God in Old Age: Meditations and Psalms
In Talking with God in Old Age, Missy Buchanan sensitively address the worries, fears, and frustrations of older adults and extends hope, encouraging them to maintain an open dialogue with God. Each reading features:
· A candid conversation with God
· A related passage from Psalms
· Easy-to-read print
Seniors grappling with the aging process will readily identify with these reflections and will find reassurance of God’s Presence. Caregivers, family members, and others seeking to understand aging loved ones will gain insight into the thoughts and emotions of the elderly frail.
Living with Purpose in a Worn-Out Body: Spiritual Encouragement for Older Adults
Birthed out of real-life experience, Living with Purpose in a Worn-out Body is a big does of authentic spiritual encouragement for frail elderly who struggle to find purpose a the end of their lives. These devotionals addressed to God raise in prayer the many concerns of the frail elderly and provide opportunities to reminisce and reflect on their blessings.
Each devotional offers the following:
· Easy-to-read print
· Reader-friendly format
· Comfortable, nonacademic language
· A first-person address to God
· Brief supporting scriptures from the New and Old Testaments
For more information, contact:
Audra Jennings
Senior Media Specialist
The B&B Media Group
1-800-927-0517 Ext. 104 - ajennings(at)tbbmedia.com
Visit us on the web at www.tbbmedia.com or our blog at www.tbbmedia.blogspot.com
We are also on Facebook and Twitter (audrajennings and TBBMediaGroup)!
“A Media Communications Company”
109 S. Main - Corsicana, TX 75110
Fax: 903-872-0518
Even when age creeps up on the body and mind, and life changes from what it once was, is it still possible to have a purpose in life? When it is no longer possible to venture out and do the things you once loved, can you still find a reason to look forward to each day? Missy Buchanan, a leading expert and advocate for senior adults, believes that you can. Buchanan wants to encourage older adults to find their purpose, share their stories, and make an impact on those around them.
Q: What made you decide to start ministering to and writing books for older adults?
Well, as a middle-aged adult, I never had any intention of becoming an author of books for older adults. But because of the journey that my own aging parents were on, I realized how they had become disconnected from their church as their lives changed. They started off as active older adults and then that circle got smaller as they had more needs and physical limitations. As I would visit them at their retirement community, I would also see so many others that were just like them. They needed spiritual encouragement. And so that’s why I got started. The first book began as a project just for my own parents. I wrote devotions and kept them in a loose-leaf notebook. But others started asking for them and things just spiraled from there.
Q: What do you think children need to know about their aging parents?
What I realized personally was that I had been so caught up in my parents’ physical needs that I had neglected their spiritual needs. They were no longer connected to their church, at least in regular worship attendance, and that had been such a huge part of their lives. I almost made that mistake of just totally missing that, and that was the point where I began to write. I looked and there were other books written about older adults but not very many that were written to them and for them. So the first thing I would tell their children is to pay attention not only to their physical needs but also to their spiritual needs.
Q: What is your opinion about role reversal with children and their aging parents?
I hear the whole idea of role reversal where the older parent becomes a child and the grown children become the parent, and I understand what they are talking about because my own parents became more dependent on me. But I think that when we refer to it as a role reversal, and we begin to think of our aging parents as children, we strip away their dignity. We rob them of respect and we overlook the fact that they are not children. They have had a lifetime of experiences that a child has not had. And I think that is an important difference that grown children need to think about and pay attention to. It’s more of a role shift in responsibilities and not a role reversal. I know how much it hurts an aging parent to feel like they are being treated like a baby or like a child.
Q: Other than aging adults, who else has benefited from your writing?
A friend of mine in an assisted living facility asked me to bring some books for one of her tablemates. Her tablemate explained that these books were for her adult children. “They don’t understand what it feels like to grow old, and I can’t seem to make them understand, but your books say it better than I ever could.” My books are all written in the first person as if an older adult is speaking directly to God. There are a lot of adult children that are buying them for themselves and older adults buying them for their grown children.
