Grace

Grace
Max Lucado
Thomas Nelson
2012
Non-fiction


Grace.

We talk as though we understand the term. The bank gives us a "grace" period. The seedy politician falls from "grace." Musicians speak of a "grace" note. We describe an actress as "gracious," a dancer as "graceful." We use the word for hospitals, baby girls, kings, and premeal prayers. We talk as though we know what "grace" means.

But do we really understand it? Have we settled for wimpy grace? It politely occupies a phrase in a hymn, fits nicely on a church sign. Never causes trouble or demands a response. When asked, "Do you believe in grace?" who could say no?

Max Lucado asks a deeper question: Have you been changed by grace? Shaped by grace? Strengthened by grace? Emboldened by grace? Softened by grace? Snatched by the nape of your neck and shaken to your senses by grace?

God's grace has a drenching about it. A wildness about it. A white-water, riptide, turn-you-upside-downness about it. Grace comes after you. It rewires you. From insecure to God secure. From regret riddled to better-because-of-it. From afraid to die to ready to fly.

Grace is the voice that calls us to change and then gives us the power to pull it off.

Let's make certain grace gets you.

As we have come to expect from Lucado Grace is beautifully woven. Explaining what grace truly means with thought provoking clarity this book grabs you from the beginning. It dives deep into grace and challenges what you my have thought it originally meant. Grace isn't safe, it's challenging, it's bold, it's life-altering. Dive into this book and allow grace to transform you. 


My thanks to my friends at Thomas Nelson for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my real and honest review. 

Unbreakable Boy

Unbreakable Boy
Scott LeRette with Susy flory
Thomas Nelson Publishers
November 11, 2014
Memoir

It was graduation weekend. I walked up to Austin's house where all the festivities were going on celebrating him and there he was sitting on the retaining wall of their driveway.
 "Congrats Austin! I'm so proud of you. How are you today?"
"My butt hurts and my back hurts."
And that's just Austin, no pretense, no guessing games. 100 percent real. One of the many reasons I love that kid.
10 minutes later he was sitting by me chomping on some candy and telling me all about his party and thanking me for coming.
What a guy.

When Scott (the dad and author) let me know he was writing a book on Austin and their family I was delighted. I also knew I'd be requesting a review copy as soon as it was ready.

Unbreakable Boy is the story of "unconditional love", the story of a father and his son.

Born with a rare brittle-bone disease and autistic Austin is defined by none of his diagnoses and he's broken every box he's been asked to fit in. He is unique, he is challenging, he is loved. He is also a popular fixture in our town and at my church.

Scott does a beautiful job of weaving the tale of Austin. It's told with such honesty and candor I'll admit I started this late at night and finished it a few hours later, well into the early morning hours. Thoughts of sleep and my agenda for the morning flew out the window as I entered the life of the LeRette family.

I personally have known Austin and his family for a number of years now. Austin loves my parents "Pastor and Connie" and for years just referred to me as "Connie's daughter". Seen in our church and around town wearing one of his wacky hats Austin makes a statement everywhere he goes. I remembered a number of the stories from later in the book and will never forget the first time Austin raised his hands in worship in our church. It was both touching and hilarious, as Scott describes so well.

This book is both inspiring and challenging. I'll be honest and say that I truly did laugh out loud, and cry a couple times too. I so appreciate Scott's openness with the reality of life with Austin. It's challenging, sometimes achingly so, it's also beautiful. Written in a timeline way that doesn't make you feel like you're reading a timeline you'll love the way the story weaves together. From Scott meeting his wife to Austin's birth to the realization that something wasn't quite right with Austin all the way to him going to prom, the story just keeps on getting better and better. It's captivating.

This book has no obvious agenda other than to tell the story of Austin and his dad. Autism is mentioned but not parked on. As the reader, you can't help, however, be intrigued by autism as well as the brittle bone disease.

Throughout the entire book is the very obvious thread of God's grace. Austin loves his Jesus and that love of his Creator has been modeled by two parents who came broken and needy before the throne of grace. You'll love how God woes Scott in particular.

