The Hankins Family

Running the Race Together

2012-01-20T10:31:00.000-05:00

Today, I'm guest posting on Scripture memorization @

Please join us there! :)

Guest Post: On Writing Historical Fiction by Simonetta Carr

2011-12-29T09:24:00.000-05:00

Writing Historical Fiction by Simonetta Carr

I love straight biographies - pure facts, no imagined characters, no added quotes someone might have said. I love the safety of adverbs of probability: “maybe,” “perhaps,” “presumably.” I love exploring options, giving the benefit of doubt. From the start of my series of Christian Biographies for Young Readers (published by Reformation Heritage Books), accuracy and objectivity have been my main goals.

Then P&R asked me if I wanted to contribute to their Chosen Daughters series. It was a different genre. While keeping true to the historical facts of the main characters’ lives, these types of books are normally categorized as historical fiction.

I had to think about this for a while. It’s true that historical fiction may be more appealing to young people than straight biography, but the project seemed risky. How could I attribute to a character thoughts or words that may have never crossed her mind or lips?

I was supposed to send two sample chapters, so I hesitantly started to write. At first, what turned out was a biography with a few uncertain attempts to imagine and describe. It was stifled and cold. Then I looked at the overall plot. Olympia’s life was full and adventurous, but it needed some organization. I needed to find her character arc and discover the main yearning that carried her through.

I started to study her letters, finding small clues to hidden feelings. Soon I realized that the freedom I could exercise as a fiction writer allowed me to dig deeper into her soul, daring to interpret and connect in ways I would not have done before.

In a way, the serious biographer says, “To the best of my knowledge, after reading all the primary sources and comparing them with secondary sources, I believe that this is an accurate account of this person’s life, and I am telling you why.” He takes the reader to a vantage point, distant enough to see the whole picture.

On the other hand, the serious writer of historical fiction says, “To the best of my knowledge, after reading all the primary sources and comparing them with secondary sources, this is what impressed me about this character’s life and feelings. This is how I see them. I believe it’s a valid interpretation, and I am going to show you.” He brings the reader very close to the character, where sights, smells, and sounds can be experienced, and then even closer, to the less conspicuous motions of the heart.

The biographer helps the mind to expand, to consider several possibilities and re-evaluate previous opinions. The fiction writer helps both mind and heart to get deeply involved in another person’s life, experiencing with a certain degree of empathy rather than passing an intellectual judgment.

Writing historical fiction takes courage. While the biographer presents an array of possibilities and lets the reader decide, the fiction writer has to make decisions, based on his research. I couldn’t say, “Olympia may have met her husband at the ducal court.” After studying carefully her letters and the costumes of her time, I had to imagine an initial meeting, her reaction, and his proposal, full knowing that someone else may disagree with my choices.

Writing historical fiction takes courage also in an emotional way. There is a memorable quote by film maker Akira Kurosawa: “To be an artist means never to avert one's eyes.” My husband knows how often I stick my head under the blankets when we watch movies. I am not just talking about the occasional scenes of actual violence. I don’t want to see any type of pain and suffering. Sometimes I even shun the tension of the anticipation. In my view, there is already enough unavoidable suffering around us.

But when we write fiction we have to get close to every feeling, even those we want to reject. That includes not only pain, but even attitudes that we normally despise. The best writers can appropriate those attitudes and express them as if they were theirs.

Overall, writing historical fiction is definitely more difficult than writing a biography. It’s more emotionally involving and more time-consuming. I just finished writing a biography of Renée of France which will be published by Evangelical Press next year (D.V.). It took a lot of research and study, which included a search for an unpublished doctoral dissertation. I also chose to translate most documents myself. Still, all that doesn’t compare with the amount of work my book on Olympia required.

With Olympia, I also chose to translate her letters directly (to avoid copyright problems) and studied primary and secondary sources. I also travelled to Ferrara to visit the castle where she lived and met with a historical researcher to discuss the floor plans of sixteenth-century middle-class homes. A biographer may do all this, but I could not stop there. I had to go on a much deeper study of the minor characters than what I would have done in a biography. I also had to discover what people did in the various situations Olympia had to face. How did men propose? What did a renaissance banquet look like? What were the celebrations during the pope’s visit to Ferrara? What did people do in their free time?

I remember when, after studying the laborious details of the Schmalkaldic war, I had to research the different diseases that sixteenth-century writers grouped under the generic name of “pestilence” and find textbooks describing how they were normally treated. I almost said out loud, “Olympia, a pestilence too? What else had to be part of your life?”

The difference between a biography and a work of historical fiction is, in my view, very marked. I have read several attempts at creating a hybrid between the two – biographies with frequent fictionalized descriptions or dialogues – and the results were usually disappointing. Both genres have their place, and neither one is by definition more exciting or interesting than the other.

Read A Sample

In Olympia’s case, I recommend Holt Parker’s The Complete Writings of an Italian Heretic (University of Chicago Press), which contains both an accurate account of Olympia’s life and a full collection of all her existing correspondence, speeches, and poems in English. Weight of a Flame, on the other hand, takes the same story and helps the reader to experience it, much like a film or a painting would do. Some readers might want to start with this one and then read Parker’s book for a deeper study.

On my blog (www.simonettacarr.com) I am planning to give a chapter-by chapter account of what is true and what is fictional in my book. I hope you will follow it and add your comments.

*Simonetta, Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on the difference between writing biography and historical fiction! It has been a pleasure to read and to get a glimpse into your world as an author! We really appreciate the great lengths to which you go in your research to ensure accuracy for your readers!!

Celebrating the Excellencies of His Name - I AM

2011-12-23T09:31:00.000-05:00

Join me today as I guest post at Daily On My Way to Heaven,

sharing my reflections on Christ's name "I AM".

Many thanks to Becky Pliego for graciously asking me if I would be willing to participate!! :)

Book Review: The Barber Who Wanted to Pray

2011-12-05T21:35:00.000-05:00

If a child asked you how to pray better, how would you respond? Would you have a clever story by which to draw them in and make the lesson memorable? I might not have, however, after reading R.C. Sproul's book The Barber Who Wanted to Pray, I am much better equipped to answer my child's question.

My simple answer to my children would probably have been that prayer is simply talking to God and that they don't need to worry about saying things just right. However, that answer probably wouldn't really prove much help to them. Instead, Sproul follows Luther's steps as Luther follows Christ's steps in providing a simple way to pray. He begins by showing how one can use The Lord's Prayer as a guide in personal prayer and then moves on to The Ten Commandments and the Apostle's Creed. The method isn't legalistic or rote and can easily be applied to any portion of God's Word.

As far as stories go, this one was heartwarming as the family shared devotion time together. It also contained an element of suspense as Sproul opened with an outlaw in a barber shop. My children have asked me to read The Barber Who Wanted to Pray again and again. It is a delightful story. I pray that God uses it to help my children and many others learn more about talking with Him.

You can read the whole book on Crossway's web site.

Kara has also written an excellent review at Home With Purpose and is also hosting a giveaway (entries to be accepted until Dec. 12, 2011) which some of you may wish to enter.

*Many thanks to Crossway for providing a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

Book Review: America's Genius-Jonathan Edwards

2011-11-17T21:22:00.001-05:00

Christian Timothy George has done the Christian community a wonderful service in writing a biography of Jonathan Edwards for our young ones. In America’s Genius: Jonathan Edwards, George clearly communicates the Gospel throughout the entire book. He upholds God’s sovereignty and communicates sound doctrine in a way that is understandable for young people. George also incorporates many Biblical lessons throughout this look at Edwards’ life including the power of God’s Word, loving one’s enemies, salvation by grace alone--not works, dying to self/daily taking up our cross, the importance of Christ’s resurrection, the satisfaction of knowing Christ, counting the cost of following Christ, God’s mercy, true wisdom, and more.

George doesn’t elevate Edwards but shows that he was a man with a sinful nature like ours through whom God was pleased to work. He fought pride, anger, and a sharp tongue. Like Paul, Edwards did not do what he wanted, but did the very things he hated (Romans 7: 15). Edwards’ prayers for humility were encouraging. Although Edwards was a remarkable, godly man, George esteems God highly and gives Him the glory for Edwards’ life.

George reveals the culture and thoughts of Edward’s day in an engaging manner. In so doing, George does include about a page and a half discussing bundling (beginning at the bottom of page 78). In this discussion, there is a definition, reference to sexual temptation, sexual pleasure, and sexual immorality, and an encouragement to flee temptation. George handles this subject very carefully, however, some with younger children may wish to skip these pages until their children are older.

This book includes helpful study guide questions that offer a Scripture for reflection and application. Among the topics are: delighting in the Lord, struggling against sin, speaking truth even when it’s hard, disciplining the body, the blessing(s) of pain, the value of God’s Word, worshiping God, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, knowing God’s will, and living a life that eagerly awaits our Savior. George also includes a timeline, a list of actual quotes and/or paraphrases of Edwards, a bibliography, and a list of Edward’s works.

George quotes Scripture frequently and introduces his readers to Edward’s major works, his contemporaries, and those who influenced him. Furthermore, readers of this book will find encouragement to be faithful to and grow in their understanding of the Word of God. I highly recommend this wonderful book for young people!

Denise George generously sent me a copy of America's Genius: Jonathan Edwards to share with one of my readers. Many thanks to all who entered!! Congratulations to Holly who won the giveaway! :)

*Many thanks to Denise George who graciously sent me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!!

Book Review: The Magnificent Amazing Time Machine

2011-11-15T20:58:00.000-05:00

The Magnificent Amazing Time Machine by Sinclair Ferguson takes its reader on a journey back to the cross and to the beginning of time, offering a brief look at several pivotal events in Redemptive history. This book’s brevity results in a work that keeps the attention of young children while communicating several important Biblical truths.

Ferguson travels back to the beginning of time and allows his readers to listen to a hypothetical conversation between the members of the Trinity, in-so-doing revealing that salvation was God’s plan from the beginning of time. He also highlights (in a way that young children can easily grasp) the various roles of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit with regard to salvation. Furthermore, Ferguson teaches the reader about the role of the daily sacrifices which were offered by the Jewish High Priest.

My kids (ages 3 to 8) and I enjoyed The Magnificent Amazing Time Machine. It’s a unique book for young children that presents a wide-angle view of God’s plan to “save people from the terrible results of their sin”, accomplished by the Son and apprehended through the Spirit.

*Many thanks to Christian Focus Publications for sending me a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion! It is such a blessing to have Biblical resources that help us teach these deep, theological truths to our little blessings! :)

Book Review: Managing God's Money

2011-10-29T22:32:00.001-04:00

Managing God's Money is a thought-provoking and convicting book. Alcorn rightly recognizes that God's Word does not return void resulting in a work which contains a great deal of Scripture. Managing God's Money provides a balanced, Biblical response to giving, saving, and spending our money. Mr. Alcorn's goal for the book is that we would know what God has to say about money. It is written in a helpful question and answer format with nice, short chapters. There were times when Alcorn's answers seemed too brief or general , however, he typically expounded upon those topics later in the book. He also provides an extensive list of resources for further study toward the end of the book. If you want to grow in using your money to invest for eternity, this book is a great place to start!

(If you're wondering how this book differs from Alcorn's other books on the subject, his product page has a helpful paragraph highlighting the differences.)

*Many thanks to Tyndale House Publishers for providing me with this complimentary copy in exchange for my honest opinion!

Book Review: 365 Great Bible Stories

2011-10-18T07:54:00.003-04:00


Preview A Sample

I have to be honest, when I saw that Christian Focus was publishing 365 Great Bible Stories by Carine Mackenzie, my first thought was, "Do we really need another children's Bible?" There are already several excellent children's Bible on the market. However, our family has been incredibly blessed by all of the resources that we have purchased from Christian Focus so I really wanted to look through this children's Bible and compare it to the others that we have come to love.

As expected, Christian Focus did not disappoint. Here are some of the excellent features of 365 Great Bible Stories:

Text that is faithful to the Biblical account with minimal commentary,
Bible references included with section titles,
Clearly articulates "The Good News of Jesus Christ from Genesis to Revelation" (as stated in the subtitle ;),
Communicates important Biblical truths with clarity,
Simple illustrations that are not too distracting (and no illustrations of Christ which is important to some people),
Heavy-duty pages and a built-in ribbon bookmark. :)

Additionally, there are a couple of things that set this children's Bible apart. Having 365 Bible stories, it covers significantly more of the Bible storyline than the traditional children's story Bible. (Our favorite story Bibles for children have 26, 42, and 90 stories.) Each story is contained on one page with a simple illustration and something about which to think, pray, or discuss. Even my three-year-old daughter was able to sit still long enough to read and discuss a selection.

Another feature that makes this children's Bible unique is the way that it highlights recurring "Themes and Topics" with illustrations throughout the book. For example, "When you spot a dove picture that's a story about the Holy Spirit" (pg. 4). Other themes include: "Jesus Christ and Salvation, Wars and Battles, and Travellings and Journeys." You can simply flip through the story Bible, stopping at similar illustrations to trace a Biblical theme.

While there is no replacement for the living and active Word of God, it is helpful to have resources to help our children see the redemptive storyline of the Bible. 365 Great Bible Stories is another helpful resource to that end. It can be used by itself or along with a Bible to help bring greater clarity to the Truth in God's Word and the message of salvation.

*Many thanks to Christian Focus Publications for sending me a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest opinion!

Athanasius Winner

2011-10-07T06:21:00.001-04:00

Congratulations to:

Jennifer D.

Who is the winner of Simonetta Carr's

new book, Athansius.

Many thanks to:

Reformation Heritage Books,

Simonetta Carr, and

my faithful readers for

making this giveaway possible!

Thanks to all who entered!

If you didn't win this time, stay tuned;

I have another great giveaway coming up soon. :)

Have a blessed day, my friends!

Book Review: The Most Important Thing You'll Ever Study

2011-10-04T15:32:00.002-04:00

"Your hands have made me and fashioned me;
give me understanding that I may learn your commandments" (Psalm 119:73, ESV).

A few weeks ago, Crossway sent me a rather large package. I opened it to reveal a set of Starr Meade's The Most Important Thing You'll Ever Study: A Survey of the Bible. I was excited because this meant that we would have a set of this excellent resource to share with a friend, as we already had a personal copy.

When these books first came out, my daughter and I (age 7) were reading Acts together. We decided to use these guides as we read and found it a rich and rewarding experience. One of the things that I most appreciate about The Most Important Thing You'll Ever Study is that the four volumes are organized chronologically (the fifth volume is an answer key). As we read through the book of Acts, Meade guided us to read the Epistles in the context of early church history. It was very insightful to read the Epistles alongside Acts, and it helped to add depth to our understanding of God's Word. Doing so with these study guides helped us to pause and reflect in a way that we had not previously done.

As I was preparing to write this review, I was finishing up my reading in the Old Testament: Ezra-Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. I decided to use The Most Important Thing You'll Ever Study as a guide so that I could share a recent experience with it. Although I have read the Bible chronologically for a number of years, I found Meade's survey a helpful asset for a number of reasons. Just as before, I found myself pausing to reflect on things that I had simply read hastily in the past. The result was a much more meaningful interaction with God's Word.

