For as far back as I can remember I have known who Martin Luther is and have had a vague understanding of his life. However, this wonderful little biography changed that for me! In roughly three hours of reading I gained a brief, yet thorough, overview of his life which began with great fear and ended with strong faith.
This 160 page book is short and easy-to-read, but could be a little challenging for younger teens to read. It might be a challenge worth making them work through since Luther's life is such an encouragement to the "average" person. Not only did I enjoy learning about Luther as a historical figure, but I reveled in learning about how God used an ordinary man to bring such extraordinary change to the church. And this short read lit the spark to read more about Luther and his life - especially his last 20 years being married to Katy!
Anyone who reads this book will walk away with more understanding of who Martin Luther really was, what his life work was all about, and be encouraged by how God an change what seems impossible to change. I highly recommend it to teens and adults both. It would also be a great book to read as a family for those with middle school age children and on up.
Elizabeth George has been encouraging and challenging women for years and now we get great resources from her husband to use with our sons. Just like the teen girl's series, this book for teen boys is Biblical and applicable. It walks a guy through making decisions about sleep, reading God's Word, how to treat family, clothing, speech, and more. Each chapter is interactive and sends you to God's Word to find the final answer rather than just relying on a man's opinion.
I like the down to earth approach of this book. It meets teen guys where they are rather than expect them to get things together before they pursue growing in their walk with Christ. I personally think this book has a lot of appeal for young men, too, because it's not just reading - it's interactive with questions and things to do now to apply what they are reading. While this book is probably targeted for teens between 14 and 17, I think any teen boy from 7th through 12th grade will benefit from this book. It is great for individual use but also perfect for mentoring or Bible study groups. It is easy to use and relevant to today's teens. And what makes it even better is that you could split guys and girls and to the girls study on choices with the girls while the guys go through this book!
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This ARC copy was provided by Harvest House but the opinion expressed is strictly my own.
Just as it's title suggests, this simple book is meant to teach adults and teens of any age the simple, yet profound truth of the gospel on a daily basis. It is broken into four sections, one of which is Vincent's testimony of what brought him to write this book. The other three are the gospel in various forms that you can read through quite easily in one sitting. While this book is certainly beneficial as a one-time read, it would be even better as a daily or weekly aid in helping you to refocus your thinking on the many glorious truths of the gospel and what they mean to you today - not just "yesterday" as a new believer.
I personally really enjoyed this book and it's simplicity. I could read it quickly yet soak in the rich depth. If you are looking for a book that will help you understand the glorious and daily implications of the gospel in your life then I would highly recommend this book for you to read. It's a simple beginning to an endless topic.
The intriguing title and cover are the first things to draw you into an intense, yet exhilarating probe of our freedom in Christ in the so-called gray areas of life. Brent has done a fabulous job at writing a book that sticks to the point, isn't full of big words and hard to grasp ideas, and stays true to the Word of God. In the first few chapters He presents the ground work of our freedom in Christ and in the last chapters he provides examples and "case studies" of what it all looks like fleshed out. In chapter five He presents sixteen questions as tools to aid you in establishing your freedom in Christ in gray areas.
Overall I really liked and appreciated this book. It's a comprehensive, yet simple and straight-forward book that the average person can both understand and enjoy. I was reading it in review before our teens in youth group begin to read it as part of this year's selected reading and while I think it's a great book, I do think it's possibly a little on the older side for some teens. However, that said, I still encourage them to at least try to read it as it does get easier as you go along. Brent has taken a hard issue and made it manageable - like eating an elephant one bite at a time! - and so I highly recommend teens and adults read this book and that parents work through it with their teenagers for maximum impact. It doesn't hold "all the answers" but it does give you food for thought that will help you think through gray issues using Scripture as your guide.
This book is an open look at sex from multiple aspects through a Biblical lens. It answers 39 questions that most teens probably wonder about but never have the courage to ask their parents about. Quite honestly, there are parts of this book that I would be hesitant in talking about with my teens!
I really appreciate the Biblical framework of this book and the honest way McDowell approaches each question. I walked away from this book being amazed at the perfect way in which God created us and how blessed and purely delightful sex is when kept in God's context. However, it's also a sobering look at the hardships produces by sex outside of God's plan. The Bare Facts covers purity, STDs, what love really is, premarital sex and it's impact, masturbation, sexual addiction, God's forgiveness, and much more. I would highly recommend all parents to read this book so you are prepared to answer questions. And really, all married adults would benefit from reading this book. While it is written for teens, I highly recommend it being older teens and encouraged each parent to use caution and discernment based on what your teen already knows. And it should go without saying, read it before they read it!