While it was particularly heart-warming for me to read about a boy and a family I know personally and love so dearly I can promise you you don't have to know them to love them and love this book. I read it and passed it on and everyone who has had it in their hands has become instantly engrossed and fallen in love with Austin.

I highly recommending going over to Amazon to pre-order this book today. It's a story so sweetly written that I know you'll want to read over and over and over again. And if you're passing through Red Oak, Iowa, head to our local grocery store. You just might see Austin carrying out groceries and making everyone he comes in contact with smile just a little brighter. He's just that kind of kid and it's just that kind of story.

My sincere thanks to Thomas Nelson publishers for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my real and honest review. 

A Dad's Prayers for His Daughter

A Dad's Prayers for His Daughter
Rob and Joanna Teigen
Revell Publishers
March 2014
Parenting, Non-fiction

From the moment your little girl was born, you knew you were going to be doing a lot of praying. But you may wonder, What exactly should I be praying for?

Now the authors of 88 Great Daddy-Daughter Dates show you how to pray for every area of your daughter's life. Rob and Joanna Teigen give you a strong foundation to build a lifelong habit of prayer for your daughter with a collection of specific prayers you can use to get started right now. They include engaging stories from well-known authors like Joe Stowell, Bill Farrel, Ted Cunningham, Jim Samra, and others. And they explain a bit more of what girls go through growing up, including stress, purity issues, social pressure, modesty challenges, spiritual growth, and more. 

Remember: just because you don't always understand your daughter doesn't mean that God doesn't! Start asking for his guidance, protection, and blessings today. 

This book is invaluable. Not only is it a great resource you'll find yourself praying as you're simply browsing through it. 88 practical ways to pray for your daughter. When she's considering dating, when she hear's false teaching, when she's using the internet, etc. So practical! The "chapters" are simple and easy to read. Even dad's who don't like to read will grab on to this one. 

I've personally met Rob Teigen and liked him from the start. He's a real honest guy who loves his kids and his wife and is passionate about helping others be good parents. He's believable and this book is the same. Hats off to the Teigen family. May they continue to walk forward in truth and in the light of Jesus. Now I need to start making my list of the all the dads I'm going to give this too.....

Found out more at www.strongerdads.com

My thanks to Revell Publishers from providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my real and honest review. 

The Big Book of Laugh Out Loud Jokes for Kids

The Big Book of Laugh Out Loud Jokes for Kids
Rob Elliott
Baker Publishing
2014

The gut-bustingest, knee-slappingest, guffaw-inducingest collection of clean jokes you can find!

All kids like to laugh, and The Big Book of Laugh-Out-Loud Jokes for Kids delivers! Combining his three bestselling joke books for kids, Rob Elliott will have you doubled over for days. You'll get jokes like

Q: Why did the invisible man turn down a job offer?
A: He just couldn't see himself doing it.

Q: What do you get if you mix a rabbit and a snake?
A: A jump rope.

Knock knock.
Who's there?
Cook.
Cook who?
Are you as crazy as you sound?

Great on car rides, at the dinner table, on the playground, and anywhere in between, this collection of wholesome hilarity will make you and those around you smile from ear to ear.

This book is legitimate good clean fun. I will admit to not being a big fan of jokes but this book could almost make me a believer. Elliott has some seriously funny jokes that kids and parents alike will enjoy. There are also random little "did you know" tidbits sprinkled throughout that kids will love. Did you know an ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain? 

Q. Where do you take a sick wasp? 
A. To the wasp-ital. 

Knock knock
Who's there? 
Bruce. 
Bruce who? 
I'll Bruce my knuckles if I keep on knocking! 

You'll enjoy this one, I promise. 

My thanks to Revell Publishing for providing me with a free book in exchange for a real and honest review. 

Perfectly Unique

 

Perfectly Unique

Annie F. Downs

Zondervan

2011

Christian Living, YA, Non-fiction, 

Your body is an instrument. No, it's not a flute, or a guitar (I hope). It is a sacred and original design by a master craftsman with a specific plan and purpose. That's a pretty big deal. From head to foot, the way you view your body is directly connected to how you serve God.  Seriously. From the thoughts you think to the steps you take, every part of you is linked to the divine. Perhaps you are struggling with your body image or are trying to make sense of why God made you as you are. Maybe you are looking for new ways to understand Scripture or to love God more fully. Either way, this book will take you on a thoughtful, funny, and spirit-filled exploration of the way you were designed and will help you better honor the Creator by learning to value his perfectly unique creation (yourself!).

