Book Review: Same Life, New Story

"Move from what is to what can be by changing how you think and talk to yourself" is a description of the book found on the book jacket. I would add that Jill Silvious also emphasizes an important step before that: accepting your individual story (not denying it, resenting it, or running from it) so that you can embrace what amazing things God has in store!

Not only would I HIGHLY recommend this book, I actually have already endorsed it in multiple conversations ever since I’ve read it! Somehow Silvious put into words thoughts that have been swirling around in my head for quite some time. Silvious peals away at the lives of women from the Bible and present day women she has come in contact. In doing this, she shows us what a difference our lives can make if we accept our story…not someone else’s, not what we always wanted, not what is easy.

There have been so many things in my “story” that I didn’t want to accept and it was such a good reminder I’m not the only one! The Bible is full of women who were used to fulfill God’s plan, and who wants to be comfortable with their own story when the God of the Universe is writing one for you! This book will inspire you!

Disclaimer:  I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Books for my honest and impartial review.

Book Review: Judgment Day

This mystery novel centers around a driven news anchor, Suzanne Kidwell, who has a cable show called Judgment Day.  She exposes anyone in power to get ratings, and in her attempt to get the scoop she tends to cut corners in the fact-checking department.  While investigating a string of missing teenagers, Suzanne finds herself in a great deal of trouble.  Before she knows it, she is being arrested for murder. 

As despicable as her actions have been, there is something likable about Suzanne.  This book is full of interesting characters...some honest and some evil to the core.  I would say it's an easy read that can be done in a few hours, but because of the variety of characters and interestingly woven plot it kept my attention! 

One final comment:  The book jacket says Suzanne is accused of murdering an entrepreneur, John Edward Sterling.  In the book, she is accused of murdering a woman and Sterling is a Senator she is investigating.  It doesn't affect the review of the book itself, but I just couldn't post this without mentioning that discrepancy. 

Disclaimer:  I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for my honest review.

Faith Deployed

In case I can only hold your attention for 1 minute, then I want to say right off the bat....go buy this book! If you are a military wife, it's a must have. If you are a civilian and know anyone in the military, it is the PERFECT gift.

Jocelyn Green, the author of Faith Deployed, emailed me saying she had seen my blog on Wives of Faith and wanted to know if I would write a review of her book on Amazon. Completely honored by the offer and always looking for new books to enjoy and review, I took her up on it immediately. I had no idea what a gift she would be giving me.

Faith Deployed is a devotional book with approximately 80 excerpts written by Jocelyn and 14 other Christian military wives from all branches. Each devotional includes a scripture, 2-page anecdote, a couple of questions to ask yourself based on the reading, and a prayer related to the topic.

Here's what makes this book a must have for any military library...

• It's easy to read. Each story is 2 pages! Within a few minutes you can have a great morsel of truth to get through your day.
• As it's sub-title states, this book is a "daily encouragement for military wives," reminding each of us that we are not alone even during the longest deployment or tenth PCS.
• The excerpts go to the root issue-what do the reactions to our life circumstances reveal about our heart? Military wives, just like any Christian woman seeking to honor the Lord, must choose to handle life in light of eternity. This book will remind you to do just that!
• I have to admit that my biggest fear of the book was that it would be shallow. On the contrary, these women are honest, vulnerable, and intelligent. They quote other good authors and scripture. The Holy Spirit convicted my heart time after time through Faith Deployed because the truth they were sharing comes right from the Bible.
• This book would definitely work if your military member is deployed, but it is completely relevant if your spouse is at home! And then you'll already own it when your spouse does deploy and you need that extra encouragement to look to the Lord.

I've had this book in my "queue" to read for a while, but it has been a perfect compliment to my reading of the Proverbs. This book definitely addresses how to be a Proverbs 31 woman, and these two excerpts echoed proverbs I've read recently:

1. Silent But Guilty (Proverbs 20:19)-We shouldn't gossip AND we shouldn't listen to gossip. Are we condoning it when we let it go on? Jocelyn mentioned something a friend of her said, "We gossip whenever we're together because all we have in common is the other people in housing. So that's what we talk about." That struck me so profoundly. If I can't stop talking about people, then I need to find something else to have in common! Or maybe I could just close my mouth?
   