And I’ve heard of different youth groups that have been reading my books in order to better understand what it’s like to grow old. Instead of just mocking their older peers, they are learning that they share a lot of the same feelings—feelings of insecurity, feelings of fear. As a result of reading the books, one youth group in Tennessee has even adopted the residents of the senior living center across from their church.
Q: How can faith change our idea of growing older?
So many see aging as a punishment, and they dread it so much. But even though it is difficult to be limited by an aging body, they need to look at it as a gift that God has given them. They still have so much to give. They have great wisdom to share and stories to share. I always tell my older friends that their story is not yet over.
Missy Buchanan is the author of Talking with God in Old Age: Meditations and Psalms and
Living with Purpose in a Worn-Out Body: Spiritual Encouragement for Older Adults (Upper Room Books).
Click here to watch Missy Buchanan’s recent interview with
Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts and Roberts’ 86-year-old mother.
Visit Missy Buchanan’s website, www.missybuchanan.com, and blog, http://missybu.wordpress.com/.
Become a friend on Facebook (Aging and Faith) and follow on Twitter (MissyBuchanan).
Talking with God in Old Age: Meditations and Psalms
In Talking with God in Old Age, Missy Buchanan sensitively address the worries, fears, and frustrations of older adults and extends hope, encouraging them to maintain an open dialogue with God. Each reading features:
· A candid conversation with God
· A related passage from Psalms
· Easy-to-read print
Seniors grappling with the aging process will readily identify with these reflections and will find reassurance of God’s Presence. Caregivers, family members, and others seeking to understand aging loved ones will gain insight into the thoughts and emotions of the elderly frail.
Living with Purpose in a Worn-Out Body: Spiritual Encouragement for Older Adults
Birthed out of real-life experience, Living with Purpose in a Worn-out Body is a big does of authentic spiritual encouragement for frail elderly who struggle to find purpose a the end of their lives. These devotionals addressed to God raise in prayer the many concerns of the frail elderly and provide opportunities to reminisce and reflect on their blessings.
Each devotional offers the following:
· Easy-to-read print
· Reader-friendly format
· Comfortable, nonacademic language
· A first-person address to God
· Brief supporting scriptures from the New and Old Testaments
For more information, contact:
Audra Jennings
Senior Media Specialist
The B&B Media Group
1-800-927-0517 Ext. 104 - ajennings(at)tbbmedia.com
Visit us on the web at www.tbbmedia.com or our blog at www.tbbmedia.blogspot.com
We are also on Facebook and Twitter (audrajennings and TBBMediaGroup)!
“A Media Communications Company”
109 S. Main - Corsicana, TX 75110
Fax: 903-872-0518
Pause for Power Book review
Product Description
Topical. Relevant. Fresh. Pause for Power: A 365-Day Journey through the Scriptures with Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe will inspire readers to experience an unforgettable year of spiritual growth.
Wiersbe Bible studies and commentaries have become a trusted resource for exploring scripture. Pause for Power: A 365-Day Journey through the Scriptures continues that legacy. This unique devotional is designed to help readers discover spiritual insights through a simple, yet informative, approach to God’s word.
In just a few minutes each day, readers will encounter powerful truths that can impact their daily lives. Features include:
Select scripture readings that explore practical, everyday topics
Themed commentary from Wiersbe’s popular “BE” series
Thoughtful questions that prompt personal reflection
A small prayer that carries a big idea
Readers will experience an unforgettable year in God’s Word.
Very encouraging easy to follow along daily devotional. Year long study. Days are not marked so you choose there isn't a right or wrong. Dr. Wiersbe encourages the reader to personally apply God's Word to every situation in their life and work on developing an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. I thought it was very delightful that day 2 of the devotions was devoted to what else? Devotions!! The writing was easy to understand and interesting. Overall, this devotional had more meat on it than most I've seen, and I'd highly recommend it to those who enjoy using devotionals.
