Unshackled and Growing by Dr. Nabeel T. Jabbour

I recently found this book buried among all the other books which make their home by my bed.  I realized that NavPress sent me this book to review several months ago and it somehow got lost among our hoards of books...I hope NavPress will continue to let me review for them after this muck up...

I originally requested to review Unshackled and Growing by Dr. Nabeel T. Jabbour because I'm very interested in North Africa, and I also work with several Muslims.  I thought this book might be interesting to read since it's geared toward Muslims who are seeking to learn more about Jesus and not necessarily towards Christians who want to share their faith with Muslims.

Since I've never been a Muslim, I can't speak to how this book can speak to those of the Islamic faith, but I can say that I learned a great deal from this book.  Jabbour lays out basic biblical knowledge, explaining historical information and how events in the Bible relate to events in Islam.  He uses Arabic words to help convey the meanings of several important concepts.  And he pleads with the reader to believe in Jesus as the Saviour.  I would recommend this book to others- especially if you think you may work with Muslims in the future.  It will definitely give you an insight into what they may be thinking when you approach them with Christianity.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review 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.”

I've Been a Bit of a Slacker...

I'm sure some of you noticed I've been pretty absent from the blog-o-sphere in 2011.  I apologize to any of you who have been sitting on the edge of your seats biting your fingernails wondering what's happened to poor little 'ole me (insert sarcasm here).

I'm not exactly sure what happened to my blogginess this year, but I do know that this little break was good for me.  I decided some weeks ago to create a 'family' blog; we know that it will be a good way to keep our friends and family updated with photos, videos, and words once we're overseas.  Since I was working on that one, this blog kinda fell off the radar...but I'm not wanting to have a bazillion blogs aimed at different targeted interests, so two will be my limit.

I still plan on writing on this blog; hopefully my little slice of the world wide web will allow me to express my creativity...whatever little of that I may have left.  I'll keep doing book reviews, share some serious funny photos I find throughout the week, and of course continue to share delightful clips from various British television shows.  And oh yes, I think a face lift for this site is definitely in order, don't you think?

So stick with me folks, but if you're wanting some updates on what's going on our life, hop on over to our family blog: http://www.isaacandjenny.blogspot.com/

And for now, please enjoy the musical genius that is The Civil Wars.  I'm not kidding when I say genius: this duo ranks up there with Mumford & Sons, who as you will recall, are pretty near musical perfection.

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.”

A New Jane Eyre Movie

And even though there had been several Jane Eyre adaptations, I am most excited to see yet another one!

Amy Inspired, Hatteras Girl, A Rush of Wings

What I like best about Bethany House's book reviews program is that they have no problem sending you several books at once!  I received these three books in the mail a while ago and it didn't take me long to finish them...getting a review posted on the blog, however...that obviously took a little bit longer.

Amy Inspired by Bethany Pierce is a modern fiction story; Amy gave up her steady job to pursue a career in writing but finds herself on the other side of a rejection letter every time she submits an article or story.  She teaches part-time at a local college in order to pay the bills, but it's not the lifestyle she's dreamed of since she was a little girl.  Soon an artist named Eli comes into her life and she is forced to reevaluate her life and her inspiration.

I enjoyed this book, but it did seem that it ended rather abruptly.  I felt there could have been more character development and the relationship between Amy and Eli definitely needed some more development as well.  Overall, the writing was enjoyable and the subject matter refreshingly honest.  Pierce doesn't pen a picture perfect heroine, but rather exposes her flaws and struggles.  It's nice to read a book that is actually realistic.

Hatteras Girl was actually my least favourite of these three books.  Also a modern-day fiction story, Alice J. Wisler tells the story of Jackie Donovan who above anything else wants to own a bed-and-breakfast on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  When she meets the realtor who has the ability to sell the famous bed-and-breakfast, Jackie falls head over heals in love with Davis Erikson.  But she soon begins to suspect that Davis and her beloved Bailey House are not what they seem.

The book was well-written, but it simply wasn't a page turner.  I fell asleep several times while reading this book.  However, I do appreciate the hilarious characters instilled throughout the pages.

A Rush of Wings is the final book I have to review today.  Author Kristen Heitzmann writes the story of Noelle St. Claire, a wealthy young woman who is running from something- of what, she isn't exactly sure.  She finds herself at a Rocky Mountain horse ranch owned by rugged mountain man Rick Spencer.  As Noelle learns more about the ranch, Rick tries to unlock the secrets she holds.  Soon the past becomes a threat from which she can no longer hide.

This book was definitely more of a drama and read a lot like the typical historical fiction: strong man, rugged scenery, damsel in distress.  Heitzmann touches on some pretty serious topics and issues, and for the most part, deals with them appropriately. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers as part of their Blogger Review 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."

Would You Like To Know...

...one of the funniest scenes from television I have ever seen?  It's from The Vicar of Dibley, a hilarious show about a female vicar in a tiny village in the UK.  The show is a bit older, but you don't have to know any of the background story to enjoy this exchange between Geraldine and Alice.

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.”