Review: Organic Outreach for Families

Since getting married, and especially since becoming a mother, I have gobbled up many books on family.  My mother instilled a great value for family in me, and my husband's parents did the same for him.  We want our child(ren) to grow up and fondly remember family, but more than that, we want our family to be a genuine shaping influence for the Gospel in our child(ren) and those we know (or don't know personally but perhaps see our family in the neighborhood, at the grocery store, at the local zoo, etc). 

Organic Outreach for Families by Kevin and Sherry Harney offers great theological and practical wisdom is this area.  They specifically address talking to your children about Jesus, sharing grace with your extended family, opening the doors of your home and practicing hospitality, encouraging your children to share Jesus in their schools, jobs, and with friends, and in general sharing the light of God with your community.

I recommend this book; it's not only theologically sound, but extremely practical.  I know spirituality is not about a step-by-step process, but sometimes it's nice to have down-to-earth practical suggestions and ideas!  The authors share many of their own stories and how they responded in certain situations, as well as the results of their methods and actions.  They don't present themselves as perfect examples by any means, but rather they learn from their mistakes without ceasing to practice hospitality and preaching the Gospel to their community.

The book is very encouraging to me as a mother; I plan to keep this one on my shelf and come back to it frequently!

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.”

Who Do You Think You Are?

I fully admit that I requested to review Mark Driscoll's new book Who Do You Think You Are? at the prompting of my husband...but I am so glad I read this book.  Driscoll works through Ephesians and helps to give specific words to our identity in Christ (I am: in Christ, blessed, saved, adopted, etc).  The writing is excellent, and he uses a host of stories from his own personal life and history as some great illustrations.

I'm not going to lie- the book had me in tears at certain spots...maybe it's just because of the stage of life in which I currently find myself, but this book was a breath of fresh air for me spiritually.  One day, I was having a particularly hard time with our almost-four month old.  She had been fussy for several days, wasn't sleeping well, and just wasn't her usual happy, smiley, and chatty self.  No matter what I did, I found myself holding a screaming baby trying to calm her using whatever new-mommy skills I had (which, admittedly, aren't many).  She finally fell asleep at one point when I was rocking her, and too scared to set her down for fear she would wake up screaming, I picked up this book and continued to rock her.  I was reading the chapter titled 'I am Heard' and came to this passage:

Jesus loves you.  How do you feel when you read that?  Do you doubt it because you're suffering?  Do you disbelieve it because there's great sin in your life?  Do you disregard it because it seems trite, overly simple, and not something you have truly plumbed to its depths?  Do you dismiss it because you're so busy with life and its cares that you don't have time to dwell on deep truths?
 

I was in tears at this point because for the past several days, that was exactly how I felt.  I wasn't suffering like many people have suffered and continue to suffer, but I was struggling with my daughter's perpetual state of fussiness...and yes, sometimes when people tell me that Jesus loves me, I do find it rather trite.  But not this time.  This time those three simple words reached deep into my heart and comforted me during my difficult season of motherhood.  I looked at my beautiful sleeping daughter through my tears and knew that I love her and that I will always love her...but I also knew that Jesus Christ loves her far more than my husband or I ever could.  And I remembered that he has the same love for me.  Sometimes, it just takes a little reminding.

I highly recommend this book!  I am planning on rereading it in the new several months.  I think it would also make a great group study through Ephesians!

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.”

Review: Fyodor Dostoevsky

So...apparently this book has been sitting on my shelf for...uh, maybe a year now.    Like I mentioned before, I'm a bit behind in my book blogging review goodness.  But I was excited to remember I hadn't yet read this book as I was in the mood for a biography; I've really enjoyed the other books in the Christian Encounters series by Nelson Books as well.  They are usually shorter biographies and easier reads...and with a brand new baby, my brain isn't exactly up to full functioning capacity at this point.  I'm sure you understand.  I chose to read the biography of Dostoevsky by Peter Leithart because I'm a big fan of the classic Russian writers (although Tolstoy is my favorite).

While Fyodor Dostoevsky was interesting, I was a little disappointed in the style.   It is written in a narrative style (which admittedly, typically make biographies easier to read), and Leithart jumps around chronologically so that it actually gets a little confusing.  If you do not have a good understanding of Dostoevsky's life before you pick up this book, you will probably still be a little confused as to the general timeline of his life.  However, the detail in explaining his literary views and his initial rise to fame, as well as his disgrace with the Russian government and his reemergence as a Russian authority on literature is amazing.  Obviously, Leithart knows and understands a great deal of Dostoevsky.  It would just be nice if the book covered a bit more of the basics and possessed more chronological clarity.  It is good, however, to have a better understanding of the immense struggles and hardships Dostoevsky faced at various points in his life; I think when we understand more of a writer's life, we understand more of his writing.

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.”

Galileo

This must be my third or fourth book I've reviewed from the Christian Encounters series.  It really is one of my favourite series I've received from Thomas Nelson, and I hope the publishers continue to provide us with some more excellent biographies.