Topical. Relevant. Fresh. Pause for Power: A 365-Day Journey through the Scriptures with Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe will inspire readers to experience an unforgettable year of spiritual growth.
Wiersbe Bible studies and commentaries have become a trusted resource for exploring scripture. Pause for Power: A 365-Day Journey through the Scriptures continues that legacy. This unique devotional is designed to help readers discover spiritual insights through a simple, yet informative, approach to God’s word.
In just a few minutes each day, readers will encounter powerful truths that can impact their daily lives. Features include:
Select scripture readings that explore practical, everyday topics
Themed commentary from Wiersbe’s popular “BE” series
Thoughtful questions that prompt personal reflection
A small prayer that carries a big idea
Readers will experience an unforgettable year in God’s Word.
Very encouraging easy to follow along daily devotional. Year long study. Days are not marked so you choose there isn't a right or wrong. Dr. Wiersbe encourages the reader to personally apply God's Word to every situation in their life and work on developing an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. I thought it was very delightful that day 2 of the devotions was devoted to what else? Devotions!! The writing was easy to understand and interesting. Overall, this devotional had more meat on it than most I've seen, and I'd highly recommend it to those who enjoy using devotionals.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
UnStuff book review
God . . . and stuff. Everything in the universe falls into one of these two categories. Which is more important to you? (It’s not a trick question.) In Unstuff: Making Room in Your Life for What Really Matters, popular authors Hayley and Michael DiMarco take a close look at what’s in your wallet, your heart, your house, and your mind to reveal the pleasures and perils of stuff—and the joy, peace, and freedom that comes from learning to live with less.
In this real-life look at “how it’s done,” the DiMarcos take an uncomfortably close look at the cost of their love affair with stuff. They start by Unstuffing their house—getting rid of anything they don’t need by giving away, selling, or throwing out items that only add to their love for more. Then, kicking it up a notch, this family of three travels across the country with nothing more than they can fit in a motor home . . . and discovers that the really important stuff goes with them.
This book is 6 sections full of ideas and personal stories from the authors as to how they experienced a releasing of their stuff. These sections include:
"Wallet Stuff" which includes work, paying bills, shopping, and all things financial.
"Mind Stuff" talks about instant gratification, depression, drama, worrying about what others think.
"Body Stuff" is all about eating and weight issues and fatigue.
"Love Stuff" delves into sexual addiction, being selfish or lonely, and how giving can replace love.
"Worship Stuff" includes wanting to be comfortable, not praying, reading the Word or just being lazy.
"Future Stuff" talks about avoiding certain triggers, living within your means and learning to rest.
Disclaimer: Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in order to facilitate an honest review. Others may or may not have the same experience(s) with this book and/or company.
In this real-life look at “how it’s done,” the DiMarcos take an uncomfortably close look at the cost of their love affair with stuff. They start by Unstuffing their house—getting rid of anything they don’t need by giving away, selling, or throwing out items that only add to their love for more. Then, kicking it up a notch, this family of three travels across the country with nothing more than they can fit in a motor home . . . and discovers that the really important stuff goes with them.
This book is 6 sections full of ideas and personal stories from the authors as to how they experienced a releasing of their stuff. These sections include:
"Wallet Stuff" which includes work, paying bills, shopping, and all things financial.
"Mind Stuff" talks about instant gratification, depression, drama, worrying about what others think.
"Body Stuff" is all about eating and weight issues and fatigue.
"Love Stuff" delves into sexual addiction, being selfish or lonely, and how giving can replace love.
"Worship Stuff" includes wanting to be comfortable, not praying, reading the Word or just being lazy.
"Future Stuff" talks about avoiding certain triggers, living within your means and learning to rest.
Disclaimer: Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in order to facilitate an honest review. Others may or may not have the same experience(s) with this book and/or company.
Booksneeze:Voices of the Faithful
Product Description
A 366-day devotional with inspiring stories from the front lines of faith.