2. Taming Jealousy (Romans 12:15)-It has taken me 36 years to really admit that I have a problem with jealousy. Jocelyn writes, "...it seems to me that the military wife is even more prone to being jealous over how others are treated compared to us, or how and with whom others can spend their time." This morning I got on Facebook and read the status update of a guy on Dan's ship (both of them on duty today): "Duty day...but at least I get to go to church with my family!" I immediately thought, "Why can't Dan???" JEALOUSY!! I thought of this section of the book, and thanked God that I had read it. It's okay that someone else gets something that I don't. It's not going to kill me!

You won't regret owning this book! You can order your own copy at Amazon or CBD. Jocelyn is also giving away a signed copy of the book on her website. All you have to do is leave a comment telling her the name of a church you have encountered that has been supportive to you as a military family.

Book Review: Where the Red Fern Grows(Guest review by my husband, Dan!)

Title: Where the Red Fern Grows

Author: Wilson Rawls

Where the Red Fern Grows opens with an older man taking care of a stray passing through town. As we see this man and dog interact, we quickly care about the relationship. This man clearly loves this dog and understands the dog has a specific purpose (whatever that may be). This intriguing intro is so touching that we want to know this man more. What happened in this man's life that he can understand this dog so well?

And just as we're asking the question, this old man reflects on that as well...his memories begin as a boy who wants some dogs to hunt raccoons with. I freely admit that I don't know what it's like to hunt “coons” although I've hunted rabbits and deer before. I'm not a great outdoors-man, so my only hope was to glean what I could. Like most great writers, however, Wilson Rawls explains the hunting process so that we can understand what is involved. Without it the reading would have been much more confusing.

There is something magical about growing up with a dog. Some of my most cherished memories are with the dogs I had as a boy. Many of my dogs would trot up and down the rows of soybeans as I would drive the tractor while cultivating, or they would run all over the fresh black dirt as I plowed before planting. Rawls uses the same sort of imagery, albeit through hunting instead of farming, to show the love bond that had developed between them. Because of this, no matter what the reader's background, he or she can identify with these characters. And for anyone who grew up with a dog, memories of his or her own experience will be awakened.

Like other dog stories of the time period, the story has a tragic ending, and yet a loving one as a boy pays respect to the animals that loved him enough to give everything for him. I will warn parents to make sure their kids are old enough to read a book that has a some vivid depictions of animals fighting, wounds, and even death. But as long as they are able to handle it, and as long as the parents are willing to help their kids understand it, then this book will be cherished long after the reading is done. It has my top recommendation and I look forward to reading it with my son one day.

Dan has been in the U.S. Navy for 13 years, and is currently on deployment. He has been married to his beautiful wife (who did not write this for him) for 8 years and has 2 kids, ages 5 & 3. Dan love spending his spare time reading, and he is also a published author.

Book Review: This is Your Brain On Joy

This is Your Brain on Joy by Dr. Henslin
Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Very rarely can I find a book that approaches a topic with medical expertise, sensitivity to a person's hurts, and acknowledgment that what our deepest need is God (and to know him intimately). This book does all three! With an extremely fresh and educated perspective, Dr. Henslin explains that the constant struggles we have (be it addiction, anger, depression, etc) can be modified. We don't have to live with them, but we must deal with them from many angles. Based on his experience, a brain scan (SPECT scan) shows us which part of the brain is most effected, which allows for a more accurate diagnosis.

He does believe that medicine is often needed, but he also gives many other tools in this book based on which part of the brain is most effected. A checklist is included. For each part of the brain (and correlating issue) he addresses nutrition, supplements, preferred exercises, Scripture, types of music, books on the topic, and a variety of other helpful tools. I think the nicest surprise of the book is that it isn’t boring at all. Besides being informative, it’s witty at times and the personal stories are inspiring!

I highly recommend this book to anyone who struggles with emotional pain or who has a loved one struggling. For more information...