I think biographies generally get a bad rap for being rather boring, but the Christian Encounters series definitely gets it right.  I recently got to take a look at Galileo by Mitch Stokes.  Admittedly, I'm not a big science enthusiast, and I tend to get Galileo and Copernicus confused...but that's exactly why I should be reading books about science and scientists- to stretch my mind as much as possible.  Galileo's life was really more fascinating than I ever realised, and while I knew he faced difficulties with the church because of his theories (specifically, his stance on heliocentricity), I didn't understand the full extent of this controversy.  One of the coolest things I learned from this book: Galileo invented the pendulum clock!  I had no idea...but you can be sure the next time I visit the Smithsonian and watch the large pendulum clock swing back and forth, back and forth, back and forth...I'll be thinking of Galileo.

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.”

Voices of the Faithful: Book 2

It's been quite some time since I reviewed a book for Thomas Nelson, but this book has got to be one of my favourites!  Voices of the Faithful: Book 2 is a compilation of daily devotions written by Christians serving around the globe.  The devotions are short- less than a page- and contain a focal Scripture and a short prayer at the end; there is a different devotion each day of the year (yes, there is even one for February 29th).

The stories told and the lessons shared throughout these pages are amazing; these are the people who have dedicated their lives to sharing the Good News with people around the world.  Some of the missionaries are working with unreached people groups, in hostile environments, in economically-deprived areas; some are working with the overchurched, in wealthy areas, and lands where cynicism abounds.  Regardless of where the missionaries live and serve, each and every one of them understands that the people with whom they work need Jesus- no matter their background, religion, or economic status.  Reading this devotional helps you to catch a glimpse of God's heart for the nations.  I highly recommend this devotional- use it personally, as a family, or in a small group!

It's also pretty awesome when one of your best friends has an entry in the book!

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.”

You Were Made to Make A Difference

The lovely folks over at Thomas Nelson sent me You Were Made to Make a Difference by Max Lucado and Jenna Lucado Bishop (his daughter).  I'm normally not a big Max Lucado fan, but the title hooked me; it seemed like a book I might applaud.

And so I do.  The book is obviously geared toward teenagers, but that's okay because the message is something teenagers need to hear- especially in our Western world of ipods, Xboxs, and general over-indulgence.  The book is somewhat interactive, giving the reader the opportunity to reflect and journal to a small extent.  Lucado and Bishop also highlight several young people who have made a difference in the lives of others.   The book is simply all about encouraging the reader to live for a higher purpose- in short, to realize they can and should make a positive impact on their world.

A caveat: the first chapter or so focuses on realizing that we are each special, but it focuses a bit too much on that for my taste.  Yes, we are all unique and different and very important to God, but in today's world, I think children and teenagers get too much of the "You-are-so-special-you-can-do-anything-you-want-to-because-you-are-great-at-everything!!!" jargon.  Every person simply cannot be the best at everything (and this attitude leads to a generation full of those who feel entitiled to anything and everything); I think many people in my generation are struggling with low self-esteem issues now because for years in grade school and secondary school, they were told they are talented and special and wonderful and the secret to the world's success...and they are out in the great big world now, realizing they are not, in fact, the secret to the world's success.  They realize that they need other people, that they are not great at everything, and that life doesn't always go the way you planned it- even if you scored well on your SAT and got a great internship in university.  They're having a tough time realizing that even though they're not making millions and jet-setting around the globe that their life is still worth living and can still impact others for the better. 

I would encourage teenagers to read this book, but I would also encourage parents and those adults involved in the teenagers lives to remind them that yes, they can make a huge difference in the world and to always pursue their dreams...but to also realize making a huge difference won't necessarily mean saving millions of children from malaria but in fact may mean helping one family by purchasing their Christmas gifts in their time of need or helping one refugee learn English or volunteering one night a week at the local soup kitchen.  Just because you may not see big results doesn't mean that you actually didn't make a difference- a big difference. 

And in the end, I hope my nieces and nephews will read this book sometime very, very soon!

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.”

Immanuel's Veins

I've never actually read anything by famed author Ted Dekker, so when Thomas Nelson gave me the chance to review a new book of his, I jumped at the chance.  I've heard nothing but good things about his writing from various different people, but they all agree on one thing: it can be intense.

When I first looked at Immanuel's Veins, I could not figure out what the storyline was; the back of the book and the inside of the flap jacket weren't too forthcoming about the actual plot, and even the reviews were somewhat vague.  No character names were mentioned, not particular time...nothing.  Just some tidbit about love, evil, blood, and sacrifice.  Friends, I had no idea what that meant, but I decided to give it a try anyway.

I read the book in one sitting.  I kid you not, I picked up the book, and did not put it down until my husband made me by bringing home pizza and insisting it was time to eat.  I ate my dinner, and went back to finish the forty or so pages I had left.  I'm not going to lie, it was definitely intense at times.  It was an interesting story through and through, partly because going into the book you were completely clueless as to what to expect.  I'm not sure I should give any of the plot away either because then the story wouldn't be the same for you...

