Jun 01 2008
Come On Over…
I had the wonderful opportunity of interviewing Vicki Courtney for Christian Women Online. I personally believe this is one of the most important interview I have conducted to date. Please Visit me here…
Archive for the 'Books' Category
May 28 2008
Two Book Draws, Two Winners
The winner of SKID by Rene Gutteridge is
My friend, I can not wait to hear how you liked this book, you may think it is strange at the beginning but it is a jewel that may have you laughing out loud.
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And the next winner of Matt Roger When Answers Aren’t Enough - Can I tell you I really, really wish I could buy each one of of you that entered this book.
Joanne at Blessed… (can I just say how much your comment touched my heart.) May this book bless you.
May 26 2008
When Answers Aren’t Enough.
I know this post may read like a book review, but this book really touched me and is just my ramblings about it. =)
The post below this IS a review and I am giving you a chance to win the book, click HERE FOR DETAILS.
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I am currently reading a book that fits so well with this week’s events and my mood. Matt Rogers wrote the book, When Answers Aren’t Enough, Experiencing God as Good When Life Isn’t. I have never read such a heart filled honest book about grieving. Matt Rogers has been a co-pastor of his church at Virginia Tech for only a year when thirty-three students died in one of the worst massacres of our time. But this is not a book filled with “pastor” sayings, it is real and raw.
This week brought many emotions for me, the death of Maria Chapman; which led to the remembrance of a little girl I use to babysit who died in a horse accident when I was a Senior in HS; then this week one of our cars had the driver side window smashed in while we slept (and we live in what is considered a low crime area); and why does the Lord appear to be saying ‘no’ to me every turn I make?
In his book, Matt poses the questions:
If God is good, why is there so much suffering?
Why doesn’t God just stop it?
Did he allow {blank} to happen?
Father why don’t you just step in?
As a Christian, I know the answers. But this week I found myself telling God, these answers are not enough! And right now where I stand I am not ok with the answers that God gives.
Does that mean I believe any less that God is good? No, but how do you find God’s goodness in such pain?
Matt shares some heart breaking stories in his book, but each person he interviews they talk about God’s goodness and God’s faithfulness. I don’t know about you, but when I just have lost a loved one, or gone through some tragedy God’s goodness may not be the first thing on my mind. So how do we get to the point where we see God’s goodness in all things?
There is so much to glean from Matt’s book and I encourage you to read it, but one thing that really spoke to me is the way we pray for protection or healing. Sure we can pray for it, but in John 16:33 Jesus says, “you will have trouble.” And when we look at each of the disciples, every one of them was killed a martyr’s death except one. That tells us, faith alone does not keep us safe. Many times when something does happen (ie…death, cancer, sickness, tragedy, etc..) our first reaction is anger that God did not stop it or that we deserve what we got.
Matt says he can imagine Jesus telling us, “ ‘you are angry at me for failing to deliver on a promise I never made. I have not guaranteed your physical safety.’ ” I think this hits many of us especially who live in Canada or the US, we have been ‘relatively’ safe and it is easy to expect it.
Each of us will face death, but we must remember in the Garden of Eden there was no death, death is part of our curse. So this evil, the fact that we die, or we lose loved ones while here on earth is part of the separation between God and us. For me personally I don’t want to ever be OK with that. But what I do want to learn is how to experience God’s goodness in the midst of the awful.
Psalm 34: 8 Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
Oh heck, I do have an extra book of this one too and I am feeling generous (especially if you read these ramblings all the way down). If this is a book that you would like to read; I only want serious readers for this book. Leave me a comment and I will send one person a copy of Matt Rogers book When Answers Aren’t Enough; Experiencing God as Good When Life Isn’t. I do warn you it is not ‘easy’ reading, but one so open and honest about going through difficult times and finding God’s goodness.
Comments will close 10pm (eastern) May 28th.
