A Book in the Hand

Quote: Preface to Amy Carmichael's Biography

2012-02-11T12:28:00.000-08:00

Here is a convicting quote. It touches on why the author writes and how we should read. Is this how I approach books?

"In spite of much that militates against quietness there are people who still read books. They are the people who keep me going. I write especially for those who bring to their reading a mind not hidebound by the sensibilities of their time, but prepared to contemplate the Eternally Relevant; to seek in this book specifically the truth and the hidden meaning of a single life."

~Elisabeth Elliot, preface A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael

Review: Then Sings My Soul

2012-02-01T11:23:00.000-08:00

"Hymns are distillations of the richest truths of God,versified, emotionalized, set to music, and released in the mind and from the mouth. They're miniature Bible studies that lead us effortlessly to worship, testimony, exhortation, prayer, and praise. They're bursts of devotional richness with rhyme and rhythm. They clear our minds, soothe our nerves, verbalize our worship, summarize our faith, and sing our great Redeemer's praise." ~~page 5~~

{{I really, really like this book.}}

How the Book is Organized
Then Sings My Soul is book 3 in a series written by Robert J. Morgan. The book is divided into four sections. The first section called "The History of Hymnody" traces the development of hymns from the Bible through modern gospel songs and contemporary praise. At only 43 pages in length, this is well written but brief overview. The second section highlights 56 hymns. Each hymn has a two page layout- the left page showing the musical score with words and the right page giving biographical information about the author and perhaps a brief story behind the hymn. Section three highlights six of the author's favorite hymn stories and shares the full story. And in section four, the author shares some advice and opinion on how hymns should be used in private and in practice.

What I Thought
Well, I already gave it away the beginning, but I really liked this book. I was fascinated by the historical perspective that he provided. I learned the real story behind "It is Well With My Soul" (sorry, but we generally only hear the abridged version) and that "Jesus Loves Me" is actually a hymn with three full verses. And, I was encouraged to not only sing hymns, but also memorize and read them.

Throughout the book, the author emanated a passion for hymns. It was clear that he thoroughly researched the stories for his book. I don't agree with everything the author wrote in regards to how hymns should be used in public, nor do I agree that every "hymn" he included was worthy to be included (for example, "Up On the Housetop"). However, I think this book would be a worthy addition to any library.

I received this book free from the publisher through the Booksneeze book review program in exchange for an honest review.

Book List for 12 Year Old

2012-01-30T17:59:00.000-08:00

I didn't think of posting a book list when my oldest daughter turned 12 at the beginning of January. So, in honor of her birthday also, I am posting it now.

Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
A Little Princess by Francis Hodgson Burnett
Indian Captive by Lois Lenski
The Black Stallion by Walter Farley
Dandelion Cottage by Carroll Rankin
Sod House Winter by Clara Ingram Judson

Happy Birthday!

Book List for 10 Year Old

2012-01-30T17:24:00.000-08:00

In honor of my daughter's 10th birthday, I am posting a list of her current favorite books.

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart (she told me to write, "It's really, really good!)
books written by Beverly Cleary
Art for Kids: Cartooning by Art Roche
Drawing is Fun! series
Frindle by Andrew Clements

Happy Birthday!

Review: What Is the Mission of the Church?

2012-01-15T18:12:00.000-08:00

From the publisher:

Christians today define mission more broadly and variably than ever before. Are we, as the body of Christ, headed in the same direction or are we on divergent missions?

Some argue that the mission of the Church is to confront injustice and alleviate suffering, doing more to express God’s love for the world. Others are concerned that the church is in danger of losing its God-centeredness and thereby emphasize the proclamation of the gospel. It appears as though misunderstanding of mission persists.

Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert believe there is a lot that evangelicals can agree on if only we employ the right categories and build our theology of mission from the same biblical building blocks. Explaining key concepts like kingdom, gospel, and social justice, DeYoung and Gilbert help us to get on the same page—united by a common cause—and launch us forward into the true mission of the church.

How the book is organized:

This book is divided into three sections.

The first section is called "Understanding the Mission." In this section, which encompasses a quarter of the book, the authors do a careful study of several Biblical texts and define what the mission of the church should be. In essence, they begin the book by immediately answering the question posed in the title. In their words, the mission of the church is "to go into the world and make disciples by declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Spirit and gathering these disciples into churches, that they might worship the Lord and obey his commands not and in eternity to the glory of God the Father."

The second section of the book is called "Understanding the Categories." Topics included are the gospel, social justice, God's redemptive role and the new heavens and new earth. There is a lot of exposition and defining in this section.

The last section is called, "What We Do and Why We Do It." This is the section that people like me read first - application.

What I thought:

This book is thorough, thoughtful and Biblically based. It is well researched and heavily footnoted. The authors do an excellent job of anticipating objections to or misunderstanding of their position and face them head on. This authors also wrote with a humility that should disarm the defenses of their critics.

I received this book free from Crossway in exchange for an honest review.

From My Bookshelf: Shopping for Time

2011-11-22T14:25:00.001-08:00

I enjoy sharing review books with you. And I enjoy getting review books for free. :-) But, there are many other great books that I would love to share. And some of them are even on my bookshelf.

So, here is one. Shopping for Time: How to Do It All and Not Be Overwhelmed.

Don't let the title deceive you. You can't do it "all." And that is the point. As the authors rightly point out:

"We've learned there is no such thing as simply a busy month or a busy year. It's a busy life, pure and simple. Around every corner is another potential hospitality, another counseling opportunity, another church meeting, another diaper to change or carpool to run.

But we also have learned from God's Word that it is possible to deal with life's demands without becoming overwhelmed, miserable, and exhausted. We can surmount the numerous responsibilities that threaten to wear us down. More than that, we can actually do all that God has called us to do.

A fantastic claim, we know. But it's true. We can accomplish everything that God has ordained us to do in this life. (Hint: It's probably not half of what's on your to-do list.)" (page 13, emphasis mine)

This is a short book - a mere 94 pages. The authors expand on the following five tips:
1. Rise Early - Joining the 5 a.m. Club*
2. Sit Still - Sitting at Jesus Feet
3. Sit and Plan - Taking a Personal Retreat
4. Consider People - Evaluating Relationships Carefully
5. Plan to Depend - Being Productive in Daily Life

*OK, listen to me carefully. The authors are not saying you have to get up at 5am. The principle is "rise early" and their personal application is "get up at 5 am." That is certainly not how I choose to apply it. Early is relative to the situation you are in.*

While you may be able to read this book quickly, I warn you not to read so fast that you skimp on the application. Read a chapter, ponder, pray, and apply.

We all need to be more intentional about how we live our lives. This book will aid you in that. I highly recommend it.

Review: The Barber Who Wanted to Pray

2011-11-01T15:09:00.000-07:00

From the publisher:

This imaginative tale, based on a true story, begins one evening with Mr. McFarland leading family devotions. When his daughter asks him how she should pray, Mr. McFarland shares a 500-year-old story—a story about a barber and his famous customer.

Master Peter is a barber well known to all in his village. One day, when Martin Luther the Reformer walks into his shop, the barber musters up the courage to ask the outlawed monk how to pray. Dr. Luther responds by writing a letter to the barber (a letter that we know today as the book, A Simple Way to Pray!). The barber’s life is changed as he encounters a model for prayer by using the Lord’s Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Apostles’ Creed.

R. C. Sproul’s beautifully illustrated story will engage children and help them learn to pray according to the Bible. Dr. Sproul’s unique gift for explaining complex truths will make this a treasured book to be returned to time after time—a delight for both children and their parents!

Although this is a children's book, in our home it was enjoyed more by the adults. The concept of using the Lord's Prayer or the Ten Commandments as a model for my prayers is very thought provoking. Although I haven't put it into action, I'm considering it.

In terms of a children's book, I would say it is o.k. It might be understood by a older child or one studying that part of church history. To me, it lacked the story element that some of R. C. Sproul's other children's books have.

The illustrations are absolutely beautiful. Except, as my husband pointed out, they portrayed Jesus very culturally inaccurate.........with a mullet.

I received this book free from Crossway in exchange for an honest review.

A Great Resource: Operation World

2011-10-31T17:04:00.000-07:00

Do you want to know the religious makeup of Morocco? The population of Kyrgyzstan? Or perhaps specific ways to pray for those in Panama?

This is the type of information you can find in Operation World: The Definitive Prayer Guide to Every Nation.

After I finished reading Beyond the Veils of Yemen I reached for this book so I could learn more about about Yemen. I learned that it is a conservative Muslim country based on shrai'a law with very little religious freedom, is one of the poorest Arab countries and only 30% of the women can read So today I'm praying for Yemen. And in a few days I have a friend who is going to Haiti. I'll be praying for Haiti.

This is a wonderful resource that I recommend to all! Oh, and check out their website for more resources.

Book Review: Behind the Veils of Yemen

2011-10-29T17:17:00.000-07:00

I haven't been ordering many review books lately. While I love to read it takes time that I need to devote to homeschooling and being a wife and mom. Oh yeah, and cooking and cleaning. However, when I saw Behind the Veils of Yemen come through my email I knew I really wanted to read it. So I ordered it. And in God's perfect timing, the book arrived the day before we left on vacation. The perfect chance to read a good book!

Audra Shelby and her husband packed up their children (ages 2, 5 and 7 years old) and moved to Yemen as missionaries. Her desire in this Islamic country was to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with Muslim women. In this honest account, Audra shares her struggles to adjust to and understand the culture and the fears and doubts that she faced.

