The Awesome Word of God by Ken Crocker

The Awesome Word of God by Ken Crocker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Do you have a lovely coffee table or end table in your home that is need of an equally lovely book to adorn it? Pour yourself a cup of tea or coffee and enjoy the beautiful views and encouraging scripture found in The Awesome Word of God by Ken Crocker.

In this hardcover edition you will see people, places, and nature that you have never seen before. It makes for a great read on a relaxing Sunday afternoon as you not only refresh yourself with lovely images, but the Word of God, too.

BOOK OVERVIEW:

The Awesome Word of God is a collection of breathtaking photographs of natural formations, sunsets, clouds, and more. Photographer Ken Crocker has matched Scripture with the photographs to create a compelling piece of work that showcases the glory of God. Six contributing Christian photographers have collaborated with Ken in making The Awesome Word of God a reality, and through their work they share the total love of God with every image. Each photographer brings a fresh perspective to his or her work, and each has been given a unique gift to share with others. Scripture verses from God's Holy Word enhance the photographs and highlight not only the awesome beauty of God and His creation, but also the priceless treasure of His Word.

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This review copy was provided courtesy of WinePress Publishing but the opinion expressed is my own.

A Mentor’s Fingerprint by Ann Griffiths & Donna Inglis {GIVEAWAY!}

A Mentor's Fingerprint: Leave a Mark. Make a Difference by Ann Griffiths
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Mentoring.

It's become a buzz word of sorts in today's culture. In the secular world it's become known more as a "life coach", but whatever the title, more and more people desire to have one.

A Mentor's Fingerprint is a broad overview of what it means to mentor as well as a handbook for specific areas of being a mentor and/or mentee. It's an easy-read that will help you understand both the importance of mentoring as well as the key skills a mentor needs to continually hone.

I have read many books on mentoring and this one would probably rank on my "top 5 list" for being practical for someone wanting to know how to be a better mentor. In simple explanations and examples Donna & Ann highlight the importance of listening and asking questions and how you can become better at both.

At the end of each chapter there are questions that will help you connect what you have learned, apply it, and then think through it deeper. I appreciated the well balanced encouragement and help that these ladies have to offer.

BOOK OVERVIEW:

Each of our lives is peppered with memories of people who made an impact on us—people who intentionally or unknowingly mentored us. In A Mentor’s Fingerprint, authors, Ann Griffiths and Donna Inglis, take you into their own personal mentoring experiences, invite you to reflect on the men and women who made a difference in your life, and challenge you to think about the kind of fingerprint you are leaving. Filled with real-life stories, guiding principles, and practical tools, this book will awaken the realization that we are all mentors, and will inspire, empower, and equip you to be an even more effective formal or informal mentor. If you want to know what mentoring can do in and through your life and what it means to be used by God to affect others for eternity, A Mentor’s Fingerprint will help you get there. If you want to intentionally come alongside others and feed into their lives, A Mentor’s Fingerprint is for you and your friends.

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This review copy was provided courtesy of WinePress Publishing but the opinions expressed are my own.

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!!! GIVEAWAY !!!

Leave a comment on THIS post to be entered into a drawing for this book. 
A random winner will be drawn on October 16th.
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Are You Keeping A Secret by Kara Baker

Are You Keeping a Secret?: Finding Freedom from Hidden Issues That Can Ravage Your Life by Kara Baker
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Finding Freedom from Hidden Issues That Can Ravage Your Life and I think that is the best tag line this little book could have.

I don't know how to put into words exactly what I was expecting to read, but this book wasn't that. Instead I read about issues that I had never thought of before as a "secret" in my life and as I read through this short and easy-reading book I was impacted.

Overall, this small book is short and to the point and fairly vague at the same time that it is being specific. Kara uses a lot of poems and allegories to share her message rather than deep theories and heavy reading paragraphs. The book is divided into 4 sections with 2 to 3 chapters per section for a total of 103 pages. Are You Keeping A Secret? is a stepping stone to finding deeper help and/or healing for the issues you face.

I respect Kara's writing and the way she makes you stop and think about your own life but I disagree with a bit of her thoughts on forgiving yourself. However, it's not a big enough deal to say "not to read it". Instead, I think there are some people - specifically women - who will benefit from this book.