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This review copy was provided for review courtesy of Moody Publishers through NetGalley, but the opinion expressed is my own.
Ric Garland and Mike Calhoun join forces to give us a book that addresses 8 attributes of God - omniscience, immutability, faithfulness, sovereignty, love, wisdom, omnipresence, and mercy/justice - through the lens of hard questions like "Where was God when...?". Not only do they probe hard questions but do so in a teen-relevant approach that is easy to understand without being watered down and vague.
I appreciated this book for how relevant it is to the youth of today. Where Was God When...? doesn't just offer opinions but truth from the Word of God and hands-on application of how each attribute can and will change a person's life. I liked the straight-forward chapters that are short and filled with not just theory, but also with personal stories from the lives of the authors and others.
Not only will teens benefit from this book, but also adults looking how to answer the hard questions for teens or even for themselves. If you want to understand God's sovereignty, or faithfulness, or any of the other 6 attributes without reading a very long theology text, then this book is for you. I highly recommend this book to teens and adults both.
The Call is split into two sections - the first being about God's call on your life and the second is a series of interviews with well known Christians about God's call in their lives. It is a very practical "how-to" book as well as very encouraging, inspiring, and full of great advice. It is easy to read and easy to understand and digest. Each chapter can stand alone, but the book flow well with an overall theme of knowing God's call.
I appreciated this unique book and it's intent on helping the reader know and understand God's calling on their life. While I think it's geared for teens and young adults, it's a great read for any age and there is much wisdom to be gleaned at any stage of the journey. There is humor sprinkled around - especially in the interviews - that makes this book personable and real. The first half, which is more "hands-on", is very simple yet very thought-provoking as you apply it to your life. I really enjoyed the second half as it was a window into the lives of so many whom minister to us as they shared wisdom from following the call of God in their lives.
This book is perfect for the 16 to 21 age bracket, but definitely beneficial for younger teens and older adults as well. I highly recommend this book to all teens - especially those wanting to know what God's call is for their life.
Jumping Through Fires is a refreshing look back at the life - thus far - of David Nasser. From a young boy in Iran to a young man in the USA he reflects on God's grace in his life in a humorous, yet thought-provoking, way. It's a light read both in pages and in presentation despite the sobering stories David shares.
I really enjoyed reading this book and it took me only 2.5 hours to go from cover to cover. At once I was caught up in the intensity of life for this boy at the young age of 9 and sat in awe as I turned the pages to unravel God's amazing plan of grace in David's life. Not only is this the inspiring recapturing of the life of an exile and former Muslim, but also the amazing testament to God's perfect plans and timing. David's sharing doesn't just challenge us - especially those growing up as the average American - but also explains to us how grace connects to the daily life of a child, teenager, and adult.
I highly recommend this book to all teenagers and adults. Due to some intense accounts of events taking place in Iran, I don't recommend it for children. However, it is appropriate for 7th grade and older. This book would be a great way to kick of the school year for any teenager.
Are you, like so many others, wondering what God's will is for your life? Whether it is at the brink of adulthood or as gray-headed adult looking for change or out of curiosity or any phase in between - this book is for you! It's a perfect read no matter what your age, stage, or maturity level is and it's delightfully short and easy to read.
I personally enjoyed the audio version of this book due to it's shortness and simplicity. John MacArthur doesn't waste your time beating around the bush but rather gets right to the point - the simple truth of what God's will is for your life. He lists several principals for knowing the will of God for your life and they are applicable to all.
The quality of this audio book is great and it's smooth sound makes it a delight to listen to. Each track is a chapter making it user friendly to "read" by chapter and to go back and review a principle.
Once again MacArthur shares the truth simply for all to understand. This is a must-read for all believers - young and old.
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This review copy was provided for my review courtesy of christianaudio but in no way was my opinion influenced.
The classic book for women - A Woman After God's Own Heart now in format for teen girls of all ages! This book is the perfect Bible Study or simply a pleasure read for a teen girl who desires to know more about Jesus or grow in her relationship with Jesus. While this book is packed full of Biblical truth, sound advice, and practical application, it is also a fun book to read as Elizabeth has fun with 12 to 16 year old girls.