Sometimes when I read a missionary book, I think, "I could never do that because (insert any reason: I have young children, the heat would be more than I can bear, I don't like spicy food, etc.)." But there is a transparency in Audra's writing that made me think, "Yes, that would be difficult. She's showing that! But with God's grace I could accomplish the task task for which he has called me." She was honest with her struggles and her wrestlings with God.

Here are a sampling of her wrestlings (which my spell check says is not a word, but I rather like it)...

regarding her children...
"I had refused to accept that not only did God love my children more than I did, He also created them for His purposes, not for mine. I had wrestled until I could make no other choice but to obey or disobey God's call to Yemen. And then I submitted, reluctantly."

regarding a time when her husband was in the hospital with an very serious undiagnosed illness...
"I gritted my teeth and whispered that Kevin would get better if I believed hard enough. So I willed him to heal, not recognizing whose will my faith was pursuing."

regarding doubts...
"Lord, if I had been raised to believe Islam, would I believe Mohammed to be God's messenger as strongly as I believe Jesus is the Messiah? The question was like a worm eating at my faith."

This book was an encouragement to me. It made the lives and struggles of missionaries more tangible to me. And, in that way, I feel better equipped to pray for them. In addition, I have a greater understanding of the Islamic culture and beliefs and how to pray for them. What greater result can a book have than to drive us to our knees in prayer!

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Desiring God DVD

2011-09-10T12:46:00.000-07:00

Generally, I'm not a big fan of watching a movie before (or instead of) reading the book. But, in this case, I made an exception.

Desiring God, the book, has been on my bookshelf for years and years. I've started it several times but never made it past the first chapter. So, I was excited about the opportunity to review Desiring God, the DVD.

Contents
In a nutshell, the contents of this DVD revolve around defining and understanding Christian hedonism and "will help individuals and groups understand that the supreme calling of life is to "glorify God by enjoying Him forever." (from product description)

Organization
This DVD contains a series of lectures, designed for personal or group study. Each section is about 20-25 minutes long. Ideally, the DVD would be used with the DVD study guide, which is not included but purchased separately. I did not have the study guide and since I like to take notes (weird, I know), it would have been helpful not only to cement the information but also to see where he was going sometimes. Pastor Piper did use an overhead projector that he scribbled notes on, which I fould helpful. (For my younger readers, this is an overhead projector. It's just one more casualty in a world of Powerpoint and iPads.)

Summary
Overall, I think this is a valuable resource. I personally wouldn't spend $30 for personal use but perhaps it would be a reasonable investment for a group study.

I received this book free from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Putting Others First (DVD)

2011-08-27T16:27:00.000-07:00

From the publisher:

Using colorful animation, fun characters, and great lessons, Paws & Tales is an exciting tool for helping build godly character into kids. Based on the Paws & Tales national broadcast radio program presented by Chuck Swindoll’s Insight for Living, the Paws & Tales videos communicate biblical truth and show kids how they can apply it to real life. Kids will be captivated by the adventure, caught up in the laughter, and carried away in the fun . . . and the whole time they’ll be on their way to understanding solid Bible theology. This fourth DVD in the series is based on Matthew 22:39 and Philippians 2:3 and includes two episodes that teach kids about putting others first. In episode #1, “A Race against Time,” CJ and Staci risk disappointing Paw Paw Chuck to help someone in need. In episode #2, “The Hire Principle,” Tiffany learns to put the feelings of others ahead of her own.

My girls and I have periodically listened to the Paws & Tales radio show and have found it mildly entertaining. (You can listen online at His Kids Radio.) So, when I had the opportunity to review the video, I thought the girls would enjoy it.

Well, they watched it once, but no one has asked to watch it a second time. And I'm not offering.

The first episode, which was based on Matthew 22:39, was pretty good. The kids make selfish choice and choose to not help someone in need. In the end, they have another chance and this time make the right choice. The second episode, however... AGH! This episode revolved around a spoiled girl and how she blackmailed her friends to get what she wanted. It was like watching 25 minutes of Nellie Olson. You know, Nellie from Little House on the Prairie. Painful. Simply painful.

There are other DVD's available in this series and I wouldn't be opposed to watching them. However, I would not recommend this one in particular.

I received this book free from Tyndale in exchange for an honest review.

Review: The Hardest Thing To Do

2011-08-09T17:07:00.000-07:00

I read very few fiction books. And the books I chose are almost never written in this century or even the previous. However, when I was given the chance to review this book I accepted and I'm glad that I did!

The Hardest Thing To Do is set in a fourteenth-century monastery. The author skillfully draws the reader into the lives of the monks and their struggle with "the hardest thing to do." For some monks, the hardest thing to do is to forgive an enemy. For others, it is to see another person's point of view. And for still others, the novices, the hardest thing to do is to close the door without making a sound.

This book did not have me sitting on the edge of my seat, racing through it to see would happen next. But that is a good thing. In fact, I read it rather slowly because the writing was so good.

In the following excerpt, the Abbot (basically the head monk) is wrestling with an important decision while his assistant, Brother Thomas, is angry with Abbot John over another matter.

Normally he (Abbot John) would have sought an opinion from Brother Thomas, but at the present time he felt reluctant to ask him anything. As (Abbott) John sat at his table perusing this letter among so many others, Brother Thomas was cleaning the abbot's lodging in loud silence. It is hard to rebuke a brother for silence. Monks are supposed to keep silence. Rules are a convenient refuge at times.

I love the last three sentences! And the writing is like this all the way through.

The Hardest Thing To Do is the fourth book in the Hawk and the Dove series. I have not read the first three books but they have been recommended to me many, many times. The author does provide a character list in the front and a glossary of terms which makes reading the book out of order doable. If you can, start with the first book. If you can't, read this book anyway. It is a gem!

I received this book free from Crossway in exchange for an honest review.

Review: It Couldn't Just Happen

2011-07-18T14:01:00.000-07:00

From the publisher:
This four-color, Gold Medallion Book Award winner is a perfect tool that offers solid, biblical answers to some of the tough questions kids ask about evolution and our world.

“Did Earth begin with a ‘Big Bang’ cosmic explosion?”

“Does science contradict the Bible?”

“What happened to dinosaurs?”

“Is there life on other planets?”

“Did we evolve from apes?”

“What makes my body work on its own?”

Kids are daily exposed to the theory of evolution by the media and public schools. It’s not safe to assume that your kids will reject that theory. It’s up to us as parents and Christian leaders to make sure our children know the truth about the creation of the world. With thousands of evidences to prove He created and sustains the universe, It Couldn’t Just Happen will fascinate kids with fun activities and examples of God’s marvelous works.

I vacillated over whether or not I should order this book for a review. A few reviewers on Amazon had given the book less than glowing reviews claiming that it was full of scientific inaccuracies. However, the lesson I learned was that you can't trust everything you read in a review (present company excluded, of course).

It Couldn't Just Happen is divided into 5 parts: Earth in Our Universe, How Life Began, Evidence from Living Things, Humanity in God's Nature and The Book That Didn't Just Happen. Each part ends with a "Just For Fun" section which contains 5 questions or activities to help the child dig deeper into the concepts that were covered.

I was sort of expecting the layout of the book to be similar to Usborne or DK, however it was not. It had more the feel of a encyclopedia with words dominating the page. The writing style is easy to read, though sometimes a tad bit dry especially on the section on the planets.

There were some errors in the book which is little surprising considering that this is the revised edition. For example, "two parts of oxygen combined with one of hydrogen produces water." (page 34) Hmm, how did that slip by the proofreader? However, I don't think there were nearly as many errors as some have claimed and another reviewer did a good job of responding to the claims.

All in all, I'd give it an "ok" rating.

I received this book free from Booksneeze.com in exchange for an honest review.

Quote: All A Mistake?

2011-07-17T17:21:00.000-07:00

I was browsing my bookshelves this afternoon looking for books I've read more than once (that's for another post :-) when I found this dog eared friend. Here was one of the pages that I had marked.

"It is easy to conclude, when things turn out badly, that it was all a mistake to begin with.

The facts of the gospel do not bear this out. Think of Jesus' choice of apostles. He spent a whole night in prayer before He made his selection. Judas was one of his choices. Peter affirmed, in his sermon on the day of Pentecost, "He was one of our number and had his place in this ministry" (Acts 1:17 NEB). Things could not have turned out worse for him or for Jesus because of him, yet Scripture nowhere suggests that the original choice was a mistake. Judas was still a man, still free to sin.

When we must make decisions, we should bring to bear on them scriptural principles, prayer, and all the intelligence God has dealt out to us. Then we must go on quietly in faith, knowing that the results of our obedience are God's responsibility, not ours."

~excerpt from A Lamp Unto My Feet by Elisabeth Elliot, page 165

Review: Give Them Grace

2011-07-07T18:30:00.000-07:00

Give Them Grace is parenting book written by mother/daughter team Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson. But this is not your typical parenting book. There are no formulas, checklists or quid pro quo assurances that good parenting will produce good children. In fact, trying to produce "good" children is exactly what we shouldn't be doing. If our children have (the appearance of) goodness without the gospel, they have nothing.

"It's the premise of this book that the primary reason the majority of kids from Christian homes stray from the faith is that they never really heard it or had it to begin with. They were taught that God wants them to be good, that poor Jesus is sad when they disobey, and that asking Jesus into their heart is the breadth and depth of the gospel message." page 18

And that is where grace comes in. The authors will challenge you to infuse the gospel of Christ into your parenting and to use the law to show your children their desperate need for a Savior.