"A willingness to go is all they have in common," says Beth Moore, speaking of her friends on the front lines who are spreading the gospel around the world and with whom she collaborated to create this book. This brilliant, 366-day devotional features incredible stories of God's faithfulness in the face of uncertainty and danger, written by hundreds of missionaries worldwide.
With a foreword by International Mission Board president Jerry Rankin and an introduction by Beth, this volume also includes advice on how to hear God's voice, pray for missionaries, and understand the church's and individual's role in missions
Beth Moore compiles this set of short inspirational readings (one for every day). Each reading is one page. The objective is that you read the short essay, all of which are based on Bible verses, and contemplate the teaching throughout the day.
The essays are arranged by subject. Each month has a different theme. February - the word of God. March - prayer. Etc. Each month's essays are preceded by comments by Beth Moore.
Some of the essays are very inspiring. It takes a couple of minutes to do the daily reading, but one can contemplate it during your daily commute or throughout the entire day. Some of these messages are that good.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
A 366-day devotional with inspiring stories from the front lines of faith.
"A willingness to go is all they have in common," says Beth Moore, speaking of her friends on the front lines who are spreading the gospel around the world and with whom she collaborated to create this book. This brilliant, 366-day devotional features incredible stories of God's faithfulness in the face of uncertainty and danger, written by hundreds of missionaries worldwide.
With a foreword by International Mission Board president Jerry Rankin and an introduction by Beth, this volume also includes advice on how to hear God's voice, pray for missionaries, and understand the church's and individual's role in missions
Beth Moore compiles this set of short inspirational readings (one for every day). Each reading is one page. The objective is that you read the short essay, all of which are based on Bible verses, and contemplate the teaching throughout the day.
The essays are arranged by subject. Each month has a different theme. February - the word of God. March - prayer. Etc. Each month's essays are preceded by comments by Beth Moore.
Some of the essays are very inspiring. It takes a couple of minutes to do the daily reading, but one can contemplate it during your daily commute or throughout the entire day. Some of these messages are that good.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Blogging for Books review: If God is Good
From Publishers Weekly
The crossover fiction and nonfiction author of the half-million–selling Heaven throws down a heavy response to a spate of recent bestselling atheism books. Because the main argument of atheists against the existence of God is suffering in the world, Alcorn lays out a weighty and classically reasoned argument to the problem of suffering in this thoroughly modern book. His biggest trump card is that atheists were hardly the first to ask about suffering and evil. Ancient writers did, and the fact that the Bible raises the problem of evil gives us full permission to do so. Evil and suffering are addressed in tandem but approached differently. Evil comes from human rebellion or sin, and suffering is a secondary evil brought on by that primary evil. By granting free will to humanity, God allows for an eternal good that humans don't always see now but will experience in the life to come if faithful. Not academic but well-reasoned, Alcorn may not convince atheists, but apart from them readership is wide open. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
This is a solid, thought-provoking, and well-written book.
If God is Good: Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil deals with the prime questions people ask today:
Why would an all-good and all-powerful God create a world full of evil and suffering? And then, how can there be a God if suffering and evil exist?
The book is laid out well, I would suggest if you are going to take the journey through this book which will be on my top ten list, I would use it as a devotional, reading a chapter a day for each section is short enough to read in one sitting.
Alcorn deals with this tough subject using God's Word as his textbook and real life examples of people he knows and has interviewed. He never minimizes the evil, suffering and hurt of those he uses as illustrations, but sees them as heroes of the faith who have clung to God in the midst of deepest valleys.
Some section titles include Understanding the Problem of Evil and Suffering, The Origin of Evil..., Proposed Solutions..., Living Meaningfully in Suffering, Why Does God Allow Suffering?