I liked the fun approach of this book to deep issues in a young woman's heart. It addresses the basics of her Christian life in an easy to understand presentation. Elizabeth probes deep without being overwhelming and she encourages hand-in-hand with her challenges to young woman. I especially like how this book can be used for a teen girl while her mother goes through the original version - a fun way to learn together!
BOOK OVERVIEW:
This young woman’s version of Elizabeth George’s bestselling book A Woman After God’s Own Heart® shares the intentions and blessings of God’s heart with teen girls. On this journey they discover His priorities for their lives—including prayer, submission, faithfulness, and joy—and how to embrace those priorities in daily life.
Elizabeth’s mentor style, the “Heart Response” messages of reflection, and the age–significant themes make this an excellent book for groups or for personal study. And best of all, girls will discover that God is a faithful, caring, and loving presence during this exciting and sometimes difficult time in their lives.
Just as it's counterpart - A Young Woman After God's Own Heart is encouraging for teen girls - so this book is to teen guys. In this book Jim George has given us a teen companion to his original: A Man After God's Own Heart. This book is easy to read for any age teen guy and very practical to their every day life.
I appreciate this book due to it's Biblical truth and accuracy while being extremely relevant to a young guy's life. It shoots straight while focusing on the heart issues he deals with every day. While intended more for a believing teen, it would be could for those seeking to understand the Christian faith as well. This is a great book to use individually for 12 to 16-year-old guys, in one-on-one discipleship settings, or as a group Bible study. It would also make a great study for Father and Son to work through together using the adult version, too!
BOOK OVERVIEW:
Jim George, author of A Man After God’s Own Heart (more than 74,000 copies sold), takes older teenagers on a radical journey of faith. Through God’s extreme wisdom and powerful insights from the life of warrior and leader King David, readers will—
* get on track with right priorities * discover God’s amazing will * live God through their actions * gear up for serving the Lord * build meaningful friendships
Young men will discover biblical principles that blaze a trail to godly living. A Young Man After God’s Own Heart helps guys grow into men who honor God in all they do. Great for Sunday school, youth group studies, and individual reading.
According to the back cover of this book there has been quite the cover up happening in our English translations of the Bible. However, a few short pages into the book we find out that most likely it's not intentional. While the promotion for this book may be a bit misleading, the message inside the cover is not. In fact, it will set you back in your chair with a sober "wow!".
I don't consider this book to be an "easy-read", but neither do I think it is hard to read. It is solid theology and historical facts woven together to teach us how we are not just "servants" of Christ, but "slaves". At first glance it doesn't seem to be a big difference but MacArthur shows us the huge difference in no uncertain terms. The look back into the history of the Roman-Greco slaves is fascinating in that understanding that era greatly aids one in understanding the New Testament.
Personally, I enjoyed the entire book for it's eye opening truth, fascinating historical facts, and personal application. The concept that I was once slave to sin, bought as a slave of Christ, and now have been adopted into God's family has radically changed my view on life.
Slave flows from one chapter to another building upon what we know to teach us what it means to be a slave of God. I highly recommend this book to any one - believer or unbeliever - from early teen to any age adult.
BOOK OVERVIEW:
Best-selling author and pastor Dr. John MacArthur reveals one crucial word that revolutionizes what it means to follow Jesus.
Throughout the Bible, followers of Jesus are commanded to submit to Him as their King. They are told to obey and follow, faithfully and without hesitation. Every time Christians utter the word Lord, they make a subtle yet profound declaration—that God is their Master and that they belong to Him. In fact, the Bible describes believers as His slaves. They have been bought with a price and now live for Christ as a people for His own possession.
But go into most churches today, even flip through most Bible translations, and you won’t see or hear the word slave anywhere. That’s because it has been lost in translation. In this gripping book, Dr. John MacArthur uses deep Bible teaching and historical evaluation to expertly uncover the one forgotten word that restores the Bible’s definition of true Christian freedom.
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Special thanks to BookSneeze for the courtesy review copy, but the opinion expressed is strictly my own.
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This book is awarded with the To Read, Or Not To Read badge of distinction - Best Of The Best - for the fact that because they are so good, they have been added to Mandy’s bookshelf!
Elizabeth George is one of my favorite authors due to her sound Biblical content combined with practical and daily application. In this book she continues that Biblical and practical content in a fun, upbeat, and youth-focused way.