May 26 2008
Skid by Rene Gutteridge and a giveaway
What do you get when you mix a pig, a dead lady, a diamond thief, and a quirky pilot?
Just the funniest book I have read in a long time!!!
Blissfully unaware that Atlantica Flight 1945 from Atlanta to Amsterdam is about to make aviation history, First Officer Danny McSweeney focuses his energies on navigating the turbulent personalities of an eccentric female captain, a co-pilot with a talent for tactless comments and conspiracy theories, and a lead flight attendant with an outsized attitude that definitely exceeds the limits for carry-on baggage.
On the other side of the cockpit door, the unscheduled in-flight entertainment includes a potbellied pig, a jittery diamond courier, and the recently jilted Lucy Meredith, whose personal mantra of “What Would Oprah Do?” will be challenged by the sudden appearance of her ex and his new traveling partner. On her left sits Hank Hazard, whose unusually polite but constant requests–prompted by his covert role as a spy for the airline–test the limits of the crew’s customer service.
But as Lucy and the rest of the crew discover, Hank’s odd behavior is linked to a quiet faith that may play a key role in the fate of everyone on board. Especially when an unexpected traveler sets this already bumpy flight on a course toward the unfriendly skies.
I do have to admit when I first picked up the book and began to read it I was wondering what kind of strange book I was reading, but I had faith in Rene Gutteridge. I am SO GLAD I did not put the book down, in fact I finished it in one weekend. One page had me laughing out loud.
Rene Gutteridge is the author of twelve novels, including the Boo series, the Storm series, and the novelization for The Ultimate Gift, as well as Scoop and Snitch, the first two Occupational Hazard novels. She lives with her husband, Sean, and their two children in Oklahoma City. (by the way Boo series is one of my favorite reads also!!)
Seriously this would be a PERFECT summer book. I believe that so much, I am giving one of my readers a copy of Rene Gutteridge’s book SKID for free.
Leave a comment here to win a copy of SKID by Rene Gutteridge. You have until 10:00 pm, May 28th to enter. It is a short contest because I will be going out of town, I will announce the winner by midnight May 28th.
May 21 2008
A shopping spree? With books??? Be still my heart…..
click here to enter. It is a $200.00 shopping spree!! Mom, Dad enter and then remember I am your daughter =))
May 15 2008
Tricia Goyer’s A Whisper of Freedom
Battles heat up…not only those being waged by the soldiers on both sides fighting for Spain, but in the hearts and minds of the men and women who must sacrifice more than their dreams to save the lives of their loved ones.
In this meticulously researched novel, brave and idealistic Sophie, Philip, Jose, and Deion realize their only hope for freedom is escaping Spain’s borders.
By continuing the story of this band of volunteers during the Spanish Civil War, A Whisper of Freedom proves that there are whispers of hope and liberty that resonate through even the darkest night.
Tricia Goyer is the author of twelve books including From Dust and Ashes, My Life UnScripted, and the children’s book, 10 Minutes to Showtime. She won Historical Novel of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from ACFW, and was honored with the Writer of the Year award from Mt. Hermon Writer’s Conference in 2003. Tricia’s book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion in 2005. In addition to her novels, Tricia writes non-fiction books and magazine articles for publications like Today’s Christian Woman and Focus on the Family. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences, and has been a workshop presenter at the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International Conventions. She and her family make their home in the mountains of Montana.
Links:
Book excerpt: http://triciagoyer.com/cmsdocuments/WhisperCh1.doc
Buy the book: http://www.amazon.com/Whisper-Freedom-Chronicles-Spanish-Civil
Watch the series trailer: http://cg.creativenuclei.com/wip/TriciaGoyer/cscw.html
Tricia’s website: http://triciagoyer.com
Tricia’s Blogs: http://triciagoyer.com/blogs.html
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During the tour the length of the tour you can be entered to win one of FIVE signed copies of A Whisper of Freedom by signing up for Tricia’s newsletter here!