I will say it does have a vampire-like theme (okay, really, you can figure that out just by looking at the cover and title), but there is definitely a twist.  I'm not really a fan of vampire-themed books- remember when I was reading Dracula in the middle of the day and got freaked out?  Yeah, the same sort of thing almost happened at a few points in this book too.  However, I thought this story was well-written and engaging.  Toward the end of the book though, I started to get confused about the message Dekker was trying to convey.  All the ends just didn't tie together nicely.  When Isaac asked me what I thought of the book considering I read it in its entirety in just a few hours, I stumbled over my words.  "Well...I mean, yeah it was good...the story was interesting up to a certain point...I...I'm just not sure....not sure what Dekker to trying to say theologically."

And it's true; I'm still confused as to what Dekker was trying to convey in terms of Christ and love and just about everything else in between.  In fact, the end of the novel and the confusion surrounding just what the message was supposed to be muddled up the whole thing for me.  I agree that we need to live our lives in such as way that people see Christ in us, but not is such a way that people think we are Christ.  One of the characters kept saying, "Be her Immanuel."  Well, that's all nice and lovely, but really if you or I died for someone we love, that is admirable and shows no greater love...but that person isn't necessarily going to be brought back to life if they're already dead.  And neither are we.  Because we're not God.  We can make sacrifices and even die, but once we're dead...well, we're dead unless God Himself decides otherwise, and there really wasn't any mention of God playing a role in the whole dying and being brought back to life because of sacrificial love.  The whole God thing seemed more of an afterthought of anything else.

The book will keep you engaged, but you just might be scratching your head at the end.  In fact, I would really like it if someone else- preferably someone more intelligent then me- would read this book and give me their opinion.  Am I just missing something?

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.”

The Boy Who Changed The World

Thomas Nelson sent me this fabulous children's book by Andy Andrews.  The Boy Who Changed the World begins with the story of Nobel laureate Norman Borlaug- as a child.  Norman grew up on a farm in Iowa and played in the fields of corn with his sisters nearly every day; his family loved their farm and the delicious corn it produced, and Norman's father was always sure to offer thanks for the food the Lord provided them.  One day, Norman wondered what it would be like to not have enough food to eat, and that day he decided to change the world by figuring out a way to feed all the hungry people in the world.  As he grew up, Norma learned everything he could about plants, and when he was an adult, a man named Henry Wallace gave him a job.  Mr. Wallace told him he wanted Norman to develop a special seed which would produce a super plant, able to feed more people than a regular plant.  Norman worked hard for many years and eventually developed the super plants that would help keep over two billion people from starving.

So you see, Norman really did change the world.  But he wouldn't have been able to change the world unless Mr. Wallace had given him a job.  So maybe it was really Henry Wallace who changed the world...

Andrews goes on to tell the story of Henry Wallace and of his connection with George Washington Carver and of George's father, Moses.  Each person in the story was influenced by another, and because of the other people in their lives, they were all able to help change the world.  Andrews explains that everything we do in this life matters; we probably won't see all the results from our actions- both good and bad- but it still matters, and we could still help to change the world!

This book is simply a delightful book for children- and adults too!  It encourages you to realize you and your actions matter and to strive to make a difference in the world.  I heartily recommend this book!

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.”

You Changed My Life

You Changed My Life was sent to me by mistake by Thomas Nelson, but they allowed me to review it for them anyway.  I would never have chosen to read this book on my own; I'm not big into gift books.  I find people generally don't actually read the book itself; they may place it on the coffee table or beside their bed, but they don't actually sit down to read it in its entirety.

Max Lucado can be a bit on the fluffy side anyway, and I figured this gift book would be the same, especially since all of the content was taken from his previously published books.  This book is intended to provide several different encouraging and uplifting short stories, and surprisingly some of them are actually very good.  Others are just downright corny, and didn't really necessarily provide any encouragement to me specifically.  While most of the stories had a spiritual overtone, they mostly focused on how good people are instead of Jesus providing us with the ability to do good.  There were definitely some interesting stories from history throughout the tiny read, and I found those the most interesting.  It's definitely a fluffy read, but I guess fluffy reads have their place- just most likely not on my coffee table.

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.”

The Skin Map

This is not a typical book I would choose to read, but since Thomas Nelson gave me the opportunity to review it, I thought I might as well broaden my horizons to allow for more science fiction-ish type of novels.  The Skin Map is a first in the Bright Empires Series by Stephen R. Lawlead.  The novel opens in modern-day London; Kit Livingstone is plodding along in the rain when he decides to take a short-cut through an alley.  In that alley, a man introduces himself as Cosimo, Kit's great-grandfather, and then proceeds to take Kit on a journey through not only time, but through other dimensions.