Okay, let's be honest, the cover of this book alone made me want to read it. How adorable is it!? Not to mention the subtitle is catchy and so appropriate for ladies. I'll admit it, I do judge books by the cover. Now that I have that out of the way let me move on. 

A must read! Absolutely wonderful! I loved it! Downs writes with refreshing honesty and hits at the core of what every single young woman (or older) deals with, image. I knew from the intro I was going to like this book. I appreciate an author who can speak truth in love and with humor. Downs does this. From her very first personal story I was immediately hooked. You will feel like you are sitting down with a friend and chatting about life. Downs addresses the insecurity and self-doubt that every girl faces, then gives practical advice about how to shift your way of thinking and acting in order to reflect the the fact that you are a daughter of the King.

Each chapter focuses on a different part of the body, explaining the significance of this part. With stories sprinkled throughout Downs addresses each part of the body asking how does it reflect the beauty God put in you?  How can you guard that specific part and use it to glorify God?  Some are obvious, such as the eyes, the ears, and the heart.  But what about the shoulders? The knees? The hands? You'll have to read the book to find the answer to those. 

The "Chew on This" pieces at the end of each chapter are my favorite. They provide scriptures to look up, questions to think through, and thoughts to journal.  I definitely will be using this book for my next small group Bible study I do with teen girls.

This is a book that is very much needed in young adult girls lives. The truth span the ages but our young women specifically need to know they are not alone, they have a responsibility to guard themselves, and that they are uniquely and wonderfully made. They are loved. The message is clear and this book is highly highly recommended! Thank you Annie F. Downs!

My thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Father Hunger

 

Father Hunger

Douglas Wilson

Thomas Nelson Publishers

2012

 

Fatherlessness is a "rot that is eating away at the modern soul," writes Douglas Wilson, and the problem goes far beyond physical absence. "Most of our families are starving for fathers, even if Dad is around, and there's a huge cost to our children and our society because of it." "Father Hunger "takes a thoughtful, timely, richly engaging excursion into our cultural chasm of absentee fatherhood. Blending leading-edge research with incisive analysis and real-life examples, Wilson traces a range of societal ills from poverty and crime to joyless feminism and paternalistic government expansion to a vacuum of mature masculinity

Explains the key differences between asserting paternal authority and reestablishing true spiritual fathering

Uncovers the corporate-fulfillment fallacy and other mistaken assumptions that undermine fatherhood

Extols the benefits of restoring fruitful fathering, from stronger marriages to greater economic liberty
Filled with practical ideas and self-evaluation tools, "Father Hunger" both encourages and challenges men to "embrace the high calling of fatherhood," becoming the dads that their families and our culture so desperately need them to be.

Wilson's research on Father Hunger is extensive and well done. However, I had such high hopes for this book and was left wanting. While appreciated all of the facts and sociological factors I found myself wanting...needing more story. It was clinical to the point of being boring at times. The topics is interesting and something I am personally passionate about but the book didn't live up to the hopes I had for it. Definitely worth a read though and something I plan to refer back to. 

My thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishing for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. 

Raising Financially Confident Kids

Raising Financially Confident Kids
Mary Hunt
Revell Publishing
Parenting
Publication Date: 8/2012 Purchase Here

About the book:
One of the most important lessons you can teach your kids is how to handle their money. Unfortunately, for most of us, giving our kids a financial education is an afterthought. Where do you start? And what if you don't feel financially confident yourself?

In Raising Financially Confident Kids, financial expert Mary Hunt draws from solid statistics and her own hard-won knowledge and experience as a mom who made it back from the brink of financial ruin to help you teach your children how to handle money responsibly. From preschool through the teen years, every stage of your child's development is covered, including how to talk to them about money at each age, how to help them start saving money and giving it away, and how to avoid the pitfalls of easy credit and a culture built on debt.