Meade does an excellent job of communicating why it is important to study God's Word, taking adequate time to reflect and meditate. She shows how all of Scripture is really one big story about how God redeems a people for Himself through Christ. She lets Scripture speak for itself yet adds short commentary to bring clarity where appropriate while remaining faithful to the Biblical text. Additionally, she has a gift for making doctrinal concepts easier for young people to understand and does so masterfully in these books.

May God use this resource to help people of all ages give themselves to the reading of the word of God, and to meditation on it…

"not the simple reading of the word of God, so that it only passes through our minds, just as water runs through a pipe, but considering what we read, pondering over it, and applying it to our hearts," as George Mueller has said: "for this is the first and great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day...to have my soul happy in the Lord" (as quoted by John Piper in When I Don't Desire God: How to Fight for Joy, pg. 119).

You and your family can try this resource and see if it serves you as well. Westminster has a sample of the Introductory Info., Genesis, Psalms, Luke, and Romans! Enjoy!

*Many thanks to Crossway for sending me a complimentary copy of these books in exchange for my honest opinion!

Book Review and Giveaway: Athanasius

2011-09-29T05:00:00.124-04:00

Christian Biographies for Young Readers by Simonetta Carr present clear and concise introductions to John Calvin, Augustine, John Owen, and Athanasius. Written for children aged 7-12, these books are sturdy, hardback copies with thick pages. Additionally, they have a nice, large font which is especially helpful for young readers. Each book has a helpful timeline, maps, many realistic photos, and lovely illustrations which are sure to hold attention spans and capture imaginations. Ms. Carr is careful to give pronunciation helps and definitions for any larger words that may prove challenging.

One of the things that makes Christian Biographies for Young Readers unique is that Ms. Carr seeks to make Reformed, Christian doctrine accessible to children. She writes:

"From the start, my vision has been to introduce not a random choice of role models, but men and women who have helped to shape the church and our Reformed theology. In other words, the focus is on God's providence, His church, and His doctrine" (From Simonetta's Blog Post "Lady Jane").

She successfully accomplishes this, focusing on godly folks who study and proclaim the Truth of God's Word. Ms. Carr's books are thoroughly researched and generally accurate (a few minor corrections have been posted on her website). I love how she chronicles her researching and writing journey on her blog!

The goal of her newest addition, Athanasius, is to "...bring the Nicene Creed to life for children of all ages, raising relevant questions on the divinity of Christ and the importance of creeds and confessions" (From Simonetta's Blog Post "Latest News"). Ms. Carr does this splendidly. In the following video, you can learn why these things really matter (answer to this question begins at 3:01):

While Ms. Carr's book on Athanasius is thoroughly Biblical, one thing that I think would strengthen it is including some Scripture references and quotes throughout the text. However, I would not let that deter you from investing in these books; simply use it as an invitation to study God's Word with your children to learn the Truth! (Here is a copy of the Nicene Creed with Scripture proofs, if you need help getting started.)

Christian Biographies for Young Readers (in general) and Athanasius (specifically) are helpful resources for familiarizing children with important doctrinal concepts through some of the men that God has used in the history of the church. It is wonderful to see how Ms. Carr esteems God's sovereignty and seeks to lay foundations that will help young readers to not be "...children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes..." (Ephesians 4:14).

Ms. Carr continues to grow as she exercises her gift of writing. My children and I have thoroughly enjoyed all of these interesting biographies and look forward to reading many more, Lord-willing!

You can have an opportunity to read Athanasius too! Just fill out the form below for a chance to win. (The answer to the optional question can be found in the book sample on Westminster's site. ;)

Giveaway is closed. Congratulations to Jennifer D. who won and thanks to all who entered!

*Many thanks to Simonetta Carr and Reformation Heritage Books for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

Author Interview: Equipping Counselors for Your Church

2011-09-23T13:40:00.002-04:00

Today is the release day for Bob Kellemen's new book Equipping Counselors for Your Church! As a result, I am posting the video trailer for the book and sharing my author interview (including, but not limited to, questions about moving from knowledge to wisdom and building deep relationships). Enjoy!

Elizabeth: "In your video trailer for Equipping Counselors for Your Church, you say that the audience for this book is anyone committed to and passionate about one-another ministry. What do you hope that the average lay reader will take away from his/her reading of this book?"

Dr. Kellemen: "Thanks so much, Elizabeth for your thorough engagement with the book. The number one message I pray the average “lay” reader will take away: “Don’t take a back seat to anyone!” Based upon God’s Word, in particular in the book I highlight Romans 15:14 and Ephesians 4:11-16; God’s people are competent to counsel. The second message is: When Paul says Christians are competent to counsel, he specified four areas of competency that we all need equipping in: biblical content, Christlike character, counseling/relational skillfulness, and Christian community. So: the two messages are: You can do it! Here’s where you need to be equipped to do it!"

Elizabeth: "Your subtitle is “The 4E Ministry Training Strategy”. Can you summarize why it is helpful to have a formal, systematic process for casting a vision (envisioning), enlisting, equipping, and empowering a group of members for ministry of the Word?"

Dr. Kellemen: "Process is a great word. I would add one more: relational, so that we highlight a relational process. People are tired of programs (so am I!). I’m not offering a program, but a relational process that each unique church can utilize in a congregation-specific manner. With that background, back to your question. God has “wired” my brain to think “comprehensively.” The “4Es” provide a comprehensive relational process churches can use to move from launch to leadership to leaving a legacy. In my consulting, all the time I see churches doing one or two of the “Es,” and then struggling to figure out why the ministry is filled with false starts. The “4Es” offer a “four lap ministry training strategy” so we get off the starting block, run the race effectively, and finish the race for God’s glory."

Elizabeth: "You write: “We need to develop the type of ongoing ministry structure that enables them, through God’s empowering, to employ their gifts for God’s glory” (pg. 163). How can leaders strike a balance between developing a ministry structure while avoiding becoming program driven?"

Dr. Kellemen: "That’s a great question that I addressed somewhat in my response to question two. In the book I discuss our tendency to go to extremes: either all spontaneous or all structured. Instead, I encourage “organizing the organism”--we are a living, breathing family, and all families require freedom within boundaries--relational structure. In the book, I illustrate how Jesus in Matthew 10 provide an entire chapter of “instructions” on how to “do” the ministry--and no one was ever more relational than Christ. I also illustrate the structure we find within the early church in Acts 2--and no church was more relational than the church in Acts. I also illustrate the beautiful “balance” of spontaneity and structure in the Black Church under enslavement--and their one-another ministry was incredibly relational. We need to be both/and: organism and organization, spontaneity and structured. The book develops this concept throughout."

Elizabeth: "How do you help your trainees move from knowledge of “Christ’s Changeless Truth” (Biblical Content) to wisdom (applied knowledge)?"

Dr. Kellemen: "Pray! Throughout Equipping Counselors for Your Church I highlight the principle that you become a counseling ministry by giving and receiving biblical counseling. You learn to be a biblical counselor by receiving biblical counseling. A major weakness that I’ve seen as I’ve consulted with biblical counseling churches is that we tend to be all lecture/head knowledge, but little “lab” and heart-to-heart ministry. The “lab” component of training means not only that you learn “skills” of counseling, but that as a training group we open up to one another to receive care, comfort, and loving confrontation. We apply truth to our lives and thus learn how to help others to apply God’s truth to their daily lives and relationships."

Elizabeth: "Can you give an example of how you equip counselors to relate truth to life?"

Dr. Kellemen: "I give several examples in the book from my own life, including the very first training group I ever led (long, long ago...). After the “lecture” component, we took a few minute break and then shifted our chairs in a circle. I was totally comfortable as the leader in the lecturer role. But then in the lab role, where I couldn’t depend upon my notes and keep things “under control,” I had an image go through my mind. I saw myself as a ten-year-old boy in my Dad’s oversized suit with my feet unable to touch the floor. I had a choice to make: attempt to ignore that image, or be honest with myself and the group. I choose honesty. For the next 90 minutes, we all choose honesty. We all shared how we were terrified at the thought of counseling others. As we shared our stories, we explored God’s story together and applied His truth to our fears. We learn to counsel others by opening up to give and receive counsel from each other--the very first night of our training."

Elizabeth: "We live in an age where people tend to be a lot more individualistic and busy. How do you encourage people to build deep relationships where one-another Biblical fellowship, ministry, and equipping become the norm rather than shallow “chit-chat”? How do you teach trainees to draw others out in a gracious way?"

Dr. Kellemen: "First, you have to model it. In my response to an earlier question, I noted how I modeled openness about my fears and openness to receive counsel from those I was training. That changes everything--it frees everyone up to open up. Second, you have to invite, not insist. That is, you can’t force an individual or group to “go deep.” You invite depth of relationship by building trust, by caring carefully and graciously, speaking the truth in love. What I’ve found in all three churches I’ve pastored and in my fifteen years of training in a seminary setting is that people are longing for such life-changing groups. People don’t want their training to end--not because they are afraid to step out and step up to minister, but because they have made such amazing connections with one another. Time after time I hear, “Our biblical counseling equipping group has become the most intense and intimate small group I have ever participated in.”

Elizabeth: "How does Equipping Counselors for Your Church compare with the other books that you have written? How do your other books complement this new release?"

Dr. Kellemen: "That’s a great question! I think of Equipping Counselors for Your Church as my “opus.” It is the result of three decades of equipping. Soul Physicians provides the theological foundation for understanding people, problems, and God’s soul-u-tuons. Spiritual Friends is the relational training manual used in labs to equip people to develop 22 biblical counseling “competencies.” God’s Healing for Life’s Losses applies this model to areas of suffering and loss. Beyond the Suffering and Sacred Friendships illustrates how to provide one-another biblical care through the lives of African American heroes of the faith and women heroes of the faith. Equipping Counselors brings it all together by showing leaders how to equip God’s people to care like Christ."

Elizabeth: "Appendix C10.2 (pg. 238) is a LEAD Sample Objectives and Lesson Outline. Do you have more of this type of Bible study material available for leaders who do not wish to write their own curriculum from scratch?"

Dr. Kellemen: "Yes and no. On the one hand, I don’t want to just give people a fish; I want to teach them to fish. The purpose of giving that one sample was to teach people to fish by showing them what a lesson plan might look like. On the other hand, I consider Soul Physicians and Spiritual Friends to be training manuals. Soul Physicians has two built in application guides at the end of each chapter. Spiritual Friends is a small group lab training manual. This is why many churches and schools use these two books as their primary manuals for equipping lay people for one-another ministry."

Elizabeth: "You wrote about applying Peacmaker’s 4G’s to conflict resolution as the leaders move toward change. What are some ways that people can encourage their leaders as they seek to equip others to do the work of ministry?"

Dr. Kellemen: "Interesting way to look at it. Often I focus on helping leaders to encourage and help their people as they go through the change process. You are asking, if I understand correctly, how people can encourage their leaders during the change process. Leader do need encouragement during times of change! No matter how hard you try as a leader, people will question your motives and your methods. So, stand by your leader. Be an “Aaron” holding up his/her arms. Realize the leader is human, too--with hurts and faults, struggles and sins. Speak words of encouragement into his life and about his ministry. Listen. Care."

Elizabeth: "How would you encourage the reader whose heart resonates with this type of formal approach but whose leaders have a different ministry mindset?"

Dr. Kellemen: "That happens more often than we might think. I address that in the book. You have to start with a humble sharing of your vision. You want to identify any areas where there might be overlap of vision (not assuming that if we are not 100% in agreement, that we are 100% in opposition). Be supportive. Ask for permission to develop a small test/beta/pilot group. My experience has been that these groups become such pockets of growth and excellence, that most leaders end up asking, “How did you do that? How could we incorporate more of that into the wider church ministry?”

Elizabeth: "Dr. Kellemen, Thanks so much for your willingness to answer my questions and for taking the time to write such a thorough and helpful book on the subject of training others to do the work of ministry and minister the Word!!"

To learn more about Equipping Counselors for Your Church or any of Dr. Kellemen's other books, you can visit his site. You'll find video trailers, sample chapters, and many other free resources that are sure to be a blessing. You'll also find discounted book bundles, if you are interested in purchasing multiple titles simultaneously. ;)

If you have any questions for Dr. Kellemen, please feel free to leave a comment.

Book Review: Equipping Counselors for Your Church

2011-09-21T20:00:00.011-04:00

As someone with a heart for ministering to other people, I was excited to see Bob Kellemen’s upcoming release Equipping Counselors for Your Church. In his video trailer for the book, Dr. Kellemen states that “the audience for this book is anyone committed to and passionate about one-another ministry”. Throughout this book, he uses the word “counseling” to encompass ministering the Word to one another and disciple-making, resulting in a relevant and helpful book for us all.

Dr. Kellemen’s goal is to “equip equippers so that the church is saturated with Biblical counseling”. He has created a simple, helpful framework to help leaders intentionally train and empower members to minister the Word to one another. He walks his readers through a Biblical study of God’s mission for the Church; connecting people; helping them grow in Biblical content, Christlike character, counseling competency, and Christian community; and relational organization to bring greater glory to God.

Because Dr. Kellemen has been a pastor of three very different churches (ranging from 100-3,000 members), he doesn’t have a strict one-size-fits-all approach to equipping. He establishes some basic principles that would be applicable to any size church and helps leaders walk through how to prayerfully design a structure that will best help the “unique congregation use its distinctive gift-mix to fulfill our special calling in our specific community” (pg. 41), to bring greater glory to God.

Although Dr. Kellemen’s principles are basic, he is not so vague as to be unhelpful. He includes a lot of useful forms, evaluations, application questions etc. that make this almost like a workbook that leaders can utilize to set up a ministry structure. Equipping Counselors for Your Church is a comprehensive, step-by-step guide that will likely bless a lot of people.

While Dr. Kellemen’s book is primarily geared towards those who are leaders within the church, there are some things that make this helpful for those who are passionate about one-another ministry. Equipping Counselors for Your Church helps the reader establish a Biblical vision for God’s Church and personal ministry. There are a number of useful lists within this book including Scripture passages and doctrine/theology to study; qualifications and proficiencies to pursue, character traits to cultivate; and commonly used materials for Biblical counseling. One of my favorite features is the excellent evaluation/application questions throughout the text and at the end of each chapter.

Ultimately, Dr. Kellemen helps all types of readers to understand that:

“People with changed lives know Christ, grow in Christ, and become Christ-like disciple-makers. Changed lives occur as we apply Christ’s changeless truth to help suffering people know that it’s normal to hurt (sustaining) and possible to hope (healing), and as we help sinning people to know that it’s horrible to sin but wonderful to be forgiven (reconciling), and supernatural to mature (guiding)” (pg. 65).

Equipping Counselors for Your Church is about growing in Christ-likeness, intentionally loving like He loved, and encouraging others to do the same for God's glory. May this book help many leaders to share a Biblical vision and enlist, equip, and empower their congregations to do the work of one-another ministry. May it also help them to build a team of people who are uniquely gifted and have a special passion for Biblical counseling to serve the body of Christ more formally. May it help all of us as we grow in Christ-likeness, becoming full of goodness, complete in knowledge, and competent to instruct one another (Romans 15:14).

