BookReview

Women of Faith

2011-12-20T07:13:00.001-08:00

This past October was my first experience at the Women of Faith Conference. I was asked by Thomas Nelson Publishers to attend the conference and provide an unbiased review of the event.

I attended the conference with a group of ladies from my family and am glad that I decided to go with my "ladies." The conference offers not only inspiring and challenging talks but also the opportunity to create with other women of God.

All the speakers were awesome but there were a few that spoke to me personally. Shelia Walsh shared her personal story of childhood tragedy thru lifetime struggle. She talked about how God's redeeming power to use a broken vessel for His glory transformed her life. She, like all the speakers, shared some of the lowest points of their life and God's awesome presence throughout. By the time she finished her session of the conference, you feel as though you've known Shelia all your life and she is in your circle of friends. Shelia inspired me that when we allow God to use our struggles to speak to those around you, He can do great things. So often as women we try to hide our hurts and pains behind a happy face. God has the power to take what shames us and shine His power and glory through it.

Another speaker that touched me was Angie Smith. As a young mother who has experienced the loss of a child. I could relate to her experience of carrying a baby to term knowing that she wouldn't survive even a few hours. She spoke about the emotional roller coaster ride of that experience and how God gave her the opportunity to choose to keep her eyes on him or to listen to the advice of the world. Whether or not you are a mother, we all face this question over and over in our lives. Angie inspired me to look in His direction in the face of all difficult choices in life.

All the speakers at the conference and the amazing worship times made for a total experience that was refreshment for my soul. To stand shoulder to should with a stadium full of women who are seeking the face of God was truly a life changing experience. I would recommend to all ladies to find a Women of Faith conference near you, grab a group of lady friends, and let your soul be refreshed.

up next...

2011-09-30T07:28:00.001-07:00

Doing Virtuous Business

2011-09-30T07:24:00.000-07:00

I was given a copy of “Doing Virtuous Business” by Theodore Roosevelt Mallock and published by Thomas Nelson to read and review. I don’t usually read books about economics but found this one interesting because my husband and I are small business owners and Christians. We have found in the last few years that many of the “motivational” business speakers have an “all about me” attitude. They talk about “getting everything you want right now.” I haven’t once heard a speaker stress the importance of ethics in business. Since it’s our personal goal to honor Christ first and foremost in our lives and work, it’s important to us that we operate ethically in all regards and then have a successful business.

Mallock’s book is a refreshing approach to the concept that spiritual capital as a product of virtue in the context of western capitalism, Judeo-Christian culture and faith. It illustrates case studies where companies operate with virtue, leadership, courage, patience, perseverance, discipline, justice, forgiveness, compassion, humility, and gratitude form the foundation of spiritual capital and in turn, the very foundation of profitable capitalism.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to be in business. As a Christian, it’s a motivational and practical look at what needs to be the most important things in the company. Additionally, it offers the encouragement that honoring what is most important in faith; you will not only have a profitable business but a clean conscience as well.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Women of Faith

2011-07-19T08:01:00.001-07:00

I am so excited to have the opportunity to attend and blog about an upcoming Women of Faith conference. I agreed to attend the conference being held in my hometown of Pittsburgh, PA as part of the Thomas Nelson Blogger Review program.

I have been in several ladies Bible studies over the past few years. It provides the time I need to sit with other Christian women and have my faith challenged, my heart explored, and my relationship with Christ grow stronger. When I saw some of the excellent speakers that will be at the Women of Faith conference, I knew it was an opportunity not to be missed!

The speakers for the event include Shelia Walsh, Luci Swindoll, Lisa Harper, and Angie Smith. These ladies offer both experience and perspective in the walk of Christian woman and I'm thrilled to go and see what Rhema word God has for me.

As the summer comes to an end and the business of fall approaches, I am praying that the ladies who choose to come out for this event will find themselves blessed beyond measure!

Shiny Sequin Bible

2011-03-14T09:23:00.000-07:00

As a blogger for Booksneeze, I had the opportunity to review the Shiny Sequin Bible - International Children's Bible published by Thomas Nelson Publishers. As seen in the photo, the colors on this Bible cover are bright and fun. The sequins appear to be glued onto the front cover securely. It did have glitter all over the cover but each time I've used it, I'm finding it on my hands instead. It does have a peculiar smell to it the first time it comes out of the box but after a while that smell fades.

This is the first time I've seen this translation of the Bible. It is designed to be understood on a third-grade reading level. (By comparison, most newspapers are written on a fourth-grade reading level.) This translation was prepared specifically for children to aid in their understanding of the concepts. The publisher claims to have accomplished this feat by addressing the geographical references, ancient customs, connotations, rhetorical questions, figures of speech, and idiomatic expressions. They have taken places and phrases that would be "unfamiliar to the modern reader" and adjusted them to our common language without changing the context of the verse. One example they give in the preface is, "Instead of using the phrase, "God drive the nations out of Cannan," ...they translated "forced them out of Cannan."