Though this book doesn't offer formulas and checklists that will guarantee your success as a parent it does offer practical suggestions. Through personal stories and sample conversations the authors will help you incorporate the gospel into everyday life. However, these sample conversations are not to be memorized or read verbatim. Some reviewers complained that they are too long. I agree. But they are not meant to be read to your children. If you own the principles you won't need a script.

I wore my pencil out underlining in this book. And now that I've finished it I'm going to start it over again. It was both overwhelmingly convicting and refreshingly encouraging.

I loved this book. I needed to hear this message. Frankly, I think we all need to hear this message. Whether you are a parent or not, this book should be at the top of your reading list.

I received this book free from Crossway in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Dug Down Deep

2011-07-05T19:35:00.000-07:00

From the publisher:

Dug Down Deep is a systematic theology like you've never seen it before. Readable. Relevant. Powerful. As best-selling author Joshua Harris shares his own journey from apathetic church-kid to student with a burning passion to truly know God, you'll be challenged to dig deep into the truths of God's Word.

With humor, conviction, and compelling insight, Dug Down Deep cover the basics of faith - God, scripture, Jesus, the Cross, salvation, sanctification, the Holy Spirit, and the church. Don't settle for superficial faith; dig deep.

Format:

The author uses an style unusual for most books on doctrines. Basically, you read a page or two of personal stories and then a page or two of doctrine. So it is a biographical/theological mix. The writing style is very easy to read. The author uses a lot of sentence fragments. On purpose. Unfortunately. I prefer complete sentences. But, I get that this is an issue of style.

This edition of the book includes a reflection and discussion guide at the end of the book. This would be a great resource if you were going through this book in discipling a younger person or with a group. He also includes a recommended reading list to further explore specific doctrines.

My thoughts:

Joshua Harris does a wonderful job of simplifying complex doctrines such as the imminence and transcendence of God, the atonement and the incarnation. There was at several spots that I marked to share with my children. For some doctrines (specifically tongues and healing) he seemed to flip-flop from page to page on what his beliefs really were. In referring to the doctrine of the Holy Spirit he said, "I'm going to do my best to skirt the controversial issues associated with him." He tried but it made for confusing reading.

The author is very candid. He openly shares how he has struggled in his journey to know what he believes and how to live it. But his candor tended to be coupled with language that was occasionally....(and I've thought long and hard about the word I'm using)....indelicate. To me it seemed unnecessary and out of place considering his topic - doctrine. (Ok, in my mind I found myself repeatedly saying, "Seriously, did you have to say it that way?")

Overall, I think that this is a valuable book for basic theology. And hopefully it would be a springboard for deeper study. However, I personally wouldn't recommend it to everyone because of the language he sometimes chooses to use.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Peril in the Palace

2011-06-25T16:34:00.000-07:00

Peril in the Palace is Book 3 in the Imagination Station series from Focus on the Family. A couple of months ago I had the opportunity to review Book 2 in the series, Attack at the Arena. My girls LOVED that book and were ecstatic when Book 3 arrived in the mail.

In Book 3, cousins Patrick and Beth go on yet another time travel assignment. This time they end up in China at the palace of Kublai Khan with famous world traveler Marco Polo. As I said in my previous review these books are "reminiscent of the Magic Tree House series in the writing style and basic format. However, where the Magic Tree House comes from an evolutionary and pluralistic worldview, The Imagination Station series is distinctively Christian."

I feel that the author does a good job of accurately presenting history without taking too many liberties. There was one historical figure that I couldn't confirm existed (a granddaughter of Kublai Khan named Beki), but she was a minor character in the book.

I would highly recommend this series. You won't be blown away by amazing writing, but I think this series is perfect if you are looking for historical easy chapter books.

I received this book free from Tyndale in exchange for an honest review.

Review: We Shall See God

2011-05-26T13:46:00.000-07:00

In We Shall See God Randy Alcorn scoured the sermons of Charles Spurgeon's and compiled his thoughts on Heaven in a devotional format. (Heaven, which according to Randy Alcorn should be capitalized because it is a real place and a proper noun. :-)

From the publisher:

No author in history has more material in print than Charles Spurgeon. During his lifetime, Spurgeon and his writings affected the world far and wide. Today, nearly 120 years after his death, countless people continue to have a passion for this London preacher, and more and more discover him every day. Some of Spurgeon’s most powerful sermons were those that he preached on the topic of Heaven. Up until now, however, very few of these sermons have been accessible to a mass audience. In what is sure to become an instant classic, best-selling author Randy Alcorn has compiled the most profound spiritual insights on the topic of eternity from these sermons and arranged them into an easily-accessible, highly inspirational devotional format complete with his own comments and devotional thoughts. Whether you are familiar with the works of Charles Spurgeon or not, you are in for a treat, as Alcorn invites you to sit at the feet of the Prince of Preachers and discover timeless pearls of wisdom from one of the greatest theological minds of all time.

Format:

The book is divided into fifty day. Each day begins with details on the sermon from which the day's reading comes, the circumstances surrounding the sermon or the life of Spurgeon at the time and a corresponding verse. Following that is the sermon excerpt and then comments from Randy Alcorn. Each day varies in length but averages 4 pages.

My thoughts:

At first, I was hesitant to "like" the fact that Alcorn was making comments on Spurgeon. In fact, I had a prejudice against these comments. After all, in his introduction he said "I resisted this [the publisher's desire for him to add additional content], primarily because I thought it presumptuous to coauthor a book with a man who not only towers over me but could not be reached for permission!" However, as I started reading the devotional I realized the great value in his comments. There were times where Spurgeon's sermon excerpt swirled in my head never landing in that place of understanding. For this reason, I was grateful for the thoughtful and clarifying commentary that Alcorn added.

I like this book. I highly recommend it.

I received this book free from Tyndale in exchange for an honest review.

Quote: If Satan Took Over

2011-05-21T05:40:00.000-07:00

"What would things look like if Satan really took control of a city? Over half a century ago, Presbyterian minister Donald Grey Barnhouse offered his own scenario in his weekly sermon that was also broadcast nationwide on CBS radio. Barnhouse speculated that if Satan took over Philadelphia (the city where Barnhouse pastored), all of the bars would be closed, pornography banished, and pristine streets would be filled with tidy pedestrians who smiled at each other. There would be no swearing. The children would say, "Yes, sir" and "No ma'am," and the churches would be full every Sunday...where Christ is not preached."

~ Christless Christianity, Michael Horton

Quote: Why the Classics Endure

2011-05-17T05:47:00.000-07:00

"In short, oddities only strike ordinary people. Oddities do not strike odd people. This is why ordinary people have a much more exciting time; while odd people are always complaining of the dulness of life. This is also why the new novels die so quickly, and why the old fairy tales endure for ever. The old fairy tale makes the hero a normal human boy; it is his adventures that are startling; they startle him because he is normal. But in the modern psychological novel the hero is abnormal; the centre is not central. Hence the fiercest adventures fail to affect him adequately, and the book is monotonous. You can make a story out of a hero among dragons; but not out of a dragon among dragons. The fairy tale discusses what a sane man will do in a mad world. The sober realistic novel of to-day discusses what an essential lunatic will do in a dull world." ~Orthodoxy, G.K. Chesterton

Quote Collection

2011-05-10T11:42:00.000-07:00

I just spent the past 25 minutes demolishing a pile of papers. Trash, file, to do. The pile is gone and I'm victorious.

In the pile I found a scrap of paper with a quote. I'm a collector a quotes, you see. However, having never established a good system they tend to float from one paper pile to another. So, I decided that as they float by me I enter them here on my blog. That way you will be encouraged or challenged and I will be more organized.

"He who grows in grace remembers that he is but dust, and he therefore does not expect his fellow Christians to be anything more. He overlooks ten thousand of their faults, because he knows his God overlooks twenty thousand in his own case. He does not expect perfection in the creature, and, therefore, he is not disappointed when he does not find it." ~Charles Spurgeon~ (source: sermon "Ripe Fruits, #945")

Giveaway Results

2011-05-07T06:42:00.000-07:00

It's Saturday!

Thanks to all who entered the giveaways this week. The winners were chosen not by a fancy shmanzy number generator but by scraps of paper. Here are the results of the two giveaways:

Sir Quinlan and the Swords of Valor - Kyle

unPlanned DVD - Katrina

CONGRATULATIONS!

Giveaway: unPlanned DVD

2011-05-03T12:53:00.000-07:00

Tyndale has provided me with a certificate good for one copy of the unPlanned DVD. This certificate can be redeemed at your local Christian bookstore or sent to Tyndale and they will mail the DVD to you. To enter, please leave a comment. I will draw one winner on Saturday, May 7.

unPlanned Preview and Webcast

2011-05-03T12:45:00.000-07:00

Here is a trailer for the documentary that I reviewed.

And, if you are interested, you can participate in a free webcast featuring Abby Johnson that will benefit pregnancy care organizations. See the Unite for Life website for more details.

Review: unPlanned

2011-05-03T10:55:00.000-07:00

Generally, I would never recommend watching a movie before you read the book. However, unPlanned is the exception. While I have not read the book, though I plan to, I found the documentary to be quite stirring. (The book has been on my library request list for over six months and there are still 30 people in front of me in line. It will be a while before I get it.)