Dr. Henslin's website includes his speaking schedule and the the ability to sign up for the Brain-Heart Matters Newsletter.

He blogs!

Henslin and Associates offers counseling.

Amen Clinics provides the SPECT scans mentioned in the book.

Book Author Interview

HEBREWS: ANCIENT ENCOURAGEMENT FOR BELIEVERS TODAY
Author: Edward Willian Fudge
Publishing Information: Leafwood Publishers, 2009, 262 pages, $19.95

A Neglected Book

Q: Hebrews is not a book we hear discussed very often. Why do you suppose that is the case?

EWF: You are right about that. This neglect is very unfortunate, in my view, because Hebrews is one of the most Jesus-focused, gospel-packed books in the New Testament. You will see the evidence for that on almost every page of Hebrews: Ancient Encouragement for Believers Today.

Q: Why do most people miss this focus?

EWF: It comes from a lack of real study of Hebrews. Folks go away from it without ever seeing and appreciating the book’s real message. They assume it is just an old book about even older Jewish rituals, sacrifices and priests, with no meaning or value for them.

Who wrote Hebrews?

Q: Do you know who wrote Hebrews?

EWF: I know as much about it as anyone else, which is finally nothing for sure!  Origen told the truth about two centuries after Christ when he said that the author “is known to God alone.” It almost certainly was not Paul, for a variety of reasons. My personal vote among the candidates goes either to Barnabas or to Apollos.

Q: Why do you favor Barnabas?

EWF: The author of Hebrews calls his own work a “word of exhortation” (Heb. 13:22). The same Greek expression is found at Acts 13:15, where it is translated as “word of encouragement.” There, Paul and Barnabas are invited to address a Sabbath synagogue audience, which they do for the next 31 verses. Their remarks are called a “word of encouragement.” Not only is Barnabas involved in that, his name means “son of encouragement” (Acts 4:36) – a comment on one of his chief characteristics. He is also a Levite, who would be very interested in the subjects of priesthoods, sacrifices, and their results. These themes permeate Hebrews and can also encourage us today, as I show in Hebrews: Ancient Encouragement for Believers Today.

Q: What can you say in favor of Apollos?

EWF: Well, for starters he is called “mighty in the Scriptures” (Acts 18:24). This fits Hebrews very well since its author clearly was exceedingly familiar with his ‘Bible,’ which was the “Old Testament” as we call it. (Hebrews actually tells the Story of the Son of God -- from heaven to earth and back to heaven again -- based on four different Psalms.) Apollos was also “an eloquent man,” as was the author of Hebrews). And he was from Alexandria, Egypt – a city of learning noted for a particular type of Scripture interpretation. The author of Hebrews reads his Bible in a similar manner.

Why was Hebrews written?

Q: Do we know why Hebrews was written?

EWF: Yes we do, although we don’t know exactly to whom, when, where, or precisely what was going on. But we do know that, for a variety of reasons, the original recipients of Hebrews were worn out, disheartened, tempted, and seemingly about ready to walk away from their faith. The book hints at some possible causes, including persecution, passing of time, being misfits in their culture, the appeal of sin, and so forth.

Q: That situation sounds very up-to-date! How does the author of Hebrews respond to it?

EWF: I love it! To revive his readers’ spirits and to renew their commitment, the unknown author re-tells the Story – the story of the Son of God who became a man, to live and die as our representative, and who is now in heaven representing us as our High Priest. Hebrews is thoroughly focused on Jesus! Its message is always contemporary. We can never go wrong by focusing on the Savior himself. I am very pleased that several reviewers have described Hebrews: Ancient Encouragement for Believers Today in those same terms.

A ‘bridge’ commentary

Q: You call Hebrews: Ancient Encouragement for Believers Today a “bridge” commentary. What does that mean?