Dr. Kellemen has graciously offered to respond to and interact with any questions and/or comments that you all might have about his book. Although Dr. Kellemen has already been interviewed by his publisher, he kindly took the time to answer some interview questions of mine. I plan to share those with you all tomorrow. ;)

*Many thanks to Dr. Kellemen and P & R Books for their willingness to send me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

Book Review: Nobody's Child

2011-09-05T04:00:00.000-04:00

Publisher's Synopsis:

"For Laura Ann McGehee, her body represents the one remaining financial resource that can save the family farm. For Sophia McQuistion, Laura Ann’s unusual sacrifice fulfills her own dream of having a child. Weaving together bioethics and faith in a heart-rending tale of love lost and loves found, Nobody’s Child dramatizes the ethical question we can no longer ignore in medicine: Just because we can do something … should we?"

My Take:

Nobody's Child asks a good question but is wrongly called a Christian bioethics novel. Although "God" is made mention of numerous times throughout the novel, "Jesus" is mentioned only once (on page 199 of 328) and that in a rushed prayer, "Why this, Jesus? Please save Sophia. And baby James" (pg. 199). While there were many opportunities to proclaim the truth and hope of the Good News of Jesus Christ, Boyd drops the ball repeatedly.

The book is filled with phrases that reflect a poor understanding of Scripture and doctrine. For example, sin is blamed on circumstances (Paragraph 1, pg. 49); doing "home church" is suggested (pg. 73); and hard times, death, and disappointments, are chalked up to "part of living" (pg. 254). Boyd never mentions that these things are consequences of the Fall nor does he communicate the hope that one day, God will restore all things because of what Jesus has done.

Furthermore, the main character, Laura Ann, struggles with shame and condemnation for selling her eggs. Many folks tell her that she was courageous. In the end, she sees the good that comes in spite of her choices, but she is never confronted with the hope of the Gospel. Regardless of the choices that we make, we can be right in God's eyes and walk in newness of life. The decisions that we make don't save us, only trusting in Jesus will save us. He lived the life that we should have lived and died the death that we should have died in order that we might be made right before God.

Nobody's Child was a disappointing read. I wouldn't recommend this title.

*Zondervan provided me with this book free of charge, for the purpose of review.

Book Review: Guarding the Treasure

2011-08-26T15:06:00.002-04:00

"I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food" (Job 23:12b).

Read A Sample

Guarding the Treasure is a good introduction to "How God's People Preserve God's Word." This book is filled with lots of interesting facts and includes a glossary, maps, illustrations, and an extensive bibliography. The author, Linda Finlayson, does an excellent job engaging her reader by alternating between informative and narrative text. My eight-year-old (an avid reader) promptly disappeared to read this book.

In Guarding the Treasure, Ms. Finlayson tells of the authors, translators, authorities, smugglers, linguists, teachers, missionaries, and others who God has used to bring His Word to people. Through history, Ms. Finlayson also gently acquaints her reader with ideological issues and raises questions that are still relevant today. For example, in 1564-1611, Richard Bancroft and Laurence Chaderton debated varying worship styles. Here's a peak at the discussion:

"Laurence shook his head and sat down in the only chair in the room. 'The Church of England is full of the same ceremonies and rituals that I grew up with in the Catholic Church. According to Calvin, we should worship God simply in spirit and truth, with praise, prayer, Scripture reading, preaching and the sacraments.'

'No, no!' Richard replied, punching the pillow for emphasis. 'God is holy, majestic and beyond our understanding. Would you come into his presence as if you were speaking to the butcher? We don't just stroll into the palace as if the Queen is of no importance. How much more should we approach God with all reverence and awe!'

"…Laurence gave a small smile and reached over to put a cloth marker in the book he had been reading. This debate between them was not new. Richard strongly believed that the Anglican Church was following the right way to worship God and especially because it had been ordained by their good queen, Elizabeth. But Laurence was more convinced that the simple Puritan approach was right. The church didn't need all the other ceremonies. Neither would give ground to the other as they enthusiastically debated the issue" (pg. 160-161).

Ms. Finlayson is sensitive to varying doctrinal positions and doesn't add personal commentary as she presents these types of secondary issues. As a result, you will be able to think through them with your children and discuss what the Bible says.

Although Guarding the Treasure brings to light sacrifices made by those who have gone before us, there is a more important reason to study history: to see God's faithfulness to all generations. He loves us so much that He has given us His Words and has preserved them for all of us. Even when the challenges seemed insurmountable by human standards (like getting 50 guys to put aside their differences to work on translating God's Word), God showed that nothing is impossible for Him. We can trust Him because He has always been faithful, and He never changes. We can speak the truth without fear, and we can make sacrifices, not because of who we are but because of who He is and what He has done for us in Christ!

In conclusion, Ms. Finlayson notes that the work of preserving God's Word is not done; we are part of the story. So far, God has used Wycliffe Bible Translators to translate the Bible into over 700 languages. "They estimate there are still over 2,000 languages without the Bible and Wycliffe Bible Translators plan, with God's help, to translate the Bible into every one of them" (pg. 213).

"But what is most important is that we, like Christians throughout history, value our Bibles just as they did long ago. We must read God's Word and obey it. The Bible has come to us through the mighty work of the Holy Spirit and the obedience of God's servants through the ages. We have been given a treasure, a precious and valuable book from the Creator of the universe and the One who loves us. It is the most important book in the world" (pg. 214).

Guarding the Treasure will teach your children to value and respect their Bibles. Although it was written for children aged 8-12, people of all ages will find it interesting and will be encouraged to read the Word daily and learn how God wants them to live their lives. I highly recommend this book!

*Many thanks to Christian Focus Publications for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

Book Review: Out of a Far Country

2011-08-09T21:05:00.000-04:00

"You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder!"

Out of a Far Country is about a son who tries to go his own way, following hard after the things that he thinks will bring him joy and satisfaction, only to discover that they do not bring lasting joy. He writes:

"The interesting thing was, even when I was selling drugs, I believed in God. But it was my own idea of God. In prison, after reading the Bible, I came across James 1:19 (NASB), which said, "Demons also believe, and shudder." I realized that simply believing was not enough..." (pg. 183).

Christopher's journey takes us to the fork in the road that we all face every day; either we can choose to live for ourselves and the things that we think that we can't live without (which the Bible calls idolatry) or we can choose to live for God, obeying Him and trusting that He is all that we need. Through Christopher's journey, Out of a Far Country touches on hard issues that affect us all and it does so in a way that is Biblically faithful.

Out of a Far Country is also about a mom who is being transformed away from self-righteousness to putting on Christ's righteousness. As God opened her eyes to her own brokenness and need for forgiveness, she realized that her son's rebellion was really no different than her own sins (pg. 72).

The truth is that we all fail to put God first every day. We all find ourselves in Christopher and/or Angela's shoes regularly. We're all tempted to rebel and go our own way or to trust in the good that we do to save us. However, both of those options fail to recognize that putting our trust in Jesus, who lived the perfect life we should have lived and died the death that we should have died, is the only way to be saved. Trusting in Jesus is also the only way to experience power to walk in newness of life.

I found Out of a Far Country easy to read and liked the way that mother and son alternated sharing parts of their story. I appreciated the tactful way that various mature subjects were handled, without going into too much detail. The Yuan's story is a testimony of God's faithfulness to redeem people for Himself. It's a story for prodigals and those who love them. It's a story of compassion, love, acceptance, learning to listen, and persisting in prayer.

Click here if you would like to read a sample chapter or watch the promotional video for this book.

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

Book Review: Give Them Grace

2011-07-15T23:56:00.002-04:00

Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson explain what makes Christian parenting unique: it isn't merely about turning out "good" kids; it's about pointing all of our kids to the Savior. While rules are a necessary part of parenting, Elyse and Jessica say, they aren't the primary theme, the work of Christ is. Obedience doesn't make our kids right with God, in fact, "...obedience may actually blind a compliant child to his need for a Savior" (pg. 33). The law doesn't transform the heart...It only hardens them in pride (because they're successfully obeying it) or despair (because they aren't) (pg. 68).

One of the strengths of Give Them Grace is that it not only encourages the parent to give grace to his/her children, but it also gives a good measure of grace to the parent. Here are a few quotes to whet your appetite:

We must trust in His "ability to transform hearts, not in our ability to be consistent or faithful...Freedom to love and enjoy our children flows out of the knowledge that God saves them in spite of our best efforts, not because of them. Salvation of the Lord" (pg. 53).

It's not up to me; it's a work of God. "When we're quietly resting in grace, we'll have grace to give our children, too. When we're freed from the ultimate responsibility of being their savior, we'll find our parenting burden becoming easy and light" (pg. 55).

Elyse and Jessica touch briefly on idolatry and unbelief as it pertains to parenting:

"We have far too high a view of our ability to shape our children and far too low a view of God's love and trustworthiness. So we multiply techniques and try to control the outcome" (pg. 57).

In Give Them Grace, Elyse and Jessica also make much of God:

"The world tells us that our children's success depends upon our success. The world knows nothing of God's ability to use our failures as a means to bless" pg. 77).

This book is encouraging, Gospel-centered, and grace-filled through and through:

"What you need as a praying parent is a deep drink of the love of God, your Father, not more commands to pray...The Lord isn't disappointed in you or your parenting. He's not disappointed in your prayers...He already knows the worst about you (in yourself) and loves and approves you nonetheless (in Christ). Although your sin does grieve him (Eph. 4:30), he doesn't want you to keep your distance, sitting in a corner wearing a dunce cap until you learn your lessons. He invites you to come boldly in with joy and confidence, knowing that he is eager to embrace you...Because of Jesus, your Father delights to heart he sound of your voice… (pg. 131-132).

In spite of all of the strengths of this book, I do have a few reservations.

1.) The authors don't make children apologize unless they are truly sorry (pg. 67, 101, 104) lest they be hypocritical.

"They [our children] should be encouraged to ask God and others (including their parents) for forgiveness, but only if they are genuinely sorry.

If we encourage our children to ask for forgiveness when their hearts haven't been stricken by the rod of the Holy Spirit's conviction, we are training them to be hypocritical. We are inadvertently teaching them that false professions of sorrow will satisfy God. God is never pleased with outward proclamations of devotions when the heart is far from him (Isa. 29:13; Matt. 15:7-9); in fact, he hates it. The truth is that we can never know with any certainty whether proclamations of repentance are true, because only God knows the heart (Jer. 17:5).

Assuming that we can see into the heart is a sign of our pride, and it is dangerous for them.

Rather than insisting on an immediate show of repentance, you should give your children time to respond to the prompting of the Holy Spirit" (pg. 104).

I could easily use this same logic to say that they need not obey, attend church, sing praises to God, etc. unless they truly desired to, however, I don't think that this should be the case at all. John Piper has a very helpful article on this subject: "Why Require Unregenerate Children to Act Like They're Good?" @ http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/taste-see-articles/why-require-unregenerate-children-to-act-like-theyre-good.

2.) The authors repeatedly assert that obedience results from a heart of gratitude for all that God has done for us in Christ without providing any Scripture references to support this notion (ex. pg. 48, 54, 83, 106, 108).

Again, I have found Biblical teaching from John Piper helpful on this subject. It has been a few years since I have looked over that material, but I need to review it again. An initial article that might help one begin to consider this topic is: "Is Gratitude A Bad Motivation for Obeying God?" @ http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/ask-pastor-john/is-gratitude-a-bad-motivation-for-obeying-god

3.) The authors make an unhelpful distinction between regenerate and unregenerate children (ex. pg. 48). A "Chart of Common Problems and the Gospel" includes suggested conversation for the child who isn't a Christian and the one who is.

Dan Cason** articulates this concern quite nicely in his review at the Westminster Bookstore website.

I am still weighing the above matters and have not had sufficient time to ponder them in-depth. As a result, my thoughts are not well-articulated and severely lacking. However, my review is due, so I've treated the matters as carefully as I can at this time. I hope the links will help you to begin to study these matters for yourself.

Overall, Give Them Grace is an encouraging and thought-provoking read. I am still processing much of the material. While there is much to commend, there is also much to ponder and carefully weigh. I don’t agree with others who have said that it is the best parenting book, but God has used it as a means of grace to me and for that I am grateful.

*Many thanks to Crossway for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

**Please note that this originally read Don Carson, however, I misread the name on Westminster's website. My apologies to Dan Cason and Don Carson for the oversight. Many thanks to Andy Naselli for pointing it out!

Book Review: Feminine Threads

2011-06-28T08:42:00.002-04:00

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:1-2, ESV).

A Little Background... (Those with short attention spans may wish to read the bold print. ;)

I recently wrote in my journal:

"Father, Today I feel weary. The days are long; the work is hard. However, I don't think this weary feeling is unique to my circumstances. I know that I need only cast myself on You for Your burden is light. Father, please strengthen me for the work that remains and fill me with Your joy which is my strength. Draw near to me. Help me to bring glory and honor to You and to enjoy the beauty of my season. Life is hard but my days on earth are but a breath and I will be at rest with You. Help me to pour myself out for the sake of Your Kingdom as Christ gave Himself up for me" (My journal, 6-11-11.)

The next day, our Pastor preached a sermon about staying encouraged from Hebrews (which is yet another evidence of God's love and grace to me). He said that the Christian life is a strenuous race. How does one run with endurance? 1) Listen to the witnesses of faith. Of what are they witnesses? Of the faithfulness of God. 2) Fix your eyes on Jesus! Those who have gone before us have obeyed partially, but He has obeyed fully. Similarly, John Piper has made a case for the importance of reading Christian biography in "Brothers, Read Christian Biography". He notes that Christian biography is one excellent way to stir one another up to love and good works.

To that end, Feminine Threads serves as a good introduction to and survey of women throughout church history for any reader. Although it is a book about women, it is not primarily a book for women. It begins with the New Testament era, highlighting women in Jesus' genealogy and closes with women from modern times, such as Joni Eareckson Tada and Elisabeth Elliot. While this book includes many familiar names, there are also many with which most people will be unfamiliar.

Feminine Threads appears to be thoroughly researched, includes an extensive bibliography, is well documented, and notes resources (and web links) for further study. The author, Diana Lynn Severance, carefully selected many pertinent quotes, allowing the women "...to speak for themselves, from their letters, diaries, or published works" whenever possible (pg. 15).

Ms. Severance is balanced in her presentation of those who have gone before us; she does not merely write about the wonderful things they did but rather, like the Bible, is realistic about people's strengths and weaknesses. She also seeks to esteem God highly rather than elevating man and includes specific quotes where women have also sought to do the same.

One of the many strengths of this book is that Ms. Severance often brings Scripture to bear on the poor theology encountered in a study of this nature. While she does not go into great depth regarding specific errors, she is faithful to remark upon them and apply appropriate Scriptures, as needed. For example, Ms. Severance notes that many mystics began to interpret Scripture allegorically and placed more emphasis on their feelings rather than the truth of Scripture. Of this, she observes:

"The fire of the mystics balanced somewhat the aridity of the scholastic debate. Jesus had told the Samaritan woman (John 4) that worship was to be in spirit and in truth. Through the history of the Church the pendulum has often swung between one and the other. Exclusive focus on the truth at times produced an intellectual dryness that quenched the spirit. Exclusive focus on the spirit apart from the truth of Scripture led to heresy" (pg 128, 132).

Additionally, Ms. Severance "...aims to equip the reader to refute the distortions of women in Christian history" and combat unbiblical, feminist thought. Feminine Threads will serve as a good discussion starter about the importance of knowing Scripture and Biblical doctrine.

