Go Big or Go Home

Go Big or Go Home; The Journey Toward the Dream by Scotty McCreery is a fun read. It chronicles his life as a young child who worshiped Elvis to his journey to become an American Idol winner to launching a career as a Country Music singer. He won American Idol in 2011 at the age of seventeen.

     I have never watched American Idol but I am a fan of the VOICE so this book was particularly interesting. I am also not a fan of Country Music but I still really enjoyed the story.

     Scotty McCreery is a very devout Christian and he shares with us how that faith helped him get through some struggles as he made his way through the American Idol experience. He tells us how the Scriptures he read and the life lessons he learned helped him become the man he is today. His family was a huge support for him.

     Reading the book makes you feel like you really know Scotty and he’s talking to you. His life story makes you believe that with love, faith and family anything is possible. He had a dream to become a famous Country Artist and he persevered until that dream came true. He has had four Top 15 radio hits, has toured with Brad Paisley (he tells about that in the book) and Rascal Flatts, headlined his own tour and won the ACM New Artist of the Year Award all by the time he was twenty-two.

     This is an inspirational book that I highly recommend. It would make a great gift for any fan of Scotty McCreery.

     

The Berenstain Bears Mother's Day Blessings

    

 The Berenstain Bears Mother’s Day Blessings by Mike Berenstain is another story about the Berenstain Bear family. Interestingly the author is the son of the original creators of the Berenstain Bears, Stan and Jan Berenstain. Stan died in 2005 and Mike has taken over drawing and writing about the Bears.

     This is a cute story about the cubs wanting to do something special for their mom for Mother’s Day. Their father suggests going out for brunch after their Church service. On their way to church they discover many mothers that have to work on Mother’s Day. Each of these mothers is lucky enough to have children that are still honoring them by bringing them flowers, cards or gifts. It didn’t focus much on the Bear family as much as it did the other mothers they drove by. The big message the book said is that it’s important for a mother to have her children around her. I would like to have had the message be more about the blessings of motherhood.

     While the Berenstain Bears are a delightful family and this particular book has a Christian message I’m not enamored with the book. To me there is too much text to keep the attention of most little preschoolers who would need it read to them. (Based on my experiences with little ones.) Older children who can read the book themselves will find the storyline not all that interesting. (Based on my teaching of second graders.) 

I received this free book to review. However the opinion here is my own.

Jesus Today Book Review

 

   I am reviewing Jesus Today-Devotions for Kids by Sarah Young. In it are 150 daily devotions written for older kids and young teens. (tweens) The devotions are written as if Jesus is talking right to the child. Along with each devotion is a Bible verse or verses. These devotions are meant to be read in a quiet place so the child can get to know Jesus better. It is by the same author as Jesus Calling so the format is very similar. 

      A theme of Hope runs through the devotional stressing that Jesus has an amazing future for those who trust in him. Sarah Young says that “Jesus is the friend who is always with you.” 

      In the back of the book is a Scripture Index that matches a devotion to the Bible verses that accompany it. It might have been nice to do a Topic Index to be able to locate that devotion quickly. 

     This is an easy to read hardcover book. Each devotional is short and can be read in minutes. I think these will appeal to many children and could also be used as a starting point for family discussions or a children’s Bible Study. I feel this book would make a very nice gift.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for the review. All opinions are my own.

5 Minutes with Jesus

This is a review of 5 Minutes with Jesus (Making Today Matter) by Sheila Walsh. It is a small book of 49 short essays. Each essay is followed by scripture passages that pertain to the essay. It will really only take about 5 minutes for you to read each one. The book is small enough to fit into your purse or carry-on bag if you travel.

I feel the author didn’t come up with anything new. Many of the essays are about her life and didn’t hit home with me. Her writing style is very average and I don’t feel terribly inspiring. I’ve read works by other authors that I found more interesting and enlightening. I do like the fact that the essays are short. Perfect for reading one a day and doing some reflecting.

I was disappointed that there is not a table of contents or index. So if you want to go back and find a particular essay you have to page through the book. (I’m not a fan of marking up books or adding flags.)

