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“I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.”- Psalm 138:2

Monday, August 30, 2010

Ezra-Nehemiah-Ester ~ Cornerstone Biblical Commentary

This is a biblical commentary book on the Books of the Bible for Ezra-Nehemiah and Ester, it is in the New living Translation. This book has a good structure that makes it easy to follow and read. This version is volume 5B of a full set. Each book is explained in detail by author, date of writing, occasion of writing, audience, canonicity and textual history, literary style, major themes and an outline. The commentary is detailed by explaining verse by verse, it give the verse then the explanation directly after the verse.

I was very impressed with the set up of the book and the easy flow of the context. It was very easy to find the verses and if you were looking for a certain verse you could easily thumb through and find it very quickly. I would recommend this volume to others and look forward to purchase other volumes of the set.

To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission,
Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or ARC.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Psalms ~ Life Change Series (Bible Study)

This is a study of the book of Psalms, it teaches about prayer and how to make a change in your own life with GOD by your side. The book is very easy to carry and will fit in any purse, bible cover or your briefcase. The set up is in a very easy format in very basic English. The pages have a side bar for notes and the questions have space to be answered. This is a 10 week study and each week covers a different subject, examples: week 1 prayer, week 2 confession and acknowledgement, week 3 intersession and supplication… and so on. I found this to be a great weekly bible study for teens or adults, Sunday School or mid week at home study. It is the type of study that you don’t have to start from the beginning, if you have new people they can jump right into the study at whatever week you are on. I enjoyed this study and learned a lot that I didn’t know about the psalms, it gave me a different perspective on prayer and how to apply prayer to everyday life. It is the type of study that you can do at your own pace and get a lot out of it. I would recommend this to anyone.

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."

Who Do I Lean On?, Yada Yada House of Hope Series #3 ~ Neta Jackson

This is the 3rd book in this series and my least favorite. The story continues where book 2 ended. Gabby is still working in the shelter and raising her 2 young boys, while trying to purchase the home she is living in to become a home for single moms. Gabby is thinking of fighting for custody of her boys, but has second thoughts when she finds out that her soon to be ex-husband has a gambling problem and is in big debt. As the ex-husband Phillip is being chased by loan sharks, he leans on Gabby to help him get out of the situation. Lee, Gabby's lawyer, is very interested in dating Gabby, but Gabby feels it is wrong for her to go against GOD and his laws of still being married and dating. The old friends from the Yada, Yada prayer group also are in this book showing their support and prayers for Gabby each step of the way.

This is not one of my favorites and I did struggle through this one, as the 3rd book did alot of review of book 2. My attention was not held as much in this book as the others and I hope that book 4 will have more action.

(this book was borrowed from Maine State Library)

Leaving Church ~ Ann Brown Taylor

This is the story of Ann Brown Taylor and her journey of becoming a priest and then leaving the ministry to teach. The book starts with Ann's childhood and her beliefs. Her story continues as she goes in the ministry and as she meets her future husband. Ann and her husband become involved in a very big church and then Ann gets the feeling GOD is calling her to move to a different church. She proceeds to a small town church to minister and becomes more fulfilled with her relationship with GOD. She then becomes burnt out and proceeds to move to the next step in her life.

This book is very entertaining and was very moving of how you need to listen to GOD and what you want or think you want to do for GOD is not always in his plan. The book gives you a new way to look at your life and your relationship to GOD.

I would recommend this book. (borrowed from Maine State Library)

Monday, August 16, 2010

Let's Do Lunch: Eating all the Calories and Carbs you want to lose weight! ~ Roger Troy Wilson

This is a book about Roger and his weight loss plan. The book contains Roger’s very brief story, recipes, comments from others that have found success, and a 14 day plan that contains the basic for everyday, eat fruit for breakfast, eat salad with a protein for lunch and fruit for dinner as much as you want.

The title of this book “Eating all the Calories and Carbs you want to lose weight!” is totally misleading. I was so excited to read this book, thinking that it would help assist in my weight loss program. I was very disappointed to find that it is another fad diet book. Roger explains and says over and over in the book that “this is not a frozen grape diet” however, his answer to every craving and every desert is eating frozen grapes, as many as you want until the craving passes or you are full.

The title states that you can eat ALL the carbs you want, but, Roger’s plan eliminates potatoes, rice, bread, anything that contains sugar (unless fruit) and flour. The last I checked these ingredients are carbs, the title of this book should be changed.

I would not recommend this diet or book to others.

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

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Forgotten, The Secrets Series #1 - Melody Carlson

Adele is a 17 yr old High School student that is trying to get through her senior year and on to college. Starting fresh Adele and her mom are getting a new start in a rich town, with rich teenagers. Adele makes new friends, loves her school and is having a good time, and then everything starts to fall apart. Her mom loses her job, leaves town with her new boyfriend leaving Adele behind. Evicted from her apartment, Adele has to shift her thoughts from happy times to being homeless and having to only care about survival.

This is a story about friendship, heartache, commitment and homelessness that is very common in today’s world. I became much attached to Adele and her feelings, this book made my heartache and I wanted to reach out and bring her into my home. I read this book in one sitting because I became so attached to Adele and wanted her to have a happy ending. The book has a great message - GOD is the true meaning to happiness and that is all you need in life.

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."

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Take Four (book 4, last in series) ~ Karen Kingsbury

This is the last book in the series and continues the saga of Bailey, Cody and the Christian movie making crew. Bailey is selected as the star in the movie. Cody is still dealing with issues of his mom's drug abuse. Andi has to deal with either keeping her baby and being a single parent, or giving the baby up for adoption.

The book has all this going on and is the typical novel from Karen Kingsbury. I have read all of the series and felt this was a very slow moving novel, it was very perdictable, unlike the others in the series that had surprises this one I had guessed what was going on and found that I was not very attentive by a third of the way through. I was not happy with the way Karen had Cody and Bailey end up.... I can't say why, I don't want to ruin the book for anyone.

(This book was borrowed from the Maine State Library)

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

What in the World is going on? ~ Dr. David Jeremiah

I read this book cover to cover to get the an idea about the book; now I am going back to read different chapters and study more in depth. If you are trying to explain to friends, co-workers and family of world events (present and past) and how they relate to the bible, you must purchase this book.

Do you fear the world is coming to an end? If you answered yes, then you must read this book. Dr. Jeremiah puts the 10 prophecys of the bible into very easy understanding language. I would recommend this book if you like history, want to study the end of days and want a good reference book. If you are looking for a story to read, this is not for you. This book is loaded with facts, knowledge of the past, present and future of the world that is backed with bible scripture.

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

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Chasing Francis ~ Ian Morgan Cron

This book is about Pastor Chase Falon from a rich New England town church and has lost his faith and passion for the Christian life. The book begins as the church elder members have decided to put Chase on a leave of absence. Chase decides to go to visit his uncle Kenny that is in Italy, a Franciscan Priest. Kenny is very happy that Chase comes for a visit, he feels that Chase shall learn about Francis of Assisi (a catholic Saint). The book is the adventure of Chase learning from Kenny and his friends on daily trips through history of where Saint Francis did all his mission work. The pilgrim's journey that Chase is on, is a lesson of what Christianity is all about.

This book has many colorful characters and a very unexpected ending. I had a hard time with the history parts of the book, but the whole concept was very appealing and enjoying. If you like history then this book is definitely for you.

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."