Money can't buy your children happiness. But giving them the skills to manage their money will allow them to take control of their future and work toward successful and satisfying lives.

My thoughts: 

I was immediately hooked into this book during the introduction when Hunt wrote this:

"It seemed to me if we could teach our children not to touch a hot stove, we could train them not to get burned by the lure of credit-car debt. If we could train them to look both ways before crossing the street, we could teach them to carefully the fine print. If we could instill in them the value of delaying gratification, that could become a lifetime behavior."  

To me it just made sense. Of course we can train up kids to be smart financially and we should be. Hunt draws from personal experience throughout the book making this a very credible and easy to read book. I very much appreciated her honesty and openness throughout. While her methods may at times seem a little much you can not argue with the outcome. Her boys didn't learn without bumps along the way but they thrived on trust, information and responsibility.

I highly recommend this read for parents. Very practical information. Here are some quotes I pulled out of the book. 

"Credit-card companies are desperate for new customers, and they have their big guns pointed at your children"

"Giving proves the condition of my heart. It's a thank-you note for all that I am and all that I have."

"Debt-proof kids are guided by a set of values having to do with money, credit, and debt." 

"Financial awareness shapes responsible kids."



I received this book from Revell Publishing in exchange for my honest and real review. 

The Book of Life Recovery

The Book of Life Recovery

Stephen Arterburn

David Stoop

Tyndale Publishing

Christian Life/ Personal Growth

Publication date: 9/2012

Whether you yourself are going through recovery or you know someone who is this book is a must read. Arterburn and Stoop have done an excellent job of breaking down the 12 steps to recovery into small manageable bites.

The twelve steps clearly identify a high power. The authors of The Book of Life Recovery take those twelve steps and that higher power and bring a Christian perspective to the road to recovery. Gripping personal stories run throughout the entire book. Stories of people reaching the bottom and deciding to make a change; the stories are both sobering and encouraging.

Each chapter highlights one of the twelve steps.  Stories introduce the chapter and then a particular insight to each step is offered. Four Bible studies end each chapter. Each of the Bible studies is designed to take the reader deeper into the step to recovery from the Christian perspective. Psalms, Abraham, and Jesus all give insight and hope for the recovering reader.

I found this book to be extremely helpful and insightful. I myself do not struggle with an addiction but I have close friends who do. Beyond that I am a pastor and counselor. This book will definitely sit on my shelf and will be a go to book as I work with people. Clearly laid out and very easy to read this is a resource worth having. 

Thanks to Tyndale Publishing for providing me with a free copy of this title in exchange for my honest review. 

Dreaming of More

I am delighted to review Dreaming of More by Michelle Anthony. I have already skimmed read through most of it and I'm going back through with my highlighter and my notebook to catch all the things I don't want to miss.

In Dreaming of More for the Next Generation: Lifetime Faith Ignited by Family Ministry, Dr. Michelle Anthony, drawing from more than 25 years of family ministry experience, helps ministry leaders understand the “why” behind their ministry model and encourages them to focus on generational outcomes, reminding them that each person’s story is a part of a grand story that God is telling throughout history, providing practical examples of how to create space within a program to nurture individual faith and how to effectively partner with parents, supporting them as family spiritual leaders.

I am eating this book up because it so resonates with my heart and my passion. I also love reading books that affirm the natural God-given instincts I already have in me. I was doing family ministry long before that became a movement. Who knew, cutting-edge! :)

One of the reasons I particularly like this book is because it's not a curriculum or a program. Anthony takes very simple biblical truths and makes the reader think. She affirms what many of us are already doing but probably need to be encouraged to do more. Listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, reach beyond behavior modification, equip parents, and promote life transformation. The role of the Holy Spirit in our ministries is far too often overlooked. This is not a "doing" book but a seeking and listening book.

My ministry is already beginning to shift based on some very simple truths in this book. Anthony is an accomplished writer who walks with the Spirit. I look forward to devouring this book over and over again and recommending it to my mentees in ministry. Go buy this book but do it knowing full well it's going to challenge you, make you ask questions, and mostly help you slow down and listen.