It is evident that Ms. Severance strives to remain true to the facts and does not appear to embellish or sugarcoat the truth. That being said, the factual nature of this book makes it better suited for reading in small segments rather than attempting to read large portions at a time. There are helpful headings within each chapter that allow the reader to easily navigate and take breaks, as desired. The facts are interesting but presented in a matter-of-fact manner, in spite of a narrative style.

Feminine Threads provides encouragement to persevere as Clothilda when she urged her husband to recognize the Christian God (96) and as Monica as she prayed for her son, Augustine (pg. 73). May we primarily identify with Christ as Perpetua (pg. 44) and share "a vision for the Eternal...so that this world and its delights became worthless" (pg. 74) as Augustine and Monica. May each of our families be “...a little church, consecrated to Christ and wholly influenced and governed by His rules” (pg. 223) as Jonathan and Sarah Edwards.

The apostle Paul said:

"Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself" (Philippians 3:17-21, ESV - emphasis added).

Through Feminine Threads, we are reminded of God's continued faithfulness and that He uses His children in spite of our many shortcomings. Of Christian women throughout the ages, Ms. Severance writes:

"They are specimens of the universal Christian life demanded of us all, lived by not a few; not perfect,...but being perfected; not...complete in any one; complete only in Him who is the Head and Life of all, and in His whole Body, which is the Church. Nor, thank God, are they records of a race and a life passed away. At this moment I could lead you into home after home around us now, blessed and hallowed by lives as Christ-like and humble and sweet" (pg. 10).

May we all strive to live such Christ-like lives because of the work of Christ on our behalf, because of His work within us, and because of all that awaits us in the coming Kingdom that Christ may not be reviled! May we "...not grow weary in doing good, for in due season, we will reap if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9, ESV).

*Many thanks to Christian Focus Publications for providing me with a free copy of Feminine Threads in exchange for my honest opinion!

Lessons Through the Littles

2011-06-23T09:21:00.001-04:00

In a whiny voice: "Mom, I can't make my knot!" says a frustrated eight-year-old, preparing to sew a square for our quilt.

"Yeah," says Mom thinking that she isn't going to offer help that isn't kindly requested.

Then comes the gentle voice of the Holy Spirit, "You do that."

Mom: "?"

Holy Spirit: You try to do things in your own strength...frustrated...floundering...without asking God for help. And you act as though He should help you whether you ask or not.

Mom: "Yes, I do that."

What a kind God we serve that He speaks to us in His mercy and grace!

Thank You, Lord for helping me to see my sinful, rebellious heart so that I can extend your mercy and grace to my children as You have extended it to me! Thank You for sending your Son to live the life I should have lived and die the death I should have died so that I can walk in newness of life! Thank you for Your willingness to help your children grow in Christ-likeness. Please help me to grow in dependence upon You more and more each day and in my awareness that it is You who hold all things together. Apart from You, I can do nothing. Help me to abide in You that I might bear much fruit for Your Kingdom! Amen.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5, ESV).

Praising God for My Gift

2011-06-15T13:34:00.001-04:00

My husband and I met in high school. At first, he was a friend of a friend, but it didn't take long for me to realize that I wanted him to be MY friend. At first, I thought he was quiet, but now I know that he is reflective; always thinking about others and weighing their thoughts and actions. I'm not sure that this is a conscious activity of his...maybe it's just his gift. You see, he always seems to know what to say. When I'm emotional (very often;), he always knows how to make me smile.

When we first met, my love was not a Christian, but God who is rich in mercy saved him shortly before we got engaged. My husband grows more Christ-like with each passing day. He has always known how to make me smile, but now he points me to the joy of the Lord that is my strength. When I am angry, he always knows how to gently speak truth to me. He is gracious with me in my short-comings, recognizing that I'm a work in progress. He faithfully holds out the Gospel for me and encourages me with its truth.

My husband also holds out the Gospel for our children. I can be quick to correct our children because they've done wrong, but my husband knows that God uses the Gospel to transform by His Spirit. Merely giving our children the Law can cause them to despair, but the Gospel gives hope. I love hearing my husband hold out this hope to my children; he sets a great example for me!

My husband is quick to serve others. When I am tempted to think of all the reasons why it is inconvenient to do this or that, but my husband helps me see my heart; my love of self, comfort, and ease. He reminds me of Christ's love and sacrifice for me and helps me to esteem others more highly than myself. He does this with wisdom and discernment, balancing the needs of others with the needs of our family.

My husband is fun to be around. He finds ways to make ordinary days, extra-ordinary. When asked what they love most about Daddy, my children said, "playing outside, playing cards, and wrestling" among other things. He is so easy-going and joyful. His smile and laugh are two of my favorite things. Sometimes, he leads family "small group meetings" where we worship together, have devotions, pray, and eat a special snack. It's such a special time together. I love watching him lovingly interact with our children.

Perhaps the most touching thing that he is growing in doing for me is that he takes time to pray with me. Although my husband serves and cares for me in so many ways, nothing makes me feel more loved and cared for than this gesture. It is especially meaningful when I am struggling and he prays over me. I love that he doesn't try to fix everything in his own strength, but helps me focus on our sovereign God first! I love coming before the throne of our Father together!!

It also touches my heart when I see and hear of him pausing to pray with others. I've observed him, across the room at church during times of fellowship, bow his head to pray with other men. I've heard reports of him pausing during lunch meetings in town to pray with others who are just passing by the table, honest about their day. This thrills my heart! I love that he blesses others by pointing them to our faithful Father.

James says that "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change" (James 1:17). I praise God for his abundant grace in my life in giving me such a good gift in my husband and best friend!! He reflects God's faithfulness and steadfast love as he cares for our family and points us evermore to our faithful Heavenly Father!

Those are just some of the many reasons why: "My Husband Rocks!" :)

(Happy Father's Day, my love! ;)

Book Review: The Next Story

2011-05-31T22:18:00.001-04:00

"Discernment is not a matter of simply telling the difference between right and wrong; rather it is telling the difference between right and almost right." -- Charles Spurgeon

Honestly, I wasn't really interested in reading a book about technology. However, technology is a huge part of my husband's life (as an IT specialist), so he asked me to order The Next Story after watching the book trailer. While I wasn't interested in the subject matter, I absolutely love reading books with others and discussing the ideas therein, especially with the love of my life. Since it was important to him, I decided to seize the opportunity and read along. I am so glad that I did!

The Next Story is an important book for all of us who are living in the world but not seeking to be of the world. As Christians, we should use technology in a decidedly different manner than those who are not living for the glory of God. Challies asks, "How has the digital explosion reshaped our understanding of ourselves, our world, and, most importantly, our knowledge of God?" (pg. 12).

He writes: "...every technology brings with it both risk and opportunity" (pg. 36). We must realize that technology, like all other created things, "is prone to draw your heart away from God, to distract you and enable you to rely on your own abilities rather than trusting God" (pg. 24). However, "it is not the technology itself that is good or evil; it is the human application of that technology" (pg. 25).

Challies wisely realizes that "...for most of us, avoidance [of technology] is not an option, nor is it necessarily the most biblical, God-honoring response...Our task, then, is not to avoid technology but to carefully evaluate it, redeem it, and ensure that we are using it with the right motives and for the right goals" (pg. 32). He writes: "We need to seek to understand how a technology will change and shape us before we introduce it to our lives" (pg. 61). It will change the way that we think with regard to content (what we think) and process (how we think).

Challies raises a lot of great questions; some of which he answers, while others are left for the reader to answer as a means of personal application. This isn't a book that legalistically dictates when you can use technology, for how much time, etc...though Challies does recommend that the reader set boundaries.

The Next Story deals with many practical issues including communication, distraction, thinking, and idolatry, all the while encouraging the reader to examine his/her heart and teaching how to apply the Gospel. Although Challies examines each of these topics (and others) specifically with regard to digital technology, the content of this book could easily be applied more broadly and is relevant to us all.

All in all, this book is an interesting and thought-provoking title and an excellent choice for those wishing to think Biblically about technology and living life to the glory of God. Highly recommended!

*Many thanks to Zondervan for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

Book Review: Knitting Knee-Highs

2011-05-16T21:27:00.000-04:00

Knitting Knee-Highs by Barb Brown is an interesting book with lots of neat patterns. While the explanations are relatively straight-forward, this is an intermediate to advanced level project book. One will need to be familiar with basic knitting terminology as this knowledge is assumed in the volume. Familiarity with knitting, purling, decreasing stitches, slip stitches, and using markers is a must. "The aim of this book, and the projects, is to encourage you to make each pattern your own" (pg. 19).

One note about this particular book is that the pictures are a bit on the sensual side. What I mean is that the facial expressions on many of the women are alluring, the skirts and shorts are mostly not finger-tip length, and there are several low-cut tops. For conservative folks, the skirts and shorts that the young models wear to display the knee-high socks are likely going to be too short. Although many folks won't have a problem with this, I think it is worth noting for those who are a bit more reserved.

*Many thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishers for providing this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

Book Review: ESV Seek and Find Bible

2011-05-16T05:00:00.017-04:00

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12, ESV).

While I love The Big Picture Story Bible and The Jesus Storybook Bible, nothing compares to the Word of God. For "...faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17, ESV). However, newcomers to the Bible often have a difficult time seeing the unified theme therein. Consequently, I am excited to have The ESV Seek and Find Bible to read with my little ones. It is an excellent resource to help bridge the gap between Gospel-centered story Bibles and God's living and active Word!

What sets this Bible apart from other Bibles is that each retelling brings the story back to what God has done for us in Jesus Christ. There is a clear Gospel message throughout these stories.

Here are some of the features listed by Crossway (excepting text in red which are my additions):

More than 130 full-page, full-color illustrations - These are nice, realistic paintings.

Simple Bible story retellings for each illustration - Often with a clear connection to Christ's work on the cross

Age-appropriate introductions to each Bible book

Key Verses to memorize

Illustrated profiles of more than 50 major Bible characters

Illustrated facts about Bible objects, structures, and places

Simple Reflection Questions and Related Bible Readings to help children begin to understand and apply God’s Word and to keep children engaged, encouraging them to dig deeper into Scripture One of my favorite features which aids in fruitful discussion. :)

A simple dictionary to help young readers learn the meaning of Bible words

Kid-friendly maps (complete with interesting and understandable legends ;)

ESV Seek and Find Bible Features

Click here if you would like to see the book of Ruth which is characteristic of the project.

Or, you can watch a video discussing the distinguishing features of this Bible here.

There are some things that I would have done differently. For example, I would have preferred that the words of Christ be in red because I think this makes the dialog easier to follow, especially for children. However, that is a small thing. Another note concerning the ESV Seek and Find Bible is that it focuses on communicating how familiar Bible stories are connected to Christ. Personally, I would like to have seen some commentary in more challenging sections like Leviticus and/or the prophets. (I know that this might seem a little far-fetched for those of you who are not accustomed to reading the Bible this way, but the connection between Leviticus and Hebrews is astounding and can be communicated at a child's level, as seen in the Herein Is Love Commentary Series for children.) Perhaps, Crossway will undertake this in their next project. :)

All in all, this is an excellent choice for a children's Bible. It is a a blessing to have a Christ-centered Bible that is not watered down. This is the Bible that our family chose for our son as a Christmas gift, and I would not hesitate to purchase another copy. It is a solid starting point!

*Many thanks to Crossway for sending me a copy of this Bible in exchange for my honest opinion!

A Place for Weakness Reflections - Chapter 1

2011-05-04T10:14:00.000-04:00

"...man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward" (Job 5:7).

On Sale at Westminster Books

Grab a hot beverage and join us. :)

Elizabeth DeBarros begins the discussion here.

Preface:

I come to this book as one who has suffered little in this life. Sure, there have been some hard times, but they have been minimal. When I read the Bible and church history and see/hear the experiences of other believers around me, there is a little twinge of fear in my soul. Will I be able to honor God amidst deep suffering in this life when my time comes?

I come to this study with a desire to grow. I don't want to fear suffering; I want to trust in God's sovereignty and rest in His goodness regardless of my circumstances. He will give me the grace that I need, moment by moment. I pray that the Lord uses this study to deepen our faith in Him who walks with us through the valleys of this life for our good and His glory!

Reflections:

I found Horton's use of Luther thought-provoking:

"...being a theologian of the cross--which is the general vocation of every Christian--requires three things: oratio (prayer), meditatio (study), and tentatio (trials)" (pg 17).

I had considered that prayer and study were staples in the Christian life. However, as Stephen Altrogee wrote in The Greener Grass Conspiracy, I often "treat God like some sort of divine dentist" (pg. 31), especially when it comes to trials. Although I know Second Corinthians 12:9, I have not yet gotten to the place where I boast gladly in my weakensses. However, there was a smaller glimmer of longing upon reading this:

"without the trials, faith is not really roused to grab hold of the God of promise" (pg. 17).

IF trials are the only thing that will rouse me "to grab hold of the God or promise", then I pray that God brings trials. Thomas Watson writes:

"The wise God hath ordered our condition; if he sees it better for us to abound, we shall abound; if he sees it better for us to want, we shall want; be content at God's disposal...one condition of life will not fit every man, no more than one suit of apparel will fit every body; prosperity is not fit for all, nor yet adversity...The wise God sees that condition to be bad for one, which is good for another; hence it is he placeth men in different orbs and spheres; some higher, some lower. One man desires health, God sees sickness better for him; God will work health out of sickness, by bringing the body of death, into a consumption. Another man desires liberty, God sees restraint better for him; he will work his liberty by restraint; when his feet are bound, his heart shall be most enlarged" (pg 21).

Oh that I would trust our wise, Heavenly Father knowing that He is always good to me!

"Understanding who God is, who we are, and God's ways in creation, providence, and redemption--at least as much as Scripture reveals to us...is the most serious business...it's a matter of life and death...It's about living, and dying, well" (pg. 19).

"And so we need to learn from God's Word how to meet trials, apart from which more tough times will only tend to reinforce what we already believe, whether it's good or bad theology" (pg 21).

May we all grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! To Him be the glory both now and forevermore!!

If you'd like to join the discussion,
Read Chapter 2: “Good News for Losers” for Wednesday, May 11.

Thanks for reading!

Book Review: The Greener Grass Conspiracy

2011-04-29T09:01:00.000-04:00

I don't know about you, but I am one of those people who loves a good conspiracy theory. Judging from the movie industry, I'd say I'm not alone. Perhaps that is why Stephen Altrogee and Crossway chose to title this new release The Greener Grass Conspiracy: Finding Contentment on Your Side of the Fence. What sets this book apart from those movies is that this book moves beyond theory, into reality.

"What is this conspiracy?" you may ask. "It's a conspiracy between the world, my heart, and Satan to steal my happiness" (pg. 12). It's serious stuff, my friends, with implications in this life and the next, but don't think that it makes for a boring book. God has blessed Stephen Altrogee with a great sense of humor and it shines through on almost every page of this book without detracting from the important message within. (You even have to make sure you read all of the footnotes because the humor is stashed there as well. ;)

Whether you know it or not, you and I are at war.

"When we don't get what we so desperately want, we throw the adult version of a temper tantrum. Our passions rage within us. We become angry at God and discontent with life. We grumble and complain, and happiness appears to be out of reach. We become a casualty of war" (pg. 19).