I have received a copy of this book to review from the Thomas Nelson book company. This opinion is my own.)

The Berenstain Bears Storybook Bible For Little Ones

This is a review of The Berenstain Bears Storybook Bible for Little Ones. It is a small board book with a bright cover of the Berenstain Bears reading their storybook bible. The cover is padded and the book seems to be very well made. The bible stories start on the inside cover and end on the back cover so there are no paper pages. 

There are 8 bible stories starting with the creation story. Noah, Daniel in the Lion’s Den, David and Goliath,the birth of Jesus, The Good Neighbor Story, Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and Jesus is risen are the others featured in this book. The characters in the stories are illustrated using the familiar Berenstain Bears style. 

 I wonder how the authors chose these particular Bible stories. I’m not sure that a story about someone being thrown into a den of hungry lions or a story about robbers beating up a stranger they come across are appropriate for the little ones this book is intended for. The story of Jesus coming into Jerusalem ends with the authors saying that the soldiers hurt Jesus but don’t say how. Then on the next page they tell us that Jesus died and was put into a tomb. Iwas glad they didn’t go into a lot of detail about the crucifixion. 

The book looks like it is made for toddlers but I think the content is more suited for 4-5 year olds. I think it would be a good book to take along to church to keep little ones entertained.

(I was given this book to review by HarperCollins Christian Publishing. All opinions are my own.)

Book Review--The Printer and the Preacher

This is a review of the book The Printer and the Preacher. It is a biography of Benjamin Franklin and George Whitfield. Benjamin Franklin is a well-known figure from American History and George Whitfield a lesser known preacher during Franklin’s time.

The author Randy Petersen tells about the friendship that developed between these two. Benjamin Franklin got to know George Whitfield as he printed Whitfield’s sermons. Whitfield preached in public spaces across the colonies. Whitfield in turn defended Franklin’s diplomacy.

I just wasn’t inspired by this account. Maybe it’s because I didn’t find his writing of Benjamin Franklin or George Whitfield to be all that interesting. You will get historical facts along with the story of their friendship. Some of the conversations between the two men are what Petersen imagines them to say. If you want more history and less entertainment this book might be for you.

Petersen does show that the two men with very different beliefs could get along, work together and sustain a life-long friendship. So it serves as a model that shows a friendship between two people of very different outlooks and disagreements can survive as long as there is mutual respect. 

(I was given this book to review by HarperCollins Christian Publishing. All opinions are my own.)

Book Review--The Undertaker's Wife

I just finished a delightful book called The Undertaker’s Wife. You wouldn’t think it would be delightful by the title but it is a very good read.This is a true story of Dee Oliver (who is also the author) and her husband Johnnie, the undertaker.

The book starts out telling us about how Dee and Johnnie met, dated and married. The book chronicles their 20+ years of marriage. You can imagine the stories Dee has to tell about being married to an undertaker. One of my favorites is the time they planned an overnight vacation just the two of them. It almost didn’t happen because of course Johnnie had work to do. To save the vacation, much to Dee’s dismay, Johnnie drove them to the hotel with the corpse in the back of the hearse. He had the valet park the vehicle way in the back of the hotel parking garage. Dee and Johnnie enjoyed their overnight stay and the next day Johnnie delivered the body to a nearby cemetery.

The rest of the book deals with life after Johnnie’s death. Dee actually goes back to school and earns her mortuary degree. Her brother-in-law doesn’t want her to join the family business so she finds work at a funeral home run by and for African Americans. 

Along the way Dee gives very practical tips on dying well,dealing with death and surviving the loss of a loved one. Her faith in God has helped her through all of her trials. 

(I was given this book to review by HarperCollins Christian Publishing. All opinions are my own.)

Devotions from the Garden

I just finished reading Devotions from the Garden: Finding Peace and Rest from Your Hurried Life with Miriam Drennan. This is an easy to read devotional based on comparing gardening to God working in our lives.

Being a gardener myself I found this book to be particularly interesting. I do think that even someone that was not a gardener would still enjoy reading it. I found that reading one or two a day was a good way to process the message in each devotional. (There are 90 total.) I like that each devotional started out with a scripture verse, had the comparison of gardening to life and ended with an appropriate prayer tying it all together.