The book is a cross between science fiction, history, general fiction, and just pure what-the-heck craziness.  I usually don't read any type of science fiction, but I had to admit the concept of travelling across both time and space dimensions simultaneously threw me for a loop.  For example, at one point in the novel, Kit and Cosimo arrive in London on September 2, 1666; Kit remarks the Restoration would have just happened a few years prior, but his great-grandfather corrects him, explaining that they aren't actually time-travelling.  They've just gone to a different place, and this particular England has its own history separate from the England with which Kit is familiar; in fact Charles was never deposed in this England and there was no English Civil War.  Cosimo explained that though there was a common starting point, all the different variables have caused the different worlds to have different histories; sometimes they are similar, but generally never the same.  And as it just so happens, Cosimo ensures that this particular England never actually experiences the Great Fire, whereas 'home' or 'origin world' England still maintained the same English history we all know and understand today.  Truly, the concept is a little fun to consider!

The first novel in the series introduces you to the concept of leys (the intersections which make such travelling possible) and the main characters.  The Skin Map focuses on the attempts of ley travellers- both the good and the bad- to get their hands on the map compiled by Arthur Flinders-Petrie, a man who travelled extensively via ley lines and who compiled a detailed map of his travels by tattooing individual maps of his travels on his body to ensure he could not lost the map.  And of course, you get to meet the villain Lord Burleigh, who seems to always be thwarting the plans of Kit and crew.

Lawhead does an excellent job of weaving together the stories of several different characters from different times and locales.  Throughout the book, you see modern-day England, 17th-century London, 17th-century Prague, ancient and modern Egypt, as well as various times in China.  The historical aspect of the book is rather fascinating.  Although this isn't a book I would typically read, I thought it was well-done overall and an enjoyable read; the only problem is that the second novel, The Bone House, won't be available until September 2011.  And oh, one of the best parts of the book?  Pure British spellings throughout.  Yes.

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.”

Same Kind of Different As Me

I must confess, I wasn't really sure what to expect when I opened this book.  The back cover didn't offer much in terms of the actual content of the pages inside, and I honestly chose to review it for Thomas Nelson because none of the other books available for review at the time caught my eye.  I requested the book, and once it arrived, promptly put it on my coffee table for 'later reading' once I had finished more important books (none other than Bleak House and Harry Potter, of course).  I didn't actually start reading the book for a few weeks, but once I actually did start reading, I couldn't put it down!

Same Kind of Different of Me is the story of how the lives of a homeless man and of a well-to-do art dealer intertwined until they each became a vital part of the other's life.  Denver Moore had lived a tough life; he was born into poverty in the deep South in a time when sharecropping was still a part of everyday life.  For years, he worked the land, planting and harvesting cotton, but his family never seemed to make any profit once they had paid back the land owner for the seeds and tools they needed to work the land in the first place.  Eventually, Denver hopped a train when he was in his late twenties and ended up in Fort Worth Texas, living life on the streets.

Ron Hall grew up in a lower-middle class family, attended college, married the woman of his dreams, and began a lucrative career in high-end art dealing.  Ron's idea of charity was to attend black-tie events, where $1,000 plate dinners were donated to some non-profit or philanthropy.  He and his wife Debbie has been regular church attenders for years, but it wasn't until some friends invited them to a discussion group that they truly met the Lord.  Debbie threw herself into different types of mission work while Ron remained staunchly focused on his business.  Eventually Debbie convinced Ron to go with her to the Union Gospel Mission, a shelter for the homeless, on the wrong side of Fort Worth.  He reluctantly agreed to go, only to please his wife, and they began serving the Tuesday evening meal each week.

God began to work in the hearts and minds of not only the homeless at the Mission, but also in that of Ron and Debbie.  Through a series of events- perhaps divine interventions- Ron befriend the man named Denver, or rather they befriended each other, and developed a bond so close they now consider each other family.  Even though the men are polar opposites, God brought the two of them together to not only experience pain and grief, but to also bring the light of His glory to the rich and poor alike not only in the Fort Worth area, but all over the country and perhaps even the world.

Same Kind of Different As Me is the living story of what happens when we truly give up our life to what the Lord would have us to do and when we truly love people just as He commands us.  I highly recommend this book to everyone; it may change the way you think about others- and yourself.  There is also a follow up book, What Difference Do It Make? if you are interested in checking that out.

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.”

The Heart Mender

I haven't been able to review a book for Thomas Nelson in quite some time, and I am most thrilled to tell you about this book by Andy Andrews.  Previously released under the title of Island of Saints, the novel did not get much attention and saw little sales.  However, with a second round of good publicity and a new title, Andrews' story of forgiveness and understanding has been well-received, as it most definitely deserves.

The Heart Mender is the story of a bitter young widow and a German officer serving aboard one of the infamous U-boats.  When Helen Mason discovers Josef Landermann washed ashore in a small town on the northern Gulf Coast, her first reaction is one of anger, bitterness, and confusion.  Josef, seriously injured, wears the uniform of the men who killed her husband.  Helen is content to leave Josef on the shore, but somehow she decides to help Josef.  The story that unfolds is one of forgiveness and redemption.