Abby Johnson was raised in a "pro-life Christian family" where her parents taught her to "be nice, kind, make friends, do good in school." Abby did just that and was a good student, leader in her church youth group and involved in many extra-curricular activities. Fast forward a few years. Now Abby is the director of Planned Parenthood and and has personally had two abortions. How exactly does one make that leap? That was one of the questions I had when I started this DVD.

For Abby, however, it wasn't a leap. And here are some of the reasons. Abby said, "Because I'd never thought about the argument either way, I was easily swayed." And her husband said, "She was desperately seeking something to be passionate about." Abby truly, sincerely, honestly and genuinely felt that she was helping women.

Abby worked at Planned Parenthood for 8 years. And then, one day, she was called into an examining room to help with an ultrasound guided abortion. What she saw stunned her. What she saw was horrific. What she saw changed the rest of her life.

Abby said, "I couldn't believe I had lived a lie for so long. I couldn't believe I had believed a lie for so long. I couldn't believe I had spoken lies to so many women for so long. How did it get to this? How am I here? Realizing how much damage I had done in those 8 years was overwhelming."

This is the story of a sinner who was redeemed. A sinner who recognized the depth of her sin and was overwhelmed with sorrow. However, we serve a God who can take the broken pieces of our past and use them for good. Abby left Planned Parenthood and not fights for life and helping women in crisis.

There is much to be learned from Abby's story. First, after Abby saw abortion for what it really was, she turned to the pro-lifers who had been standing on the other side the fence at her clinic for help. She turned to them because they had been a "quiet, consistent, loving presence." They were willing to speak the truth in love. Second, I think we can benefit greatly by understanding the reason that Abby was involved in supporting the abortion industry. She really believed that she was helping women. She really was deceived. We need to pray for the women who turn to abortion because they feel there is no other option. But, we also need to pray for the abortion workers that their eyes may be opened.

I received this DVD free from Tyndale in exchange for an honest review.

Giveaway: Sir Quinlan and the Swords of Valor

2011-04-30T07:54:00.000-07:00

After having read my review of Sir Quinlan and the Swords of Valor, you may be tempted to go and buy a copy. But wait! I have one book to give away.

To enter, simple leave a comment below. I will randomly choose a winner next Saturday, May 7.

(And stay tuned....I have another giveaway planned for next week!)

Review: Sir Quinlan and the Swords of Valor

2011-04-30T07:36:00.000-07:00

Sir Quinlan, a man plaqued with self-doubt and an annoying facial twitch, is not the type of man that most people would choose to be a great knight. Indeed, his first attempt ended in utter failure. However, he had an important quality that transcends any skill - a loyalty to the Prince and a willingness to give his life in service to him. (For a more thorough description see the Amazon product description.)

I'm not a big fan of stories with battles. I tend to skim the battles to get to the dialogue. However, I know so many people who love this series of books that I decided to find out what all the fuss was about. What did I think? I really liked it.

The author writes in an engaging style and is able to keep the book moving at a fast pace without losing the reader. The battles are not long and drawn out (thankfully) but actually quite interesting to read. A fair amount of the story builds on the first four books in the series and the previous series, The Kingdom series. I had the nagging feeling that I was missing things because I had not read the previous books. However, my husband had read all of the books and was always willing to fill me in. (I think it was short sighted for Waterbrook Multnomah to offer this as a review book in their Blogging for Books program. They should have offered the first book in the series, not the fifth.)

The story is an allegory. If you flip to the end of the book and read the discussion questions and answers as you go, you will gain a better understanding of the whole story. The author does a brilliant job of symbolically representing the vice of apathy through the use of ______________. (Sorry, I can't tell you. My husband says it is a spoiler.) The author commentary in the back of the book explains his purpose for the story.

"Apathy is one of the deadliest sins. The Lord has strong words of warning for believers who fall into a lifestyle of apathetic behavior. Apathy spreads to others and hinders God's work. It also destroys the witness of a believer by demonstrating to the rest of the world that God's people appear to be no different than anyone else.

One might think the cause of apathy is laziness, and that is sometimes true. But apathy more often results from spiritual blindness and worldly distraction. One of the most frustrating challenges for a parent, teacher, or pastor is to motivate young people out of apathy and into a vibrant and productive Christian walk. Sir Quinlan and the Swords of Valor attempts to accomplish this by showing the contrast between two knights who choose different paths- one of apathy and one of purpose. There is great reward both here and in heaven for those who choose to live a life of purpose for Jesus Christ. It is my heart that this book will encourage people of all ages to live such a life."

The strength of this book lies not in the writing syle, or choice of words, or the original plot. All of which are quite good. No, the strength lies in the message that the author is communicating. A message that we can all relate to. What distracts me from serving the King? It is a sobering question.

I received this book free in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Amish Prayers

2011-04-29T12:47:00.000-07:00

Amish Prayers by Beverly Lewis is a translation of selected prayers from the Germen prayer book Die Ernsthafte Christenpflicht. This prayer book, published in 1708, has remained unchanged since its first printing. The prayers are topically sorted (Prayers for a New Day, Prayers for Divine Guidance, Prayers of Gratitude) and contain a related scripture verse with each prayer.

My main interest in reviewing this book was to gain a better understanding of what the Amish believe theologically. Reading their prayers, I was able to understand a little of what they believe. The prayers are reveal and deep yearning to follow the Lord in all ways. Here is a sample prayer from the chapter titled "Prayers of Repentance."

Lord, I have been disobedient. I confess this with a humble heart and come to you like a child to his father and say: I am heartily afraid because of my great sin. I have sinned, O Father, and done evil before you. Oh, have mercy on me, I beg you from the bottom of my heart, and save me from my temptation. O Father, comfort me again with your fatherly aid. I call on you from my heart like David, dear God and Father! Create in me a clean heart like David, dear God and Father! Create in me a clean heart, O God, and give me a right spirit, that I may from this day forward serve you humbly and wholeheartedly in love and trust, in safety, and with childlike hope. Amen.

Amish Prayers contains beautiful illustrations. However, for a prayer book I found them distracting. The illustrations are focused on the Amish and the prayers are focused on the Lord. They seem to be competing with one another.

I received this book free in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Rediscovering Church Fathers

2011-04-22T14:32:00.000-07:00

I am grateful to Crossway for the opportunity to review Rediscovering Church Fathers: Who They Were and How They Shaped the Church by Michael Haykin. I am no theologian. When I received this book and saw the accolades on the back cover from really smart people I thought, "Yikes! I'm sunk. Why did I agree to read and review this book?" However, my fears were completely unfounded. This book is well written and quite accessible for even the non-theologian.

From the publisher:

While history never repeats itself exactly, there is deep wisdom we can glean and apply to the church today. Michael Haykin, author of Rediscovering the Church Fathers explains, “the early centuries of the Church saw Christianity threatened by a number of theological heresies [and] many of these heresies has reappeared from time to time in the long history of Christianity. Knowledge of the way that Christians in the past defended the faith against Gnosticism would provide helpful ways of responding to Postmodern spirituality today."

The intent of the author was not simply to provide biographical sketches of church fathers. Had he done that I may have walked away with interesting trivia (Origen's mother hid his clothes, thereby forcing him to stay home, so he couldn't join his father in prison). However, beyond trivia there would be no real application. Instead, Haykin chose his subjects not based on the interesting lives that they led, but as the above quote states, the heresies that they dealt with.

"What was critical was not primarily the choice of figures but the issues that they wrestled with in their lives as believers, for these issue are central to the Patristic era: martyrdom, monasticism, and discipleship; witness to an unbelieving world and mission; the canon and interpretation of Scripture; and the supreme issue of this era, the doctrine of the Trinity and worship." page 29

By choosing his figures in this manner, I found it quite easy to make application to today. Indeed, the author stated in the first chapter that one of the reasons that we should reading the church fathers was "as an aid in defending the faith." (page 22)

The following chapter list will give you a better idea of his choice of figures.
1. Rediscovering the Church Fathers: A Vital Need for Evangelicals
2. Dying for Christ: The Thought of Ignatius of Antioch
3. Sharing the Truth: The Letter to Diognetus
4. Interpreting the Scriptures: The Exegesis of Origen
5. Being Kissed: The Eucharistic Piety of Cyprian and Ambrose
6. Being Holy and Renouncing the World: The Experience of Basil of Caesarea
7. Saving the Irish: The Mission of Patrick
8. Walking with the Church Fathers: My First Steps on a Lifelong Journey

There are three specific things that I like about this book. First, the author spends the first chapter detailing the reasons that we should study the church fathers. I think that is very profitable (and very professor-like) because it caused me to read the book with specific purposes in mind. Second, the book is heavily footnoted at the bottom of every page. I hate footnotes at the end of the book and having to flip back and forth. Most people probably don't bother but I'm a die hard footnote reader. By putting them within the book the author is saying, "This is important. It is here for you to read." Second, I love the writing style. If this professor teaches in the same manner that he writes, I'm sure that his classes fill quickly. His writing style is conversational and engaging. He doesn't dumb down the material but he certainly doesn't make it more difficult than it needs to be. (Really smart people can sometimes unintentionally do the latter.)

This is a book that I'm glad I have on my bookshelf. I would highly recommend it to you.

I received this book free from Crossway in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Johann Sebastian Bach

2011-04-13T20:00:00.000-07:00

Johann Sebastian Bach is a scholarly and thorough work authored by Rick Marschall. The book boldly and refreshingly details how Bach's strong faith in the Lord drove his musical creations. An interesting fact that I learned was that Bach wrote Jesu, juva (Jesus help me) at the beginning of every composition and ended it with S.D.G (short for Soli Deo Gloria, to God alone be the glory). So, really, to write about Back you must write about his faith. And the author did that.