This book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing
The crossover fiction and nonfiction author of the half-million–selling Heaven throws down a heavy response to a spate of recent bestselling atheism books. Because the main argument of atheists against the existence of God is suffering in the world, Alcorn lays out a weighty and classically reasoned argument to the problem of suffering in this thoroughly modern book. His biggest trump card is that atheists were hardly the first to ask about suffering and evil. Ancient writers did, and the fact that the Bible raises the problem of evil gives us full permission to do so. Evil and suffering are addressed in tandem but approached differently. Evil comes from human rebellion or sin, and suffering is a secondary evil brought on by that primary evil. By granting free will to humanity, God allows for an eternal good that humans don't always see now but will experience in the life to come if faithful. Not academic but well-reasoned, Alcorn may not convince atheists, but apart from them readership is wide open. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
This is a solid, thought-provoking, and well-written book.
If God is Good: Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil deals with the prime questions people ask today:
Why would an all-good and all-powerful God create a world full of evil and suffering? And then, how can there be a God if suffering and evil exist?
The book is laid out well, I would suggest if you are going to take the journey through this book which will be on my top ten list, I would use it as a devotional, reading a chapter a day for each section is short enough to read in one sitting.
Alcorn deals with this tough subject using God's Word as his textbook and real life examples of people he knows and has interviewed. He never minimizes the evil, suffering and hurt of those he uses as illustrations, but sees them as heroes of the faith who have clung to God in the midst of deepest valleys.
Some section titles include Understanding the Problem of Evil and Suffering, The Origin of Evil..., Proposed Solutions..., Living Meaningfully in Suffering, Why Does God Allow Suffering?
This book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing
Monday, December 6, 2010
B&B Book Review: It's No Secret
Product Description
Are you tired of life as usual? Ready to trade your everyday issues and emotional hang-ups for a life of greater intimacy and fulfillment?
Then it's time you join Rachel Olsen and discover some God-sized secrets to successful living.
Rachel's writing is lighthearted and fun. But she's serious about helping you uncover biblical secrets to energize your spiritual life and relationships. This book will help you:
* Handle petty conflicts and criticism with grace
* Overcome the competitive urges that leave you lonely
* Grow spiritually despite life's setbacks
* Relax unrealistic expectations in favor of emotional stability
* Uncover a surprising means to worshiping God amidst your busy schedule
* Discover how to make what you give away ultimately return to you
* Find adventure as you yield wholeheartedly to God
You'll explore twelve principals from scripture, and delve into the Bible yourself with end-of-chapter studies. So grab your Bible, your coffee cup, a copy of It's No Secret, and a girlfriend and come discover twelve secrets the world doesn't know that every woman should.
About the Author
Rachel Olsen's passion is helping woman see and savor God afresh. She is a popular national women's speaker, a staffer with Proverbs 31 Ministries, and a communication instructor at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington. Rachel is also general editor of God's Purpose for Every Woman. She and her husband raise two children and enjoy life in a beach town.
Coffee.
Chocolate.
Your closest friends.
This is a great bible study to work alone, but if you are looking for that next bible study for your ladies group, this is it.
What I like about this is that it addresses everyday topics that as women and as followers of Christ, we continually encounter such as issues of competition, true versus false humilty, gossip, just finding times, among the many topics that are touched and are daily struggles for a Sister of Christ.
Chapters are brief, with study questions that will really have you digging into your Bible to explore and examine Biblical truths and stories and how they apply today as they have applied throughout the ages.
These are short studies that are good for a thirty minute study if you're doing it alone or for hour(s) discussions for a group of girlfriends whose gather together and sure to touch, encouraged and challenged.
Please note: I received this book free from B & B Media Group, which has a program designed for book reviews by bloggers. The opinions that I have expressed in this review are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. For more details about the B & B Media Group, please view their websites:
Are you tired of life as usual? Ready to trade your everyday issues and emotional hang-ups for a life of greater intimacy and fulfillment?
Then it's time you join Rachel Olsen and discover some God-sized secrets to successful living.