I was hooked by this book from the beginning, and if I am completely honest, I read it in one sitting.  One of the most intriguing things about this book is the setting; the author apparently lives in Orange Beach, Alabama- just a short stone's throw away from my own dear hometown of Pensacola, Florida.  In the first few chapters of the book, Andrews details his discovery of a small tin container buried in his yard.  The contents of the container are even more intriguing, and he goes on a quest for answers.  In so doing, he writes about visiting nearby towns as he interviews older people who might have some answers to the historical mystery.  He mentions towns I am sure no one except those people from Flora-Bama have ever known: Lillian, Robertsdale, Foley.  These aren't exactly booming metropolises, people.

The ending is perhaps the best part of the book...but I won't ruin the surprise for you.  You'll just have to read it yourself!

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.”

Wonders Never Cease

I have no idea why I chose to review this book for Thomas Nelson, but I was pleasantly surprised. Wonders Never Cease by Tim Downs is the story of a self-centered medical-school-drop-out-turned-nurse and his plan to "get what he deserves". When world-famous actress Liv Hayden is in a serious auto accident and is put into a medically induced coma to prevent swelling of the brain, Kemp McAvoy concocts a plan with a struggling publisher and Hayden's long-time agent to make them all rich.

Since Hayden is Kemp's only patient on his night shift, he adjusts her medication to bring her to semi-conscious state, and then lets the fireworks fly. Kemp explains he is a heavenly visitor- an angel- with a message for all humankind. Once Hayden is brought out of her coma by her doctors, she thinks the entire experience was real- that an angel presented her with a message to share with the world. Conveniently, her agent suggests writing a book- one that will be a best-seller and bring in millions not only for Hayden, but for the individuals involved in the scheme. Things get complicated quickly, and no one knows how everything will turn out in the end.

Sounds like a crazy plot- and it is- but it was actually a really enjoyable read. There are other supporting roles and sub-plots which help to define the main characters in the novel, and Downs does a good job laying out the story and then filling in the crevices with great details. It's not a 'deep thinking' book by any means, but if you're in the mood for a relaxing read, this would be a good option.

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.”

Jane Austen

It's been a while since I reviewed a book for Thomas Nelson, but it should come as no surprise that I chose another biography from the Christian Encounters Series to read. When I saw the biography of the one and only Jane Austen was available for review, I almost had a heart attack because I was so excited. I am most definitely, in the words of one of my refugee elders, a "Number One Fan" of Jane Austen (the refugee actually refers to himself as "Number One Fan" so take that for what you think). My mom introduced me to the literary stylings of Austen when I was a young girl- not only through her books, but also through the amazing adaptation of Pride and Prejudice BBC produced several years back (and yes, that is where my love affair with Colin Firth began, as I'm sure it did for every other female who fancies herself a good match with him).

Of course, Jane Austen is no new subject material for a biographer; hundreds upon hundreds of books describing the authoress's life have hit the market. Even movies have been made concerning her so-called love affairs, however fictionalized they may be. In reality, taking on the challenge of writing a fair and honest biography of Austen must be a daunting task. Because her fame did not reach significant heights until well after her death, we find the details of her life in her surviving correspondence between family and friends. Her nephew James Edward published a biography of his Aunt Jane in the latter half of the eighteenth century, but there is quite a deal of adversity over how he characterized her.

In this particular biography Peter Liethart tries to present an accurate portrayal of the Austen; he uses a great deal of primary sources, citing letter upon letter between Austen and various other people. Leithart also discusses the difficulties in determining just who the real Jane (or "Jenny" as she was called by her family) Austen was. His biography is well-rounded, although it did seem to end rather abruptly. Still, I would recommend it to just about everyone, especially those individuals who already find themselves drawn to Austen's work. One major caveat of the biography: if you have not finished reading most of Austen's novels, you should be forewarned that Leithart tends to describe the plot and characters of her most famous works (Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, Mansfield Park, Persuasion), as well as the ending of each of the novels. A definite spoiler alert to be sure!

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.”

Isaac Newton

I am just loving these biographies from the Christian Encounters series! After I finished Saint Patrick, my husband encouraged me to try to review another book from the same series if I could. Lo and behold, the opportunity presented itself, and a short biography titled Isaac Newton was soon on its way to me.

Any of you who know me are probably thinking, "Isaac Newton? She picked a biography of a guy who is all about math and science?" Yes! I know it seems rather crazy, considering how math and science have always been my worst subjects. (Case in point: when I was studying for the GRE, I was totally stumped by a mathematical problem involving a triangle. I could not figure it out for the life of me. I turned to my amazing study buddy Holly and asked, "I just don't get this. How do I even go about solving this? I mean, I haven't taken an algebra course since freshman year. Social workers do statistics, not triangles!" Holly replied, "Jen, just use the formula." A blank expression settled on my face. "Formula? What formula? I don't see anything in the directions about a formula." Holly looked at me like I was from Mars. "A-squared plus b-squared equals c-squared. You don't remember that?" Um, no. I didn't think I was going to need that until I had children who were taking algebra, so I chunked it out of my brain after I took the final. Word to the wise, friends- do not forget the Pythagorean theorem, especially if you are planning on taking the GRE).