Do you want to avoid becoming "a casualty of war"? Do you want to know the secret of happiness and contentment? The answer may not be what you think. Learning the truth can be a lot like major surgery, but in the long run, embracing the truth will save your life.

The Greener Grass Conspiracy is deep, yet the message is articulated clearly. Altrogee has spent time learning from the Puritans (largely Jeremiah Burroughs and Thomas Watson) and has taken the best of their ideas and made them accessible to a new generation. Most importantly, this book is Biblical and Altrogee keeps his focus on the Good News of Jesus Christ and all that he has done for us.

Satan leads us to believe that God is holding out on us.

"The truth is, God will never withhold from us. The greatest, irrefutable proof of God's generosity is Calvary. Look at the beloved Son, ridiculed by the masses, beaten beyond recognition, hanging upon a cross, slowly suffocating, dying for sinners like you and me. God gave up what was most precious to him so that he could save sinners who hated him. If God was willing to do that, won't he also give us every good thing that we need? In Romans 8:32 Paul puts it this way: 'He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?' (pg. 52)

The best way to fight sin in your life is to learn and meditate on the truth of God's Word. Altrogee writes:

"Satan invites me to find satisfaction in something other than God. It doesn't matter if it's pornography or community service, as long as it's not God" (pg. 13).

Do you believe that God is all-satisfying? Do you believe that He has control over all that happens and uses it for the good of those who love Him? What you believe to be true about God radically shapes how you live your life. Don't be deceived! Know the truth! Uncover the "conspiracy" with Altrogee in this excellent book; it can change your life.

(P.S. If you've ever whined or complained or been unhappy about anything, this book is for you. Basically, this is a book for us all. ;)

Want to read another review of this title? Becky has composed a great post @ Caffeinated Theology.

*Many thanks to Crossway for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

Book Review: Practicing Affirmation

2011-04-20T17:00:00.000-04:00

My husband used to tell me that I ought to purchase books printed on yellow paper in order to save the highlighter. I have since resorted to marking books with pens or pencils so that I can write notes liberally in the margins as thoughts or questions arise. However, Practicing Affirmation is a book that could easily have been printed on yellow paper. I marked almost every page of this book (most often in hearty agreement with the author ;). With endorsements by John Piper, C.J. Mahaney, and Nancy Leigh DeMoss, this is no surprise.

While there are many books on the market that focus on encouraging and praising others, I think there are a number of characteristics that make this book unique, God-honoring, and worthwhile. Most importantly, Sam Crabtree's emphasis throughout the book is on God's glory. "God is glorified in us when we affirm the work he has done and is doing in others" (pg. 12). Mr. Crabtree urges readers to word their commendation of others carefully so that it "steals nothing from the glory of God..." (pg. 15).

Furthermore, Crabtree makes an appropriate and important distinction between God-centered affirmation and man-centered affirmation:

"Western culture's emphasis on self-esteem has resulted in a yawning response to the gospel. The main problem the gospel solves is God's wrath toward sinners, but if one's inflated self esteem is telling him he's not all that bad really, then why is God so uptight" (pg. 94)?

Crabtree writes: "...affirmation, especially if it isn't God-centered, can have a hardening effect" (pg. 95). In many ways, our words can be used to draw others toward God or to push them away. Crabtree explains that affirmation is a means to the end of proclaiming the Gospel and that we gain a hearing from others when we are not constantly negative.

There is much more that could be said about this book. In sum, Practicing Affirmation is insightful and practical. The final chapter lists "100 Affirmation Ideas for Those Who Feel Stuck." This is a helpful tool. You may realize that you are already doing a lot of the things on the list as most of them aren’t hard or time-consuming. If you want to learn “how to refresh people with affirmations that are explicitly Christ-honoring” (pg. 133), this book is an excellent place to begin. Sam Crabtree helps the reader understand that "Death and life are in the power of the tongue…" (Proverbs 18:21). What you say matters!

If you'd like to read a sample, you can read the Forward and Chapter 1 on Crossway's product page and the Table of Contents and Chapter 4 on Westminster's product page.

*Many thanks to Crossway for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

FBS Giveaway

2011-04-11T14:05:00.000-04:00

You may wish to

Enter to win a great group of books @ FBS. :)

I'm not familiar with the Home Ec. title, but the rest of them are phenomenal.

I'll post a review of Practicing Affirmation later this month.

Book Review: Desiring God

2011-04-01T21:24:00.002-04:00

Read Through Desiring God with John Piper

"This book aims to persuade you that The chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever" (pg. 18).

Piper explains how he came to this realization and the foundation upon which it stands. He then seeks to demonstrate how various aspects of the Christian life are entwined with our pursuit of pleasure beginning with conversion and covering worship, love for others, Scripture, prayer, money, marriage, missions, and suffering. This Twenty-fifth Edition also includes a helpful group study guide.

It typically takes me a long time to read books by John Piper, and Desiring God was no exception. I think half of what John Piper communicates may "go over my head". However, I find that wading through the portions of Piper which elude me in order to glean the nuggets of wisdom which God uses to transform my life is beneficial. Piper's work is extremely thought-provoking; one must not read it lightly.

Piper is poetic. He paints helpful word pictures. For example: "If the pump of love runs dry, it is because the pipe of prayer isn't deep enough" and "So we see repeatedly in Scripture that prayer is a walkie-talkie for warfare, not a domestic intercom for increasing our conveniences" (pg. 178). I love how Piper writes with a sense of urgency, reminding us that we are engaged in a life and death war.

Again and again, God uses John Piper's writing to stir my passions afresh to pursue the spiritual disciplines, not out of a sense of duty, but for the sake of my joy and the joy of others. Read Piper carefully, with your Bible in hand, and consider what he has to say. You may not agree with it all, but you will likely come away with some valuable insights as a result.

*Many thanks to WaterBrook Multnomah for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

If you liked this review, please consider rating it so that I'll have access to more books by this publisher. Thank you!

Book Review: Voyage with the Vikings

2011-04-01T20:36:00.000-04:00

Voyage with the Vikings is twaddle. (I mean this in the nicest possible way.) This book is overly simplistic in it's language, plot, historical elements, and Christian message. It lacks rich, descriptive language; abounds in sentence fragments; and has an incredibly predictable plot. A child could spend ten minutes perusing a picture book on the Vikings and glean just as much factual, historical information.

Perhaps the most disappointing facet of this book was its "Christian" message. It mentions Jesus Christ and God. It states that there is one God and references "the God of the cross" (pg. 94). The moral of the book is that Christians should be kind to their enemies: "Erik was mean to you. But you showed him kindness. That's just like God. He shows us kindness even when we don't deserve it" (pg. 106). However, there is no clear presentation of the Gospel in this book, and it is devoid of Scripture.

If you're looking for a book your child can read easily that is "clean", you'll probably enjoy this book. However, if you're trying to avoid twaddle, steer clear of this book. There is much better reading material on the market! A child may enjoy this book just as a child enjoys junk food, but a steady diet of this sort of writing will ruin a child's appetite for fine literature and deep, thought-provoking writing.

*Many thanks to Tyndale House Publishers for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

Words from the wise:

"It is far from my intention to depreciate the value or deny the usefulness of books, without exception: a few well-chosen treatises, carefully perused and thoroughly digested, will deserve and reward our pains; but a multiplicity of reading is seldom attended with a good effect.

Besides the confusion it often brings upon the judgment and memory, it occasions a vast expense of time, indisposes for close thinking, and keeps us poor, in the midst of seeming plenty, by reducing us to live upon a foreign supply, instead of labouring to improve and increase the stock of our own reflections."

- John Newton in his letter "A Plan of a Compendious Christian Library" (Works of John Newton, Volume 1, 236). Paragraphing added by Desiring God.

March Book Giveaway

2011-03-23T19:02:00.000-04:00

@ Christian Focus Booknotes

Check It Out! :)

*Thanks to Bob Hayton @ Fundamentally Reformed for the heads up on this giveaway!

Book Review: The Organized Home Schooler

2011-03-15T14:39:00.002-04:00

Can you happily and comfortably welcome the unexpected visitor into your home? Or are you more inclined to keep them at the door, trying to block as much of the interior of your home from view as possible? It is the latter group to which Vicki Caruana writes in The Organized Home Schooler.

I must confess that I was a bit put off by this book from Chapter 1 in which Ms. Caruana sought to pinpoint where her reader is on the journey to an organized life. While it was likely not her intent, I felt as though she wrote the book from a pedestal rather than as a mature friend, sitting across the table, sipping tea and sharing wisdom. I felt judged rather than loved, and this seemed as though it would be the case no matter where one was in the organizational journey.

Books on organization flood the market, and I have only read a handful of them. Like any book, it is important to know what the author is trying to accomplish before deciding if it will be helpful to you. Ms. Caruana sums up her goals like this:

"This book doesn't outline our system for you. It presents a way of thinking that will encourage you to seek out what will work for your family..." (pg. 9, emphasis added).

That being said, this is certainly not the only book to which you would want to refer. The Organized Home Schooler very generally deals with organizing your thoughts, time, space, supplies and materials, paperwork, and family. It does not offer many specific helps/guidelines and when it does, they are often too specific to be helpful. (Her filing system appears to resemble something that you would find in a doctor's office.) There also isn't much written to help you figure out how to manage homeschooling alongside everyday household responsibilities.

Personally, I found this book rather overwhelming. At the end of each chapter, Ms. Caruana seeks to guide her reader into a state of greater organization by providing a checklist for the mind, heart, and body. These checklists seek to help the reader believe rightly, think rightly, and act rightly. However, she often asks readers to accomplish tasks for which she did not clearly outline a process and merely expects them to pray for guidance. (i.e. Save money for a special purchase or project. Determine how long it should take.)

I appreciate the way that she sought to look to Scripture and apply it to homeschool organization though it seemed, at times, that some verses may have been taken out of context in an effort to make her point. She rightly encourages families to prayerfully consider how God would have them organize their home and seeks to give general information to assist along the journey. She also attempts to remind her reader that organization is ultimately a heart issue and involves your belief system as opposed to merely being a matter or know-how. However, Ms. Caruana fails to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ and His saving work to bear on the reader's shortcomings so some may be tempted to wallow in condemnation and self-pity rather than experiencing the life-changing grace of God.

While I think there are a few helpful tidbits in this book, I have read several other books that have been more faithful to Scripture, gracious, and beneficial. If you truly want to examine your heart in the matter of organization, I would recommend The Organized Heart: A Woman's Guide to Conquering Chaos by Staci Eastin. Ms. Eastin's writing is grace-filled and compassionate. If you are ready to evaluate your priorities, Shopping for Time by the Mahaney women is a great choice. If you are looking for a practical how-to resource, Large Family Logistics by Kim Brenneman is an excellent start regardless of family size or educational preferences. (You may consider waiting for a good sale on this title or signing up for the Vision Forum newsletter and coupons if you're tight on money. ;) If I could only choose one of these three books with which to start, I would choose the latter.

*Many thanks to Crossway for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

Win A Children’s Book for Your iDevice

2011-03-09T08:05:00.000-05:00

You Can Now Purchase the above book for your iDevice

and/or

Enter to Win

A Children’s Book for Your iPad

(or your iPod or iPhone ;)

Happy Reading!!

Redeeming Singleness Revisited: My Take

2011-02-21T21:51:00.000-05:00

Although I did not read every word of Redeeming Singleness, I did skim it thoroughly before passing it along to my friend Kristy for her review. It appeared to be well written and easy to follow. Most of the chapters end with a helpful "Wrapping Up" section which summarizes the content of the chapter, enabling the reader to better follow the flow of the text.

I must say that Redeeming Singleness was not what I was expecting. Therefore, I think it is helpful to clarify the intentions of the author and purpose of the book. This book is not about living as a single or tolerating singleness. It is a book that expounds upon the Scriptures in order to affirm the single life as a valid and God-honoring choice. In the author's words:

"This book is also not a how-to manual either for living the single life well or for most expediently relieving oneself of the status…The starting point for this book is to reflect on the purpose of biblical affirmation of the single life by exploring how singleness itself fits into God's larger purpose of redeeming a people for his glory" (pg. 15).

It must also be clarified that this is not primarily a book for singles. It is a book from which all in the church are intended to benefit. As Mr. Danylak writes:

"…the church should encourage all those who can to receive the challenge of both Jesus and Paul to remain single and free for the kingdom of God as a visible testimony of Christ's sufficiency in the present age and the true inheritance yet to come."

We all have a part to play in reflecting the glory of God and the work that He is doing. Redeeming Singleness helped me to realize afresh that God has uniquely gifted all of his children and that marriage and singleness are equally important callings in His Church. One of the ways that Redeeming Singleness challenged me was that it spurred me on to consider how I might minister to singles that they might be able to serve more freely (ex. inviting them to supper routinely so that they don't have the burden of preparing a meal for themselves). Furthermore, Mr. Danylak states that, "There are many possible living arrangements for single Christians" (pg. 215). While he didn't expound much on this notion, I think this bears consideration in our highly individualistic culture.

I was also encouraged and excited by Mr. Danylak's high view of singleness. He writes: "…singleness anticipates the age to come in which marriage itself will be obsolete. Singleness visibly heralds the coming of the new age" (pg. 172).

Additionally, he states:

"Christian singleness is a testimony to the supreme sufficiency of Christ for all things, testifying that through Christ life is fully blessed even without marriage and children. It prophetically points to a reality greater than the satisfactions of this present age by consciously anticipating the Christian's eternal inheritance in the kingdom of God. Christian singleness lived as a testimony of this gospel truth is a redeeming singleness" (pg. 215).

Redeeming Singleness appears to offer a lot of "food-for-thought" for the Christian community. It is full of Scripture and seeks to adorn the Gospel. I look forward to thinking more about the questions that it raises and considering ways which the Lord might have our family serve Christian singles in our local church.

*Many thanks to Crossway for supplying us with a copy of this book in exchange for our honest opinion!

Guest Review: Redeeming Singleness

2011-02-18T06:11:00.000-05:00

The following review was written by my friend Kristy who has a love for the Lord and a commitment to the local church. She uses her many gifts to serve our church including singing with the worship team, ensuring that we have great books from which to choose in our church bookstore, and watching children for marriage and parenting seminars. She has a beautiful servant's heart, is a wonderful friend, and an excellent example to us all! Without further ado, here are her thoughts on Barry Danylak's book, Redeeming Singleness.

Okay, I admit it. I began reading Redeeming Singleness in the hopes that I would find practical and applicable ways to redeem the blessing of singleness. Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I haven't always felt that singleness was a blessing. Some days I still struggle, but thanks to God's mercy those days seem to be growing fewer and father apart. My hope was that this book could help encourage singles like myself, and point us to practical ways that singles can serve within the church. It turns out, this book was very interesting to read, but was written for a completely different purpose.

Reedeming Singleness, by Barry Danylak, is subtitled "How the Storyline of the Scripture Affirms the Single Life". Mr. Danylak takes a theological approach to breaking down the gifts of marriage and singleness throughout the Old and New Testaments. His book is very well-written, well-researched, and it is evident that Mr. Danylak is extremely knowledgeable on the topic about which he writes. That said, I know now this book was not intended to be a practical guide for approaching the single life.