Each chapter in the book opens with an excerpt about a girl named Hannah and her story builds through out the book. In a very godly and appropriate way, Elizabeth talks to teen girls about the choices they face every day and how to make choices that glorify God. The book overall is easy and fun to read with great questions that can be discussed in a group or used alone for journaling prompts.
While this book is probably best for 13 to 16 year-olds, it could be used by any age teen girl or in any teen girl group setting. It makes for a great group Bible study when the girls read the first half of the chapter and then work through the questions and Scripture as a group.
BOOK OVERVIEW:
Elizabeth George, author of A Young Woman After God’s Own Heart (more than 230,000 copies sold), offers another life–changing teen book—A Young Woman’s Guide to Making Right Choices.
TodayÂ’s teens are bombarded with choices about attitudes, behaviors, friends, clothes, finances, and college. And with the rise of alcohol, drugs, sexual issues, and crime, they must make serious decisions daily.
Bible teacher Elizabeth George takes teens through the step–by–step process of making decisions that are life–affirming, godly, and wise in areas that include—
* managing emotions * improving relationships * developing confidence * living in the center of GodÂ’s will * avoiding trouble and bad situations
Teens will discover checkpoints to use as guides for making decisions, and they will learn to take the long view when considering consequences. Young women will also realize the tremendous wisdom, guidance, and answers available in GodÂ’s Word.
This Bible study book is like a wonderful chat with a dear friend. C.J. makes teen girls who work their way through this book feel like they are her best friend as they dig into God's Word and learn more about the One who IS their best friend.
I really appreciated how this was more than just a "fill-in-the-blank" study guide. C.J. walks teen girls through some things in each chapter and then leaves them with a few probing questions and thoughts along with a passage to dig into. It's just the right amount of help with the right amount of challenge for a teen girl!
If you have a daughter, granddaughter, or know a girl between 13 and 18 I would recommend you consider this book as your next gift for her!
BOOK OVERVIEW:
Why am I here? What is God’s plan for my life? Why did God make me the way I am? These are questions that everyone asks at some point in life, but especially teenagers. The teen years are a roller coaster---friends, boys, peer pressure, parents---where do you turn? This book is written especially for teen girls who are searching for answers about life: girls who struggle with the desire to be themselves and the fear of being different. In particular, it is for Christian girls who want to know how to be unique in a world that praises conformity and who want to be Christ-like in a culture that is quick to label Christian teens as self-centered snobs or geeks.
Join Cj Carleton for a heart-to-heart talk about what it means to be a young Christian woman in today’s world. She draws from Scripture, her personal experiences growing up, and her years of working with teen girls just like you to help you build a firm foundation for your life in the truth of Christ and the Word of God. Let her challenge you through journaling and self-discovery. Get ready to learn about yourself and fulfill God’s purpose for His unique creation---you!
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This review copy was provided courtesy of C.J. Carleton and the opinion expressed is my own. You can buy a copy of this book through her blog.
It’s a Bible. No! It’s a book. No! It’s a tract. No!
It’s a booklet called THE LIFE BOOK!
This little hand-sized booklet looks innocent and intriguing from the outside. But inside it’s a powerhouse of truth. Biblical truth.
Made up of three sections, this booklet explains the story of God and people, the story of Jesus coming to earth, and a crucial decision about your life and your future. Throughout the whole booklet there are notes scrawled in and around the main writings from five various people as if they’ve read this book before you. Their comments and questions from five very different backgrounds help anyone who reads this – but specifically teens – to understand and dig in deeper. The middle section is actually the book of John from the Bible.
This is a very unique tool to introduce the gospel to high school students. It’s not the Bible in whole, but it presents the basics for someone to understand why we need a Savior and how we can have a personal relationship with that Savior.
BOOK OVERVIEW:
In today’s divisive culture-war society, when news stories about separation of church and state thrive with controversy, one cutting-edge Christian ministry is having remarkable success spreading the Word of God. What makes it remarkable? They are doing it by distributing Bibles in public schools—legally.
Carl Blunt is the president and CEO of The Life Book Movement, a Christian mission centered on Blunt’s own contemporary, youth-oriented edition of a portion of the Bible called The Life Book, a unique presentation of Scripture designed to engage high school students with the truth of God’s Word. The Life Book presents a brief overview of the Old Testament and the Book of John using an interactive format with honest student comments and real-life questions in the margins. Readers are drawn into the only story that can change their lives forever.