Rachel's writing is lighthearted and fun. But she's serious about helping you uncover biblical secrets to energize your spiritual life and relationships. This book will help you:
* Handle petty conflicts and criticism with grace
* Overcome the competitive urges that leave you lonely
* Grow spiritually despite life's setbacks
* Relax unrealistic expectations in favor of emotional stability
* Uncover a surprising means to worshiping God amidst your busy schedule
* Discover how to make what you give away ultimately return to you
* Find adventure as you yield wholeheartedly to God
You'll explore twelve principals from scripture, and delve into the Bible yourself with end-of-chapter studies. So grab your Bible, your coffee cup, a copy of It's No Secret, and a girlfriend and come discover twelve secrets the world doesn't know that every woman should.
About the Author
Rachel Olsen's passion is helping woman see and savor God afresh. She is a popular national women's speaker, a staffer with Proverbs 31 Ministries, and a communication instructor at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington. Rachel is also general editor of God's Purpose for Every Woman. She and her husband raise two children and enjoy life in a beach town.
Coffee.
Chocolate.
Your closest friends.
This is a great bible study to work alone, but if you are looking for that next bible study for your ladies group, this is it.
What I like about this is that it addresses everyday topics that as women and as followers of Christ, we continually encounter such as issues of competition, true versus false humilty, gossip, just finding times, among the many topics that are touched and are daily struggles for a Sister of Christ.
Chapters are brief, with study questions that will really have you digging into your Bible to explore and examine Biblical truths and stories and how they apply today as they have applied throughout the ages.
These are short studies that are good for a thirty minute study if you're doing it alone or for hour(s) discussions for a group of girlfriends whose gather together and sure to touch, encouraged and challenged.
Please note: I received this book free from B & B Media Group, which has a program designed for book reviews by bloggers. The opinions that I have expressed in this review are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. For more details about the B & B Media Group, please view their websites:
B&B Book Review- The Life Book
https://www.thelifebook.com/start-a-project.php
This is an incredible movement created to get the book into the hands of high schoolers and others where it generally isn't allowed.
BRING THE LIFE BOOK MOVEMENT TO YOUR AREA
Our mission is to help local churches and youth ministries give the free gift of God's Word to Every High School student in your local high school(s).
We are now scheduling The Life Book Saturations for 2010. Apply early because we have a limited number of openings.
If your church or youth ministry would like to consider being the Lead Church for The Life Book Movement for your high school(s), details are below:
What is required?
A passionate and committed point person (preferably a pastor or youth leader).
Ability and willingness to bring together a small team of caring adults to make the project a success.
Ability and willingness to involve other area churches and youth ministries in your local Life Book Project.
Commitment to regular communication with our Director of Saturations and the local churches and/or youth ministries involved.
Commitment to see the project through from beginning to end.
Action Steps:
Fill out the application below.
Speak with our Director of Saturations (He will call you)
Commit to be the Saturation Leader
Learn More...
WHAT IS THE LIFE BOOK MOVEMENT? WHO IS THE LEADERSHIP TEAM?
Founded by The Gideons International as an innovative strategy to reach high school students with God's Word, The Life Book Movement works through churches and their students to saturate high schools with God's Word. The Life Book Movement is best described as a week-long mission trip in which high school students get the opportunity to offer the gift of The LIfe Book to their classmates during school.
The Life Book’s unique design engages searching high school students with the truth of God’s Word as they are introduced to Jesus Christ. Using an interactive format with honest student comments and real-life questions in the margins, readers are drawn into the only story that can change their lives forever.
Working through local churches, The Life Book Movement provides free copies of The Life Book to Christian students to give to classmates during school. Because it is legal for students to distribute religious literature in public schools, this unique approach provides an opportunity for churches and youth ministries to get God’s Word in the hands of every student in every high school they serve.
With Saturations scheduled throughout the United States, the end goal is to eventually place God’s Word in the hands of 17.5 million high school students
WHAT IS A SATURATION WEEK?
One week where all the Christian students from local churches hand out The Life Book at their local high schools.
The Life Book Movement is simply a week-long mission trip for high school students to their schools.