BOOK OVERVIEW:

Are You Keeping a Secret? takes women on a journey from the bondage of secrecy to freedom in Christ. Along the way author Kara Baker shares her testimony through personal accounts, allegorical stories, and poems that not only express her personal journey, but also cut to the heart of the reader's own life. Kara’s journey includes taking an honest look at the issue of secrecy. Follow along and learn about:

* The anatomy of a secret
* The reasons we keep secrets
* The things we keep secret
* How secrets are created
* The dangers of keeping secrets

Take an honest look at your own heart and mind to see if you have been covering something up that needs to be uncovered in order to be healed. Accept the challenge to be honest with yourself about what goes on behind the closed doors of your heart and mind. Finally, find the confidence to address these issues, and move forward in your relationships with friends, family, and with God.

AUTHOR BIO:

Kara Baker grew up in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota until age 13 when her family relocated to Hillsboro, Oregon. In 1984 she graduated from Glencoe High School and in 1988 she graduated from Western Oregon University with an Elementary Ed. Degree, and a specialization in Early Childhood Education. Kara worked for four years as a Head Start teacher/home visitor and has volunteered as a Women’s Ministry Coordinator.

Kara's mix of educational and ministry training, plus her keen personal insight, enables her to share her story in her book, Are You Keeping a Secret? - Finding Freedom From Hidden Issues That Can Ravage Your Life. Through the use of personal testimony, allegorical stories, and poems, Kara shares her journey in hopes of encouraging others to take that first step towards freedom, health, and healing.

Her teaching certification and ministry readiness classes have given Kara a solid base of training in the area of human development and the issues of heart and mind. As well, her personal experiences as a teacher and as a volunteer in women's ministry programs provide her with the wisdom and experience to deal with specific issues common to women from all walks of life. Kara's heart is to draw women into a close encounter with Jesus Christ so He can heal them from the inside out.

Currently Kara is a student at the Institute of Ministry and Leadership held at her church. She enjoys creative arts and working at outreach events to help people in need. Kara and her husband have one daughter and currently reside in Beaverton, Oregon.

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This review copy was provided courtesy of WinePress Publishing but all opinions expressed are my own.

The Making of a Missionary by Jay & Sunny McLaughlin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

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.

A Prayer Journey Through Deployment by Donna Mull

A Prayer Journey Through Deployment by Donna Mull

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

I don't know what it's like to find out my spouse or family member is shipping out for active duty. But if I did know what that was like, I think I would make sure Donna's book was on the top of my nightstand reading stack.

A Prayer Journey Through Deployment is a simple book that will aid you in the most powerful resource you have - prayer. Each chapter is a topical prayer and can be read for encouragement, as a prayer prompt, or both. It would be a great tool for either personal use or a group setting.

I appreciate the simplicity of this book yet the depth in which it will minister to those dealing with being apart from their loved one. This is a great gift to give anyone with a family member serving our country.

BOOK OVERVIEW

"I just received orders for deployment to Iraq."

Such words have the power to make you weak in the knees and bring a parade of disturbing images to your mind. A sense of helplessness and dread forces you to your knees but you can't seem to get beyond the repetitive cry, "Keep them safe, Lord." Such was the paralysis Donna Mull felt when her son was deployed. Her heart ached for his family. Determined to surround them with prayer, she wrote weekly military prayer devotionals and emailed them to a network of friends and family to encourage focused, faithful prayer. What followed was a year-long journey that led far beyond the generic, "Keep them safe." An excellent source of hope, comfort and Scripture-based prayers, A Prayer Journey through Deployment gives voice to the heartfelt needs of soldiers and families like loneliness, fear, guidance, unity, loss, endurance, perspective, courage, etc. A compilation of 52 devotionals chronicles the journey of prayer through this experience of deployment. Even if you have no military connection, you may find that the prayers minister to you in the midst of your own "life battles."

AUTHOR BIO:

"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands...." 1 Thessalonians 4:11 is a good descriptive life verse for Donna Mull—quietly going about the work of serving children and families as a pediatric home care nurse. That is, until life presented a challenge completely outside her realm of understanding. Her son received orders for deployment to Iraq. She felt compelled to pray and engage others to pray concerning a world she knew little about. The one essential qualification she had was a deep love for her son and his family. The equipping and understanding God would provide when she committed to this assignment.

Donna lives in a picturesque RI town with the oldest, longstanding 4th of July parade honoring civic and military servants (224 successive years). She has two married sons and four grandchildren. Donna enjoys walking, biking, outdoor concerts and the brief "mini" vacations of sitting beside the Narrangansett Bay before heading off to work. Best of all is spending time with her grandchildren, for whom she created a scrapbook to help them deal with some of the extraordinary challenges of having a deployed parent. Donna also has the unique privilege of developing long-term relationships with some exceptionally courageous families as a Home Care nurse for medically fragile children.

