Oct 11, 2011

Desiring God


Desiring God is a John Piper classic.  In it, Piper discusses why he is a Christian hedonist (a term he coined) and what that means.  He explains how the ultimate thing in life is to glory in God  and enjoy Him.

The book seems to repeat itself often, and can sometimes feel like Piper is talking in circles but if it is broken down into small amounts, it is definitely a good read.  Numerous scriptures back everything Piper discusses up. 

While this book is a classic, it is definitely a slow read as it needs to be digested in small portions.  This is not a book to just read, it is a book to take in. 

*I received this book for free in exchange for a review. I was not required to write a positive review. *


Aug 7, 2011

Amazing Courage - A review of Thunder Dog by Michael Hingson


Thunder Dog by Michael Hingson is the true story of his escape from the World Trade Center on September 11th with the help of his faithful guide dog Roselle.   This story was so inspiring, and so amazing that I must recommend it to everyone!
The  detailed account of their  descent from the 78th floor of the World Trade Center during the terrorist attacks, while amazing, is not the heart of the story.  The story of how Michael Hingson overcame blindness to do things that a sighted person wouldn’t imagine possible for a blind man is truly what makes this book great.  The obstacles he has overcome and the accessibility that he helped pioneer for the blind community is awe-inspiring. 

This book made me think of blindness in an entirely new way.  The limitations that so many sighted people place on blind people are really our own limitations.  Reading about the work and training of the guide dogs was also very interesting.  I highly recommend this book to everyone.  Learning how to interact with others who have blindness is the best thing I took away from this book. Every person should read this and learn from this story! They will learn what courage really looks like!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their 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.”

Jun 11, 2011

Plain Wisdom

imgres.jpegPlain Wisdom by Cindy Woodsmall and Miriam Flaud is a series of short, well written chapters that are written by an Old Order Amish woman (Miriam Flaud) and an Englisher (Cindy Woodsmall).  Each short chapter deals with a situation, special event, or every day occurance as seen through the eyes of these two women.
While this is not  a book to just sit down and read through, it is one that is enjoyed a little at a time.  It is interesting to see the perspective of friendship of these two women who live in such different worlds.
I found this book entertaining because I personally know an Old Order Amish family, and their views on life, society and family are so different from mine, yet at the same time, there are so many ways I wish my life was like theirs.
Plain Wisdom is a good read if you are looking for something to pick up here and there and to glean a new perspective.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers. 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.:*

Jun 7, 2011

Women of Faith:Rejoice CD Review

Women of Faith Worship:Rejoice is a new recording of praise and worship songs.  I listen to quite a bit of praise and worship and this CD just wasn't my cup of tea.  The women singing sounded like a Christian version of the 90's group Wilson-Philips.  There are some songs on the CD that I knew such as 'Our God' originally sung by Chris Tomlin, and this version of the song did not live up to the original.  While this CD may be what others like, it did not draw me into the presence of God, instead I was focused on the very feminine sound of it. Not my favorite CD, nor could I recommend it.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their 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.”*

Apr 15, 2011

Perfectly Patriotic!

God’s Promises for the American Patriot is a great gift book for the person in your life who loves history or is interested in the founding of our country.  There are short two page chapters that address a topic related to patriotism.  The book is not limited to the founding fathers, but also highlights others who more recently have been vocal about their love of country and love of God.  I think it is the perfect father’s day gift and would be a great book to have on the coffee table.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their 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.”


Mar 14, 2011

Plain Proposal by Beth Wiseman


In the genre of Amish fiction, there comes another book, Plain Proposal.  In this book, the main character Miriam is coming of age to make her own decisions when her English cousin Shelby moves in.  The two girls couldn’t be any different.  Plain Proposal takes you on a journey with Miriam as she moves from girl to woman and discovers her own life. 

I usually enjoy reading Amish fiction.  I have read a book by this author before, and this time, I can’t say I was disappointed, but at the same time, the book did nothing for me.  It was very repetitive and filled with quite a bit of space fillers.  There were many times where the writer rehashed what the characters were thinking or feeling, over and over again.  The book probably could’ve been quite a bit shorter if all of that were taken out. 

If you have read any of my other reviews on Amish fiction, you will know that I personally know Amish families in Lancaster County and have spent time with them.  Some of the aspects of Amish life in these books are true to life, and others are a bit far-fetched and elaborated. 

Overall, this is a wholesome book with a sweet story.  It isn’t a page turner, nor is it entirely entertaining. 

*Disclosure of Materials: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their 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.”


Feb 21, 2011

Do You Want to be RADICAL??

All over the world, people are living in “radical” ways, and too many times, Christians see themselves as ordinary. We look at Hollywood, we look at the news, and we look at reality TV and think that those people are doing such “cool and radical” things in the world.  But, a truly radical life is one that is wholly devoted to Christ and His Gospel.
In his book, Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream, David Platt explains how a life surrendered to Christ is nothing less than an extreme and awesome experience.  This book will open your eyes, it will challenge your thoughts about your life, and will motivate you to truly follow the Gospel of Christ. 
Radical is convicting, it is inspiring, it is a must read for anyone claiming Christianity. 
This book has made me think about how I live my day-to-day life.  How am I using my time? How am I making a difference in a way that really matters? 
Do yourself a favor and get this book!! You will not regret it! It will change your life and propel you into a great adventure!

Read the first chapter here!

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book to review by Multnomah.  I was not required to write a positive review.*