The first three chapters of the book focus mostly on the importance of marriage and child-bearing in the Old Testament. This is helpful in creating the foundation for Christ's appearance in the New Testament and for comparing the old law versus the new. At the end of the third chapter, Mr. Danylak does end on a hopeful note. On page 113, he writes:

"The barren woman, who was unfruitful in producing physical offspring, is now able to bring forth something profoundly greater - spiritual sons and daughters in the pattern of the servant...The eunuch, conversely, who had been denied access to temple service, is now given an eternal and permanent place within God's house...Both are begetters of spiritual offspring and can serve as models of devoted services to the Lord."

This tone continues through the fourth chapter, ending with a wonderful truth about our Lord and Saviour:

"All the blessings of the New Convenant come to us through Christ. He is the sufficient source...To suggest that to be a complete or fulfilled christian in the new covenant requires anything more than Christ is to deny the fundamental sufficiency of Christ as the sole vehicle of covenental blessing."

Unfortunately, I felt a bit frustrated as I finished reading this book. Most of my frustration was summed up in a statement made by the author in the epilogue, in which he wrote that one of the elements by which Paul distinguishes the spiritual gift of singleness is "a life characterized by freedom and simplicity, which testifies to the complete sufficiency of Christ." (p. 213) While I do not disagree on a theological level, and I do believe that "through Christ life is fully blessed" (p. 215), I would not go about describing my life as a single woman as free and simple. As I said, I do not disagree on a theological level, but I do feel this could have been written in a more sensitive light with respect to the amount of pressure and responsibility that can fall on single men and women. We may not have the distraction of a spouse and children, as the author wrote, however life in general tends to create it's own distractions.

I would highly recommend this book to pastors, or others who are desiring to teach on the topic of singleness. The theological groundwork Mr. Danylak covers is very well-researched and will be helpful for anyone wishing to learn more about biblical singleness. I would not, however, recommend this book to singles looking for encouragement or ideas for practical application. As I said, I ended my reading feeling a bit discouraged, as though the entire married world felt that all single people were living life free and easy, far from the stresses of having a spouse and family. I realize this wasn't a rational thought, but it was my thought nonetheless.

My suggestion would be to read Reedeming Singleness prayerfully, asking the Lord to show what He would want you to gain from the reading. The Lord is faithful, and He will show you what He wants you to learn, and will always be faithful to show you where He is directing your steps. I think this book has much to offer whether single or married, and I would recommend this book as a tool for increasing one's biblical knowledge on the topic of singleness.

*Many thanks to Crossway for sending a copy of this book in exchange for Kristy's honest opinion!

Bible Study Review and Discount

2011-02-03T16:02:00.000-05:00

Over the past several months, I have had the privilege of reviewing some materials from The GoodBook Company. One of these is The Good Book Guide to Biblical Womanhood which includes nine studies for individuals or groups as well as a leader's guide. This guide is excellent because it is Biblically faithful, short yet deep, and practical. Not surprisingly, this booklet is largely about our design, how we relate to God, and how we relate to others. It has some excellent application questions such as "How can I pursue true, unfading beauty for myself, and encourage others in that too?" (pg. 26).

One of the benefits of Bible Study is that often, Biblical truth is more readily assimilated when it is discovered as oppose to being taught. Don't get me wrong, these guides won't let you discover "your truth" while I discover "mine," but they will allow you to dig and ponder a bit before briefly expounding upon the truth of Scripture.

If I were using this book with a group of ladies, I would rearrange the lessons a bit as I would want to cover "Women and their Lord" before covering any other relationships. It is worth noting that this guide does include a lesson on marriage and a lesson on singleness and is equally applicable to both seasons of life.

This week is an excellent week to consider purchasing some of these materials as they are having a sale on all of their guides: 5 for $15. You could purchase a sampling of five different guides for personal study or consideration for a group study or order five of the same guide for your small group. Just use the coupon code 5FOR15 at checkout. May God use these studies as a means of grace in your life to make you more like Him!!

Warmly,
Elizabeth

* Many thanks to Brad @ The GoodBook Company for sending me this guide in exchange for my honest opinion!

Book Review: Histories and Fallacies

2011-02-02T05:00:00.001-05:00

Over the past year, I have become increasingly aware of and interested in the need to exercise discernment in the arena of history studies. (This is largely due to following Simonetta Carr's blog which chronicles "The making of Christian biographies for young readers." It has been a lot of fun to "watch" her piece together the truth of history. I am grateful for her willingness to share her journey and for the example that she sets.) As a result, I was excited to learn that I would have the opportunity to review Histories and Fallacies: The Problems Faced in the Writing of History by Carl R. Trueman. I must confess at the outset of this review that I am incredibly "out of my league" with this particular title. I realized very quickly that my vocabulary is extremely narrow and that I am woefully lacking in my knowledge of basic history (and current events pertaining to said history). However, in spite of my limitations, I was able to glean a good deal from this book.

The Introduction serves as a road map of sorts ad is a very good one at that. In Chapter 1, Trueman discusses the difference between neutrality and objectivity. While no historian will be neutral in his/her retelling of the past, there will be verifiable facts, evidence, etc. by which one may ascertain what actually occurred. Trueman walks through some of the claims of those who deny the Holocaust in order to bring to light some of the basic strategies of good (and bad) historical method.

Trueman then moves to a discussion of interpretive frameworks in Chapter 2. Call it what you will: worldview, presuppositions, ideological commitments, beliefs; we all have them, and they drastically influence how we interpret the truth, including the truth about the past. Truman chooses to demonstrate the strengths and limitations of interpretive schemes by evaluating Marxism.

Chapter 3 addresses the problem of anachronism. This was a new term for me and really made me feel like I was back in college with a bunch of intellectuals...and a bit out of my league. However, anachronism isn't nearly as complex as it sounds; it merely refers to the fact that the historian is in the present while addressing questions to the past. This time gap creates a whole host of problems similar to a tourist visiting a foreign country. Trueman highlights many of these problems and says, "Simply to be aware of the potential problem is a crucial move toward avoiding it" (pg. 115). This chapter, like the ones that go before it, is full of helpful reminders including the need to be modest in the conclusions one draws (pg. 140).

Finally, Chapter 4 is a treatment of various issues to which historians can be prone and of which they ought to be aware (oversimplification, generalization, poor framing of questions, etc.). Once again, Trueman makes statements that are pertinent to all of life. Fox example, he spends time relaying the importance of asking the right questions.

"...the framing of a question can shape the answer" (pg 162).

"...often, questions are clearly driven by particular ideological commitments that arguably lead to distorted answers" (pg. 163).

In layman's terms, we tend to ask loaded questions.

Mr. Trueman rightfully acknowledges that he has "barely scratched the surface of what it means to write history" (pg. 169). While I would have liked to have seen greater depth in certain aspects, especially with regard to how a Biblical worldview affects ones' study of history (as opposed to merely focusing on Marxism), I believe Mr. Trueman gives his reader a great start. In my case, he has successfully fulfilled his objective "to ignite that interest [in understanding the past] in others, to guide them away from dead ends and methodological mistakes to fruitful and creative avenues of approach, and to help in some small way the next generation of those who wish to make history come alive for future generations" (pg 181).

In conclusion, Histories and Fallacies is a book I would loved to have understood before or during my college years. However, I am grateful for the opportunity to read and process the material now and look forward to using the knowledge that I have gleaned to be a more discerning reader across multiple disciplines. I trust many others will greatly benefit from it as well.

*Many thanks to Crossway for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

Preschool Devotional Resources

2011-01-10T05:00:00.002-05:00

Are you looking for some resources to help your family get into the habit of sharing a regular devotion time together? If so, you may be interested in looking at these books published by The Good Book Company.

Beginning with God: Exploring the Bible with your child - Book 1

This is a very basic book designed to be used with The Beginner's Bible or a similar children's Bible. It is a simple tool to guide parents in regular Bible time with preschoolers. It contains key Biblical truths to read and discuss with young children. It also has prayer points at the beginning and end of each lesson to help you and your child cultivate the discipline of prayer. There are activity suggestions to help the parent/teacher make the lesson more memorable and to help continue the conversation beyond the formal reading time. My kids are constantly bringing this book to me and asking me to read them another passage because they like placing the sticker (included with the book) on the page once the lesson has been read.

Beginning with God at Christmas: Explore the real Christmas with your child

Like Beginning with God, this resource is designed to be used with The Beginner's Bible and includes prayer points at the beginning and end of lessons, Biblical truths to read, and discussion questions from the story. Each lesson also has a sticker and coloring page. It's not too late to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas with a resource like this!

These two are very basic for pre-schoolers containing the overall content of the Bible stories. I would recommend using these with The Jesus Storybook Bible or The Big Picture Story Bible so as to help the little ones see the Gospel in all of the Bible. The greatest asset of these guides (in my opinion) are they prayer points and activity suggestions. I think they would be especially helpful to those who aren't comfortable doing this type of thing with their child.

Personally, I would like to have seen more reference to the Gospel in these books. However, they do state the truth about Christ's Lordship clearly. Check out the book samples at the links above and see if these might be a good fit for your family!

*Many thanks to The Good Book Company for sending me these books in exchange for my honest opinion!

Book Review: real-life discipleship

2011-01-05T05:00:00.001-05:00

Putnam’s major presupposition in real-life discipleship is that there are five stages that comprise the spiritual growth process (spiritually dead, spiritual infant, spiritual child, spiritual young adult, spiritual parents). He outlines characteristics of each of his stages, as well as, ways to recognize which stage people are in and what people in each stage need to know. Putman lists topics one might cover with a disciple as well as recommended reading but never specifically discusses how to practically utilize either. The curriculum detailed in the book is the use of Bible storying in a small group context.

Putman rightly recognizes: that spiritual growth is a process; that we have to look at the heart motivations behind people's actions; and that humility is one of the most important character traits of a mature believer and leader. However, there are parts of the book which could be strengthened. Although, sharing the gospel was mentioned, it was not expounded upon where it should have been primary. For example, Chapter Seven, "Moving the Spiritually Dead Toward Life", was particularly disappointing and weak. It spoke more about sharing your testimony and answering an unbeliever's questions than about sharing the gospel. Furthermore, certain aspects of this book (such as the spiritual growth process noted above) needed to be better grounded in Scripture.

Also noteworthy is that real-life discipleship contains no gender distinctions. While our knowledge of God in the discipleship process will be similar, application of that knowledge will often differ. Since Putnam defines a disciple as: "...one who is following Christ (head), being changed by Christ (heart), and committed to the mission of Christ (hands)" (pg. 29-32), I would expect some treatment of varying roles would be appropriate.

All-in-all, I think that there are beneficial things to be gleaned from real-life discipleship, as well as, some food-for-thought. However, it is not the only book one will want to read on the subject and seems geared more towards church leaders.

*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."

Book Review: By Grace Alone

2011-01-03T05:00:00.019-05:00

Do you find the grace of God astonishing and amazing or have you begun to take God’s goodness and love for granted? The goal of By Grace Alone is to help the reader see afresh the amazing nature of God's grace. This book is a helpful reminder of the truth of the Gospel. I found it easy to read yet thought-provoking, convicting yet encouraging. Here, for example, are some of the questions with which this book deals:

Do you deserve to go to heaven?
Must you strive to do better in order to be accepted by God?
What is your greatest need?
What does a relationship characterized by grace look like?
Does God want what is best for us? How can we know?
What is the cause of every failure in the Christian life?
Why is it significant that Jesus was charged with treason and blasphemy?
Why does the Christian no longer continue in sin? What does this mean? What are the implications of this teaching?
Why is grace so amazing?

I will not share how he answers all of these questions lest I discourage potential readers from reading the book for themselves. However, I will tell you how Ferguson answers the question, “What is your greatest need?” He says, "Your greatest need is to have your sin and your guilt exchanged for pardon and new life" (pg. 62).

Ferguson does not shy away from speaking the truth in love as he deals with these (and many other) topics as they relate to grace. For example, when writing about how we know that God is "for us" and how that knowledge shapes our actions, Ferguson states:

"After all, if you really believed that the all-kind Creator of the universe wanted to bless and enrich your life, would you not seek Him? For all their protestations that they believe in a God of love, deep down people believe the opposite. They fear that God is out to destroy their lives. They do not trust Him; they do not love Him; they do not obey Him; they do not worship Him; they do not want Him. They too [like Adam and Eve] have exchanged the truth about God for the lie" (pg. 96).

The grace of God is awesomely amazing; we cannot meditate on it too frequently. By Grace Alone is a great tool to help believers reflect on Scriptures about grace and understand them more fully.

*Many thanks to Reformation Trust for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

Book Review: On This Day in Christian History by Robert J. Morgan

2010-12-31T16:47:00.000-05:00

On This Day in Christian History is a collection of stories about various "saints, martyrs, and heroes" throughout church history. As its title suggests, each story is told on a date relevant to the event and/or character (i.e. birth, death, sermon preached, imprisonment, etc.). Robert Morgan also selects a relevant verse or two from Scripture to be read following each day's story, one for each day of the year. Additionally, there is an index of selected topics at the conclusion of the book which some readers may find beneficial.

In reading On This Day in Christian History, I learned something about myself: I do not do well with snippets. What I mean is, I, personally, do not enjoy reading a short, isolated devotion on some aspect of history. This book seemed a bit disjointed (and at times, redundant) to me. Perhaps it is because I have a limited understanding of Christian history and so, have difficulty placing individual devotions into the "bigger picture."

That being said, there is nothing expressly wrong with this book. Robert Morgan freely quotes the individuals of whom he writes and frequently makes use of primary sources (though lacking documentation). It reminds me of a textbook approach to history. I did not find the writing style “inspiring” as the subtitle suggested one would. However, my family visited for the holiday season, and my dad enjoyed reading the book each morning while he was here.

In sum, if you like a condensed, matter-of-fact telling, you will probably like On This Day in Christian History. It is clear, concise, and somewhat informative. As for me, I think I'll stick with a chronological approach in the future.

*Many thanks to Thomas Nelson for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

Large Family Logistics Sale

2010-12-28T16:51:00.002-05:00

If you've been looking to get a copy of Kim Brenneman's new book Large Family Logistics, now may be a great time to pick one up as Vision Forum has them on sale for $10.80 until December 31, 2010. This is a great price as the book is typically $19-$24, depending on where you seek to purchase it. I got my copy just before Christmas (it was on sale for $12 and I had a $10 off coupon!). I've read over half of it and skimmed the rest. It is an excellent resource! I think it would be valuable for any Mom seeking to better organize her household management to the glory of God. I plan to do a comparison of this and Managers of Their Homes in the future (once I complete reading this volume and refresh on the other), but if you are looking for that information now, please feel free to email me, and I'll share my preliminary thoughts. ;)

Happy Reading, Friends!

Book Review: Exegetical Commentary

2010-12-15T05:00:00.007-05:00

I recently had the privilege of reading a good portion of Zondervan's Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Galatians. Several unique features of this commentary (compared to others that I have seen) are its interaction with the original language of the New Testament, its concise main idea sentences, its emphasis on the theology presented within each passage, and the application of said theology.

I found this volume to be Christ-centered and focused on the truth of the Gospel and the cross of Christ. For example, Thomas Schreiner expounds upon Galatians 1:4, stating:

"The Galatians are only entranced by circumcision because they have forgotten the significance of the cross...A right relationship with God is not obtained by circumcision but only through trusting in the cross of Jesus Christ" (pg. 76).