I know very little of Bach or the times that he lived in and was anticipating this book would be gentle introduction to his life. However, I found the book to be too detailed. The reading was, for me, laborious and (a true confession coming) I couldn't finish it. The author's style of writing included long sentences with lots of commas or fragments. I found both equally toilsome to read.

And now I feel that I've been too severe. In the author's defense, he has written many books. I have written none. But, as a matter of preference, I did not prefer this book. However, I know someone who probably would enjoy a good book about Bach. So, I will send it to him and if he says it is a good book, I will post his opinion on my blog. And his opinion will trump mine.

I received this book free from Booksneeze.com in exchange for an honest review.

Review: His Word in my Heart

2011-04-08T14:46:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the most profound things are simply common sense. And so it is with this book. There is no new method or 3-step plan to help you memorize scripture. Instead, this book shares the heart of one women and some practical ways that helped to her memorize entire books of the Bible.

Why memorize passages and book instead of random verses in Scripture? Janet Pope offers two main reasons. First, you are able to keep maintain the context and avoid misinterpretation. The author uses the example of John 3:16.

"Would you be surprised to know that one verse, Johns 3:16, has given many people a false assurance of their salvation? How could this be? Because they don't know the context in which the verse is found. If they knew John 3 in its entirety, they would know that

you must be born again (vv. 3-7)
those who know and believe the truth will have deeds that prove their belief (vv. 19-21)
those who believe have eternal life; but those who do not obey the Son of God shall not see life but God's wrath abides in them (v. 36)

By memorizing verses 1-21 instead of verse 16 by itself, you will avoid misinterpretation because you will get the entire conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus."

Second, memorizing passage and books focuses us on God's character instead of ourselves. When we choose to memorize individual verses, we often pick verses that are self-focused.

Why do I like this book soooooo much?

First, the author has a genuine humility. This is a women who has memorized 90 chapters of scripture and yet, I feel she can relate to my experience of standing in the grocery store aisle trying to remember what I came to buy. She isn't a genius, but an average women who desires to grow in her love and knowledge of Christ.

The second reason that I like this book is that it walks you through memorizing Psalm 1 and the book of Titus. For me, it is essential that I put into practice what I am learning immediately or I would never get around to it.

This book is the most influential book that I read last year. Memorizing scripture has become a delight to me and I have grown in my knowledge and love of the Lord. If you only read one book this year, let it be this one. And, if you are not sure if you want to spend $10.80 on the book, you can go here , here and here to listen to three programs that the author recorded about her book on Revive Our Hearts with Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Disclaimer: I bought this book with my own money. No one gave it to me. And I would do it again!

Review: A Deeper Kind of Calm

2011-04-02T10:46:00.000-07:00

A Deeper Kind of Calm, by Linda Dillow, is subtitled Steadfast Faith in the Midst of Adversity. In this short book, the author exposes the main theme of four Psalms with the purpose of teaching us to biblically respond during our "valley of weeping." The four Psalms and their themes are:

Psalm 77 - The Song of Holy Remebrance (I remember)
Psalm 46 - The Song of Holy Confidence (I hide)
Psalm 63 - The Song of Holy Longing (I cling)
Psalm 84 - The Song of Holy Pilgrimage (I journey)

I really appreciated that this book did not follow a man created power of positive thinking model, but was instead fully centered around the Bible. A four week Bible study included helps you to dig even further into different passages that relate to the Psalms.

As with any book, I would encourage you to read with discernment. I rarely fully agree with everything an author says.

Disclaimer: I received this book free from NavPress in exchange for an honest review.

Books for Girls (and boys, too!)

2011-03-25T18:59:00.000-07:00

Our library hides the good books. Maybe not on purpose, but the books are hidden nonetheless. Walter the Farting Dog is front and center on the shelf, but Angus Lost is no where to be seen.

And so, if you want a good book, you have to know what it is called and actively seek it out.

Here is a small sampling of some of our favorite authors and books. (These are primarily chapter books.)

Books/series

The Moffets (series)- Eleanor Estes
All of a Kind Family (series) - Sidney Taylor A Jewish family living in New York prior to WWI. Great way to introduce Jewish holidays in a story format as the book details how the family celebrates.
Happy Little Family (series) - Rebecca Caudill I just found out that this book is one book in the "Fairchild Family Story" series. Caudill also wrote "The Best-Loved Doll" which is one of my favorite picture books for little girls.
Flat Stanley (series) - Jeff Brown
Mr. Popper's Penquins
Homer Price - Robert Mccloskey Look for more books by this author, too!
Understood Betsy - Dorothy Fisher
Captive Treasure - Milly Howard (BJU Press)
Just So Stories - Rudyard Kipling
The Miller Family series These are not available from the library so I have linked them. My girls love them and teach character qualities from a Biblical perspective. My good friend, Kris Hage, wrote a workbook that goes with the series.
Emily's Runaway Imagination - Beverly Cleary (I wouldn't recommend all of her books but this one is good.)

Authors

Patricia St. John
Alice Dalgliesh
Clyde Robert Bulla
Lois Walfrid Johnson A Minnesota author. Series include Viking Quest and Adventures in the Northwoods.
Francis Hodgson Burnett

Booklists

Five in a Row

Beyond Five in a Row
Paula's Archives - History Books
Paula's Archives - Science
1000 Good Book List
Sonlight

I rarely agree with everything that an author writes. For example, the Miller series (which we love!) listed above is written and published by Mennonites. The stories in the books have spurned great discussions regarding some of our different beliefs. I encourage you to keep an open dialogue with your children about what they are reading.

Review: Attack at the Arena

2011-03-23T12:06:00.000-07:00

Attack at the Arena is Book 2 in The Imagination Station series from Focus on the Family. Cousins Patrick and Beth, with the help of Mr. Whittaker's mysterious invention, are whisked away on time a travel adventure that takes them to ancient Rome. The search for a silver cup, the bird loving Emperor Honorius, a wise monk and the Roman arena set the stage for this story.

This book was a surprising gem. It skillfully blends adventure and history at a level that can be easily read by a young child. (The Flesch-Kincaid grade level is 2.3.) It is reminiscent of the Magic Tree House series in the writing style and basic format. However, where the Magic Tree House comes from an evolutionary and pluralistic worldview, The Imagination Station series is distinctively Christian. We are currently studying ancient Rome in our homeschool and this is a perfect addition! I assigned two chapters today and they read the whole book in one sitting.

There is currently one other book available in this series (Voyage with the Vikings) and two more that are yet to be released (Revenge of the Red Night and Peril in the Palace).

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. But, rest assured the opinions are all mine!

Review: Time4Learning

2011-03-22T09:28:00.000-07:00

Time4Learning is a online educational program for preschool, elementary and middle school. It includes math, language arts, and science and social studies for most grades. Click here for a demo.

HOW IT WORKS After your child logs in, they are presented with several icons to choose from. A third grader, for example, would choose between Language Extensions, Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies. Clicking on one of these will bring them through a series of "icon menus." You can have your student do the lessons in order or you can assign specific lessons. If a student clicks on their backpack (called "My Portfolio") on the home page, they are able to see the lessons that they've complete for the day, week and month.

After the student has completed their "lesson time" (the parent sets a specific number of minutes) the student can go to the "playground." This was my girls favorite part. The playground has various websites that have kid's games and activities.

This process is very independent. Except for logging in, my 4 year old was able to navigate through the site quite easily.

WHAT WE THOUGHT We were able to use this website for a month in exchange for an honest review. We used it with a preschooler, 3rd grader and 5th grader. Here is what we thought about the different levels:

Preschool- The preschool has two different levels - Level One and Level Two. I liked the format a lot because it was super easy to navigate, but the activities were too easy for my daughter. I would not say that she is advanced, but she knows her color and can read "The cat sat on a dog." I sent an email to Time4Learning and requested that they change her grade level to K. The response was very fast, the level was switched and it was a better fit for her skills.

My preschooler loved the program. It was entertaining but educational. If you are going to allow your preschooler computer time (which I'm not necessarily endorsing), I think this program would be beneficial.

Lower and Upper Levels- In the context of our family, we were reviewing this program as a supplement to homeschooling. In other words, after all of the regular schoolwork was finished they were able to use Time4Learning. Sometimes I assigned the work (predicate nominatives and fractions :-) and other times I would allow them to choose something. If you were using it for a full year, you could just have them start at the beginning and have them do x number of lessons per day. The scope and sequence is very thorough. You can view it here. The lessons were generally presented in one of two ways. Either the student would read the text from the screen and take a multiple choice quiz or it was animated and interactive. To my girls, the former was rather dry and the latter was a sensory overload experience. But, because their computer time is limited they seemed willing to endure the lessons to get to the playground.

Conclusion Time4Learning has some wonderful qualities and I can see it working well for some families. If you are searching for a computer curriculum, I would definitely research this program and try some of the demos. I personally know of a homeschooling family where both parents work full time and they use and love Time4Learning. However, for us it was not a good fit. While my girls are not above being entertained by flickerings of the screen, when it comes to really learning something, they would much prefer that you just hand them a book. Hmm, now where did they get that?

Book Resources

2011-03-18T15:57:00.000-07:00

Where to find good used books:

Half Price Books - Sign up on their mailing list to receive coupons.
Thrift stores - I've found independent stores a better source (as opposed to Goodwill, etc).
Paperbackswap.com - For every book that you ship to a member, you receive a credit. You can use that credit to order a book from another member. You only pay shipping. The secret (shh!) is to mail very light books in order to build up your credits inexpensively. Thin children books are perfect for this if you have them around your house. Be sure to add books to your wish list. When they are available you will receive an email with the option to order it.

