I couldn't wait to start reading this book because I wanted to learn more about the life of John Newton, writer of the song "Amazing Grace". When I started the book the prelude immediately drew me in with two vignettes from the lives of John Newton and the apostle Paul. I had never really stopped to think about Paul's life before he became a follower of Christ. This book drew beautiful parallels between Paul's life, Newton's life and all our lives before we choose to follow Jesus.
This book isn't so much a biography of Paul or Newton as a focused look at God's grace as evidenced in both their lives. Of course, it also discusses how grace affects the lives of all who accept God's gift of grace. In addition to looking at the lives of the apostle Paul and John Newton, the book also introduces other Christians who have chosen to trust God even in extremely difficult circumstances. I especially enjoyed learning the stories of missionary Helen Roseveare and Harriet Beecher Stowe. Even though each of these women suffered in different ways, God used each of them to further His kingdom. One quote from Helen Roseveare which especially tugged at my heart was, " Can you thank Me for trusting you with this experience, even if I never tell you why?" We may not always understand why we are suffering but God's grace is sufficient in all circumstances.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to spend more time focusing on God's grace. It is thought-provoking, yet easy to read.
In the interest of disclosure, I received a copy of this book from the publisher, but the views expressed here are entirely my own.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Book Review - The Butterfly Effect
I'm not normally a big fan of gift books, but I couldn't resist reading this new gift book by Andy Andrews since I enjoy his books. I was not disappointed in this one. As a gift book, I really enjoyed both the design and layout of the pages and the story itself. Of course, as with all gift books this one was a quick read, so it's appropriate even for someone who doesn't consider themselves a reader.
The story itself, though, will make you think more about the impact your life has not only on those around you but also on future generations. Truly, our words and actions matter. I love the illustration of how one life impacts another, which impacts another and so on. One of the two illustrations in this book of how every person's life is important, began with a person I'm sure few people have ever heard of named Norman Borlaug (read the book to find out just who he is!). And the two lives who were highlighted are only examples. Your life matters just as much as Norman Borlaug's.
This would be such a great gift to anyone who thinks their life doesn't matter. It will give its readers a more eternal perspective on the importance of every human life. The decisions we make today to serve God can make a difference in someone's life we may never even meet.
In the interest of disclosure, I received a copy of this book from the publisher, but the opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
The story itself, though, will make you think more about the impact your life has not only on those around you but also on future generations. Truly, our words and actions matter. I love the illustration of how one life impacts another, which impacts another and so on. One of the two illustrations in this book of how every person's life is important, began with a person I'm sure few people have ever heard of named Norman Borlaug (read the book to find out just who he is!). And the two lives who were highlighted are only examples. Your life matters just as much as Norman Borlaug's.
This would be such a great gift to anyone who thinks their life doesn't matter. It will give its readers a more eternal perspective on the importance of every human life. The decisions we make today to serve God can make a difference in someone's life we may never even meet.
In the interest of disclosure, I received a copy of this book from the publisher, but the opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Book Review - She Walks In Beauty
Based on the back of this book, I wasn't sure I would enjoy it, but it didn't take me long to become engrossed in this story of New York's Gilded Age. The main character, Clara Carter, is being trained by her aunt and father to "catch" a proper husband. In fact, they have a particular person in mind, and not one that Clara wants to marry. But Clara feels that as a woman she doesn't have any other choices since she has no marketable skills.
As the book progresses, Clara begins to question the direction that has been laid out for her. I thoroughly enjoyed watching her character grow as she began to realize that she alone was responsible for the decisions she made and that making moral choices was preferable to following the crowd ("everyone else does it").
This book is very well written and well researched. I learned several new details about the Gilded Age. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
Although I received a copy of this book from the publisher, the views expressed are entirely my own.
As the book progresses, Clara begins to question the direction that has been laid out for her. I thoroughly enjoyed watching her character grow as she began to realize that she alone was responsible for the decisions she made and that making moral choices was preferable to following the crowd ("everyone else does it").
This book is very well written and well researched. I learned several new details about the Gilded Age. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
Although I received a copy of this book from the publisher, the views expressed are entirely my own.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Book Review - Same Kind of Different As Me
What an amazing story! I loved this book from the first page to the last (and would love to read an update). For some reason, when I started this book I thought it was fiction. About halfway through I figured out these were real people and I was amazed at how God brought Denver and Ron into each others' lives. It was wonderful to read how two people whose paths would ordinarily never cross became closer than many families.
This book was inspiring on several levels. On a personal level I believe that every Christian who reads this book will be challenged to listen and to act on the call to follow Christ in His work. He won't call everyone to the same place, but He does call each of us to move outside our comfort zone just as He called both Denver and Ron to move outside of theirs. It was wonderful to read a first hand account of how God is working in our world today in miraculous ways. So many of these stories are never told, so it was great to get to read Denver and Ron's story.
This book is very well written and it is so much more than an inspiring story. It's a call to action for every Christian to follow Christ in His work - where He has called us. If you don't read another non-fiction book this year, you should do yourself a favor and read this one.