Founded by The Gideons International as an innovative strategy to reach high school students with God’s Word, The Life Book Movement works in collaboration with churches throughout the country to provide the books for free to high school students. Blunt’s organization brilliantly threads a separation-of-church-and-state loophole by getting his publication into the hands of Christian high school students and having thempass the books out to classmates at school—a practice that is entirely legal, as long as the books are not distributed by school staff or other adults. Blunt says, “It’s like we’re helping students smuggle God’s Word into a closed country (public high schools) to reach an unreached people group because studies show that only 4% of today’s teenagers are Bible-believing Christians.” The goal is to ensure that every student in every high school in the United States has an opportunity to receive the gift of The Life Book. This approach presents a phenomenal opportunity to impact a generation with the good news of Jesus Christ.
The Life Book Movement is best described to students as a week-long mission trip to their local high school. Local churches work together in targeted areas to ensure The Life Book is offered to every student in each chosen high school. All churches involved receive the books at no cost from The Life Book Movement and provide the books, along with some evangelism training, to the students in their youth groups. The students then spend a week passing them out to their friends and classmates at school. One student who received the book said, “I got one today. I read it in almost every class today. I like it. It’s pretty neat and other people asked to look at it and then asked where to get one.”
Flying under the radar since its inception last fall, The Life Book Movement is rapidly closing in on distribution of more than 300,000 copies in public high schools across 21 states and even the British Virgin Islands. A quiet success, indeed, but extremely ambitious, The Life Book Movement has an ultimate goal of distributing The Life Book to nearly 18 million high school students when all is said and done. And, so far, the outlook is extremely promising.
Always is the perfect devotional for a teen girl to tuck in her backpack to gain fresh perspective and realign her focus through out the day.
I appreciated how all 90 days are based on the Words of Christ. Melody sandwiches a challenging thought between scripture and tucks in a prayer starter as well as a one-line thought that wraps up the devotional in one sentence. This is a devotional book that will help teen girls to apply the truth of the Word of God to their daily life and see how it can impact there life now.
My only caution is that this not become the only means of digging into the Bible for girls. This is a great starter book, or additional book, but I hope not their only book.
BOOK OVERVIEW:
It can be difficult for teenagers to understand how Jesus’ words hundreds of years ago relate to their lives today. To help teens dig deeper, bestselling author Melody Carlson releases Always, a devotional for teens that focuses specifically on helping teenagers take the teachings of Christ and apply those to their own lives, actions, thoughts and faith.
With 90 days’ worth of devotional readings in Always, Carlson takes key passages of Christ’s teachings, commands and promises from Scripture, and unlocks them, verse-by-verse for teens.
The devotionals address topics including: • Living with purpose • Avoiding religious traps • Understanding the true character of God • Learning to cling to Christ • The power of prayer • Living as an example to others • Setting the right priorities • Embracing servanthood
Each devotional includes a short passage of Scripture followed by insightful explanations, ideas for application, and accompanying prayers that encourage readers to start studying the Bible for all its worth.
“I became a believer during my teen years,” Carlson says. “One of the things that I did was take my Bible and read only the words of Jesus. It was awesome. I realized that Jesus’ words truly were words of life—and they were just the words that my life needed.”
Now, in Always, Carlson helps today’s teenagers discover those same inspiring truths in ways that they understand and can apply to their lives. Always is the third and final volume in her series of devotionals for teenagers “Words from the Rock,” following True and Life.
* * * * * This review copy was provided courtesy of Revell but the thoughts expressed are my own.
High school drama, strange siblings, cute boys, and great music - this book has them all! And a whole lot more!
After a long day at school any teen girl will love reading this sassy novel about 15-year-old Savvy Smith and her new life outside London. It is full of what teen girls face on a daily basis along with a whole lot of biblical advice for dealing with tough situations and presented in a fun, fiction format.
I really enjoy reading this series myself - as a grown woman! Sandra has a writing style that is fun, real, and enjoyable to read. This series deals with real life topics in a fresh way. They are light enough to read in just an a few hours, yet challenge the reader to do what is right even when it's not so easy to do.
As a Mom I would recommend them to any teen girl in 7th grade and up. May I also suggest that you buy the set and use them - one at a time - as impromptu gifts for your teen girl every now and then. What a great way to encourage her and instill biblical thinking in her life!