Other good stuff:

LibraryThing An online catalog of the books you own. To add books, simply enter the title or ISBN in the search box. A list of results will appear. Click on the title you want to add. You can also add a book manually.

Bookfinder Use to find and compare prices on new and used books.

What are your favorite book resources?

Giveaways

2011-03-15T17:29:00.000-07:00

Enter to win the following:

Phonics Museum Reading Curriculum ($210 Value) from Raising Homemakers

Ten Days of Parenting Giveaways from Doorposts (I love this company and am excited about their new blog.)

Review: The Story of the Bible

2011-03-15T08:54:00.000-07:00

I was very excited to receive this book free from Booksneeze.com in exchange for an honest review. I was not disappointed!

The Story of The Bible by Larry Stone is a concise history of the Bible as a book beginning with papyrus scrolls through the modern translations. The back cover describes the book as "a sweeping panorama of the Bible's 3,500-year history." The book is an overview and does move rapidly, but with a writing style that is readable and engaging.

The book itself is a beautiful, large hardcover with color illustrations and pictures on waxy paper. It includes 23 removable inserts depicting life-size reproductions of various Bibles. A full color timeline is included on the front and back inside cover.

I enjoyed this book immensely and look forward to using it in our homeschool as we study church history. Many stories are summarized (the book does cover 3,500 years in less then 100 pages) but this will provide an great jumping off point for further studies. The book's website will be one of our resources.

I've read other reviews of this book stating it would make a great coffee table book. I disagree. No one reads coffee table books. They browse, peruse, use it to set their coffee on...but they don't read them. This book is meant to be read!

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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Review: Plain Truth

2011-03-03T08:01:00.000-08:00

I have a confession to make. I requested this book because of the recipes. There are only nineteen included, but I’m excited to try them.

Plain Wisdom is co-written by two friends, Cindy Woodsmall and Miriam Flaud. One is Old Order Amish and one is not. Each chapter has a common theme with a section written by each woman. Usually the ladies share a story and then what they learned. The back of the book includes a discussion guide.

This was an enjoyable, light reading book. Not the type of book I usually read. But, worth it for the recipes.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

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Ungodliness

2011-03-01T20:43:00.000-08:00

I am currently reading Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges for a ladies Bible study. Last night, I read chapter 7, where he describes ungodliness as follows (emphasis mine):

Ungodliness and wickedness are not the same. A person may be a nice, respectable citizen and still be an ungodly person....Ungodliness describes an attitude toward God. Ungodliness may be defined as living one's everyday life with little or no thought of God, or of God's will, or of God's glory, or of one's dependence on God.

Ungodliness is not out there somewhere. It is right here in my own home, in my own heart.

This morning I opened my email and found the following devotional from Revive Our Hearts.

Perfect Peace

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: If there ever was a woman who had it rough, it was Hannah Whitall Smith. This author from the late 1800s was married to a preacher who proved to be emotionally unstable and was repeatedly unfaithful. Two of her five children died of scarlet fever. One daughter left a husband and ran off with an artist. Another daughter married an outspoken atheist. Hannah herself suffered from crippling arthritis. In the midst of all these problems, here’s what she wrote:

Hannah Whitall Smith: We must choose, without any regard to the state of our emotions, what attitude we will take toward God. We must recognize that our emotions are only the servants of our will.

Nancy: Hannah Smith refused to let her life become controlled by her emotions no matter what the circumstances. Are you letting your emotions control you? Or are you letting God control your emotions?

With Seeking Him, I’m Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

I have been meditating on my own ungodliness. I am often whisked through my days on the waves of my emotions. My desire to live my days with thoughts of God, of God's will, of God's glory and of my dependence of God!

Review: The Sequin Bible

2011-02-25T18:16:00.000-08:00

The Sequin Bible, an International Children’s Bible (ICB) translation, is bright, glittery, and eye catching. For some girls, it might be a fun Bible to carry to church. But will it be as inviting to read it as it is to carry it?

The ICB is a translation, not a paraphrase or story Bible. It is written at about a 3^rd grade reading level. Sentences are short and uncomplicated. I am not very familiar with this translation so I can’t comment on its accuracy. The preface to the Bible details the unique features of the translation.

This Bible is actually a very durable, with a sewn binding and appliques that are firmly in place. The scratchy, stiff cover does not appear to be easily destroyed. The cover does have glitter on it, but not for long, because soon it will be on your hands, dress, couch, etc. I experienced that first hand. While your opinion may differ, I found this to be a very ostentatious Bible.

The inside of the Bible contains the following: full color presentation page (one, not four as the product description says), preface, table of contents, Old and New Testments, dictionary, Where do I find it? page, What God Promises About…page and four maps. Of the features, the dictionary was the most helpful and the maps were, well…kind of pathetic. I feel that the font size is too small which may discourage reading it at any length.

The Sequin Bible could be greatly improved: larger font, book introductions, headings, better maps, a page with a clear gospel presentation, etc. They seemed to have spent more time planning the outside than the inside.

My conclusion: if you are looking for a Bible for your child to read or study, I would look elsewhere.

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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Upcoming Review: Time4Learning

2011-02-23T10:47:00.000-08:00

I've been invited to try Time4Learning for one month in exchange for a candid review. My opinion will be entirely my own, so be sure to come back and read about my experience. Time4Learning is an online educational program that can be used in many ways including as a homeschooling curriculum orafterschool tutorial. Find out how to write your own curriculum review for Time4Learning.

The Chase by Jerry Bridges

2011-02-16T18:00:00.000-08:00

Depend upon it, you and I do not grow holy by going to sleep. People are not made to

grow in grace as plants grow, of which it is said, “They grow ye know not how.” The

Christian is developed by actively seeking growth, by earnestly striving after holiness,

and resolutely endeavouring to obtain it. - C.H. Spurgeon

The Chase by Jerry Bridges is adapted from the classic, The Pursuit of Holiness, by the same author. The content is the same but it is written for a younger audience. This book is about how to chase after holiness, or become more Christlike, in our everyday lives.

The Chase is written in the dialect of today's teen. I found this distracting because apparently I, now in my 30's, no longer speak this language. Phrases such as, "before that totally trips you up" and "but don't get all bummed out" are commonplace in this book. The content, however, is excellent and applicable to everyone. This book is serious about calling sin what it is - sin. The author also does a great job of offering practical ways to pursue holiness.

This book would be a wonderful resource in discipling a young person. A short study guide in the back of the book would have been valuable addition to aid this goal. Perhaps if they revise the book when the language becomes outdated (:-) they can add this feature.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

What I've Been Reading

2011-02-13T13:42:00.000-08:00

I finished Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands by Tedd Tripp which I was reading with Katrina. It is an excellent book packed with Biblical tools to help anyone help anyone. (No, I didn't stutter.) This book was packed with a lot of information. Almost too much to absorb the first time through. Fortunately, I am going to be reading another book by Tedd Tripp, Age of Opportunity, which I'm sure will review and build on some of the things I already read.

In the Bible I finished Genesis and Galations and moved onto Exodus, Luke, Proverbs and the Psalms. My method is a bit unconventional. Instead of following a Bible reading schedule, I choose an OT and NT book, read at least a chapter from each daily, and mark it on a form similar to this. Finishing a book results in a reward. No, not cookies. I get to take a colored pencil and color in all the little boxes that I marked off. I don't know why, but this is intensely motivating to me.

Homeschooling....I've been reading quite a bit about high school. I read Homeschooling High School and perused Senior High: A Home Designed Form-U-LA along with several articles online.

I'm finishing a book called The Chase by Jerry Bridges which I will write a review on. The jury is still out on if I will give it a thumbs up or a thumbs down. And, for my classic, I'm reading The Adventures and Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. It is nice light reading for when I'm tired.

What are you reading? ("you" being my one reader :-)

Voices of the Faithful

2011-02-04T17:36:00.000-08:00

Voices of the Faithful, Book 2, is a one year devotional book of "inspiring stories of courage from Christians serving around the world." The stories and monthly introductions were compiled by Kim P. Davis and the series creator is Beth Moore. Every day has a Scripture verse (interestingly enough, from a mix of translations), a short story and a scripted prayer. The months have a theme which all of the stories center on. For example, the theme for January is “Prayer, The Priority.”

Since this book was intended to be read on a daily basis over the period of a year, I chose to read several sections throughout the book for this review. The chapter introductions that were written by Kim Davis were well written and thought provoking. They were longer than the daily readings and more in depth. The daily readings were, well, short. Just as you were getting into the story, it would end. I also think that they missed a golden opportunity to have a really clear gospel message. There is a page buried way in the back that tries to accomplish this but really misses the mark.

Missionary Books

2011-01-25T17:26:00.000-08:00

Consider the following statistics (source: http://www.wycliffe.org/About/Statistics.aspx )

6,900+	...the number of languages spoken in the world today
Almost 2,100	...the number of languages without any of the Bible, but with a possible need of a Bible translation to begin
340,000,000+	...the number of people who speak the 2,100 languages where translation projects have not yet begun

Unbelievable! I had no idea until I read the following missionary stories of Wycliffe Bible translators.