However, I thoroughly enjoyed this biography of Newton by Mitch Stokes. Stokes does a great job depicting Newton's life and his scientific studies; he even explains the truth behind the apple falling from the tree (which, incidentally, did not land on Newton's head). But oh friends, did you know that Newton wrote more about theology and religion than all of his other studies? And yet we know so little about these! Stokes included several excerpts from Newton's writings (not just about theology, but about optics, calculus, and other subjects I simply don't understand). One of these excerpts I'd like to share. Newton writes:

To celebrate God for eternity, immensity, omniscience, and omnipotence is indeed very pious and the duty of every creature to do according to capacity, but...the wisest of beings required of us to be celebrated not so much for his essence as for his actions, the creating, preserving, and governing of all things according to his good will and pleasure. The wisdom, power, goodness, and justice which he always exerts in his actions are his glory which he stands so much upon, and is so jealous of...even to the least tittle.

It doesn't matter who you are and whether you agree with Newton's ascertations or not, but that is just beautifully written and expressed. Would that we wrote like that today! I highly recommend this biography; I am so glad my husband pushed me to select and review this book. I respect Newton a great deal more than I ever did, and though I may not appreciate his development of calculus, I am glad God gifted him in so many ways and that Newton pursued the understanding of the world around him.

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.”

Saint Patrick

With everyone's favorite green and shamrock holiday rapidly approaching, I couldn't help but choose anything but a short biography of the saint himself to review next for Thomas Nelson. Saint Patrick is one in a series of several biographies published by Thomas Nelson in the Christian Encounters series. Other biographies included in the collection include Isaac Newton, Jane Austen (Gasp! I picked the Saint over Austen? What is the world coming to?), John Bunyan, and Winston Churchill. Late summer should see more individuals added to the collection: St. Francis, Anne Bradstreet, and J.R.R. Tolkien, among others.

When I saw that Saint Patrick was the focus of one biography, I was immediately intrigued. Sure, I've read many of the same legends (Patrick casting out the snakes of Ireland...apparently, not true) as the next person, but they were generally written in a children's format. I was hoping this book would be filled to the brim of details of Patrick's life and his mission to reach the people of Ireland.

Unfortunately, the book was more of a general overview of his life, but not because the author failed to do his research. On the contrary, Jonathan Rogers did an exemplary job of researching not only Patrick's life, but also the many historical aspects needed to truly understand the world in which Patrick lived. However, there just isn't much truly legitimate factual information recorded about Patrick; most of our conceptions of the famed saint are derived from folklore and legend. I admire Rogers for explaining the dearth of accurate and historical accounts of Patrick and then using what little we do know for sure to paint the best possible picture of Patrick's life.

There are two things I truly liked about this book; one of the best things about this book is that it includes Patrick's own writings: The Confession and The Letter. Truly, these two pieces of history give us the best glimpse of who Patrick was. The other is how Rogers explains how utterly foreign the concept of mission could be to the Christians in Patrick's era. Many in Britain wondered why Patrick would choose to go to Ireland- a place characterized by savage pagans and warring tribes. Indeed, even though Patrick was a bishop when he left for Ireland, his official duty was not to evangelize among the unbelievers, but to minister to the few Christians who were there. Patrick refused to concern himself with only believers while ignoring those in desparate need of a Savior and set about the work of his Lord Jesus; because of this, Ireland was the first nation which converted to Christianity before bowing to the Roman Empire.

I appreciate Thomas Nelson for beginning this project; we can learn so much from different heroes of the faith; Patrick can well be considered one of those heroes.

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.”

Buried Alive

Buried Alive recounts the experience of American contractor Roy Hallums while working in Iraq. In November of 2004, Hallums was in his office when a group of individuals burst into his office, bound and gagged him, and threw him into a car as they sped away from the compound of the company for which Hallums worked.                                                                                                     
Like hundreds of other foreigners working in Iraq and thousands of Iraqi citizens, he was kidnapped. Hallums continues to tell his story of being moved from safe house to safe house until he was finally placed in a small house literally in the middle of nowhere. At various points, other hostages were brought in to the safe house for keeping as well. Eventually, he and the other hostages were moved into a cellar-like room and were only allowed to come out once a day. The room was not tall enough to allow the hostages to stand; it lacked good ventilation, and the room was kept completely dark for most of the duration. Hallums and the other hostages were beaten as their kidnappers demanded to know details of their life so that they could determine how much ransom money to place on their hostages' heads.

Hallums was the last to leave the room beneath the ground, but no one paid his ransom. Special Forces rescued him nearly a year after his original abduction. At the time of the printing of the book, Hallums was the only hostage to have been rescued. Many others remain unaccounted for.

The book was well written and read very easily, but other than that I was disappointed. It was advertised as a story of faith; Hallums mentioned God maybe ten times in the book. It didn't seem to me that his faith played an integral role in surviving the experience; in fact when he was later giving advice to a pilot about what to do should she ever find herself captured, he didn't say anything about faith in our great and merciful God. This lack of discussion of the importance of faith left me wondering, "Why Thomas Nelson? Why not some other publisher?"