HOW DO YOU GET INVOLVED?
Click HERE to view our online application. We are currently looking for Saturation Leaders for Fall 2010.
All I can say is get involved- buy some books and pass them around.
This is an incredible movement created to get the book into the hands of high schoolers and others where it generally isn't allowed.
BRING THE LIFE BOOK MOVEMENT TO YOUR AREA
Our mission is to help local churches and youth ministries give the free gift of God's Word to Every High School student in your local high school(s).
We are now scheduling The Life Book Saturations for 2010. Apply early because we have a limited number of openings.
If your church or youth ministry would like to consider being the Lead Church for The Life Book Movement for your high school(s), details are below:
What is required?
A passionate and committed point person (preferably a pastor or youth leader).
Ability and willingness to bring together a small team of caring adults to make the project a success.
Ability and willingness to involve other area churches and youth ministries in your local Life Book Project.
Commitment to regular communication with our Director of Saturations and the local churches and/or youth ministries involved.
Commitment to see the project through from beginning to end.
Action Steps:
Fill out the application below.
Speak with our Director of Saturations (He will call you)
Commit to be the Saturation Leader
Learn More...
WHAT IS THE LIFE BOOK MOVEMENT? WHO IS THE LEADERSHIP TEAM?
Founded by The Gideons International as an innovative strategy to reach high school students with God's Word, The Life Book Movement works through churches and their students to saturate high schools with God's Word. The Life Book Movement is best described as a week-long mission trip in which high school students get the opportunity to offer the gift of The LIfe Book to their classmates during school.
The Life Book’s unique design engages searching high school students with the truth of God’s Word as they are introduced to Jesus Christ. Using an interactive format with honest student comments and real-life questions in the margins, readers are drawn into the only story that can change their lives forever.
Working through local churches, The Life Book Movement provides free copies of The Life Book to Christian students to give to classmates during school. Because it is legal for students to distribute religious literature in public schools, this unique approach provides an opportunity for churches and youth ministries to get God’s Word in the hands of every student in every high school they serve.
With Saturations scheduled throughout the United States, the end goal is to eventually place God’s Word in the hands of 17.5 million high school students
WHAT IS A SATURATION WEEK?
One week where all the Christian students from local churches hand out The Life Book at their local high schools.
The Life Book Movement is simply a week-long mission trip for high school students to their schools.
HOW DO YOU GET INVOLVED?
Click HERE to view our online application. We are currently looking for Saturation Leaders for Fall 2010.
All I can say is get involved- buy some books and pass them around.
B&B Book review: It's Your Call
Product Description
Discover God’s calling for your life ...
Few spiritual concepts have fascinated and confused people more than understanding God’s calling for their life. Is it primarily about a job or a role? It is precise or general? Is a calling only reserved for those who work in professional ministry?
The truth is actually amazingly profound: What we are supposed to do is what we most want to do.
This is a guide for discovering God’s design and destiny for your life. Drawing from over 20 years of experience in ministry, Gary Barkalow shares how you can:
Live alert and oriented to the voice and choreography of God.
Discover and interpret the voice of your own story.
Discern the strategic assault against your calling.
Recognize God’s intentional training in your life’s journey.
Most of all, you’ll be inspired to let the glory of your life touch the world around you.
About the Author
Gary Barkalow is the founder and director of The Noble Heart, a ministry with the express purpose of helping men and women find their life in God and their calling in this world. He has served in leadership positions at Ransomed Heart Ministries, Focus on the Family, and Campus Crusade for Christ. Through The Noble Heart, Gary speaks at conferences across the country and around the world. Gary and his wife, Leigh, reside in Colorado Springs with their four children. www.thenobleheart.com
over 20 years study on the part of the author. He calls you into the study with the likes of C.S. Lewis, George MacDonald, Oswald Chambers, Dallas Willard and many others. But don't come in expecting to "get it all" in 10 minutes. Come in with your journal in hand, a cup of your favorite beverage, and the understanding that you are going to be here awhile. Because you have been invited to join in a conversation that has been going on since creation. A conversation about life, and living. And that conversation requires commitment; but the rewards will be worth the investment.