Mission Possible by Marilyn Laszlo

Marilyn Laszlo, a farm girl from Indiana, felt the Lord calling her to bring the gospel to those who had not heard. Through a series of events she came to live with the Sepik Iwam people in Papua New Guina. She learned their language, created a system of writing for it, and taught them to read and write. After that, she started the long process of translating the Bible into their language. In 1988, after two decades of work, the Bible translation was complete. This book details the process.

I found the book to do an excellent job of explaining the process of completing a translation. However, the story tends to jump large periods of time and I was also hard pressed to really find a clear gospel message. I would recommend it, though, to get a better understanding of people groups who do not have the Bible in their own language.

They Dared to Be Different by Hugh Steven

from the back of the book:
"To deviate is to die." For the Chamula people of southern Mexico, tradition is everything. Any Chamula who challenges the authority of the elder is considered a threat to the community. The elders dictate personal dress, house building and social or religious practices including drinking sugarcne rum and sacrificing chickens to their gods on special days. If anyone turns from the ways of the ancestors, they risk banishment or death.

After years of working among the Chamulas, Wycliffe translators Ken and Elaine Jacobs saw the fruit of God's Word through changed lives. Many Chamulas dared to obey God and followed Him.

Similar to Mission Possible, this book is about Wycliffe Bible translators that brought the Word of God to a people group that did not have it. But that is where the similarities end. They Dared to Be Different is a gripping book written from the perspective of a Chamula man, Manuel, who is redeemed from the depravity of sin. The gospel is woven all the way through this book. (Love it!) The missionaries take back stage in the book and the power of God is front and center. I highly recommend this book. (Note: Manuel is not a believer in the beginning of the book and some of the language and situations reflect that. It is not glorified but you may want to preview if you are considering having a child read it.)

Reading List for 2011

2011-01-14T15:05:00.000-08:00

I rarely make a list of books that I want to read. I prefer to read by impulse. That is all well and good if reading is merely a pastime, however, I desire to grow and be challenged by my reading. But I still rebel against the idea of making a list of books. I know I will fail to complete the list. I know my nature. I know.

So, instead of a list of books, I came up with a different approach. I listed categories and the number of books I want to read from each category. The books listed in each category are ones I have already chosen to read. The rest I will have to find throughout the year.

It may be completely unrealistic to finish reading all the books this year. That’s ok. (Take note all you Type A personalities.) At least I have a goal. Next year I can readjust.

But, now I need your help. Do you have any suggestions to help me fill in some of my categories?

Parenting: Read two.

Age of Opportunity – Paul David Tripp
Teach Them Diligently (reread) – Lou Priolo

Homeschooling: Read two.

Homemaking/Cooking/Gardening: Read or peruse (normal people don’t “read” cookbooks) at least twelve (one per month). The challenge of this is finding good books to read.

The Everything Meals for a Month Cookbook – Linda Johnson Larsen
.
.
.

Theology: Read three.

There Really is a Difference – A Comparison of Covenant and Dispensational Theology – Renald Showers
Reclaiming Authentic Fundamentalism- Douglas McLachlan

A book about prayer: Read one.

Biography : Read two.

Missionary Books – Read three.

They Dared to Be Different – Hugh Steven (I have this on my shelf. Thrift store purchase. No idea if it is good.)
Voices of the Faithful – I received this free from booksneeze.com in exchange for posting a review of the book.

Classics – Read two. Of course, one can be Jane Austen. J

Finances – Read two.

Bible Studies

Respectable Sins – Jerry Bridges
What Do I Know About My God? (reread) - Mardi Collier

A book I start every year and NEVER finish…

How Should We Then Live? Francis Schaeffer

2010 Favorite Books

2011-01-13T15:43:00.000-08:00

Here are my top three favorite books of 2010.

1. Stepping Heavenward – A fictional story that makes the glory of sanctification real. It traces the life and spiritual growth of a girl through her journal entries from the age of 16 until just before her death. It challenged me to look at where I’ve been, where I am and where I’m going. Do I love and know God more with every passing year? There is a Bible study that goes along with this book that is on my wishlist.

2. It's a tie....Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion by Jane Austen – I read Pride and Prejudice every year. It’s a tradition. No author can sketch the person's character, flaws and all, like my dear Jane.

3. His Word in My Heart- Memorizing scripture. Excellent, excellent book. I plan to write a review on it sometime.

Book Giveaway

2010-12-06T07:55:00.001-08:00

My friend is having a book giveaway on her blog. Go and sign up! And, while you are there, spend some time reading her posts. They are very thoughtful and convicting. I own the book that she is giving away and it is a good one.

Memorizing Verses

2010-05-22T19:26:00.000-07:00

I'm great at setting up systems. I'm not so great at following them. I've started several "systems" to help me memorize and review verses, but I've never kept up the maintenance of them. I'd loose the blank 3 x 5 cards that I was supposed to write the verses on, or worse yet, I'd loose the stack that I already wrote up. I started highlighting in yellow in my Bible the verses I'd memorized, but then I lost my highlighter. And the list I kept on the clipboard, well, someone needed the clipboard and my papers disappeared.

So, I was skeptical when I found the free website, MemVerse. What if I lost my computer? Unlikely, I know. However, I've been using the program for a couple weeks and am delighted with it. You add the verses that you want to memorize (many are already in the database so you just have to click on them), and login daily to practice. You rate yourself on how well you know the verse and it automatically sets up a schedule for you to review it. The website has great information so I won't go into detail on the "how" of it.

If you try it, leave a comment with your thoughts. I honestly haven't found anything that I don't like about it.

A Poem

2010-05-01T16:16:00.000-07:00

I went to a seminar today and the speaker shared the following poem. I thought it a very fitting poem for my blog. Please, though, do try to use an English accent when reading it. It makes it so much more enjoyable.

The most important thing we've learned,
So far as children are concerned,
Is never, NEVER, NEVER let
Them near your television set -
Or better still, just don't install
The idiotic thing at all.
In almost every house we've been,
We've watched them gaping at the screen.
They loll and slop and lounge about,
And stare until their eyes pop out.
(Last week in someone's place we saw
A dozen eyeballs on the floor.)
They sit and stare and stare and sit
Until they're hypnotised by it,
Until they're absolutely drunk
With all that shocking ghastly junk.
Oh yes, we know it keeps them still,
They don't climb out the window sill,
They never fight or kick or punch,
They leave you free to cook the lunch
And wash the dishes in the sink-
But did you ever stop to think,
To wonder just exactly what
This does to your beloved tot?
IT ROTS THE SENSES IN THE HEAD!
IT KILLS IMAGINATION DEAD!
IT CLOGS AND CLUTTERS UP THE MIND!
IT MAKES A CHILD SO DULL AND BLIND
HE CAN NO LONGER UNDERSTAND
A FANTASY, A FAIRYLAND!
HIS BRAIN BECOMES AS SOFT AS CHEESE!
HIS POWERS OF THINKING RUST AND FREEZE!
HE CANNOT THINK- HE ONLY SEES!
'All right!' you'll cry. 'All right!' you'll say,
'But if we take the set away,
What shall we do to entertain
Our darling children? Please explain!'
We'll answer this by asking you,
'What used the darling ones to do?
'How used they keep themselves contented
Before this monster was invented?'
Have you forgotten? Don't you know?
We'll say it very loud and slow:
THEY...USED...TO...READ! They'd READ and READ,
AND READ and READ and then proceed
To READ some more. Great Scott! Gadzooks!
One half their lives was reading books!
The nursery shelves held books galore!
Books cluttered up the nursery floor!
And in the bedroom, by the bed,
More books were waiting to be read!
Such wondrous, fine, fantastic tales
Of dragons, gypsies, queens and whales
And treasure isles, and distant shores
Where smugglers rowed with muffled oars,
And pirates wearing purple pants,
And sailing ships and elephants,
And cannibals crouching 'round the pot,
Stirring away at something hot.
(It smells good, what can it be?
Good gracious, it's Penelope.)
The younger ones had Beatrix Potter
With Mr. Tod, the dirty rotter,
And Squirrel Nutkin, Pigling Bland
And Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and -
Just How The Camel Got His Hump,
And How The Monkey Lost His Rump,
And Mr. Toad, and bless my soul,
There's Mr. Rat and Mr. Mole-
Oh, books, what books they used to know,
Those children living long ago!
So please, oh please, we beg, we pray,
Go throw your TV set away,
And in it's place you can install
A lovely bookshelf on the wall.
Then fill the shelves with lots of books,
Ignoring all the dirty looks,
The screams and yells, the bites and kicks,
And children hitting you with sticks-
Fear not, because we promise you
That, in about a week or two
Of having nothing else to do,
They'll now begin to feel the need
Of having something good to read.
And once they start- oh boy, oh boy!
You watch the slowly growing joy
That fills their hearts. They'll grow so keen
They'll wonder what they'd ever seen
In that ridiculous machine,
That nauseating, foul, unclean,
Repulsive television screen!
And later, each and every kid
Will love you more for what you did.

From Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl
(The book! Not the movie.)

The Danger of a Duplicate

2010-04-12T19:46:00.000-07:00

My girls love having books read aloud to them. My oldest so much so that I do believe she would enjoy an animated reading of the dictionary. Or a dull reading, for that matter. The point being, I read aloud often and they love it.

Based on Katlyn's suggestion, our most recent read aloud was Treasures in the Snow by Patricia St. John. Excellent book! If you want more details, since two words don't really capture the story line, feel free to jump over to Katlyn's blog.

However, imagine my surprise when, with three chapters left to read, they stopped asking for the book. We had hit the climax! What would happen to Dani? Reading ahead it strictly forbidden and the book had been sitting on the same place on the shelf for days. It was very curious.