I also have concerns about the way in which he paints Iraq and many of the Iraqi people. At one point, he does paint with a broad stroke, explaining that many of the Muslims he knew were good, honest people whom he was proud to call friend. But that's where it stops. I cannot imagine what my feelings would be if I found myself in a similar situation, but we are called to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Hallums never discussed this command from our Messiah, and it leaves me wondering if it crossed his mind at all. Because most of the American public is fairly ignorant to what the Muslim faith is, we too often stereotype all followers of Islam as members of jihad. Books like this one concern me because they, even if inadvertently, can easily perpetuate this misunderstanding, fueling hatred of all Muslims. We must remember our great and sovereign God wants all people to come to know him, including Muslims.

I no doubt have respect for him for surviving through this horrible ordeal; I would not wish it on anyone. However, if you want to read about a believer who was imprisoned multiple times, enduring beatings and torture, and remained focused on the love of Christ, I suggest reading Brother Yun's The Heavenly Man. That book is good for the soul.

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.”

The White Horse King

It's time for another Thomas Nelson review! I chose this book because of its historical focus; I've mentioned before that I truly enjoy history and even though I have my favorite eras (American Civil War, World Wars I and II, Roman civilization), I'm usually always interested to learn a little more about different periods of history. The White Horse King: The Life of Alfred the Great by Benjamin Merkle is an excellent biography of the lesser known historical figure of King Alfred. While I remember briefly studying about the Danish, Northmen, and Vikings, I don't remember learning much about Alfred, who as it turns out, played a very integral role in shaping the future of British history. While Alfred was not actually a king of the whole of England (the nation would unite under his grandson), he was the king of Wessex and is to this day the only English king to be known as "the Great."

Though Merkle does discuss Alfred's childhood briefly, the bulk of the book focuses on Alfred's near constant fight to defend his kingdom from the plundering of the Vikings. The Northmen had been pillaging the poorly defended English towns for decades, but the activity rose to a height during Alfred's childhood and into his reign as king of Wessex. Eventually, the vast majority of his resources and attention was focused on determining a feasible way for the citizens of Wessex to effectively defend their homes. He developed a professional standing army, a rather new concept to the people of his kingdom; he took advantage of the Roman roads which still remained so that troops could more quickly travel to the site of a battle; he ordered villages to build defenses around the city limits. Perhaps most importantly was that when the time for battle came, Alfred fought with his people. In a day when we can most easily send our troops to fight battles far away without so much as a second thought, the idea of the king leading his faithful men into battle strikes a chord with me and speaks to the days of chivalry and true nobility. It was through Alfred's efforts and determined leadership that the island nation was eventually able to rid themselves of the invaders from the north in all finality.

Once this feat was accomplished, Alfred turned his attentions to other important needs within his kingdom; his focus became education reform. Though the people spoke in the vernacular of the Anglo-Saxon language, most written work was Latin, and the people, including the nobility, of Alfred's time were unable to read and write in either language. He deemed literacy a requirement for the noblemen to hold their titles and property and mandated education for all free men. Eventually, he translated several works from Latin into the vernacular so that the whole of the nation would be able to read the works- and not just those who had studied enough to understand the Latin language.

It is obvious the author knew his subject material extremely well; I was very impressed with how much information was packed into the short book. Even though I felt the writing was a bit slow at times, I learned several fascinating facts not only about Alfred the Great, but about the Vikings and Romans as well. Perhaps my favorite little tidbit of knowledge came when the author explained the origin of the word berserk. But I won't tell you- you'll just have to read the book to find out.

The Liturgical Year

When selecting my new book to review for Thomas Nelson, this one caught my eye. The Liturgical Year by Joan Chittister goes through the liturgical calendar, explaining the historical significance behind each event. I am becoming more and more interested in liturgy and how to incorporate it more into our concept of family worship, and I thought this book would provide some guidance.

Unfortunately, the book did not provide much practical advice. I wasn't looking for a how-to book, but discussing how to incorporate the liturgical calendar into our daily lives was barely mentioned. In fact, the book was rather scattered; there didn't seem to be a consistent thread presented. Instead of approaching the liturgical calendar systematically, Chittister begins with Advent, but then introduces other chapters not concerning the next feast, but joy and human time versus liturgical time.  Then she bounces back to discussing the events of the calendar again. The discussion of the historical significance of each event was not always clearly articulated either. In addition, the first few chapters can easily been condensed into one or two; Chittister seemed to be repeating the same ideas for several pages.

One thing not advertised in the summary of the book is that the author is a Benedictine nun, and therefore the book has a decidedly Catholic slant. She briefly explained the Marian feasts- more or less by listing them out in one of the final chapters. Interestingly enough, there are sixteen events (some of them optional) on the liturgical calendar dedicated to Mary; that is definitely more events than Jesus has.

One of the things about the book that really bothered me was the focus on what we do in order to remain faithful. Yes, there was discussion of Jesus and the salvation through Him, but the focus seemed to be more on completing the spiritual checklist that is the liturgical year in hopes that doing so will make us faithful and happy. But is happiness really the point of faith in Christ? Decidedly not. And reducing our lives to a spiritual checklist is well on the path to legalism and an unfulfilled life in Christ. We must use the liturgical year not to give us a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction that we've done "the right thing", but to draw closer the Almighty One, the Living God, the Light of the World.