EWF: When it comes to Bible studies, there are two worlds out there which often never come together. One is the ivory-tower world of academic specialists with all their scholarly issues and technical jargon. The other world is where most believers live and work and worship. Hebrews: Ancient Encouragement for Believers Today attempts to bridge this gap. For example, I worked from the Greek text of Hebrews but Hebrews: Ancient Encouragement for Believers Today doesn’t have a single Greek word in it. Although the bibliography covers eight pages and includes 80+ scholarly articles from theological journals, this book uses everyday language. By linking scholarship with simplicity, I hope to give the reader the best of both worlds.

A narrative-style book

Q: You also describe Hebrews: Ancient Encouragement for Believers Today as a “narrative-style” commentary. Tell us about that.

EWF: That refers to the fact that Hebrews: Ancient Encouragement for Believers Today is written as flowing narrative, although it discusses each verse of Hebrews in detail. It does this in 48 chapters, each covering a portion of the Scripture text. Each chapter begins with a very short section called “Why & Wherefore,” which relates that section to the big picture. That is followed by “Unpacking the Text,” which goes into detail, but in narrative style, with subheads to make it read more like a typical book.

Endorsements

Q: I see that Hebrews: Ancient Encouragement for Believers Today is already endorsed by a considerable variety of notable scholars and church leaders, even before its release. Isn’t that a bit unusual?

EWF: What is somewhat uncommon in the case of Hebrews: Ancient Encouragement for Believers Today is the theological and international diversity of the endorsements. Hebrews contains a number of quite controversial passages, about which Christian “tribes” traditionally disagree. I am very pleased, therefore, that this book is recommended by knowledgeable reviewers across the spectrum.

For example, the quotes on the back cover of Hebrews: Ancient Encouragement for Believers Today come from Methodist, Calvinist, Church of Christ, Baptist, mainline Protestant, Pentecostal and Emergent church scholars. The full text of these seven endorsements, plus 29 others, fills the first six pages of the book. You can read the endorsements online already, with photos, biographical comments and (where applicable) website links of the reviewers, by clicking here.

I want to thank Ed personally for his time, and I encourage each of my readers to buy his book! For my personal thoughts on the book click here.

Book Review: Hebrews

It is my privilege to review the commentary Hebrews: Ancient Encouragement for Believers Today. This book is written by Ed Fudge of Edward Fudge Ministries. You can read Ed's testimony here. Dan discovered Ed almost 10 years ago, and we have been receiving his GracEmails ever since. These are 3 paragraph emails where Ed addresses theological questions raised by his readers. Ed's writing style has always been theologically sound, easy to comprehend, and inspirational. The same way I describe Ed's GracEmails is the way I would describe his new book.

We all love having a good commentary when we want an in depth look at a book of the Bible, but so often to find that if it has strong theological content we can barely comprehend it! Not so here. In this book Ed utilizes his vast theological training, but does not bog us down with terminology that doesn't actually help us understand the text. Instead, Ed's education is a springboard for embracing what Hebrews is supposed to mean for us today. As the intro of this book states: "This commentary is written for the serious Bible student who seeks scholarly content in non-technical terms. As such, it bridges a gap that many commentaries simply ignore." Nothing is watered down, and yet these Biblical truths are explained simply and thoroughly.

I love this written by Ed in the "About This Commentary". It shows his heart: "Reverent scholarship is important, and that has ever been my goal. However, as beneficiaries of the new covenant, our ultimate teacher is God himself (Hebrews 8:10-11). With that reality in mind, let us fix our eyes on Jesus and receive with faith the word that God has spoken by his

Son (Hebrews 12:2; 4:2)."

Check back later today for an interview with Ed!!!

St. Patty's Day Book

Title: Jeremy Bean's St. Patrick's Day
Author: Alice Schertle
Illustrator: Linda Shute
Publisher: Lothrop Lee & Shepard
Reading Level: Ages 4 - 8

We read the cutest St. Patrick's Day book tonight. I know the day is done with, but there is always next year, and who knows if it will be on clearance tomorrow? This book is about Jeremy Bean, who by accident doesn't wear green to school on St. Patty's Day. All the kids laugh at him chanting...

