Under The Overpass

By FAR, the most impacting book I have read in a long time. 

Mike Yankoski and his friend, Sam, set out on a journey of faith by forsaking all the worldiness of their lives and then painted so vividly the realities that they found while living on the streets of America.   I can quite honestly say that I read this book in a day because I just couldn't put it down...and have found that it continues to change how I view and relate to the homeless people all around me. 

I used to look away from them...because they scared me.

I used to look past them...to the freedom of a 7-11 doorway which got me away from their requests.

I used to pretend they weren't there...and am so ashamed of my lack of love for people in this world. 

There is so much I am unable to do to help those who live in my neighborhood...but one thing I took away from Mike's experience is that it only takes a second to look them in the eye and smile.  No, I may not have money...and yes, I might legitimately be in a hurry...but I realized how broken I would feel to never be noticed by anyone.  And that one fact broke my heart...and changed my approach and I have found the joy that comes in knowing that I did my best to let someone else in this world know that they were seen, even if it was only by a gal like me.

If you only have the chance to read one book this year of this kind of genre...I would recommend this one with two thumbs up...followed by 8 other fingers and 10 toes.

You can find more information on this book by clicking here ...it just might change your life and the life of someone you run into.

**WaterBrook Multnomah provided me this book for review purposes & is allowing me to keep this title once finished. I get no other compensation...other than the chance to fill my heart and soul with an excellent read. :) **

Still Reading...

Bina

The Jesus Inquest

When I was offered the chance to read this book, I jumped at the chance because this is the kind of thing that we are going over in my Sunday School class at church.  Proof for (and against) the resurrection...being able to give an account for what we say we believe by knowing the truth about both sides and being creating a knowledgeable defense when the conversation comes up.  But I have to say...this title went straight over my head.

Charles Foster is a barrister in England (an attorney, for us American's) and he does an excellent job of presenting both sides of the "argument" in the case of the resurrection of Christ.  He gives the non-Christian viewpoint (represented as "x") and follows up with the Christian thought process ("y"), allowing the reader a full understanding of where each side is coming from.  But, for a newbie into this heavy research, he gave so much information in such complex sentences that I felt like I had to re-read each line to fully comprehend all that he said.  Kind of left me flipping thru, reading here and there and ultimately deciding to pass this one onto the leaders in my class to read, digest, and teach back to us in terms I might better understand.

Cover Information:

An unbiased examination and compelling courtroom presentation revealing the undeniable facts of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Intelligent, fair, and remarkably compelling, The Jesus Inquest argues the case both for and against the resurrection of Christ. Point-by-point, Foster, in turn as both barrister X and Y, leaves no theological stone or dissenter's rock unturned as he digs for answers and the truth. In the end he is more convinced that Jesus is real, that He did rise again, and that He lives to offer forgiveness and hope to all who come to Him.

I appreciate his willingness to do such tremendous research and spend his time to give it all out to the public to learn from...just not my kind of book.

**Thomas Nelson provided me this book for review purposes & is allowing me to keep this title once finished. I get no other compensation...other than the chance to fill my heart and soul with an excellent read. :) **

Still Reading...
Bina

Havah: The Story of Eve

I have actually read this book twice now...and both times felt myself experiencing an emotional rollercoaster much like the one Eve travels in Tosca Lee's fictional rendition of her story.  In fact, this reading inspired me to lay out my own heart in regard to how this beautiful creature must have felt at one point, banished from Eden.  To read that, click here to pop over to my main blog.

Opening on the moment breath first enters her lungs, the reader is instantly transported into the perfection that was Eden...and Adam...and an untarnished relationship with the One that is the center of their world.  By the time the author brings us to the big moment of Eve's choice, I felt the beauty of the world that was...and as the scene plays out and the apple is devoured, a small part of me screamed out along with Eve upon the realization of what her choice would mean. 

From the introduction to the final farewell of the mother of all that live, I found my mind captured in a way that made my heart both love and break open for this woman.  She is both the reason we are all here and the reason why we all live under the curse of sin...and yet, she must also have been a woman of great emotion and regret as she moved thru her life, day after day, seperated from the original perfection that was once hers. 

Back Cover Information:

Havah, Adam's chosen name for Eve, recounts her life from a singular vantage point. From having known only blissful innocence, she must struggle through every post-Garden moment. Frustration compounds her plight as she repeatedly attempts to regain her former idyllic existence and repeatedly fails. Havah's life becomes a fight for survival once she and Adam are cast from the Garden, and Lee's poetic prose beautifully depicts the couple's slow surrender to a world tending to destruction. Havah gives birth, raises a brood of children, watches one son kill another, observes disease and death. Yet all the while, she waits for the fulfillment of "the One" (God) who will bring reconciliation and redemption through her seed. Lee's superior storytelling will have readers weeping for all that Havah forfeited by a single damning choice.

I am both moved and inspired by Tosca's ability to weave poetry out of her choice of words and her talent of painting a masterpiece with each and every scene...and I would highly recommend this read for anyone who enjoys Biblical historical fiction.

Still Reading...
Bina

Out Live Your Life

When I signed up for this book from booksneeze.com, I was excited for it to come because I am a huge Max Lucado fan...and he didn't fail to disappoint!  As I moved thru the pages of his newest title, I found myself moved in many ways. 

I realized that I tend to operate in what is most comfortable to me - change is a scary word to my heart.  Max weaved his words in a way that caused me to look inside without feeling judged...but also showed me that I was made to be more than I am allowing myself to be.  That I was created with a purpose and reason...and while I am living out a large part of that purpose in the raising of our kids, there is much in this world that God also would like me to open my eyes to.