Along with the meaningful words, the beautiful photographs added to the enjoyment of the book.There is also a ribbon to help mark your place in the book.

I would recommend this book especially to anyone that gardens but also to anyone who would just like a quick meaningful devotion to read each day. I found it to be a delightful way to start each day and to be a relaxing way to end the day.

(I was given this book to review by HarperCollins Christian Publishing. All opinions are my own.)

10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know

This is a review of the book 10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know by Kari Kampakis.  Being the grandmother of a “tween” granddaughter I thought maybe this was a book I should check out for her. 

I found this book to be more for older girls—in their teens. Topics covered include popularity, reputation, self-worship,inner beauty and interactions with boys. Particularly the chapter on boys I feel is written for older girls than my granddaughter who is 11. 

Some of the chapters include stories about girls (I took to be fictitious.) Other chapters have stories from Kari’s life. Woven through all is the message that you (the reader) are a child of God and part of HIs plan. In a few of the chapters there are discussion questions.

I wasn’t very impressed with this book. I think the topics are good but it’s written at a level for older teens who need to hear some of this stuff earlier. I don’t know that the readers would be real interested in Kari’s college life. I think that’s too far removed from their age. This might be better used as a resource for adults to generate discussions rather than a stand alone book given to teen girls.

(I was given this book to review by HarperCollins Christian Publishing. All opinions are my own.)

Nurturing Great Kids Devotional Review

The Nurturing Great Kids Devotional is a one-a-day reflection for parents. It contains 365 practical insights for moms and dads alike. It is written by Dan Seaborn. Dan is the Director of the Marriage and Family Network for the Association of Christian Counselors. He often speaks at Family and Marriage conferences.

I like the idea of having a short reflection to read each day. Above the reflection is a bible quote. After the reflection a “Parenting Principle” is stated. Then there are three questions or points for parents to ponder. Each one would probably take less than 5 minutes to read. The pondering…obviously a little longer.

Then reflections deal with subjects such as siblings, rules,listening, discipline. to name a few. Many of these were very practical ideas that would fit most family situations. A few I found to be a little too “preachy” and conservative for my taste. 

I would recommend this book to any parent wanting some short and easy to read reflections on how to build relationships with their children. The reflections nclude some words of wisdom on how to be a good role model for your children. They also include ways to build a stronger relationship with their kids and God.

(I was given this book to review by HarperCollins Christian Publishing. All opinions are my own.)

Great Gift for a Young Girl

I am reviewing Just Sayin’ by Carol McAdams Moore. This is a journal-like book of 90 devotions designed for girls. I would say girls ages 10-13 would like this book. I have a granddaughter in fifth grade that I think would really enjoy this book. 

Each devotion starts out with a Bible verse. Then there is a question to get them thinking about how this could relate to their own life. It usually gives them some examples to choose from. Then there is an activity such as making a list, taping in photos and most of the time they are asked to “Doodle” a response. I also like that some of the devotions include a short prayer. 

These devotions can be read and the activities done in any order. The fonts and page lay-outs have a “cool” and “hip’ look to them.  Even the cover is pink with a funky-looking dog on the front. 

I think any girl that enjoys artistic activities would really enjoy this book. It’s an easy to read format and its size (and because it’s a paperback) makes it easy to take along in a backpack or in the car. It would work with pretty much all Christian Faiths. The responses would be good for family discussions—if the child wanted to share. (Since it’s like a journal they may not want to.) This would make a really nice gift for any young girl that you know, especially with Christmas coming up.

From Camera to Pen, a Review

I just finished reading Framing Faith by Matt Knisely. Matt is an award-winning photojournalist and author. Since I am a photographer too I was excited to read this book.

Matt does a good job of taking aspects of photography and using them as a starting point to get his message of needing a personal relationship with the Lord across. Each chapter deals with one aspect (such as Focus or Perspective) and he discusses all of his ideas using photographical terms. He also uses a lot of stories and images from his own personal experiences with photojournalism to get his message across.