BOOK OVERVIEW:
Now established in her quirky British village, Savvy works hard to get an article with her own byline published in the school newspaper. When an attractive and mysterious boy asks her for help with his school work, Savvy is slowly pulled into his circle and soon finds out that the wrong set of friends—boys and girls—can influence her own behavior. Following her own advice to cut ties with a charming bad boy would mean abandoning her dearest wishes, and it just doesn't seem as wrong as it feels. Is it? Read on for surprise twists throughout the book! London Confidential is a new series for young girls. In the series, British fashion, friendships, and guys collide as an all-American teen girl learns to love life and live out her faith. The series follows Savvy's entertaining attempts to fit in during her first year at a new school in a new country.
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Thanks to Tyndale House Publishers for the courtesy of a review copy. However, all opinion expressed is mine.
Jay and Sunny McLaughlin bring the mission field into your home through this book. You are able to read first hand about the ups and downs, the joys and the dangers of serving God. And most of all, the McLaughlins share the amazing acts of God as they watch Him move in the hearts of many.
I enjoyed reading this book for the frank and honest approach it takes on missions. It's not sugar coated, but rather raw experiences of what missionaries - especially in a third world country - face. I also was blessed to read the amazing accounts of how they visibly saw God work in mighty ways - ways we in America don't normally experience. This book also holds a great amount of practical information, help, and encouragement for anyone considering entering missions. It is a pre-missions handbook so to speak.
I have to say that I would love all the teens in our church to read this book because I think it would be a great eye-opener to them. However, there are some doctrinal differences in this book and while I recommend this read, I think that one needs to be aware that they may not agree with everything that is said. All that said, I still say that this book can and is a great one for perspective missionaries to be reading and I especially appreciated and respected Jay's exhortation on asking yourself why you want to be a missionary.
If for no other reason, I would recommend reading this book just because it opens your eyes to the real challenges our missionaries face even today.
BOOK OVERVIEW:
After seeing the lack of knowledge in many churches, regarding missions, Jay McLaughlin was prompted by his supporters to write a book on the subject. In The Making of a Missionary readers will see life as a missionary first hand, through McLaughlin’s years of experience. These true-life examples place your mind in the middle of the dangers, blessings, miracles, failures, successes, arrest, escapes, joys, and rewards lived out almost daily.
For the person who is hunting for deeper mission knowledge, this book also categorizes pertinent subjects, such as how to prepare for a mission trip, how to know if you are qualified, and what crucial steps must be taken. Learn the importance of licenses, school, police and shot records, driving record, and any specialty training that you have. Where can you find medical and dental help oversees? What will the local officials expect of you when you arrive? The list goes on and on but is very much needed to help those who are called to be better prepared and make a difference for the Lord. It will help the people they are trying to serve, and those they serve with.
AUTHOR BIO:
Jay McLaughlin was a late-comer to Christianity, who crawled out of the world and started living for Christ at age 43. In 1984 he and his wife Sunny went out as missionaries to Mbale, Uganda. After some success and some real near-death experiences, their trip ended with a hair-raising escape that exposed a corrupt organization for what they were. They again went out in 1986 to Mombasa, Kenya for three months training. From there they went to Nairobi for three months of missionary excitements, language school, and slum work, before returning home with a fresh calling from God for Jinja, Uganda.
They spent the next five years studying and serving in many different areas in the church, undergoing various training groups and schooling, until the leadership saw it was time to ordain Jay as a pastor in 1990. After that the McLaughlin's put together a great mission team to handle things connected to their mission. He and Sunny prepared themselves to go out long-term to Jinja and start a mission base from scratch. Their life has been filled with many Christian-Indiana-Jones-type stories, with the miracles, dangers, failures, successes, sorrows, blessings, laughter, and tears of pain over the death of so many children and adults from AIDS. Jay’s story, expressed through his book The Making of a Missionary provides proof that God does provide for those who love Him.
Jay and his wife currently live in Corpus Christi, TX, where he leads the Silver Saints group at Calvary Chapel Coastland.
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This review copy was provided courtesy of WinePress Publishing. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
Sometimes you read a book and go away really challenged.
Then other times you walk away not remembering what you just read.
And then still there are times when you can't walk away because what you read has weakened your body with such conviction from the Holy Spirit.
This book is one of those times.
Everything else about the day seems to slip away and all that plays in my mind are snippets from listening to the audio version of this book. Not only was the quality and narration of this book great, but the message it's self made everything else pale in comparison.
I realized just how caught up I am in the American Dream rather than being sold out for the Lord God with a burning, all consuming passion. This book is a must-read for anyone - teen and up. It will bring the reality of life back to where it needs to be in perspective of the Gospel.