Jeremy Bean
Didn't wear green
Jeremy Bean
Didn't wear green

Jeremy is mortified and hides in a broom closet to avoid his schoolmates. Upon seeing this, the Principal invites Jeremy to his office instead. Much to Jeremy's surprise, his Principal doesn't ask anything about the color green, but happily shares his own green accessories once Jeremy admits that he left his green sweater at home. I love that it shows that a child can count on an authority figure when they are experiencing their worst nightmare!

Book Tour: Real Moms Real Jesus

Today I’d like to welcome author and speaker, Jill Savage. Jill’s recent book Real Moms…Real Jesus, has just released, and I wanted to find out about her real mom moments..

Jill, tell us a little bit about yourself and your family.

Mark and I have been married 25 years and we have five children. Anne is 24 and married to our wonderful son-in-love, Matt. Evan is 21 and married to our beautiful daughter-in-love, Julie. Erica is 18 and a college student at Heartland Community College. Kolya is 15 and in the 8th grade. We adopted Kolya at the age of 9 from Russia---the God story about his adoption is included in the Real Moms…Real Jesus book. And Austin is 12 and in the 7th grade.

Tell us about your newest book Real Moms...Real Jesus?
Real Moms…Real Jesus is a book designed to help moms understand that when Jesus lived on this earth he was fully God, yet fully man. We don’t often think about the fact that he was a human being and he lived the full human experience: pain, hunger, fatigue, frustration, betrayal, disappointment. He experienced it all!

There’s one verse in the Bible about Jesus that simply says “large crowds followed him everywhere he went.” Well, isn’t that the life of a mom? Large crowds follow her to the bathroom. They follow her to the kitchen. To the grocery store. She’s in high demand! And when Jesus lived on this earth, He was in high demand, too.

Why did you want to write this book?
Most of us long for a friend who understands. Yes, we need girlfriends who understand what our life is like. But we also need to understand that we have a friend who understands in Jesus. Too many of us think of God as being distant and unable to relate to our daily struggles. But nothing could be further from the truth! He understands and he wants us to build our friendship with Him. He wants to not only be our Savior, but also our Friend.

What do you hope your readers will gain from this book?
I hope that readers will gain a new perspective about their relationship with Jesus. I also hope to weave God’s truth into the daily life of a mom.

What unique elements will the reader find in Real Moms…Real Jesus?
Each chapter looks at some character trait in Jesus’ life that can help us in our life as a mom. In between the chapters are interactive vignettes that provide brief, refreshing glimpses into our real, messy, busy lives.

There are also questions at the end of the chapter for further consideration and suggested Bible reading in the book of Matthew. If the reader chooses to pursue the suggested reading, she will have read the book of Matthew completely by the end of the book!

There is also a leader’s guide in the back of the book so it can be used in a group setting.

This is a Hearts at Home book. What is Hearts at Home?
Hearts at Home is an organization that encourages, educates, and equips women in the profession of motherhood. Hearts at Home encourages moms through annual conferences, our extensive website (www.hearts-at-home.org), a free bi-weekly electronic newsletter, a radio program, and an entire line of books designed to meet the needs of moms all over the world!


Any closing thoughts?
I am very excited about this book! I believe that if a mom can strengthen her relationship with Jesus Christ, she will feel more equipped to be the mom she wants to be. I’m also offering an online book discussion on my blog beginning Tuesday, April 7. If you’d like to join us, you can subscribe to my blog at www.jillsavage.org.

I’d love to hear a reader’s thoughts after they read the book, too! You can connect to me through my blog at www.jillsavage.org.

Thanks, Jill, for taking time out of your busy schedule to share your real mom, real Jesus moments with us.

You can purchase your own copy of Real Moms…Real Jesus by clicking here.

And be sure to check out Hearts at Home, their conferences for moms, and all their online resources here.

L.M. Montgomery Challenge: The Story Girl

The Story Girl

I am a bit late to the carnival, but I couldn't pass up a chance to recommend a book that says...

"Even skeptical Dan prayed, his skepticism falling away from him like a discarded garment in this valley of the shadow [of death], which sifts our hearts and tries souls, until we all, grown-up or children, realize our weakness, and, finding that our own puny strength is as a reed shaken in the wind, creep back humbly to the God we have vainly dreamed we could do without."