I found the book to be interesting but not really anything new. Knisely tells us that we need to know who we are, that we live in an information loaded world and because we are so distracted we often miss God’s voice. It’s a message we’ve all heard before just reframed using his photography background.

I read a review by Jeff Goins, the author of The In-Between. He said like a good photograph, the more you look at it, the more you find. He feels this is true about Knisely’s book.  Perhaps in a second reading one might find more but I’m not motivated by this book to read it again.

(I was given this book to review by HarperCollins Christian Publishing. All opinions are my own.)

Clout by Jenni Catron review

Clout, written by Jenni Catron is a book about discovering and using your God-given influence. Ms Catron is the executive director of Cross Point Church in Nashville, Tennessee. She uses her “ Clout” to lead the staff of Cross Point. 

In her book Ms. Catron defines Clout as “the influence that God has given to you and no one else.”She says that we all have God-given influence inside of us that makes us long to make a difference. Catron writes that we are designed to impact the world like no one else can. She says that we each have Clout but may not have discovered it yet. 

The first few chapters list “The Clout Killers” that challenge us. These are fear, comparison, jealousy, scarcity, insecurity, pride and control. She explains how each one impacts our influence on others. She does this through story-telling, Bible passages and sharing moments from her own journey to leadership. At the end of each chapter are some exercises for you to complete. 

The next chapters list ”The Cloud Cultivators”. These chapters are meant to have you do some soul searching. Discovering your own identity, developing confidence, coming up with a personal mission statement and goals and figuring out where your passion is are the focus of these chapters. Catron gives examples from her own life and offers Discovery Steps to help you. 

The first few chapters didn’t seem to hit home with me. Had I read this book years earlier when I was considering a leadership role they would have been more meaningful. However, the last few chapters were filled with more down to earth, practical information that could apply to almost any life situation. I think at any point in our life it’s good to take an inventory and see if we are still on track with our life goals. 

I’d recommend this book for anyone in a leadership position or anyone involved with influencing others. Catron gives good advice along with Bible quotes that fit the topic of each chapter. It’s a good read to help keep in mind that God calls us all to shine.

(I was given this book to review by HarperCollins Christian Publishing. All opinions are my own.)

Goodnight,Angels Review

The book Goodnight, Angels by melody Carlson is a cute read.  It is a 12 page “board book” designed for little ones. There are two lines of rhyming text on every other page.  The illustrations are by Sophie Allsopp.  They are simple but yet, realistic.

In the story a young boy says goodbye to his friends at the playground and heads home with his mom and dad. He wishes the friends  a Good Night. Then he continues to wish things Good Night such as his wagon (that he took to the playground), his pets, his bedtime snack, his rubber duckie and toothbrush.

Once in bed the little boy says Good Night to his dad but asks for a bedtime story. He says Good Night to his mom and asks her to tuck him in. He says Good Night to God and finally to the angels watching over him.

It’s a pleasant enough book that would make a good bedtime read. There are a couple of changes that I think would make the book better.  Since it is a board book it will probably be read to little ones. The boy in the story looks to be older. It might have been more fun to make him younger.  Also I don’t like that the author refers to God as Father God. ( I don’t like to think of God as a gender.) The price on the back of the book is $7.99. I thought this was a little steep for a board book.  I’ve seen some good hard cover books for this price.

 


The book Goodnight, Angels by melody Carlson is a cute read. It is a 12 page “board book” designed for little ones. There are two lines of rhyming text on every other page. The illustrations are by Sophie Allsopp. They are simple but yet, realistic. 

In the story a young boy says goodbye to his friends at the playground and heads home with his mom and dad. He wishes the friends a Good Night. Then he continues to wish things Good Night such as his wagon (that he took to the playground), his pets, his bedtime snack, his rubber duckie and toothbrush. 

Once in bed the little boy says Good Night to his dad but asks for a bedtime story. He says Good Night to his mom and asks her to tuck him in. He says Good Night to God and finally to the angels watching over him.