I like this Bible translation for a few reasons. First, it's very cute for a little girl to carry around. I think that it would be noticed by other children and give the opening in conversation for a child to share about their faith and where they attend church. Secondly, even as adults it can be difficult to follow the history of the countries and keep straight the where and when of events. This translation helps with consistency and allows the reader to develop the framework to understand more depth of detail when they are older. Lastly, any time a translation is taken straight for the original Greek and Hebrew, I feel that it is less influenced by the readers opinions (i.e. a paraphrase) and truer to the original text. Overall, I feel that this translation has much to offer the young female reader.

Adventures In Boogabooga Land

2011-02-09T12:40:00.000-08:00

I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review a children's DVD for Thomas Nelson. I received Adventures In Boogabooga Land: Stories from the Parables of Jesus. It contains three episodes: Squid Sushi Loses His Marbles, Wally the Waiter, and the Flaming Monkey. I snuggled up on the sofa with my 5 year old and 3 year old sons and got ready for a entertaining and educational experience.

I personally found the graphics to be bright and fun. The episodes were fast paced and interesting. I didn't feel the content was age appropriate for my young children. The characters seemed aggressive and even as an adult, the parable was unclear. My 5 year old lost interest half way through the first show and wouldn't watch either of the other episodes. He said that they were silly and didn't make sense. My younger son watched the movie on and off but hasn't asked to see it again. As a parent, I can't recommend a video that my kids refuse to watch. It kind of defeats the purpose of purchasing it if you can't get them to sit through it even once. I plan to put it away on the shelf and maybe see if they'll watch it in a year or so.

An Amish Love

2011-01-12T11:51:00.000-08:00

An Amish Love, published by Thomas Nelson is a collection of three short novels that both delight the reader and inspire the heart.

"A Marriage of the Heart" by Kelly Long: Rachel Yoder is a young Amish girl who has lived alone with her domineering father since her mother died when she was a child. Feeling the need to rebel against her Amish lifestyle, she forces a marriage with Joseph Lambert. Thinking because he has only recently returned to the faith that he'll understand her better. The story follows Rachel's journey to love and self discovery as she falls in love with her husband.

"What the Heart Sees" By Katheleen Fuller: Ellie Chupp is a young women who lost her best friend and was blinded in a tragic accident. She is learning to cope with her disability and even feels that she has moved on with her life only to have her world shaken when Christopher Bender returns to town. The former fiannce of her best friend, Ellie finds herself dealing with unresloved emotions and finding love.

"Healing Hearts: by Beth Wiseman: Levina Lapp and her husband Naaman are faced with an empty next after 30 years of marriage and children. Naaman, leaved Levina for a year and this story picks up with his return. Levina is faced with deciding if she can love and forgive a man who she cannot trust.

I found all three stories to be well written and easy to read. I love a good romance and it's nice to read something that exemplifies what falling in love, being married and staying married means to a women. This collection is wonderful because it covers all three stages in inspiring stories where the Amish faith is the backdrop for true love and commitment. It is refreshing to read fiction that not only entertains but also reminds you what God intends for you in your own life.

Where Hearts are Free

2010-10-22T08:03:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading "Where Hearts Are Free" by Golden Keyes Parsons. It is the third book in the Darkness to Light Series. Having not read the previous two books in the series, It took me a few pages to get into the story. However, once I started, I read the entire book in two days. I have always been a big fan of historical romance. I know it is considered "light" reading but that's what I am aiming for when I'm reading for pleasure. This particular book, published by Thomas Nelson, is very refreshing because it not only has all the suspense, history, and heart wrenching decisions, but it omits the less appropriate aspects making it suitable for any age reader.

The main characters in the novel are Bridget and Philippe. Bridget is the daughter of a wealthy plantation owner and Philippe is an indentured servant who is impoverished royalty of France. It's set in the late 1600s and includes rich historical descriptions of the political situations and cultural pressures of that time. What is wonderful about this story is that Philippe is a man of honor and as a gentleman, acts in the best interest of his faith and family. As you follow the story it is a time-honored tale of loving the wrong person and struggling with social acceptance or following your heart.

Coming Soon...

2010-09-26T17:57:00.001-07:00

The King's Christmas List by Eldon Johnson

2010-09-26T17:40:00.000-07:00

The King's Christmas List by Eldon Johnson is a wonderful addition to any children's library. As a mother of three young children, I am constantly hunting for stories that will reinforce good character traits and Biblical values in their lives. This story is based on Matthew 25:40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' (NIV) We are always asking our children to share but it is a very different to teach them the concept of sacrificial giving. This story does an excellent job of putting this value into a delightful and age-appropriate tale.

Emma is just a young girl but she and her dog Shu-Shu are invited to a royal Christmas celebration for the King. They prepare a special gift to take to the King and then set off on the journey. Along the way, they meet with other people who are in need. On her own, Emma gives away things that are very special to her. She is sacrificial in her giving and surprised that each person thanks her by name. When she arrives at the castle, she sees that everyone is giving gifts to each other and not to the King on His birthday. The King explains that to give Him a gift you have to serve others.

During the season of Christmas, it's easy to get sidetracked from the true purpose. This holiday story is a great way to share with children where true joy can be found and open up discussion about giving and service for our King.

