Max Lucado never disappoints. From Hermie to Six Hours One Friday, Max Lucado delivers his topic in a touching heartfelt way. Max on Life is no different. He tackles the tough issues with Love and Admiration. As all Christians are called to do. This book is the conversation we've all wanted to have with Max. I've trusted him for advice on living a Christian life for many years, and now I can go to an indexed topical book and flip right to a quick answer on my question.
What does God think about Divorce? Page 146
What does God think about homosexuality? Page 132
Which religion has it right? and why? Page 224
How do I control my temper? Page 45
How do I stop worrying? Page 192
Why doesn't God Heal me/my loved ones? Page 82
I really enjoyed this book, much like I've enjoyed every other book I've read by Max Lucado. I will recommend it to all my friends and family however I will keep my copy for myself!
I was provided a copy of this book by the Publisher, I was not required to write a favorable review.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Divine Appointments by Charlene Ann Braumbich
I really loved this book. It was such a new spin on the chick lit genre. The main character, Josie was a lot unlikeable at first. She seemed cold, harsh and alone. I couldn't get her. But then as the book unfolded, Josie opened up and the reader realized she longed to be a part of something just like everyone else.
The water symbolism through out the book was a great play on ideas. God is often seen as quenching a thirst and an eternal spring. It was weird to see this play out as a Christian looking in because I already knew what it was all about and Josie seemed to have no idea.
The relationships at Diamond Mutual were illustrated nicely. You could feel the camaraderie. Especially with Barb's interactions with Lyle, Marsha and some of the others. Barb was the opposite of Josie. She had so many relationships and active encouragement you could see her life overflowing. The firings hit home for me as I experienced a similar layoff while reading the book. It is a very humiliating and dehumanizing experience.
I did not enjoy reading Marsha's fiction. While I understand the logic for it's existence in the book, I found it to be very vindictive and vengeful. It just wasn't my taste.
All in all I really loved the book and all the changes the characters made as they grew in their lives and careers. I would highly recommend this book to a friend and in fact already have!
The water symbolism through out the book was a great play on ideas. God is often seen as quenching a thirst and an eternal spring. It was weird to see this play out as a Christian looking in because I already knew what it was all about and Josie seemed to have no idea.
The relationships at Diamond Mutual were illustrated nicely. You could feel the camaraderie. Especially with Barb's interactions with Lyle, Marsha and some of the others. Barb was the opposite of Josie. She had so many relationships and active encouragement you could see her life overflowing. The firings hit home for me as I experienced a similar layoff while reading the book. It is a very humiliating and dehumanizing experience.
I did not enjoy reading Marsha's fiction. While I understand the logic for it's existence in the book, I found it to be very vindictive and vengeful. It just wasn't my taste.
All in all I really loved the book and all the changes the characters made as they grew in their lives and careers. I would highly recommend this book to a friend and in fact already have!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
The Treasure of God's Word: Celebrating 400 Years of the King James Bible
Absolutely gorgeous gift book for a King James Version Bible Lover. It has a leather-appearance Binding with gold leaf on the edges. The book is divided into different subjects with each major section sharing history of the the version. It begins by introducing the KJV Bible and giving the initial history.
The KJV of the Bible is the most popular version and some feel the most closely related to the original intent. The verses for each section are woven together and support each other well. This is a small book and by no means an exhaustive concordance. It's intended to be a gift for perhaps someone for Christmas or graduation.
The cover and pages have been treated to look older and this adds to the charm of the book. It is a beautifully bound gift book and I highly recommend it.
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher to write a review. I am under no obligation to write a positive review.
The KJV of the Bible is the most popular version and some feel the most closely related to the original intent. The verses for each section are woven together and support each other well. This is a small book and by no means an exhaustive concordance. It's intended to be a gift for perhaps someone for Christmas or graduation.
The cover and pages have been treated to look older and this adds to the charm of the book. It is a beautifully bound gift book and I highly recommend it.
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher to write a review. I am under no obligation to write a positive review.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Save the Date by Jenny B. Jones
Save the Date is a quick, funny, light, beach read. I enjoyed it for those qualities. The characters were developed and while stereo-typical not cardboard cutouts. I liked that this book was set in my hometown of Charleston, SC. I did not like the virtual absence of setting description. Charleston is known for it's beautiful settings, I cannot understand why more of it did not make it into the book.
The plot was predictable, they fall in love while pretending to be in love. It wasn't a great shock. There were some shocking revelations, however Lucy and Alex falling in love is not one of them. Over all the book was a nice read.
In this genre, I am finding lately a lot less Christianity in "Christian Fiction". I'd like to see more from the Christian authors. More overt Christianity in the Christian characters. More church attendance. More praying over decisions. Just in general Christians acting more like Christians. This isn't a condition limited to Jenny, I just noticed it while reading her book. There were times when I felt reading this that it was not very Christian-like. Yes, it's cleaner than the typical romance or chick lit novel, but I did not find myself coming away with any revelations or Christian behaviors I wanted to emulate.