 It’s a pleasant enough book that would make a good bedtime read. There are a couple of changes that I think would make the book better. Since it is a board book it will probably be read to little ones. The boy in the story looks to be older. It might have been more fun to make him younger. Also I don’t like that the author refers to God as Father God. ( I don’t like to think of God as a gender.) The price on the back of the book is $7.99. I thought this was a little steep for a board book. I’ve seen some good hard cover books for this price.

(I was given this book to review by HarperCollins Christian Publishing. All opinions are my own.)

Country Faith (the book)

First off, I have to say that I am not a Country Music fan. It just isn’t my favorite genre of music. That said, I still really enjoyed reading Country Faith. I didn’t recognize some of the performers in the book but that didn’t make any difference. 

This book is 56 reflections from leading Country Music Stars such as Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Wynonna and Brad Paisley, to name a few. Each Star was asked to give their favorite Bible verse. Then each gave a reflection of why they chose that particular verse and how it is meaningful in their lives. It was interesting because sometimes we think of Country Music as always a tune about drinking, divorce or cheating on your spouse. So it’s refreshing to hear that these performers can sing about these things but that God is number one in their lives. 

The book is really easy reading. The reflections are very short, mostly just a paragraph or two. I read the whole book in one sitting. I kind of wish I had slowed down and read one a day and then took some time to reflect on each. It was interesting to me to see which verse was picked by each performer. Many times the verse was one that I found heartfelt too.

 In the back of the book the gospel of Mark has been provided. The book says it is the shortest of the gospels so it’s a good place to start in coming up with your own favorite Bible verse. 

I would recommend this book to everyone. You don’t need to listen to Country music to appreciate the insight given by these artists. However, it is a little more fun to read because they are famous.

(I was given this book to review by HarperCollins Christian Publishing. All opinions are my own.)

Victim of Grace

I recently read the book Victim of Grace (When God’s Goodness Prevails) by Robin Jones Gunn.  In the book Robin chronicles events in her life and then relates that to a woman in the Bible. Throughout her life she has felt that she has been a “Victim of Grace” and so have these other women.

Robin is a published author of many books, including a series for young girls. She didn’t set out to be an author. When she was younger she felt her calling was to go to Africa as a missionary. However circumstances didn’t allow her to go and she came to realize that wasn’t God’s plan for her.

Her life has had many ups and downs. She has had some medical issues, career highs and lows but throughout all of it she didn’t get discouraged. She felt that God was always at work in her life. Robin was able to get more writing deals and offers to travel the world to speak at Writer’s Conferences. Eventually she would end up presenting at a Conference in Nairobi, Kenya. Her dream of going to Africa came true—just a little differently than she had expected.

It was interesting reading this book for me at this time because these days have been some trying ones! I found it refreshing to think of life’s difficulties in a different way. Instead of asking why me? I have come to realize through Robin’s writing that God is still pouring out his grace on me and my family even during the hard times. He still is accomplishing his purposes for us in the middle of this mess!

I recommend this book for anyone wanting a good example of someone being positive in the time of pain. Robin has been able to see how God has been at work in her life and gave me some insight into how to look for His work in mine.  I liked her conversational tone, it wasn’t preachy. It was good to be reminded of the Bible’s women and their times of grace.

Booksneeze has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review, all opinions are my own.

(I was given this book to review by HarperCollins Christian Publishing. All opinions are my own.)

What On Earth Am I Here For Book Review

I have just finished reading Rick Warren’s What On Earth Am I Here For? I have not read his other book The Purpose Driven Life but I had heard good things about it. That is what inspired me to read this one.

I was a little disappointed in the book. I wasn’t expecting to have to read about 400 pages to get the answer and that was probably very naïve. Rick also suggests spreading your reading out over 40 days (biblical references to why 40 are in the book and also a contract you can sign). So this took me a lot longer to finish then I am used to.

The first 14 days were easy to read and digest. His ideas here made sense and I could relate them to my own life. After that, the days’ readings started to sound very “preachy” to me, almost like a daily lecture. He tells us that we have an assignment and that we need to accept that assignment from God. I agree with this but I don’t feel that for all of us that assignment means going out and giving testimony to others.

He also is very big on having a small group that you share your mission with and also doing a lot of journaling. He suggests writing down a “Life Purpose Statement” to help point you in the direction of your life. This idea I liked and could easily do with the help he gives in the book.