Let's Do Lunch

2010-09-08T07:54:00.000-07:00

Let's face it, we all want to lose weight. Whether it's 5 lbs or 100 lbs, the number on the scale is a constant reminder of our successes and failures on a daily basis. I personally have tried a ton of different diets from support groups to carb free. I usually start with gusto and wear down when I am faced with making dinner for hungry and usually screaming kids. So many plans are labor intensive or so restrictive that it's just not healthy or realistic to feed my children that way.

So when I saw a diet book titled, Let's Do Lunch: Eating all the Calories and Carbs you want to lose weight! by Roger Troy Wilson, I thought it looked interesting. I'm always inspired by people who lose a lot of weight and keep it off for years. Roger is a success story. He was able to lose 230 lbs and keep it off without ever worrying about portion control, calorie counting or exercise. As you read the book you find that he feels that this diet was given to him by God as an answer to his desperate plea to finally lose the weight and be a healthier person.

Roger emphasizes throughout the book that the key to success is to break bad eating habits without letting yourself feel deprived and hungry. His four "Keys to success" are; that you must eat fruit every day as a natural metabolism booster, lunch is your main meal of the day, choose the least fattening option of what you crave, and trade out white carbs for beans, corn, peas, and corn things.

As you read through the testimonials and recipes, it becomes apparent that you are limiting the types of foods you'll and that eventually that will translate into portion control. However, in this plan, there is no counting and keeping track. When you eat your fruit for breakfast, Roger Troy suggests that you eat as much as you want until you are full. (He does acknowledge that this plan will not work for those who need to watch their sugar intake.)

Although I have yet to try out this plan, I have found reading his story to be motivating and challenging. It sounds pretty simple and if it works, why not try it!

NKJV Greatest Stories of the Bible

2010-08-03T13:43:00.000-07:00

It took me quite a while to read the entire NKJV the Greatest Stories of the Bible. However, I found this book to be a great addition to our family library. It is set up in a format that lets you to read unchanged biblical text in story book format. It's a beautiful book that's cover is designed to look old and would make a wonderful gift to anyone. It followes the traditional order of the Bible but breaks up the chapters into smaller stories. For example, Genesis 2 is titled, Adam and Eve Challenge God. This format is very conducive to study and allowes the reader to see the progression of the Bible in a unique and understandable way. I loved being able to sit down with my family and scan over the chapter titles and pick something for the nightly devotion without having to do a lot of preplanning. The format allowed me to have a introductory conversation with the children about the content before ever reading it over. I would recommend this book to anyone with a desire to read the Bible in their home in a new and refreshing way.

currently reading..

2009-11-17T13:03:00.001-08:00

Living with Confidence in a Chaotic World

2009-11-17T12:38:00.000-08:00

I recently finished reading, Living with Confidence in a Chaotic World by Dr. David Jeremiah. This is a follow up to his last book, What in the World is Going On? In this book, Dr. Jeremiah addresses how we are to face the stresses of life. Life is hard right now for many of us and the Bible gives a clear direction as to how we are supposed to respond in the face of crisis. The chapters of this book, Stay Clam, Compassionate, Constructive, Challenged, Connected, Centered, Confident, Consistent, Committed, and Convinced are almost the "Be Attitudes" for the today's christian.

I initially found this book very difficult to get into. When you are already feeling stressed out, it's a little depressing to read more information that makes you feel even worse. However, Dr. Jeremiah takes a very frank look at the state of the world today. After getting through that part of it, the question does come to mind, how am I supposed to live during this time. God calls us to be a light in the darkness, and Dr. Jeremiah lays out a Biblical road map as to how we should be thinking and acting in times such as these. As I worked my way through the book I was convicted and inspired. God knows what we are going through and He has a plan that will get us through. If we follow His lead, we'll not only find ourselves walking closer to Him but we may even be able to help those around us find relief too. Dr. Jeremiah takes you through a process that not only will enlighten you but may even change the way you see your stress.

Kabul24

2009-10-09T12:23:00.000-07:00

As a book review blogger for Thomas Nelson, I recently read Kabul24 by Henry O. Arnold and Ben Pearson. The story grabs your attention from the very first page and takes you into a world we see in the media but never quite grasp the inhumane conditions for both citizens and prisoners alike. Just prior to the 9/11 attacks, an organization called Shelter Now International was working in Afghanistan to help the people have the basic needs of life; medical care, food, shelter, education, and a hope for the future. Much to their surprise, eight of the international workers (and sixteen nationals) are taken prisoner. As I read it, I was horrified at the conditions that the "prisoners" were forced to live in and inspired by their commitment to God and their unyielding love for the Afghan people. While we all watch the news reports from around the world and think that someone should do something to help, these eight people stepped out in faith to lend humanitarian aid. Even while being persecuted, they never failed to have faith that their God was bigger than the problems they were facing and could use their circumstances to His glory.

Blogger Book Reviewer

2009-09-09T08:19:00.000-07:00

I recently found the opportunity to read books published by Thomas Nelson Publishers and post my review on this blog. I'm excited about the opportunity to review new book for free and work my brain a little. I hope you find my reviews both interesting and helpful.