This tour is a bit different in that they are doing it in the form of a MEME, I will answer the questions first and then tagged some sweet souls (who I know will still speak to me in the end).
Here are the MEME questions!
1. List three things you would do with a chest full of gold (assuming you got to keep it!)
Right now I don’t think I could keep it, I would give it towards China & Myanmar. And I would adopt a BUNCH OF Compassion kids (see my sidebar)2. List three charities/missions/organizations you support (and why).
My church
Compassion
My local Christian Radio Station
My Missionary cousin3. List three ways you have volunteered your time/services.
Youth Ministry
Sports Mom Stuff
Writing devotionals4. List three things you keep “hidden” when company comes over.
Laundry baskets (if you come over all the time you get to deal with my laundry baskets)
My boys rooms.
All the papers that seem to pile up on my side table.5. List the last three things you’ve lost.
My first promise ring
My brain (three child births does that to you =)
My first dog.
6. List the last three things you’ve found.Money laying on the ground
A necklace
Tons of trash after my boys have eaten in my room.
Three brave “players” will be selected at random to win their own lost gold 
(Gourmet chocolate coins and all three books in the Chronicles of the Spanish Civil War series).
To enter all you have to do is answer the MEME on your blog and then leave a comment on Tricia’s blog tour post here that you’ve posted your MEME. Easy.
I tag Iris at Sting My Heart, and Shalee at Shalee’s Diner
May 05 2008
This may be more for me to say…
Just some newsy update stuff. When I was gone for a week I did a lot of thinking about the blogging aspect here. I greatly enjoy it, but life has been very hectic. When I had a chance to stop everything and get away for a week I did not even take my laptop (which is a biggie for me). I thought about where my full energies should be focused. I don’t want to give up blogging, and I don’t plan to, but I plan on scaling back a lot.
I will be popping in to let you know when I have a new Book Buzz article up. This summer is going to be big, I have some awesome interviews (like the one I have with Amy Wallace in this months edition of CWO). Next month is another interview you will NOT want to miss if you have children, it is one of the more important interviews I feel I have done.
I am still currently writing for Laced With Grace at a minimum once a month. I greatly enjoy the ladies there and what the site has to offer.
I have three boys going in three different directions. School is out in a month, and to be honest summer is a CRAZY time in my household. Besides soccer and basketball, we have now added high school football conditioning (basketball ends very soon, so the basketball and football are just overlapping for a week or so). But all of the above plus upcoming summer camps, my sister having her baby, Laced With Grace, Book Buzz, laundry, cooking, cleaning etc… is where my focus will be for awhile.
During your summer months be sure to visit my book review section (located uder the tab on top) for some suggestions. On the 15th, I will have another awesome book suggestion, and a chance to win some stuff. But until then…I will still be around reading your blog, feel free to email me or use my contact form above to say “hi” or let me know anything I can pray for.
Apr 23 2008
Healing Promises Blog Tour….
Clint and Steven work for Crimes Against Children Unit. While saving a young child Clint is shot. This ends up being a blessing because hospital tests reveal he has cancer.
Clint attacks his cancer the same way he attacks life-head on. But his wife Sara’s world is rock. She is grateful the cancer was found but feels guilty because being an oncologist she should have seen the signs. Clint being the stubborn person he is still is working off hours to uncover the identity of a child serial killer before any other children are hurt.
This is Amy Wallace’s second book in her Defenders of Hope series (first one being Ransomed Dreams). This second book focuses on Clint and Sara’s journey in wondering if God is with them.
Beginning May 1st be sure to check out Christian Women Online’s Book Buzz. Amy will be visiting us and there will be a chance to win a gift pack (does the word Starbucks, chocolate, & reading entice you) .
Mark it on your calendar, but also visit some of the great sights below.