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This review copy was provided by WinePress Publishing. The opinions expressed are purely of my own.

Herman by Tyler Roberson

Herman by Tyler Roberson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Herman is simply a "good old tale" for young and old alike. While this book is geared for children (1st grade through 5th grade) it was enjoyable for me to read aloud to my daughter. It is not a faith based book, but the story is simple, clean, wholesome, fresh, down-to-earth, and lovable. Unknowingly, the children who read this book are learning about responsibility, work ethic, respect of authority, and how to care for God's creatures. This bittersweet tale had us both laughing and crying and we enjoyed the trip back in time through the pages of print.

This book is probably more of a 3rd grade+ reading level but makes a good book to read aloud since it’s a short chapter book.  While it’s great for anyone, if you have boys it’s a must read!

BOOK OVERVIEW:

In the aftermath of a severe thunderstorm, young Gene Todd discovers an orphaned green heron trapped beneath a nest on the bank of his favorite fishing hole. Ever so carefully, Gene carries the baby bird to the small farm where he lives with his grandparents and Uncle Don. Determined to rescue his new friend, Gene names the tiny bird "Herman" and takes care of it while also tending to his many responsibilities on the farm.

Uncle Don-- a particular favorite of Gene’s—brings a good-natured, generous, and affectionate element to Gene’s life on the farm in the 1940s. Gene, who has often wished for a friend his own age, soon finds himself becoming attached to Herman. Although Gene realizes he will have to set Herman free eventually, when the heron begins to show signs of independence, Gene looks towards that day with dread and uncertainty. When the time comes, Uncle Don's kindness helps Gene to see the good in releasing his friend. Gene's sorrow is replaced with joy and pride as he rejoices with Herman in his new-found freedom.

AUTHOR BIO:

Tyler Roberson was born in Cheboygan, Michigan in 1964 and adopted by Todd and Rosemary Roberson, along with his two brothers and two sisters. His father Todd is the inspiration for the character Gene in his children’s book, Herman. His lifelong love of animals and small farm life was kindled and then nurtured on his grandparents' farm which was literally "over the river and through the woods."

Tyler graduated from Cheboygan Area High School in 1982. He went on to attend North Central Michigan College in Petoskey and graduated from that school with an Associate of Arts degree. He continued his education at Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. He graduated from CMU in 1990, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and History. Tyler's interest in history and the daily occurrences of life in the past have had a strong influence on his writing as has his love of animals and small town life. He enjoys traveling to places in America that are historically significant. A particular favorite is the Gettysburg Battlefield in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He also enjoys visiting places of natural beauty such as Yellowstone National Park. Another influence on Tyler's writing is the close knit, loving family in which he was raised. The importance of a loving family is important to him and is evident in his current book. It will continue to resonate through future projects as well.

Tyler is a grateful lifelong Michigan resident. He currently lives in Harrison, Michigan with his wife Kim. Tyler enjoys traveling throughout Michigan, learning about its history and the lives of the people who reside there. His has one son, two stepdaughters, and one stepson. He is also blessed with four beautiful grandchildren with whom he enjoys spending time.

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This review copy was provided courtesy of Winepress Publishing.

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GIVEAWAY!!!

You can enter to win a copy of this book!

All you have to do is leave a comment below!

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Spiritual Nutrition: Healthy Eating for the Christian Heart by Christine Prescott

Spiritual Nutrition: Healthy Eating for the Christian Heart by Christine Prescott

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Spiritual Nutrition focuses on the development of healthy spiritual habits by identifying five core spiritual nutrients and comparing them to their physical counterparts.

• Prayer is like water...vital for life and essential for survival.
• Bible study is like protein...necessary for growth.
• Christian Fellowship is like carbohydrates...give us energy.
• Worship is like healthy fats...helps keep our hearts healthy.
• Thinking on good things is like vitamins...necessary for helping the other nutrients work effectively.

I enjoyed reading Christine's book and her easy-reading style. The book as a personal feel to it and is extremely practical both spiritually and physically. I was able to learn a lot of "deep" concepts in a light presentation. The explanation and comparison of each nutrient is wonderfully put together and helpful for understanding the basics of a healthy spiritual life. The questions at the end of each chapter are incredibly thought provoking and easy to understand; you don't feel like she's trying to trick you with a question.