L.M. Montgomery is the famed author of the Anne of Green Gables books. I say "famed" loosely since I didn't know who the author was until this carnival. I actually didn't even know the movies until I was a freshman in college! A kindred spirit introduced me, and I was hooked. After college I read the books and decided for this carnival that I would find what other treasures Montgomery had to offer.

The Story Girl is the enjoyable tale of a mid 20th century "gang" of teen aged friends who's ordinary experiences in life are all the richer because of their bond. While the book points out each person's strengths, the focus often revolves around the story girl, who is a gifted wordsmith.

"...if voices had colour, hers would have been like a rainbow. It made words live. Whatever she said became a breathing entity..."

Through the narrator's lens, we come to believe this! We want desperately to HEAR the stories and not just read them. The narrator is Beverly, the story girl's male cousin who comes to visit Prince Edward Island while his dad is working in South America. The fact that a teenage boy reveres the story girl's talents substantiates them all the more! Golden Road is the sequel (that I will be starting tomorrow), and begins in the same month that The Story Girl ends. Beverly reminds us that

"...before us was the dream of spring. It is always safe to dream of spring. For it is sure to come; and if it be not just as we have picture it, it will be infinitely sweeter."

I have to admit one problem with this book was that I kept expecting Anne Shirley to appear! Who could blame me? Nevertheless, I enjoyed this lighthearted read. Want to know what other good books Montgomery has written? Head on over to Reading to Know.

Interesting fact:

The Disney Channel series "Tales of Avonlea" is loosely based on The Story Girl novels.

Good Books

I mentioned to Steph a long time ago that I was reading some really good books. She asked what they were, and since I just came to that email in my inbox, it looks as though I never answered! I would recommend these books to anyone, so I thought I would blog it. All available at Amazon.

All That You Can't Leave Behind: a rookie missionary's life in Africa by Ryan Murphy Through personal stories, cultural insights, and perspectives on the mission movement in Africa, Ryan Murphy shares what the missionary like looks like in the 21st century. The author's first book offers an entertaining bridge into the unknown lands of missions work and challenges you to make a difference in your world for God's glory.

This book is really an outflow of Ryan blogging his first year on the mission field. Here's his blog: http://www.strangersinkenya.blogspot.com/

TrueFaced: trust God and others with who you really are by Bill Thrall John Lynch and Bruce McNicol In a sincere, but misguided attempt to please God, many of us strive to "fix our sin". We soon discover that it doesn't "fix" very well or for very long. And so we try to hide it and pretend like it isn't there. But it only leads to more pretending, hiding, and despair-and nothing ever changes. We fear that God is almost never pleased. TrueFaced draws a clear distinction between two very different underlying motives: our determination to please God OR to trust him. The resulting difference from these two starting points could not be more profound. One results in a striving that never feels it has done enough to please him. The other results in a trust that experiences his full pleasure. Our motives as followers of Christ will either keep us in unresolved sin and immaturity or free us into God's astonishing dream for our lives.

What's so Amazing About Grace? by Philip Yancey If grace is God's love for the undeserving, then what does it look like in action? And if Christians are its sole dispensers, then how are we doing at lavishing grace on a world that knows far more of cruelty and unforgiveness than it does of mercy? Grace does not excuse sin, says Yancey, but it treasures the sinner. True grace is shocking-scandalous. It shakes our conventions with its insistence on getting close to sinners and touching them with mercy and hope. It forgives the unfaithful spouse, racist, the child abuser. It loves today's AIDS-ridden addict as much as the tax collector of Jesus' day. Yancey offers compelling, true portraits of grace's life-changing power. And he challenges us to become living answers to a world that desperately wants to know, What's so Amazing about Grace?

What's so Amazing About Grace was the best book I've read in a long time. It is historical, political (relevant in this election year), biographical, and love-filled all in one!!! I can't say enough good things about it.

Okay, posting the little pictures of the books was really hard for me as an extremely new blogger! This was exhausting to finish, but these books were worth the effort. If you've read any of these already or happen to in the future, please post your thoughts!