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Dark Chocolate Suspense newsletter: www.amywallace.com
Heart Chocolate: www.amywallace.com
Amazon direct link for Ransomed Dreams: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/159052747X
And for Healing Promises: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1601420102
Ransomed Dreams first chapter: http://www.amywallace.com/rd_chapter.html
Healing Promises first chapter: http://www.amywallace.com/hp_chapter.html
Ransomed Dreams - Multnomah - April 07
Healing Promises - Waterbrook Multnomah - April 08
Enduring Justice - Waterbrook Multnomah - Spring 09
Apr 08 2008
A giveaway…
not from me but HER. I promise if you win, you won’t be dissapointed. If you can not comment on her site, then just Click on Contact Mary on the left hand side and she will enter you.
Have a great day.
The link is http://www.laughlady.com/
Apr 07 2008
A review of a different sort…
“The Shack” by William P. Young
The main character Mack receives a letter from God. God asking Mack to meet him in the Shack, and here he has an encounter with God. More specifically…the trinity. In this book an African-American woman is God (known as Papa), Jesus is a young to middle-aged man of Middle-Eastern (i.e. Jewish) descent, Holy a small, delicate woman of Asian descent.
Some quotes from the book:
“Those who love me come from every system that exists. They were Buddhists or Mormons, Baptists or Muslims…I have no desire to make them Christian, but I do want to join them in their transformation into sons and daughters of my Papa, into my brothers and sisters.”
–The Shack’s Jesus, p. 182
What the bible says:
“Jesus… said to them: ‘Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” Matthew 24:4-5
I am a book reviewer, and I try to bring books that will help you, entertain you and bring you closer to God. But I can not sit by and remain silent when I see a book gain so much popularity that leads people into false teaching.
I may be slammed for these opinions, but it is a chance I am willing to take. The Amazon reviews for this book are amazing; we even have churches recommending this book.
I am suggesting you STAY away from reading the book (knowing full well you have every right to read any book you wish =) this is a suggestion. This book is theological fiction. While it may be a good “story” it is difficult sometimes to separate what is real and what is not real when they are closely related. I suggest it bypasses the reader’s ability to discern what is true and what is not true. Also this book is not meant for the reader’s enjoyment, but for its teaching. This book tries to give readers an understanding of the trinity.
Let me suggest why I believe this is a dangerous book:
1.The bible states in the Ten Commandments (Exodus), “do not make a graven image of God.” This book portrays God as a man. God is not a man, he is Spirit. He does not have a physical body. If you take God and make him look like an old man-that is a graven image. The white dove is different because God does that in the bible himself.
2.This book portrays goddess worship. Jesus was man – God is spirit – neither are woman.
3.This book has hearsay in it. There is a quote that says, “I am truly human in Jesus.” This is NOT true. The Father, Son, & Holy Spirit are distinctly different but equal. . It was Jesus that died on the cross-not God. It was Jesus whose flesh became man – not God’s. There are many books out there that do a great job in explaining the trinity so I am not going into that.
You may ask, what is the harm? It is just a good book. It is because the author’s intent is to teach you spiritual truths, not just to write a “good” story.
We need to be on our toes and discern what is right, what is just, and what is good. And if you have read the book, do I think less of you? HECK NO, I just wanted to write this to keep you all on your toes. Spiritual discernment is so important today.
“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-36
If you would like to read further (and where I got some of my research) here are some links:
http://windowstomysoul.blogspot.com/2008/04/christian-or-christ-follower.html
http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/08/shack.htm
http://www.sliceoflaodicea.com/?p=363
http://www.squidoo.com/ShackHeresy
http://www.challies.com/archives/book-reviews/the-shack-by-william-p-young.php
I would recommend this book instead:
All comments are welcomed, but know I am not as knowledgeable as the links above..just someone speaking what I know is TRUTH in Christ. Also ugly comments will not be posted. It is fine to disagree, but don’t be ugly about it. I love all my readers, even (especially) if you don’t agree with everything.