This message, echoing a major theme in Galatians, is found repeatedly throughout the volume. It is a good reminder for all of us who are tempted, at times, to trust in our works to make us acceptable in God's sight.

Another thing that I found particularly helpful, is that Mr. Schreiner doesn't merely inform his reader(s) on matters such as the situation to which the epistle is written, but rather, clearly suggests principles which could be applied when reading other epistles. In this way, Mr. Schreiner not only teaches his reader about the particular situation of which Paul is addressing in his epistle to the Galatians but also equips the reader to discern these matters when reading other Biblical texts in the future.

All in all, I would say that this is a helpful commentary volume (albeit lengthy), especially for those who enjoy examining the original languages but also for those who wish to gain a deeper understanding of the theology of the text and its application for the church today.

*Many thanks to Zondervan for providing a copy of this text in exchange for my honest opinion!

Book Review: God's Mighty Acts in Creation

2010-12-05T22:17:00.001-05:00

Idolatry. Few books written for adults go beyond the concept of worshipping images of false gods (i.e. the golden calf, Exodus; Baal, Artemis, etc.). Even fewer children's resources tackle the subject. While it isn't the primary purpose of Starr Meade's new book, God's Mighty Acts in Creation, idolatry is one of the many subjects that she explains in a way that young children can easily grasp without watering down the truth.

God's Mighty Acts in Creation goes through each of the days of creation showing how God created everything in nature to tell us something about Himself. What does light tell us about God? What does the grass tell us about God? God, in His infinite wisdom, created everything to declare His glory. Starr Meade effectively connects God's Word and the Gospel to many aspects of creation helping her reader understand many difficult Biblical concepts including idolatry; general and special revelation; God's holiness, wisdom, omniscience, omnipresence; our sinfulness and depravity, our need for a mediator, atonement, and many other things-especially God's character and attributes. While the publisher recommends this book for children ages 8-12, I found that my seven-year-old daughter thoroughly enjoyed and benefited from Starr Meade's writing. Each of the forty-five devotions within this book: begin with a Scripture, contain a two-page commentary, and close with a simple question and/or activity. The questions/activities at the end of each reading are easy but effective at "driving home" the concepts about which Ms. Meade has written. God's Mighty Acts in Creation is a spectacular resource for parents wishing to help their children better understand how "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork" (Psalm 19:1, ESV). I look forward to reading the volume to which this is a companion, God's Mighty Acts in Salvation.

See what others are saying about this book @ the Crossway Blog.

*Many thanks to Crossway for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

Book Review: "Think"

2010-12-02T05:00:00.001-05:00

God uses Piper to stir my affections afresh. Through Piper's writing, I am encouraged to study harder, think deeper, and to pursue God with greater intensity. Piper's latest book Think is no exception. It is written for those who thrive on thinking and for those who would rather not think much at all.

As usual, Piper has written a deep, thought-provoking, immensely helpful book. He discusses the importance of reading and of taking time in reading to ask questions and of working hard to understand.

"If you cannot embrace the pain of learning but must have instant gratification, you forfeit the greatest rewards of life. So it is with reading the Bible. The greater riches are for those who will work hard to understand all that is really there" (pg. 47).

Furthermore, Piper expounds upon the role of thinking in coming to faith and in loving God.

"…we cannot love God without knowing God…If we do not know anything about God, there is nothing in our mind to awaken love" (pg. 90).

This book is filled with Gospel-truth. In it, Piper talks about saving faith at length because "you can have a zeal for God and not be saved" (pg. 162).

In Think, you will also find tools to counter the "true for you, but not true for me" relativist sentiment that is so prevalent in society today as well as other challenges (i.e. anti-intellectualism and avoiding knowledge that puffs up) . I wish I had had this book before I headed off to college!

"The aim of this book..." Piper says, "...is to encourage serious, faithful, humble thinking that leads to the true knowledge of God, which leads to loving him, which overflows in loving others" (pg. 20).

Do you find that Christ is supremely valuable in your life, more to be treasured than everything that the world offers? Would you give up everything just to be with Him? Can you say with Paul, "I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ" (Phil. 3:8 as quoted by Piper, pg. 71)? If not, grab this book. Meditate on the Scripture and the Biblical truth found therein. Let it stir you afresh. It is an awesome read!

*Many thanks to Crossway for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

Book Review: Discovering Jesus in the Old Testament

2010-11-29T05:00:00.026-05:00

I have long been fascinated by the cross-references between Old Testament prophecy and the Gospels, as well as, other connections between the Old and New Testaments. Yet, I have hesitated to purchase books on this subject for fear that they might merely collect dust on my shelf. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Tyndale had published The One Year Book of Discovering Jesus in the Old Testament. Unlike many of the more scholarly titles, this one is designed for lay persons and is divided into bite size portions which can be read in five to ten minutes.

I found this book Gospel-centered and encouraging. It would be an asset to those who are looking for ways to "preach the Gospel to themselves" daily. The devotions stand alone allowing the reader to begin in any location. Furthermore, there is a helpful index which would allow one to find devotions relevant to a passage he/she is already reading.

However, while there is much in this book to commend, there are a number of occasions in which Ms. Guthrie moves into spiritual interpretations not intended by the original authors of Scripture. These interpretations are mere speculation and have no Biblical support. For example, the people in Luke 7:13-16 "remembered what Elisha had done for the Shunemite" (July 14) and the stew pot in 2 Kings 4:38 "became an illustration of the world, a 'stew' of humankind's ideas, religions, and attempts to satisfy their spiritual appetites (July 15). In the reading for February 26, Ms. Guthrie says:

"In her beauty, her purity, and her chosenness, Rebekah was a picture of the bride of Christ."

Furthermore, on October 15, Ms. Guthrie writes about the Ethiopian eunuch (of Acts 8) saying: "In a culture in which many descendants meant everything, this eunuch, who had no hope of a son who would carry on his name, understood that Jesus died without descendants so that he might give those who come to him by faith an everlasting heritage."

The problem is that none of these things are expressly stated or implied by other verses in Scripture. We simply have no way of confirming that any of these things are true. These are just a few examples of speculation in this book. I'm not sure if Ms. Guthrie gleaned these ideas from her sources or if she developed them independently as there are no footnotes or endnotes in the text. I truly wish I could recommend this resource as there are many good, Gospel-centered entries, however, it does not seem wise.

"Words in the Bible have a meaning fixed by the intention of God, expressed through the mind of the human authors. It cannot be made to mean what we choose without tampering with God's Word. But the atmosphere of our time puts so little premium on truth that the language of the Bible and of historical Christian documents has become a wax nose to shape according to the desires of the speaker" (pg 196, Think by John Piper).

Unfortunately, this is exactly what Ms. Guthrie does in many portions of this book. Therefore, I would not recommend this book.

* Many thanks to Tyndale House Publishers for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

Large Family Logistics Giveaway

2010-11-20T19:32:00.001-05:00

I have not yet seen this book, however, I have been greatly blessed by the material on Ms. Benneman's former website and look forward to looking over this book, at some point. You can check out the giveaway (until Sunday, November 28th @ midnight) or purchase a copy through Grace and Truth, if interested.

Have you already seen this book? If so, what did you think of it? If not, what resource has most blessed you as you seek to manage your home for the glory of God?

Scripture Memory Music

2010-11-16T21:35:00.000-05:00

Five Awesome Scripture Memory CDs

Great for Kids and "Grown-ups"

58 portions of Scripture

Listen Online - Free!

Download A Verse Checklist and/or Memory Cards

Listen Online - Free!

Another awesome tidbit:

"Each package contains two identical CDs - one to keep and one to give to a friend."

Christmas is coming...I humbly submit these for your consideration...a great gift to give the little ones in your life!

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12 ESV).

Book Review: A Way With Words

2010-11-08T05:44:00.000-05:00

I recently read the book, A Way With Words by Christin Ditchfield. I think the greatest asset of this book is the Bible Studies that were included at the end of each chapter. The reflection questions were thought provoking and the suggestions for Scripture memory/meditation helpful. I like how this book lends itself well to group and/or personal study and how the reader is encouraged to keep a journal. Furthermore, I think it is great that Ms. Ditchfield encourages the reader to slow down her reading and take time to apply what she's learning by spending a week with the Bible Study questions and Scriptures. I also enjoyed the way that she opened each chapter with an engaging story from her life or from Scripture. These made the book a pleasant read and helped illustrate the points well. I really appreciate Ms. Ditchfield’s honesty, transparency, and humility.

In spite of all of these good things, I think that the book could be improved. I liked the chapter on how words reveal what is in our hearts and would have liked to see that incorporated more throughout the book. I also thought that the Gospel message could have been more clear and that the book would have benefited from the use of more Biblical language (rather than talking about how my speech is going to shatter hopes, dash dreams or damage self-image--pg. 21). As Christians, we speak differently as a result of who we are in Christ. We are ambassadors and agents of reconciliation for God and His Kingdom. At times, our mission will require us to use Biblical words to "damage self-image". Take for example , "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23, ESV) or the fact that our "best deeds" are like a polluted garment or filthy rags (Isaiah 64:4-9). These things aren't said to protect our "self-image"; they're said so that we might know our deep need for a new identity in Christ.

Additionally, there were a number of quotes scattered throughout the text. I found these more of a distraction than an asset. Furthermore, there were times when they seemed to be at odds with Biblical truth like this one from Sojourner Truth: "If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again!" (pg. 10) Only Christ can restore this broken world.

Again, I think the most helpful portion of this book was the way Christin Ditchfield helps her readers think through the Scriptures pertaining to speech and asks relevant application questions. However, I have been more challenged by other books which were more Gospel-centered and focused more clearly on heart change.

Many thanks to Crossway for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

Congratulations!

2010-11-05T05:00:00.004-04:00

Congratulations, Cheryl!

You won the certificate for this DVD.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by and commented.

I enjoyed reading about how God has been speaking to you all!

DVD Review and Our First Giveaway

2010-11-04T21:12:00.000-04:00

First a little background, then the giveaway...

Meet (or remember) Phil Vischer, a talented fellow who is best known for creating productions for children. His first project was the Veggie Tales series characterized by the motto: "Sunday Morning Values, Saturday Morning Fun." Whatever your opinion of the original Veggie Tales, Mr. Vischer has begun a new series. While the former focused on values, the latter purports to be centered on the Gospel.

I must confess, I wasn't sure what to expect. However, Tyndale kindly sent me a copy of the fourth DVD in the What's In the Bible series: Battle for the Promised Land in exchange for my honest opinion. I was pleasantly surprised by the clear communication of the Gospel and the detailed information that was shared in a visual way. While I didn't find this DVD as entertaining or captivating as Veggie Tales, it compensated for it with its improved emphasis on the Gospel. However, what good is the DVD if it has good content with a boring presentation? On the contrary, although I (being an adult) was a little bored with the presentation, by the end of the DVD, my daughter was already asking, "Are there more in this series? Can we get them? Are there any books?"

Following the DVD, I asked my daughter some questions for Tyndale:

Did she learn from it?

"Yes, I learned about the Historical Books of the Bible." (Joshua-Esther)

Did you find it entertaining?

"Yes."

Would you like to watch the rest of the series?

"Yes!"

Who is your favorite character?

"I like them all the same."

Like most products, this one could be improved. For example, I didn't appreciate a couple of jokes referencing underpants in the beginning of the DVD. However, all in all, I think the whole family can benefit from this series as the Gospel is clearly presented and the information has more depth than other materials that I have seen for this age. Younger children will probably benefit from watching the DVD in parts since it is 60-minutes in its entirety, but Tyndale conveniently thought of this and split the presentation into two parts. For more information, visit www.whatsinthebible.com or www.tyndale.com.

Now for the exciting news: I get to do our very first blog giveaway, compliments of Tyndale House Publishers! I have an award certificate for the above-titled DVD so you can form your own opinion. ;) You have several chances to win:

Post a comment or email me stating one thing that God is teaching you recently about/from the Bible.
Subscribe to my blog and/or let me know that you're a subscriber via a comment.
Share about this giveaway on your blog and/or Facebook and post the link in the comments section.

Comments will be accepted until 9:00PM, EST, Thursday, November 4, 2010, and the winner will be announced on Friday, November 5, 2010. Make sure I have a way to contact you so that I can let you know if you're the winner as I'll need to secure a mailing address to mail you the certificate for your free DVD. ;)

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all who participated!

* Thank you to Tyndale House Publishers for sending me this DVD in exchange for my honest opinion!

Pt. 3

2010-10-29T05:00:00.002-04:00

It's a first for us...

The first Giveaway on our blog...tomorrow!

Be sure to stop by and check it out. :)

Reading Classics Together: The Holiness of God - Chapter 3

2010-10-28T21:14:00.001-04:00

In Chapter 3 of The Holiness of God, Dr. Sproul begins to define holy and discusses the human experience of holy. In sum, God is set apart, above and beyond us (transcendentally separate as Sproul says on Page 55).

It wasn't until I began to reflect on the overall flow of the book that I found reason to dig deeper into the Scriptures. You see, in Chapter One, Dr. Sproul's main point was that we must grow in our understanding of what it means to be holy because God has commanded us to be holy as He is holy (Leviticus 20:7). However, in this Chapter, Dr. Sproul says:

"God alone is holy in Himself. Only God can sanctify something else" (pg 56, emphasis added).

Furthermore, Sproul says that it is idolatry to call created things holy:

"When we call things holy that are not holy we commit the sin of idolatry. This is the grievous error of idolatry, giving to common things the respect, awe, worship, and adoration that belong only to God. To worship the creature instead of the Creator is the essence of idolatry" (pg. 58).

"When a human being tries to consecrate what God has never consecrated, it is not a genuine act of consecration. It is an act of desecration. It is an act of idolatry" (pg. 59).

The antinomy (apparent but not actual contradiction, a term acquired and borrowed from J.I. Packer's book Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, pg. 18) is that God commands us to be holy and yet, only He can make us holy. Now Scripture doesn't specifically state that we can't make something holy, however, every Biblical reference to the word "sanctify" (that I encountered) referred to God sanctifying something.

In my effort to resolve this tension, I looked up Leviticus 20:7 in my ESV Study Bible which led me to Leviticus 11:44-45. The notes for the latter say:

"Personal consecration is a response to God's gracious initiative."

In the case of these Israelites, God's gracious initiative was His having delivered them from slavery in Egypt. In our case, God has delivered those who believe from sin and death through the blood of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:2, 6:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 10:10, 13:12).

As I considered this further, I was reminded of two verses:

"It is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good pleasure" and "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling."

So it isn't either/or but both/and. As I began to seek out the location of the above verses in Scripture, I had to laugh and shed tears of joy as I realized that the verses are right next to each other. In Philippians 2:12-13, it reads:

"…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure" (emphasis added).

Notice that beautiful conjunction which I have taken the liberty of emphasizing; because God works in us, we can work. It is the same with our pursuit of holiness. Which reminds me, this has already been covered much more thoroughly in Jerry Bridges' book The Discipline of Grace: God's Role and Our Role in the Pursuit of Holiness. How could I forget?

Isn't it neat how God uses two sentences in separate portions of one book to bring to mind several other sentences for a helpful time of review and reflection? To think, that is only the first half of the Chapter. Is anybody else's head spinning in trying to keep up with my thoughts?