I'll be tweeting quotes throughout the next few days so follow my tweets  to see the nuggets I've pulled out.

Thanks to David C. Cook for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

88 Great Daddy-Daughter Dates

88 Great Daddy-Daughter Dates
Rob and Joanna Teigen
Revell Publishing
Date: 2012
Buy it here! 

I was privileged to meet Rob Teigen (co-author) at a conference last month. When he heard I did book reviews he graciously offered me a copy of his book to review. Believe me when I say, it was truly my pleasure!

I was immediately captivated by the intro as Rob talked about the importance of a daddy in a girl's life. SO important! Completely resonating with my own beliefs and my own heart's cry to have daddys be present in their little girls' lives I was ready to dive in.

Each of the 88 dates is so special. Some are simple and practical and some are more involved but each one is wonderful. The doing has little impact in comparison to the being.  Date #10 "A Walk in the Night" is as simple as taking your girl out in the yard with flashlights and hot cocoa and providing a chance to talk. There are some sample questions to ask but the authors make it clear that their is no special recipe, just spend time together. Date #81 is a "Table for Two" and involves a fancy dinner with your girl where you treat her like the princess she is.

As the daughter of a daddy who was intentional about dating me I love this book! So much of who I am today is because my daddy took time to be with me. I highly recommend this book. Very simple, practical, and special. Way to go Teigens!

A special thank you to Rob Teigen for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Resignation of Eve (a review and a GIVEAWAY!)

Close your eyes and imagine a glorious typical Sunday morning—typical but without women. Most Sunday school rooms remain dark. A few men arrive with their sons but not many. Musicians struggle to lead worship without background singers. Ushers and offering counters are at full strength minus bulletins and pre-service coffee. The children's ministry is non-existent. "Won't happen," you say. Perhaps, but Jim Henderson offers up the possibility in The Resignation of Eve.

Females make up the majority of weekly churchgoers and volunteers. Yet since 1991, their attendance has declined dramatically, and the percentage of unchurched women has increased dramatically.  Using statistics, interviews, and extensive research author Jim Henderson dives into the subject of women in the church.

Between 1991 and 2011,
1) Adult women attending church during any week has declined by 20%.
2) Women attending Sunday School has plummeted by 29%.
3) The percentage of remain who are characterized as "unchurched" has risen by 94% during this period.
4) More than a third of all women are now unconnected from the church.
5) Most weekly church attenders are women (53%) - and they bring their families.
6) Most church volunteers are women (57%).
7) Women are the majority in terms of attendance of adult Sunday school programs (59%).
8) 60% of those who attend small groups or Bible study are women.
9) Due to the demographic data compiled (Barna 2000 study) about the median age (56-59) of women contributing (in every sense) to the Church - women's active participation in the future of the Church has been characterized as a "dying breed." (p.252).

What if Adam's rib is no longer willing to be the church's backbone?

I found this book to be extremely challenging and riveting in all of the good ways. It made me think, it made me reevaluate, and it challenged my thinking. Henderson's use of personal interviews made this possibly controversial subject seem approachable and real. This is a book to devour. Don't keep it to yourself. Share it with your pastor, with other women, with anyone willing to read.  Take time to ask the hard questions. The book is a book that will get you thinking not a definitive answer book. Therefore I won't end my review with a definitive thought on the book other than to say you need to read it.

Giveaway!
Thanks to Tyndale House Publishers I have a free copy of this book to give away! In order to win a copy post a comment with your name and e-mail address and on Friday, April 6 at 5pm (central time zone) I'll have random.org chose the winner. If you're the winner I'll contact you by e-mail.
 
resignationofeve.com

Then Sings My Soul

Then Sings my Soul  written by Robert J. Morgan is truly a keepsake book. Morgan brings each hymn within the book to life in a beautiful way as he gives the story behind the hymns. Using careful research the stories are told in a truly unforgettable way. My favorite hymn story was the story of the writing of "It is Well". We learn that Horatio G. Spafford wrote the words to this hymn as he was on a ship. His wife and four daughters had been sailing to Europe ahead of him when their ship was hit by another and the ship sank within minutes. Only Horatio's wife Anna survived. The two years perceeding this event had already been years of tremendous loss in Spafford's life. He penned "It is well with my soul" in the deepest darkest moment of his life.