In the interest of disclosure I received a copy of this book from the publisher, but the opinions expressed are entirely my own.
This book was inspiring on several levels. On a personal level I believe that every Christian who reads this book will be challenged to listen and to act on the call to follow Christ in His work. He won't call everyone to the same place, but He does call each of us to move outside our comfort zone just as He called both Denver and Ron to move outside of theirs. It was wonderful to read a first hand account of how God is working in our world today in miraculous ways. So many of these stories are never told, so it was great to get to read Denver and Ron's story.
This book is very well written and it is so much more than an inspiring story. It's a call to action for every Christian to follow Christ in His work - where He has called us. If you don't read another non-fiction book this year, you should do yourself a favor and read this one.
In the interest of disclosure I received a copy of this book from the publisher, but the opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Book Review - Somewhere To Belong
This book by Judith Miller seems to be the first in a new series called Daughters of Amana. The book is set in a Christian colony called Amana - similar to an Amish or Mennonite colony but no particular group is named. This story follows two girls - Berta and Johanna - who are both trying to figure out what direction their lives will take. Berta just moved to Amana while Johanna has lived there her whole life.
The story line of this book caught my attention from the beginning. Watching two young women whose lives to this point had been so different and who were thrown together in a unique environment at a pivotal point in both their lives was very interesting. I enjoyed watching Berta and Johanna mature as they also became good friends. While this book is complete in itself, I can see several other stories waiting to be told. I'm also looking forward to learning more about the citizens of Amana in future books.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received a copy of this book from the publisher, but the views expressed are entirely my own.
The story line of this book caught my attention from the beginning. Watching two young women whose lives to this point had been so different and who were thrown together in a unique environment at a pivotal point in both their lives was very interesting. I enjoyed watching Berta and Johanna mature as they also became good friends. While this book is complete in itself, I can see several other stories waiting to be told. I'm also looking forward to learning more about the citizens of Amana in future books.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received a copy of this book from the publisher, but the views expressed are entirely my own.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Book Review - Sarah's Garden
I thoroughly enjoyed Sarah's Garden by Kelly Long. Perhaps it especially appealed to me because it centered around both simple living and gardening - two of my favorite subjects. The main female character, Sarah King, is a member of the Amish community in Pennsylvania and is an avid gardener. Unfortunately for her, she falls in love with an outsider - the new veterinarian to the community.
As Sarah and Grant, the vet, get to know each other they reach a point where they can no longer deny their love for each other. They seem to be at an impasse since Sarah will not leave her community for the outside world and Grant is not Amish. The resolution of the book is a testimony to allowing God to work in our lives. When He calls us to go in a certain direction He can overcome any obstacles blocking our path. We just have to be faithful to continue to walk in the direction He calls.
This is a very enjoyable book and I look forward to reading more books in this new Patch of Heaven series.
Although I received a copy of this book from the publisher, the opinions expressed are entirely my own.
As Sarah and Grant, the vet, get to know each other they reach a point where they can no longer deny their love for each other. They seem to be at an impasse since Sarah will not leave her community for the outside world and Grant is not Amish. The resolution of the book is a testimony to allowing God to work in our lives. When He calls us to go in a certain direction He can overcome any obstacles blocking our path. We just have to be faithful to continue to walk in the direction He calls.
This is a very enjoyable book and I look forward to reading more books in this new Patch of Heaven series.
Although I received a copy of this book from the publisher, the opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Book Review - Hand of Fate
I love a good mystery novel, so I looked forward to reading Hand of Fate by Lis Wiehl, although I hadn't read the first book in the series. This book follows the murder of conservative radio personality Jim Fate from the perspectives of three friends, each with her own point of view of the crime.
I enjoyed getting a glimpse into the lives of each of the three main characters - FBI agent Nicole Hedges, television crime reporter Cassidy Shaw, and Federal prosecutor Allison Pierce. The murder and process of solving the crime was good, but the part of the book that caught my attention the most was getting to know the three friends with their ongoing problems. I would be interested to read more books in the series to see how some of the ongoing issues in their lives get resolved.
This mystery takes plenty of twists and turns, and although some may solve the crime before the end of the book, the murderer was a bit of a surprise until several pages before the official reveal. Although this is a Christian novel, the underlying theme of Christianity is not in-your-face. I really liked the way it was incorporated into the book, and I can see how it could become a more major theme in a later book in this series.
I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson publisher.
I enjoyed getting a glimpse into the lives of each of the three main characters - FBI agent Nicole Hedges, television crime reporter Cassidy Shaw, and Federal prosecutor Allison Pierce. The murder and process of solving the crime was good, but the part of the book that caught my attention the most was getting to know the three friends with their ongoing problems. I would be interested to read more books in the series to see how some of the ongoing issues in their lives get resolved.
This mystery takes plenty of twists and turns, and although some may solve the crime before the end of the book, the murderer was a bit of a surprise until several pages before the official reveal. Although this is a Christian novel, the underlying theme of Christianity is not in-your-face. I really liked the way it was incorporated into the book, and I can see how it could become a more major theme in a later book in this series.
I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson publisher.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)