We'll be discussing Chapter 4 - "The Trauma of Holiness" next week. May your reading be blessed as you seek to grow in your knowledge of holy and be transformed by this renewal of your mind!

Pt. 2

2010-10-22T14:49:00.001-04:00

Something new is coming...

What could it be???

Favorites Friday

2010-10-22T05:00:00.000-04:00

The Doctrine of Sin: Handle with Care @ C.J.'s View from the Cheap Seats - "So which are you more aware of: the pervasiveness of sin, or the power of grace?...It requires little skill merely to expose sin. But it takes great skill to unveil grace and apply it to the wide variety of spiritual conditions represented in our churches."

Al Mohler on Reading: "We can make a virtue out of reading that can be an end in itself. Reading is not an end in itself; growth in godliness is the end and being conformed to the image of Christ. That's going to happen by Scriptures, and that's going to happen by the teaching and preaching of the Word of God, and it's going to happen by reading. And so reading is not "the thing." It's not the end in itself. It is the way God has chosen to help His people grow, and it has been that way from the beginning...We realize we're not going to grow if we're not reading and studying and that means sitting in the chair and getting it done. But quite honestly, it's appetitive; the more you do it, the more you love it."

The ART of Homeschooling @ Home Educating Family - Looks like a promising series of posts. Attitude, Relationships, and Training. Get them in the right order or you'll end up with TAR or RATS. ;)

Christian Literature for Kids 0-8 @ Passionate Homemaking - Lindsay is highlighting some great books worth reading your children. My favorite on the list is probably Big Truths for Little Kids by Susan Hunt.

Reading Classics Together: The Holiness of God - Chapter 2

2010-10-21T20:57:00.001-04:00

I would summarize Chapter Two by saying, if you get a glimpse of God's holiness:

you will see that sin is pervasive in yourself (pg. 44-45),
you will quake in terror and mourn because of your sin, and
the God of grace will meet you, cleanse you, forgive you, and send you to do His work.

Although you will not yet be holy, like Moses, when you spend time looking at God's holiness, you will begin to reflect God's glory (pg. 35).

As Sproul says:

"There is a pattern here, a pattern repeated over and over again in history. God appears, man quakes in terror, God forgives and heals, God sends. From brokenness to mission is the pattern for man" (pg. 48).

One thing that challenges me is the truth that before we can effectively minister to others, we must be putting to death pride in our lives. The only way to do this is to measure ourselves by the ultimate standard, the perfect, holy God.

"As long as Isaiah could compare himself to other mortals, he was able to sustain a lofty opinion of his own character. The instant he measured himself by the ultimate standard, he was destroyed--morally and spiritually annihilated" (pg. 44).

When I focus on God's holiness, I, like Isaiah, am undone. However, I, too, am not without hope. Christ died to pay the penalty for my pervasive sin that I might be cleansed from all of my unrighteousness. This truth should change how I relate to every person and situation that I encounter.

Don't forget...Next week: Chapter 3

Church History ABCs Giveaway!

2010-10-20T09:06:00.000-04:00

Visit Home With Purpose if you'd like more information about how to win a copy of this helpful resource! You may also download some free activity pages from The Church History ABCs Website. This book is a great introduction to important folks in church history for young children.

Favorites Friday

2010-10-15T05:00:00.006-04:00

A few of the posts that have ministered to me lately. Do you see a trend?

You Might Have Kids If... @ The Blazing Center - Another funny and encouraging post from the Altrogee blog. What would you add to the list?

Let Your Work Be Worship @ Passionate Homemaking - "To be a godly woman means we worship the Creator in all the duties of life – everything from diapers, to dishes, to scrubbing toilets, to preparing meals, to decorating our homes. Each task is an act of worship to our Creator, because we are faithfully walking in His beautiful design. Worship is not limited to Sundays, or to actual singing, but it is doing all that we do for the glory of God, with a heart that desires to please Him."

5 Ways to Increase Your Effectiveness in the Office Pt 1 @ Church Planting for the Rest of Us - Investigate, Evaluate, Delegate, Automate, & Assassinate "Time Thieves" - Helpful advice for us all.

Avoiding the Enemies of Compassion @ Crossway.blog - Some of the enemies of a compassion-filled ministry...because all of us Christians are to be about ministering to fellow believers...

Pt. 1

2010-10-15T05:00:00.003-04:00

We have an announcement to make this month...

Any guesses???

Reading Classics Together: The Holiness of God

2010-10-14T16:30:00.001-04:00

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, I'm participating in Reading the Classics Together with Tim Challies, Leslie Wiggins, and others. Although Challies has hosted a number of these community reading/discussion groups, this is the first in which I am participating.

The first thing that struck me while reading The Holiness of God is Sproul's rich, descriptive language. It is not hard to find yourself in his shoes: feeling what he feels, hearing what he hears, seeing what he sees. I found it easy to experience what Sproul had experienced and to resonate with his thirst, zeal, and passion for the things of God. In this opening chapter, Sproul writes about how he came to desire to know God more fully, and how he came to realize that the holiness of God "is basic to our whole understanding of God and of Christianity" (pg. 24).

I found Sproul's thoughts regarding the Lord's Prayer intriguing. He noted that "The first line of the prayer is not a petition. It is a form of personal address" (pg. 24). He then goes on to remark that the first petition in the prayer is "…hallowed be thy name. They kingdom come…" Here's what I found thought-provoking:

"There is a kind of sequence within the prayer. God's kingdom will never come where His name is not hallowed. His will is not done on earth as it is in heaven if His name is desecrated here…It is foolish to look for the kingdom anywhere God is not revered" (pg. 25).

However, I wonder if this is fully accurate. Can God's kingdom not come or will it not come if none of us were to regard Him as holy? Indeed, it already has come and is coming through and because of Christ in spite of the fact that God's name is not regarded as holy among the masses. (Matthew 12:28, Luke 10:9-11) Nothing can stop His plan. Though, 'tis true that one day, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Isaiah 45:23, Romans 14:10-11, Philippians 2:9-11), this is not presently the case.

One thing is true:

"How we understand the person and character of God the Father affects every aspect of our lives…we must seek to understand what the holy is...There can be no worship, no spiritual growth, no true obedience without it. It defines our goal as Christians. God has declared, 'Be ye holy, for I am holy.' [Leviticus 11:44, 1 Peter 1:15-16] To reach that goal we must understand what holiness is" (pg. 25-26).

Will you join me in seeking to grow in your understanding of the holiness of God? If so, read Chapter 2 in The Holiness of God by R. C. Sproul, and prepare to share your thoughts in the comments section.

Lessons from Motherhood

2010-10-11T22:50:00.000-04:00

I am regularly amused at how God uses my little blessings to reveal truth and evoke worship in my life. Such was the case as I weaned my fourth child. During the day, she rarely thought of nursing and easily settled for a cup when offered. However, the wee morning hours presented a much greater challenge. One night, I let her cry. Upon realizing that she was not merely going to cry herself back to sleep, I went to her room to console her, offer her a cup of water, sing her a song, and tuck her back into her bed. She was inconsolable. I sat on the stairs and listened to her cry, wondering how long it would last and crying along with her. I knew that weaning her was what was best for her, but I grieved with her for the loss of that special time that we shared. God in His kindness opened my eyes to see that I, too, often hold on to things or "cry" when I don't get my way. Yet He is in each of those moments working all things together for good because I am called according to His purpose and love Him. He is wise and knows better than I; I can trust Him to do and allow what is best. What an awesome God we serve!

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
        and do not lean on your own understanding.
     In all your ways acknowledge him,
        and he will make straight your paths.
     Be not wise in your own eyes;
        fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
     It will be healing to your flesh
        and refreshment to your bones.
(Proverbs 3:5-8 ESV)

Favorites Friday

2010-10-08T05:00:00.002-04:00

Here are some posts that have blessed me recently. May they bless you as well!

The Power of the Gospel – Listening Well @ Shepherd Press Blog - "Providing an environment where questions are easily asked and carefully considered is crucial. Too often information is force-fed to children in general and to teenagers in particular. Life-changing information is better received when it is eagerly desired and asked for. That is why the gospel is needed; a parent cannot be truly other-centered unless he is first Christ-centered."

The Home Repair Skills of a Monkey @ The Blazing Center - This is merely humorous, but we all need a good laugh once in a while.

The Heart of Frugality @ Challies - Why live simply? As some have noted, being frugal can be an evidence of greed or of wise stewardship. There are many in the former camp, but also many in the latter who live simply in order to give generously for the glory of God. Here are some great (albeit lengthy) thoughts from Challies. Where do you find your heart in the matter?

How to Provoke Your Children @ Grace to You - "Parents provoke their children to wrath by various means too. Over my years as a pastor, I have observed many different ways parents have done this. Avoid all of them. Here are just a few examples:"

Book Review: Gospel-Centred Family

2010-10-04T05:00:00.004-04:00

Image taken from thegoodbook.com

This is an AWESOME book!!! However, there are several really awesome parenting books on the market. So, what sets this one apart? Should you really add another book to your shelf?

Concise. - Just five pages per chapter! Twelve chapters. Which brings this book to a little under one hundred pages that pack a punch. Don't believe me? Read on.

Gospel-centered. - Yes, that's included in the title, but it really does live up to its name. Check out these quotes:

"Learning to enjoy your parents' authority is the first step towards welcoming God's authority" (pg. 13).

"Your number one aim as a parent is to show how great it is to live under God's reign of love" (pg. 14).

"We're not calling our children to a life of obligation and hardship that they must tough out. We're calling them to treasure! We're calling them to treasure Christ. Sacrifice there may be, but we count it joy because of the treasure that is ours in Christ…(Philippians 3:8). Our job is not to pressure our children into a life of begrudged duty. Our role is to extol the surpassing greatness of Christ. We're to extol Christ so much that everything else feels like rubbish in comparison" (pg. 19-20).

Heart-focused.

"…when my heart is undivided in its allegiance to God, I respond with calm and loving discipline. But if my selfish desires are ruling my heart, then I'll respond wrongly. My discipline gets distorted by my selfishness" (pg. 27).

"…more often than not, our anger is a sign that one of these desires (1) matters more to us than God's glory; and (2) is now being thwarted or threatened. If this selfish anger drives our discipline, the fruit will be bad" (pg. 27).

"This is the most important thing I've learnt in my years as a parent. The biggest obstacle to good discipline is my own selfish heart" (pg. 28).

Grace-filled.

"Let's face it, you and I are pretty lousy parents. Welcome to guilt! What we do with that guilt tells us what we really believe about the gospel" (pg. 32).

"If we feel condemned, we won't communicate grace, making us fell still more condemned. If we want our families to be gospel-centred, then we must ring the gospel to bear on our own failures. If we can't bring our parenting sins to the cross, then we don't have any good news to celebrate. We can't communicate grace to our children if we're not communicating it to our own hearts" (pg. 33).

"Our children are greatly helped by good parenting. But they're saved by divine grace…But what if you've been a bad witness? God's grace doesn't let us off the hook as parents. Our sin is still sin. It still affect our children and spoils our testimony to the reality and beauty of God's work in us…But it's not unforgiveable. Our parenting sins are addressed by God in the same way as all our sin - by grace" (pg. 34).

Wait! There's more. While this book is a good condensation of books that have gone before (like Shepherding A Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp and Everyday Talk by Jay Younts), it also brings at least three unique and important points to the parenting book table.

Encouragement to view children as a gift. The reality is that children "...can sometimes feel more like work than pleasure!" (pg. 55) This book contains many suggestions for creating memories and enjoying your children.

Encouragement (and helpful suggestions) to live and pray God's Word with your children.

Encouragement (and ideas) to be a mission-centred and serving family.

"…God is to be the cetre of your family's world. And closely linked to that is a commitment to serving others. A gospel-centred family is a family that serves others to the glory of God" (pg. 88).

"…those who have received divine mercy show that same love to others. Those who once served only themselves are freed to serve others in love" (pg. 89).

"A family that's turned inwards is not a gospel-centred family" (pg. 89).

Interactive. - Most of the other parenting books that I own have application questions at the end of each chapter, but this book goes even further. It has more of a workbook flavor. The beginning of each chapter has a Bible background box with a passage to read and questions to answer. The end of each chapter has a "Questions for reflection" box and a paragraph of "Ideas for action".

One thing that I did disagree with was the ideas suggested for disciplining a child. Chapter 7 in Shepherding A Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp and/or Chapter 9 in "Don't Make Me Count to Three!" by Ginger Plowman are a great introduction to why methods like the ones in Gospel-Centred Family aren't Biblical and are detrimental to your child's heart.

Overall, an exceptional parenting resource!! Easy to read, harder to apply. Although the book is short, I'd read it through slowly, savor each chapter, and really take the time to apply the material here.

Visit thegoodbook.com for more information or to read the first chapter of the book.

The Hankins Family

Running the Race Together

Guest Post: On Writing Historical Fiction by Simonetta Carr

Celebrating the Excellencies of His Name - I AM

Book Review: The Barber Who Wanted to Pray

Book Review: America's Genius-Jonathan Edwards

Book Review: The Magnificent Amazing Time Machine

Book Review: Managing God's Money

Book Review: 365 Great Bible Stories

Athanasius Winner

Book Review: The Most Important Thing You'll Ever Study

Book Review and Giveaway: Athanasius

Author Interview: Equipping Counselors for Your Church

Book Review: Equipping Counselors for Your Church

Book Review: Nobody's Child

Book Review: Guarding the Treasure

Book Review: Out of a Far Country

Book Review: Give Them Grace

Book Review: Feminine Threads

Lessons Through the Littles

Praising God for My Gift

Book Review: The Next Story

Book Review: Knitting Knee-Highs

Book Review: ESV Seek and Find Bible

A Place for Weakness Reflections - Chapter 1

If you'd like to join the discussion, Read Chapter 2: “Good News for Losers” for Wednesday, May 11.

Thanks for reading!

Book Review: The Greener Grass Conspiracy

Book Review: Practicing Affirmation

FBS Giveaway

Book Review: Desiring God

Read Through Desiring God with John Piper

Book Review: Voyage with the Vikings

March Book Giveaway

Book Review: The Organized Home Schooler

Win A Children’s Book for Your iDevice

Redeeming Singleness Revisited: My Take

Guest Review: Redeeming Singleness

Bible Study Review and Discount

Book Review: Histories and Fallacies

Preschool Devotional Resources

Book Review: real-life discipleship

Book Review: By Grace Alone

Book Review: On This Day in Christian History by Robert J. Morgan

Large Family Logistics Sale

Book Review: Exegetical Commentary

Book Review: God's Mighty Acts in Creation

Book Review: "Think"

Book Review: Discovering Jesus in the Old Testament

Large Family Logistics Giveaway

Scripture Memory Music

Book Review: A Way With Words

Congratulations!

DVD Review and Our First Giveaway

Pt. 3

Reading Classics Together: The Holiness of God - Chapter 3

Pt. 2

Favorites Friday

Reading Classics Together: The Holiness of God - Chapter 2

Church History ABCs Giveaway!

Favorites Friday

Pt. 1

Reading Classics Together: The Holiness of God

Lessons from Motherhood

Favorites Friday

Book Review: Gospel-Centred Family

If you'd like to join the discussion,
Read Chapter 2: “Good News for Losers” for Wednesday, May 11.