This book in print is beautiful with the pages edged in a tattered sort of way to make them seem old. It's definitely a book I will be keeping and enjoying over and over again. A true delight and treasure!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Book Sneeze book review blogger's program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Thunder Dog

This book is Mr. Hingson's  account of his experience as a survivor of the attacks on the World Trade center in September of 2001.  Blind and with only his guide dog Roselle to guide him this story is about his journey down the stairs from the 78th floor and the heroism of a remarkable four-legged creature. 

The author's relationships with guide dogs started at a very young age. Growing up blind, they helped him navigate school, college, and his jobs. Hingson learned early to rely on his guide dogs dedication, loyalty, and courage. This incredible read will captivate your attention from the very beginning. The first-hand account of Roselle and Hingson's descent down 78 floors and 1,463 steps is absolutely amazing. Interspersing the terror of the day with stories from the author's childhood makes this read all the more real and delightful. It will captivate you, move you, and enrich you. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com http://BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Billy Graham in Quotes

Sigh....I absolutely love this book. Billy Graham has recently become my hero (for reasons I will explain in a later post) so when I had the chance to review this book I jumped at it. I'll also fully admit that I haven't read every single little quote yet because I'm still mulling them all over. Anyway, enough about that.


Billy Graham in Quotes is a unique collection of the thoughts of the most well known evangelist and pastors of our time. The authors have gleaned material from Graham’s seven decades of ministry, drawing from both his published and personal works. The material is then arranged topically for easy reference, covering subjects from A – Y, abortion to young people. Each quote is footnoted so you can find the source of the quotation.

A full 387 pages long this book will keep you reading and learning for days. There is nothing particularly profound about any of the quotes. They clearly reflect their author as they are straight shooting, down to earth, and easy to understand. Quotes such as, "once you have been to the foot of the cross, you will never be the same." and "God welcomes our prayers. He is much more concerned about our hearts than our eloquence." are absolutely beautiful in their simplicity.

This is a book you will want for your library. I've been using it as part of my devotion time and I am loving it. Graham is a man of integrity and a man who has walked with God steadfastly though his life. He continually points to Jesus and therefore I can read this and enjoy what God can do in a single willing soul.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com http://BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

The Daughter's Walk

The Daughter's Walk by Jane Kirkpatrick

Absolutely and totally fascinating!

In 1896 Helga Etsby accepted a wager from the fashion industry to walk from Spokane, Washington to New York City. Her prize: $10,000 for doing the walk within 7 months while wearing the new shorter hemline skirts. She brought her 18 year old daughter, Clara, along and the two of them start on a journey with the hope that they could save the family farm. That is where the story begins and by no means is it where it ends.

A non-fiction story written with fiction elements I found myself completely captivated. Let's be honest, who in their right mind thinks it's a good idea to walk 3500 miles especially in a time where much of the western US was still very much frontier. Crazy!  The story is told by Clara and you will find yourself loving her, hating her, angry with her, crying for her, and immersed with her.This is one of those books that while you want to turn the pages quickly to see what happens you also want to savor each word, paragraph, and moment.

When the two women return home from their walk everything has changed. Life takes an interesting twist and Clara sets out on her own. Just when I think I've read it all in the story world this woman decides to try her hand at trapping animals for fur. Kirkpatrick is a master storyteller and she weaves this tale with finesse. Rich with period history and research about the actual Etsby family and Clara herself this story will amaze you. Prepare to dive in and not come out until you put the book down. Believe me, it will be a trip worth taking!

WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group provided this book to me for free in exchange for this honest review as part of their Blogging for Books program.

Finding Your Prince in a Sea of Toads- Dr. Kenneth Ryan

Finding Your Prince in a Sea of Toads

Review by: Melissa J. MacDonald

Genre: non-fiction, family & relationships, love & romance

Publisher: WinePress Publishing

Date: 2011

Finding Your Prince in a Sea of Toads. If a title like that doesn’t catch your attention than I don’t know what will! When I first received my copy of this book I was immediately intrigued. I have taught Bible studies for years  to junior high and high school girls about staying sexually pure. Beyond that I’ve counseled girls for years that just do not seem to be able to get it when it comes to finding a quality guy to date and eventually marry. I opened the book with great anticipation.