He has also added in some technology. At the end of every day’s reading there is also a link to a video message from Rick that goes along with the day’s theme.

If you want some very serious and heavy ideas for understanding your life’s purpose this book is for you. Personally, I would rather have had a little shorter guide with some humor and lightness.

(I was given this book to review by HarperCollins Christian Publishing. All opinions are my own.)

Stained Glass Hearts by Patsy Clairmont is a quick read. I could have finished it in one sitting but it’s one of those books that you need to read in small doses so you can reflect on her writing. Clairmont’s chapters are stories of her life. The end of the chapter gives you some art examples and often a prayer, poem or music that she feels goes along with the theme of that particular chapter.

            Starting out I was mildly amused by her life stories. She’s had some difficulties to overcome and she writes well of these. After awhile I wasn’t so interested in these stories anymore because this isn’t an autobiography but supposedly a book on how God helps mend struggling hearts. I got very distracted by her chapter on Poetry. It seemed out of place among the chapters of her life stories.

            I realize that Clairmont tries to use music, poetry, prayer, books,art and puzzles to carry the theme of “hearts” throughout her book. While I enjoyed many of the prayers she listed, I didn’t find the others very meaningful. I kept wishing she would have had some practical advice  or revelations to share with us about “how to see our lives in a new light” as her book jacket tease suggests.

            I would recommend this book if you just want to read some entertaining stories of the author’s life. If however, you are looking for more of a self-help book or book with some answers, I’d say pass.

Booksneeze has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review, all opinions are my own.

Latest Book Review

Save Your Marriage in Five Minutes a Day by Bonnie Jacobson and Alexia Paul is a book about strategies to improve your marriage.  The authors say that “a happy marriage is closer than you think!”Throughout the book the authors remind us that we cannot depend on others for our happiness.  

The book feels like it was written to help anyone struggling with their marriage. While the ideas in the book would certainly help a marriage in trouble, they are also pertinent for a healthy marriage. Dr. Bonnie Jacobson does say in her introduction that these strategies will help a marriage that is floundering or flourishing.

The chapters are short and to the point. You can easily read a chapter, put the book down and reflect on that particular strategy.  Then pick up the book  at a later time and read another chapter. A lot of the strategies are just using common sense but I feel it’s good to be reminded of that.

The content of the chapters is generally inspiring. However, the accompanying stories about (true?) couples I found to be rather corny. I think the strategies would seem more creditable without the stories. I also feel that if you are paying attention as you are reading the chapter, the summary is not necessary. At the end of each chapter is a list of the Five Minute Strategies to try out. Most of them would be easy for the person reading the book to follow. Some would require your partner to read and participate.

                I would recommend this book for anyone wanting ideas to strengthen a marriage. I’m not sure how helpful this book would be for someone in a struggling relationship .

(I was given this book to review by HarperCollins Christian Publishing. All opinions are my own.)

Book Review:  The Power Based Life

"Do you know what you were born for?" This is the question that Mike Flynt says we need to answer in order to discover who God created us to be and then to discover the work we were meant to do.

While I think this is a good question for anyone to try to figure out, I don’t think Flynt’s book will be very instrumental in helping to do that. He starts out by telling his own life story. He was a tightly-wound young man ready to fist fight anyone and everyone. Consequently, he lost his college scholarship and wasn’t able to play football his senior year. He went on to hold various jobs until he was lucky enough to make a connection that got him his “dream job” of being an athletic trainer.

The story of his fighting days is told over and over in the book. It was interesting the first time he told it but did little to keep me interested in subsequent chapters. Along the way Flynt also throws in a few references to biblical stories and passages. They don't always seem to connect with the particular strategy he was discussing.

The book just did not hold my attention. I felt that it didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know. I feel there are much better books by other authors that will get you more inspired to make life changes.

Please note that Thomas Nelson Publishing has provided me a complimentary copy of this book for my review; however, the opinions are my own. I have not been required to publish a positive review.

(I was given this book to review by HarperCollins Christian Publishing. All opinions are my own.)