All in all I'd recommend this book to a friend, but not as a Christian book.
I was provided a copy of this book by Booksneeze.com to write a review. I am not expected to nor do I feel obligated to write a positive review.
The plot was predictable, they fall in love while pretending to be in love. It wasn't a great shock. There were some shocking revelations, however Lucy and Alex falling in love is not one of them. Over all the book was a nice read.
In this genre, I am finding lately a lot less Christianity in "Christian Fiction". I'd like to see more from the Christian authors. More overt Christianity in the Christian characters. More church attendance. More praying over decisions. Just in general Christians acting more like Christians. This isn't a condition limited to Jenny, I just noticed it while reading her book. There were times when I felt reading this that it was not very Christian-like. Yes, it's cleaner than the typical romance or chick lit novel, but I did not find myself coming away with any revelations or Christian behaviors I wanted to emulate.
All in all I'd recommend this book to a friend, but not as a Christian book.
I was provided a copy of this book by Booksneeze.com to write a review. I am not expected to nor do I feel obligated to write a positive review.
The Pirate Queen by Patricia Hickman
The Pirate Queen sucks you in right away and doesn't let go until the last page. As a matter of fact I reached the last page and looked for more. I have already recommended this book to others!
Saphora the main character decides after 30 years of her husband Bender's infidelity she is done. She packs her clothes and readies herself to leave. She wants to live for herself for once. Just before she walks out the door her husband comes home and tells her he's dying. Suddenly her plans and her world are turned upside down. This amazing book is the beautiful story of them both finding the loves of their lives again. She remembers all the reasons and moments of her life that made her love him. He finds God and in that his love for her and shame over his awful treatment of her.
This book is about the long road to forgiveness and how sometimes receiving it is harder than giving it.
The supporting characters were well-developed, well-researched and integrated into the story. The childhood friend of Saphora's grandson, Tobias was a nice foil to Bender's old persona. Tobias had been mistreated and dealt a really crappy hand from birth, and still he was considerate, loving and giving. Bender on the other hand seems to have lived a charmed life and was awful in the way he used and discarded people. Saphora seems to think she offers nothing and yet she is the glue that holds them all together. She is thread for all these disparate characters.
I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more from Ms. Hickman.
I received this book for free from Waterbrook publishers as part of its blogging for books program. I am not expected nor obligated to write a positive review.
Saphora the main character decides after 30 years of her husband Bender's infidelity she is done. She packs her clothes and readies herself to leave. She wants to live for herself for once. Just before she walks out the door her husband comes home and tells her he's dying. Suddenly her plans and her world are turned upside down. This amazing book is the beautiful story of them both finding the loves of their lives again. She remembers all the reasons and moments of her life that made her love him. He finds God and in that his love for her and shame over his awful treatment of her.
This book is about the long road to forgiveness and how sometimes receiving it is harder than giving it.
The supporting characters were well-developed, well-researched and integrated into the story. The childhood friend of Saphora's grandson, Tobias was a nice foil to Bender's old persona. Tobias had been mistreated and dealt a really crappy hand from birth, and still he was considerate, loving and giving. Bender on the other hand seems to have lived a charmed life and was awful in the way he used and discarded people. Saphora seems to think she offers nothing and yet she is the glue that holds them all together. She is thread for all these disparate characters.
I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more from Ms. Hickman.
I received this book for free from Waterbrook publishers as part of its blogging for books program. I am not expected nor obligated to write a positive review.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Living in the Overlap: How Jesus' Kingdom Proclamation can Transform Your World by Steve Schaefer
This book was difficult to get into. I was provided this book by Glass Road PR to participate in a Book Tour. If I hadn't had to read it for the review, I might have put it down and walked away.
I'm glad I kept reading, I would have missed a great book and a deeper understanding of what it truly means to be a Christian. The classic questions posed to every Christian by every atheist, agnostic and even weakened Christian are addressed here, in the book. While nobody can know for sure why for example, God heals some people and not others, we can know that when Christ returns and the full glory of God's kingdom is set up here on earth, we will all be free of disease and suffering. I was raised Southern Baptist, like the author and found myself nodding along to the rules of the Baptist Church I grew up in. His line about Baptists being against premarital sex because it leads to dancing was classic and made me laugh. I also understand much better the Baptists philosophy of being your brother's keeper.
I was saddened to read about how most evangelizing doesn't mention the costs of being a Christian. I've been a Christian for over 25 years and I just thought you asked for forgiveness and promised not to do the sin again, and repeat, each time you break that promise. But looking at it from the true Marriage perspective, you must change. You must quit sinning, you must change your life. And you must be willing to give it all up. To follow where ever God may Lead.