While this would be a great book to read, I highly recommend the audio version so that you can easily "read" the book over several times in order to let the message sink deep inside your heart and mind.
BOOK OVERVIEW:
Take a transforming journey in authentic discipleship. As the pastor of a large and wealthy congregation, David Platt began to see a discrepancy between the reality of his Church and the way Jesus said His followers lived. In Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream, Platt examines how American Christianity has manipulated the gospel to fit our cultural preferences and challenges readers to rediscover the path
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This review copy was provided courtesy of christianaudio.com but the opinions expressed are my own.
The phrase "Don't judge a book by it's cover!" is very fitting for me and this book. For some reason, even though I was asked to review this book by Thomas Nelson, I just had a hard time picking it up and starting it. However, after the first chapter or two I could barely put it down!
This amazing book is broken into three sections with the main story being in the second section. As I followed Andy's journey from the present to the past and back again I was intrigued, breathless, curious, and fascinated. The fact that this story is real is almost mind boggling! It is an easy to read book that will have you spellbound whether you like history or not.
The Heart Mender is a mix of romance, mystery, faith, intrigue, suspense, and history. It is the perfect book to read on the beach this summer...or anywhere, really!
BOOK OVERVIEW:
While digging up a withering wax myrtle tree beside his waterfront home on the Gulf coast, author Andy Andrews unearths a rusted metal container filled with Nazi artifacts and begins an intriguing investigation that unlocks an unspoken past that took place in his backyard . . . literally.
In 1942, as the country gears up for a full-scale commitment to WWII, German subs are dispatched to the Gulf of Mexico to sink U.S. vessels carrying goods and fuel. While taking a late-night walk, Helen Mason—widowed by war—discovers the near-lifeless body of a German sailor. Enraged at the site of Josef Landermann's uniform, Helen is prepared to leave him to die when an unusual phrase, faintly uttered, changes her mind.
Set in a period simmering with anger and suspicion The Heart Mender offers the very real chronicle of a small town preparing itself for the worst the world has to offer. As cargo from torpedoed ships begins to wash up on the beach, Josef and Helen must reconcile their pasts to create a future.
Blending his unique style of historical accuracy with unparalleled storytelling, New York Times best-selling author Andy Andrews offers a tale of war, faith, and forgiveness illuminating the one principle that frees the human spirit.
Previously released as Island of Saints. Now includes a Reader's Guide and a Where are They Now? section.
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This book was provided for review courtesy of Thomas Nelson Publishing. The review is my own thoughts and opinions.
Girl Talk With God is a bff and confidant for any young woman. It is aimed at teen girls, but I would recommend it for older teen girls (15 & up) and even younger college age girls. This well written, and easy to read, devotional type of book offers comfort, hope, and encouragement for those who have or do struggle with a wide range of issues. From beauty to bulimia, friends to fashion, dating to drugs, purity to popularity, Sheri Rose Shepherd offers refreshment for the heart of girls reading this book.
I appreciated how Sheri dealt with many issues in a short yet personal way. She got to the point, and the heart, quickly and effectively. My favorite part of this book were the love letters from God - letters written based upon scripture that applied the Bible to the heart and mind of the woman reading it.
This book is considered a devotional, although it's more encouragement than devotional, and does address topics that some may not want their daughters reading about yet or through this type of format depending on the parenting style. I think this book can be a great tool for teens and young women, but highly advise the parent to know what their daughter is reading before she begins to read.
BOOK OVERVIEW:
You're the daughter of the King!
Like a loving father, God holds you in the palm of His hand. He loves you no matter what you wear, what you say, what you've done, or how you feel. And He wants you to live a wonderful life.
In His Princess Girl Talk with God, Sheri Rose Shepherd helps you experience God's unending love for you through forty devotions. Sheri remembers what it was like to be a teen girl, and she connects your experiences with God's love. Through these stories, love letters from God, Scriptures, and prayers, you'll feel just how much God treasures you--His Princess.
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This book was provided courtesy of Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, and is available July 2010 at your favorite bookseller.
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GIVEAWAY:
I have 1 copy of this book to giveaway this week to 1 randomly drawn winner. Leave a comment below (on this post) and be sure to include an e-mail or link to use to contact you in case you should win. A winner will be drawn on Saturday the 14th of August. U.S. address only, please!
UPDATE: Congrats to comment #4 (Genevieve) the winner of this book!
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Martin Luther by Mike Fearon