Discover God’s calling for your life ...
Few spiritual concepts have fascinated and confused people more than understanding God’s calling for their life. Is it primarily about a job or a role? It is precise or general? Is a calling only reserved for those who work in professional ministry?
The truth is actually amazingly profound: What we are supposed to do is what we most want to do.
This is a guide for discovering God’s design and destiny for your life. Drawing from over 20 years of experience in ministry, Gary Barkalow shares how you can:
Live alert and oriented to the voice and choreography of God.
Discover and interpret the voice of your own story.
Discern the strategic assault against your calling.
Recognize God’s intentional training in your life’s journey.
Most of all, you’ll be inspired to let the glory of your life touch the world around you.
About the Author
Gary Barkalow is the founder and director of The Noble Heart, a ministry with the express purpose of helping men and women find their life in God and their calling in this world. He has served in leadership positions at Ransomed Heart Ministries, Focus on the Family, and Campus Crusade for Christ. Through The Noble Heart, Gary speaks at conferences across the country and around the world. Gary and his wife, Leigh, reside in Colorado Springs with their four children. www.thenobleheart.com
over 20 years study on the part of the author. He calls you into the study with the likes of C.S. Lewis, George MacDonald, Oswald Chambers, Dallas Willard and many others. But don't come in expecting to "get it all" in 10 minutes. Come in with your journal in hand, a cup of your favorite beverage, and the understanding that you are going to be here awhile. Because you have been invited to join in a conversation that has been going on since creation. A conversation about life, and living. And that conversation requires commitment; but the rewards will be worth the investment.
B&B Book Review: Baby Bible Christmas Story
Product Description
Christmas Bible stories made simple, interactive, and relevant for young children.
With a fresh look, The Baby Bible Christmas Storybook is an interactive and gentle-hearted way to discover and reinforce familiar Bible stories with very young children during the Christmas season.
Inside you will find:
• Simple actions and activities with Mom or Dad help tell Christmas Bible stories.
• Short story length allows for short attention spans.
• Actions and easy vocabulary works well for the small child (infancy through three years old).
• Short prayers at the end of each story help make the story relevant for little ones and teach them to pray.
The Baby Bible Christmas Storybook introduces your child to the Christmas story with bright, colorful pictures, simple prayers and suggested actions to bring the stories to life. The sixteen short stories bring parents and children together to learn the wonderful story of Christmas in an interactive manner.
I really enjoyed this Christmas storybook. The illustrations were wonderful and brought the Christmas story to life. They are bright, vivid and easy to see. My daughter was constantly pointing and naming objects, actions and places or animals. The book itself is unique because it gives suggested hand motions under each line in the story for parents to interact with their children
Christmas Bible stories made simple, interactive, and relevant for young children.
With a fresh look, The Baby Bible Christmas Storybook is an interactive and gentle-hearted way to discover and reinforce familiar Bible stories with very young children during the Christmas season.
Inside you will find:
• Simple actions and activities with Mom or Dad help tell Christmas Bible stories.
• Short story length allows for short attention spans.
• Actions and easy vocabulary works well for the small child (infancy through three years old).
• Short prayers at the end of each story help make the story relevant for little ones and teach them to pray.
The Baby Bible Christmas Storybook introduces your child to the Christmas story with bright, colorful pictures, simple prayers and suggested actions to bring the stories to life. The sixteen short stories bring parents and children together to learn the wonderful story of Christmas in an interactive manner.
I really enjoyed this Christmas storybook. The illustrations were wonderful and brought the Christmas story to life. They are bright, vivid and easy to see. My daughter was constantly pointing and naming objects, actions and places or animals. The book itself is unique because it gives suggested hand motions under each line in the story for parents to interact with their children
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