The author's frequent, fully footnoted, use of many respected Christian authors and indeed the Bible itself, led strong credence to the explanations put forth. I was provided a free copy of this book by Glass Road PR. I am not obligated to write a positive review in return for the book.
I'm glad I kept reading, I would have missed a great book and a deeper understanding of what it truly means to be a Christian. The classic questions posed to every Christian by every atheist, agnostic and even weakened Christian are addressed here, in the book. While nobody can know for sure why for example, God heals some people and not others, we can know that when Christ returns and the full glory of God's kingdom is set up here on earth, we will all be free of disease and suffering. I was raised Southern Baptist, like the author and found myself nodding along to the rules of the Baptist Church I grew up in. His line about Baptists being against premarital sex because it leads to dancing was classic and made me laugh. I also understand much better the Baptists philosophy of being your brother's keeper.
I was saddened to read about how most evangelizing doesn't mention the costs of being a Christian. I've been a Christian for over 25 years and I just thought you asked for forgiveness and promised not to do the sin again, and repeat, each time you break that promise. But looking at it from the true Marriage perspective, you must change. You must quit sinning, you must change your life. And you must be willing to give it all up. To follow where ever God may Lead.
The author's frequent, fully footnoted, use of many respected Christian authors and indeed the Bible itself, led strong credence to the explanations put forth. I was provided a free copy of this book by Glass Road PR. I am not obligated to write a positive review in return for the book.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Glass Road PR Book Tour for an Uncertain Heart by Andrea Boeshaar
I thoroughly enjoyed the book Uncertain Heart by Andrea Boeshaar. I must confess I went in with doubts. I realized after I received the book from Glass Road that it was book two in the Seasons of Redemption Series. As a rule I do not read series out of order, I do not like wondering how we got where we are. I do not like missing references that are clearly from previous books and I do not like the feeling of being dropped in the middle of a story. I managed to quell my urge to go buy book one before plowing into book two. I also am not a huge fan of historical novels. All that being said, I loved this book. I never felt like I had been dropped anywhere. I enjoyed the writing style, and the history. I enjoyed the words from a different time (who says "valise" anymore?) and I enjoyed the story.
The story is compelling and made me realize how far we, as women have truly come. I also enjoyed a sexy romance novel with not one hint of anything more than a kiss. Some of the scenes were steamy by my standards, and yet nobody removed a stitch of clothing. The romance between Sarah and Richard was innocent and pure, yet flirty. They fed off of each other from the first moment. It was cute and a very good example of what love should be, on his part at least. Sarah was a bit strong-willed and this caused her a number of problems had she been a little more willing to listen to people around her. I found myself rooting for Sarah and Richard finally coming together at the same time and spending their lives in Milwaukee and having a family of their own. I was trying to figure out how she would stay in the children's lives if that happened.
I wish the father had been less the bad guy. He really had no redeeming qualities whatsoever. The story could have been more if he had been a bit more complex. The author tried to explain it through the mother and the grandmother, but that excuse fell flat. He was self-centered and did not seem to care much about his children one way or the other. He wasn't even a man of his word, which in the setting of the novel would have made him quite a scoundrel. Instead the author played it off like because he was rich, his dishonesty was acceptable in society.
The story was engaging and for me it was a "read it all at once" book, not unlike Karen Kingsbury. I came away with a lesson and a good feeling. I would call it a bit more than a beach read, but not too heavy. It was light and fun. I will now go out a search for additional books by this author.
The story is compelling and made me realize how far we, as women have truly come. I also enjoyed a sexy romance novel with not one hint of anything more than a kiss. Some of the scenes were steamy by my standards, and yet nobody removed a stitch of clothing. The romance between Sarah and Richard was innocent and pure, yet flirty. They fed off of each other from the first moment. It was cute and a very good example of what love should be, on his part at least. Sarah was a bit strong-willed and this caused her a number of problems had she been a little more willing to listen to people around her. I found myself rooting for Sarah and Richard finally coming together at the same time and spending their lives in Milwaukee and having a family of their own. I was trying to figure out how she would stay in the children's lives if that happened.
I wish the father had been less the bad guy. He really had no redeeming qualities whatsoever. The story could have been more if he had been a bit more complex. The author tried to explain it through the mother and the grandmother, but that excuse fell flat. He was self-centered and did not seem to care much about his children one way or the other. He wasn't even a man of his word, which in the setting of the novel would have made him quite a scoundrel. Instead the author played it off like because he was rich, his dishonesty was acceptable in society.
The story was engaging and for me it was a "read it all at once" book, not unlike Karen Kingsbury. I came away with a lesson and a good feeling. I would call it a bit more than a beach read, but not too heavy. It was light and fun. I will now go out a search for additional books by this author.
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