Despite the numerous drawbacks to this book, there were wonderful nuggets scattered throughout the pages. When remembering a time in her childhood when a teacher explained that Lent is the time to sacrifice something in order to give to others, Chittister writes, "It was a child's catechetical exercise, yes, but it carried with it spiritual messages enough to last a lifetime. Clearly, we were being put on notice. There were things in life, other people in life, for which each of us was responsible, however young we were and whether we had any association with them or not. There were things in life so important, it seemed, that we would need to give up some things for ourselves in order to take care of the needs of others. And it all had something to do with God" (emphasis mine). What an absolutely beautiful explanation of our call to care for others!

When introducing Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday, Chittister dedicates an entire chapter to the subject of suffering. She has this to say: "Suffering, we learn as we go, is the price we pay to bring life to fullness, both for others and for ourselves. It is not to be desired in a neurotic kind of way, but it is definitely not to be denied. For when we refuse to suffer, we refuse to grow...The problem is that we resist suffering with might and main. There is a natural inertia built into the human condition that seeks the comfortable, the familiar, and the secure. We want to shape life to our specifications and fix it there. We want stability...To live for the lesser things of like is to risk not really living at all."

Finally, Chittister says this about the concept of celebration and religion: "One of the interesting things about religion, about Christianity, is that in a society full to the brim with excess- a glorifier of excess, in fact- religion has come to be seen as one of life's greatest restrictive factors. Religions, this society assumes, exists to say no to the good things in life. It damps the human need for pleasure and destroys the joy. But nothing could be farther from the truth." At this point, Chittister goes on to say that life is inherently good. I both agree and disagree on this statement, depending on how it is interpreted. If the statement implies that life, as a creation of the Mighty Creator, is inherently good, I agree. The Lord Himself saw "that is was good" according to Genesis. And anyone who has experienced the true joy of life- with both the highs and lows- can readily admit that "Life is good." However, if the author is implying that life is inherently good because people are good, I'm going to have to disagree with her. Yes, life is good, but we are not good. Each and every believer of the Lord Jesus Christ will attest to that fact; we are made right through His blood, but we are not inherently good. In fact, we are just the opposite; we are inherently evil.

Because of some obvious doctrinal issues, I couldn't fully accept the book in its entirety. Even though Chittister tried to remain neutral, the Catholic overtones were both distracting and confusing to me, as I do not have a strong Catholic background and therefore lack a good deal of knowledge in that area. However, perhaps someone who identifies more with Catholicism would understand and enjoy the book more than I did. I was most disappointed in that there was not more practical application of the book, but am thankful for the few statements which I have mentioned above.

Five Cities That Ruled the World

When it came time to selecting another book to review for Thomas Nelson, I jumped on this one. I love, love, love history. I have always enjoyed American history (particularly the Civil War era and our role in World War I), but over the past several years, I have become more interested in the ancient world of the Romans and Greeks as well; this book therefore seemed like a natural choice.

Douglas Wilson's Five Cities that Ruled the World attempts to take the reader on a journey of history, focusing on five specific cities. The premise is that these five particular cities (Jerusalem, Athens, Rome, London, and New York) have profoundly affected and shaped not only the world of its time, but also left an indelible mark on global history. While there was definitely some interesting information relayed throughout the book, the journey seemed rather choppy and well...incomplete. The topic itself is quite a bit to cover in less than two hundred pages, and I found some of the content lacking.

I'll admit; I was a bit cynical going into the book because of the five cities Wilson chose to examine. I do believe that Jerusalem, Athens, Rome, London, and New York have all been incredibly important pieces of the global historical puzzle, but I couldn't help but notice the significant lack of cities from the East, not to mention the complete absence of cities in the Southern hemisphere. Truthfully, I believe our historical education can be lacking; we discuss certain events ad naseum but barely mention an entire half of the globe.  I firmly believe that in order to truly understand the importance of certain historical events, we must have a better grasp of world history. And the last time I checked, the world included the continents of Africa, Australia, and South America, as well as the rest of Asia. Perhaps Wilson's choice of these five cities simply reflects our Western education, and I can't very well fault him for that...necessarily.

Another aspect of this book that was more annoying than anything was Wilson's attempts at humor. Let me put it quite simply: it did not work. I felt his puns and quips were more of an after-thought, as though he did not believe anyone would be interested in reading this type of book unless it was funny at parts. His writing would have been clearer and much more effective if he had simply stuck to the good, meaty content instead of muddling it up with snide remarks.

Though this book began with an excellent concept, the research and content needs to be flushed out more to truly understand and appreciate the value of what it written on the pages. There needs to be a better justification for the selection of the cities as well. However, this book may serve a purpose in piquing someone's interest; perhaps readers of this book will learn to love history and appreciate the lessons to be learned from the past.