I especially appreciated the chapter on Christian Fellowship and the quote on page 71:

"Praising God keeps our hearts from becoming hardened by sin, giving into our desires to get what we want, and the enticement of the devil."

My only caution in this book is that you should read with discernment - as you should with any book - because while I really liked this book, I do have several doctrinal points I disagree on with the author. However, those points are not necessarily the focus of the book so there is still great value into what Prescott presents in Spiritual Nutrition.

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Author Bio: Christine Prescott was born in McMinnville, Oregon from a line of self-sufficient homesteaders and farmers. She attended the University of Oregon, where she earned a B.S. degree in Elementary Education. A week after graduation, she married Dave Prescott who has been her encouragement ever since. After discovering that life as a substitute teacher was not for her, Christine registered at Lewis and Clark Northwestern School of Law in Portland, Oregon. Four years later, Christine earned her J.D. and spent the next ten years practicing law in the Portland area, helping people navigate the murky legal waters of everyday life. In 1988 Christine was called to prison chaplaincy; she received a Master of Divinity degree and was ordained in the American Baptist Churches USA in 1992. Christine served in pastoral ministry for twelve years. She earned a Doctor of Ministry in Leadership and Spiritual Formation at George Fox Evangelical Seminary in 2005 studying under guest professors Brennan Manning, Leonard Sweet, and Stan Gretz. Christine has been a speaker and leader for church groups, conferences, retreats, and local, state and national gatherings for youth and adults. She preaches, teaches, and speaks, and facilitates exploration on topics such as worship, the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts and finding your story in Scripture. Christine first explored the topic of spiritual nutrition at an American Baptist Women of Oregon retreat. Her goal in all her speaking and writing is to open windows in people’s hearts so that the Holy Spirit can enter and begin the work of transformation. In her new book, Spiritual Nutrition – Healthy Eating for the Christian Heart (WinePress, 2009), Christine writes to help people develop a deeper relationship with Jesus; she specifically focuses on five spiritual core nutrients necessary for developing and maintaining better spiritual health. Today Christine serves as a hospital chaplain. She and her very patient husband live in Missoula, Montana.

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ISBN: 978-1-60615-004-7
Details: Soft cover / 134 Pages
Publisher: WinePress Publishing
Review copy was provided courtesy of WinePress Publishing.

Just Where Does God Live? by Scott J. Brown

Just Where Does God Live? by Scott J. Brown

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Just Where Does God Live? is based on the question of a first grader wondering where God lives. The author, Scott Brown, takes this question and turns it into a story for to help more kids understand where God lives.

The story is that Nate and Parker ask various people where God lives and they get a variety of answers. Some are silly and funny and others just don't quite make sense. So one night they decide to ask God Himself. The answer they get is "...inside of your hearts."

I read this book to my 4-year-old and 6-year-old who really enjoyed the bright pictures and the fun storyline while dealing with a serious question in their little minds. That part that we (I) did not like was when the book said: "...I live in all spaces. I live in all people, I live in all places."

I disagree with this. God lives in the hearts of those who believe in Him...not all people. The next page has another line that I feel is misleading.

While the concept of this book is great, and the majority of the story line is great for young children, in the end I have to say it is a book I think is best not read unless you plan on following each reading with some in-depth conversation with the little minds that soak it all up.

This review copy was courtesy of WinePress Publishing.

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For some good reading for you children, try this book instead!

What’s in My Food? by Deborah Lynn Flores

What's in My Food? by Deborah Lynn Flores

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What's in My Food? is an illustrated storybook for kids about eating healthy.

Book recap: "Gummy worms for breakfast? Anything goes in a fast-paced, fast-food society, right? But when Michael finds himself sloshing through the day he quickly learns that “anything goes” isn’t always the best plan. His body needs more than wiggly worms to function at its best."

As a Mom of three, I give this book 4 stars for being a great way to teach my children about what food is good and what food is not good. Almost each page has a little box with interesting facts to share with your kids or questions to ask. I found it very interesting how much both my 4 and 6 year-old learned from this book and how much they already knew. In the back of the book there is a brief page of helpful questions and information to keep the learning going. This brightly illustrated book is one that will keep a child's attention while they enjoy a fun story and soak up some healthy knowledge all at the same time.

ISBN: 978-1-57921-953-6 Published by Wine Press Publishing Description: 8 x 8, soft cover, 29 pages

Review copy provided courtesy of Wine Press Publishing.

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Be sure to stop by the author’s website for great health information!