The truth came out as the guilt ate away at them. (Perhaps that is an overstatement. They seemed more giggly than guilty.) They had found another copy of the same book downstairs. An old tattered copy that had to be gently held for fear pages would start wafting to the ground. They had finished reading the book - but not the "forbidden" copy of the book.

The next book, and all copies herein, shall be place under lock and key. A sad state of affairs, but it must be done to preserve the integrity of reading aloud.

Cookbook

2010-03-04T18:08:00.000-08:00

I couldn't cook when I first got married. Our meals were either Hamburger Helper or hamburgers with mashed potato and corn. No, I'm not exaggerating. We ate out a lot. I've come a long way but considering where I started but I still could use improvement. So I've had to make an intentional effort to expand our selection of meals. And, here is where a book comes in.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a library book but it is definitely on my someday list. Truthfully, I've only tried one recipe so far. And, well, it was chopped chicken in a pink* sauce that you serve over rice. It tasted better with our eyes closed. Pink food is, well, just wrong. (*pink is what you get when you mix salsa and sour cream) Pink food aside, I did mark several recipes to try that sound great.

Another resource that helped broaden our menu selection is Emealz. I subscribed for 6 months and found many great new recipes. Two more favorite resources: Tammy's Recipes and Allrecipes.

Ironically, we did have mashed potatoes and corn for supper. Some habits die hard.

The Phantom Tollbooth

2010-02-25T06:46:00.000-08:00

Over the years, I've perfected the skill of reading aloud without listening to a word I'm reading. Not with this book though. I recently finished reading this book aloud to the girls and frankly, it is a gem of a book! It is filled with fabulous descriptions and wonderful word plays. I listened to every word I read.

Here are a few snippets. Some wisdom...

The Mathemagician nodded knowingly and stroked his chin several times. "You'll find, he remarked gently, "that the only thing you can do easily is be wrong and that's hardly worth the effort."

A little humor...

"Wait!" shouted Milo, who'd thought of many more questions he wanted to ask.

"Thirty-four pounds," shrieked the bird as he disappeared into the fog.

"He was certainly no help," said Milo.

And...

Her eyes sparkled brightly and she answered with a laugh as friendly as the mailman's ring when you know there's a letter for you.

It was quite enjoyable.

Elisabeth Elliot Devotionals

2010-02-22T17:11:00.000-08:00

Apportioned Limitations
Dispensers of Grace
Interrupted Plans
Thy List Be Done

And when you've finished reading those, here is a list of many, many more.

31 Days of Praise

2010-02-11T13:53:00.000-08:00

The Lord has allowed a few trials to fall upon my path recently. Not major trials, but enough that my sin nature has been prevailing. Through these trials the Lord has not only convicted me of my sin but has also taught me much about praising Him. As part of my morning devotions I read a book called 31 Days of Praise. I highly recommend it. It is in a daily prayer format and the purpose is, well, to praise God.

"Father, I'm so delighted that You are both loving and sovereign and that You cause all things to work together for good to those who love You, to those who are called according to Your purpose. So I think You for each disturbing or humbling situation in my life, for each breaking or cleansing process You are allowing, for each problem or hindrance, for each thing that triggers in me anxiety or anger or pain. And I thank You in advance for each disappointment, each demanding duty, each pressure, each interruption that may arise in the coming hours and days.

In spite of what I think or feel when I get my eyes off You, I choose not to resist my trials as intruders, but to welcome them as friends."

Did you catch the scripture in those words? At the end of each day she lists the scriptures that are used in each paragraph. In the selection above, she paraphrased Romans 8:28-29, I Peter 1:6-7 and James 1:2-4.

Mere Christianity quote

2010-02-03T09:47:00.000-08:00

"I am trying to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him, "I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God." That is the one thing we must not say. A man who is merely a man and said the sort of thing Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic - on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg - or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit on Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to."

Mere Christianity, Book II, Chapter 3

Amen, amen and amen!

Welcome, trial

2010-01-19T05:20:00.000-08:00

One of the devotional books that I've been reading is A Lamp Unto My Feet by Elisabeth Elliot. It's an excellent, excellent book but not a book to read if you want your ears tickled. It's full of good 'ole conviction. Here was today's reading....

"NO LOVE WITHOUT GRIEF
Tell us, fool, who knows more of love - the one who has joys from it or the one who has trials and grief? He answered: There cannot be any more knowledge of love without both of them.
~Ramon Llull, The Book of the Lover and the Beloved

When I imagine that I want to learn to love God - and to love my husband and others whom God has given me to love - let me test the desire of my willingness to accept trial and grief. If I can welcome them - Yes, Lord! - and believe God's purpose in them, I am learning the lesson of love. If I cannot, it's a fair indication that my desire to love is a delusion."

My January Reads

2010-01-14T14:24:00.001-08:00

Every January I (try to) read Pride and Prejudice and Mere Christianity. Let's see, why do I do this? If I analyze it, I would say:

Both authors are English
The English drink a lot of tea
I drink a lot of tea in winter
Therefore, I read their books in January.

Hmm, maybe I need to read a book on logic next. Anyway, I've started to note the words in Pride and Prejudice that I don't know. I'm up to chapter 10 (of 61). Here is my list thus far:

supercilious - Now you would think this would be a fun word, but it actually means "displaying arrogant pride, scorn, or indifference."
pique- to excite (interest, curiosity)
satirical-characterized by satire (which is the use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule and the like)
pedantic- ostentatious in one's learning
insipidity- the state of being insipid (lacking in qualities that stimulate, interest or challenge)
indolent-having or showing a disposition to avoid exertion

Now, I have no idea where I would use these words because if I used them in normal conversation I would appear pedantic. :-)

And now, a quote:

This is a conversation between Mr. and Mrs. Bennett after Mr. Bennet pronounced his daughters the "silliest girls in the country."

"'I am astonished, my dear' said Mrs. Bennett, 'that you should be so ready to think your own children silly. If I wished to think slightingly of anybody's children, it should not be of my own however.'

'If my children are silly I must hope to be always sensible of it.'"

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 7

The Inheritance - Louisa May Alcott

2009-08-29T17:14:00.000-07:00

"I want to do something spendid...

something heroic or wonderful that won't be forgotten after I'm dead...

I think I shall write books."

~Louisa May Alcott~

This book is Louisa May Alcott's first novel written at the age of 17. Though she wrote it in 1849, it remained buried in a pile of her letters and unpublished until 1997.

It was an enjoyable read, although it struck me as more of a rough draft than the final product. This is understandable, considering Alcott wasn't around to put the finishing touches on it before it was published.

The Soul Winner - notes from chapter 1

2009-08-27T16:33:00.000-07:00

Signs (or "effects") that conversion has taken place:

1. Regeneration will be shown in conviction of sin.

"God never clothes men until He has first stripped them, nor does He quicken them by the gospel till first they are slain by the law. " (page 19)

2. Exhibition of a simple faith in Jesus Christ. (page 20)

3. Unfeigned repentance of sin (page 21)

4. A real change in life. (page 23)

5. True prayer.

"The Holy Ghost's evidence by which He convinced Ananias of
Paul's conversion was not, 'Behold, he talks loudly of his joys and
feelings,' but 'Behold, he prayeth.' " (page 23-24)

6. Willingness to obey the Lord in all His commandments. (page 24)

A Book in the Hand

Quote: Preface to Amy Carmichael's Biography

Review: Then Sings My Soul

Book List for 12 Year Old

Book List for 10 Year Old

Review: What Is the Mission of the Church?

From My Bookshelf: Shopping for Time

Review: The Barber Who Wanted to Pray

A Great Resource: Operation World

Book Review: Behind the Veils of Yemen

Review: Desiring God DVD

Review: Putting Others First (DVD)

Review: The Hardest Thing To Do

Review: It Couldn't Just Happen

Quote: All A Mistake?

Review: Give Them Grace

Review: Dug Down Deep

Review: Peril in the Palace

Review: We Shall See God

Quote: If Satan Took Over

Quote: Why the Classics Endure

Quote Collection

Giveaway Results

Giveaway: unPlanned DVD

unPlanned Preview and Webcast

Review: unPlanned

Giveaway: Sir Quinlan and the Swords of Valor

Review: Sir Quinlan and the Swords of Valor

Review: Amish Prayers

Review: Rediscovering Church Fathers

Review: Johann Sebastian Bach

Review: His Word in my Heart

Review: A Deeper Kind of Calm

Books for Girls (and boys, too!)

Review: Attack at the Arena

Review: Time4Learning

Book Resources

Giveaways

Enter to win the following:

Phonics Museum Reading Curriculum ($210 Value) from Raising Homemakers

Review: The Story of the Bible

Review: Plain Truth

Ungodliness

Review: The Sequin Bible

Upcoming Review: Time4Learning

The Chase by Jerry Bridges

What I've Been Reading

Voices of the Faithful

Missionary Books

Consider the following statistics (source: http://www.wycliffe.org/About/Statistics.aspx )

6,900+

Almost 2,100

340,000,000+

Reading List for 2011

2010 Favorite Books

Book Giveaway

Memorizing Verses

A Poem

The Danger of a Duplicate

Cookbook

The Phantom Tollbooth

Elisabeth Elliot Devotionals

31 Days of Praise

Mere Christianity quote

Welcome, trial

My January Reads

The Inheritance - Louisa May Alcott

The Soul Winner - notes from chapter 1