The book has an astounding 86 chapters, some only a page long. Dr. Ryan writes with a very upfront attitude. He starts out by defining what a prince is and what a toad is. The interspersed drawings of said toad made me laugh out loud. Ryan says it like it is which I thoroughly appreciated it. At times the books seems a bit choppy as he jumps from one subject to the next.

Ryan does a great job of promoting the use of logic and rationale in making a future mate decision. The book is clearly written for a general audience so if you are looking for Biblical backing for those decisions you won’t find it. However, there is a wonderful grain of God’s truth throughout.

Quite a bit of the book focuses on sex and Ryan speaks very bluntly about it. He does a great job of portraying the distinct differences between how men and women view sex. It is one of the best I have read. He also does a good job of spelling out the slippery slope that can quickly be fallen down when one starts dancing around sexual activity. His guidelines for guarding against that slope are excellent. 

Ryan does a great job of laying out facts and practical ideas for finding a prince. However, once he starts helping with dating the book goes downhill. His guidelines are quite subjective and in many cases I found them to be misleading. I would read that part of the book with a grain of salt.

All in all this was really an excellent book. An easy read with humor sprinkled throughout. I could definitely see myself using this book for a Bible study, although I would need to gather Biblical facts to coincide with the book. Practical and a must-read for the girl who has spent too much time chasing those nasty toads.

Rated: PG-13  for blunt sexual content

Biblical Cyclopedic Index

I was nerdishly excited to receive this book in the mail. While I certainly wouldn't define myself as a biblical scholar I am always looking for an easy book to better help me (and the kids I work with) navigate the Bible. I was pleasantly surprised to receive this book and find it to be such an easy size to handle. Most indexes are the size of a compact car. The Nelson's Biblical Cyclopedic Index fits easily in one hand, in your backpack, or even in your purse.

Beyond how it looks I found the index to be extremely functional. There are over 8000 listings in alphabetical order! Each one also includes scripture references. It's extremely user friendly and breaks things down into subheadings as well. You can literally find just about any word your heart desires in this little book and most words even include a small definition. A great tool for any pastor, student, layperson, or Christian. Definitely recommend!

Cute, functional, expansive, and helpful! Now if only I would have had this during my seminary days.....




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

Son of Hamas

Son of Hamas
Author: Mosab Hassan Yousef (with Ron Brackin)

The shocking true story of a Hamas insider who rejected his violent destiny- and is now risking everything to expose closely guarded secrets and show the world a way to peace.
 
From his earliest days, Mosab Hasson Yousef had a view of the inner workings of Hamas. The son of one its founders, from childhood he was immersed in the mysterious world of Middle Eastern terror and politics. Arrested time and again by the Shin Bet, the Israeli internal intelligence service, he eventually made the decision to become a double agent. For ten years Yousef lived deeply embedded within Hamas, suspected by no one, yet passing vast amounts of information to Israel. In this way he prevented assassinations, stopped suicide attacks and provided information leading to the arrests or killings of many terrorists. He was Shin Bet’s most valuable source of information about Hamas.


In the late 90's a "chance" encounter with a British visitor opened Yosuef's eyes to the Christian faith. Curious and intelligent, Yousef took this opportunity and was immediately struck by the difference between Jesus Christ and Mohammed, between the Christian faith and the Islam he had inherited from his fathers. In the months that followed he made a slow conversion to Christianity and was quietly baptized.

Yousef now lives in the US under political asylum. The book chronicles Yousef's heartbreaking separation from his family and his homeland as God draws him near.

This book is truly fascinating. I'm a sucker for true stories and this does not disappoint. I did find myself bogged down in many of the historical and political background but it was pertinent to the story (can we say "short attention span"?). It brings what you see on the news to real life. You'll find yourself challenged, overwhelmed, and inspired. A gripping read!  

Thank you to Tyndale House Publishing for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my review!