I love how he writes...humor enough to make you smile, stories enough to engage your mind and Truth enough to make you stop and have a conversation with the One who most would like to hear from you.  Classic, Max!

Cover Information:
These are difficult days in our world's history. 1.75 billion people are desperately poor, natural disasters are gouging entire nations, and economic uncertainty still reigns across the globe. But you and I have been given an opportunity to make a big difference. What if we did? What if we rocked the world with hope? Infiltrated all corners with God's love and life? We are created by a great God to do great works. He invites us to outlive our lives, not just in heaven, but here on earth. Let's live our lives in such a way that the world will be glad we did. (Please note: International Bloggers will receive International Edition.)

Definate two thumbs up from me!

**Thomas Nelson provided me this book for review purposes & is allowing me to keep this title once finished. I get no other compensation...other than the chance to fill my heart and soul with an excellent read. :) **

Still Reading...
 

The Clouds Roll Away

When I got the chance to review this book by Sibella Giorello, I really wasn't sure what to expect because I wouldn't have been drawn to buy this book (anytime I see the word "detective", I tend to back off)...but as I began to take in just the first paragraph, I was very pleasantly surprised to find a book I could snuggle up into. 

Giorello's beautiful ability to paint pictures with her words pulled me in ("...drove past fields that glistened like crushed diamonds.") and her characters made me feel like I've known them at some point in my life.  I also greatly appreciated the fact that there was a lot of forensics "stuff" and yet it was written in a way that kept me from feeling lost in the details...and I felt myself constantly wondering "What in the world is really going on here??" as this town is being corrupted by hate crimes and negligence.

...yeah, it's a definite keeper...and may have started me on a new buying spree as I look forward to her next book (in the spring) and as I jump back to the get the one she released before this one! 

Also, as an added bonus, Giorello is celebrating the release of "The Clouds Roll Away" by giving away a Kindle prize pack worth over $150.00...!!  (Giveaway info is listed at the end of this post.)

Cover Information:
Forensic geologist Raleigh Harmon returns home for Christmas but discovers Richmond , Virginia running low on goodness and light.

Although her exemplary service in Seattle lifted her disciplinary transfer, Raleigh lands a hometown civil rights case riddled with problems that could get her sent away again. When she helps out a fellow cop, her life goes on the line, forcing her undercover in a sting operation. As Raleigh realizes the lines are crossing and double-crossing, her domestic life starts to unravel. Her mother's mental health cracks like ice, her closest friend grows cold, and her old boyfriend DeMott comes a-calling, hoping for more than chestnuts by an open fire.

While the city glows with Christmas lights and carols, Raleigh is forced to rely on her sharpest skills to stay alive, hoping for that one clear moment when everything makes sense and the clouds roll away.

You can jump over to Amazon.com to buy this book by clicking here or you can sign up to win:
One Grand Prize winner will be chosen to  receive the latest generation KINDLE with Wi-Fi and a $25 gift certificate to Amazon.com.  To enter, you can simply click here to enter and then tell your friends to sign up too! Winner will be announced January 3, 2011 on Sibella's blog: http://sibellagiorello.blogspot.com/.

**Litfuse Publicity Group provided me this book for review purposes & is allowing me to keep this title once finished. I get no other compensation...other than the chance to fill my heart and soul with an excellent read. :) **

Still Reading...
Bina

Proclaim His Glory

Title: The Heavens Proclaim His Glory

My friends, I can honestly say that this is the first book that I am reviewing that I was actually aching to tell y'all about.  I got this copy in my mailbox just today and here I sit, just hours later...hoping to be able to put into words what I thought when I turned, page by page, thru this title.

I could tell you that the pictures of God's creation in space are breath-taking...because they are.  Blackholes...doomed stars... nebulas...hydrogen clouds  As one who used to think that I would be an astronomer (until I found out that math is necessary to be a scientist...imagine my horror), I find myself just sitting and staring at the raw beauty of blackened skies highlighted by gas, light and sheer genius.

I could focus on the words of scripture that are scattered among the photos...or the words of well-known authors like Max Lucado or Anne Graham Lotz.  I could tell you about how I think they fit each and every photo they are placed against as if God Himself painted them into His starry canvas...because they are amazing paintings woven by each and every word.  "Your mercy is great above the heavens, and Your truth reaches the clouds." Ps 108:4

I could focus on this book itself...but that wouldn't do it justice as I can tell with all my heart and mind that the soul purpose of this book is to reflect the glory of the One who cannot be contained within mere pages...who cannot be explained by simple words.  Rather this book serves to reflect His glory...as simply stated by Anne Graham Lotz:
 "In a fresh, astounding way, this book has caused my head to bow, my knees to bend, my will to yield, my hands to serve, my mind to worship, and my heart to fall in love over again with the One whose glory is revealed in the heavens!"

If you are looking for a great way to incorporate amazing photos with God's glorious written word that works to inspire your heart...this is the book for you.

Cover Information:
Our world displays the handiwork of God all around us—in the land and sea, the animals and the plants. But in respect to the sky, the heavens, the universe…there’s a realm of beauty and creation man has not been able to witness, until now. The Heavens Proclaim His Glory is a compilation of stunning photography taken by NASA’s Hubble® Telescope capturing striking images of stars, galaxies, cosmic events, planets, and more. Vivid up-close photographs are paired with a romantic Psalm or quote, as well as a short description of the image. The Heavens will open up a whole new world of worship and praise for our God.

**Thomas Nelson provided me this book for review purposes & is allowing me to keep this title once finished. I get no other compensation...other than the chance to fill my heart and soul with an excellent read. :) **

Looking up as always...
 

What's In A Word

Title: What's In A Word ~ Fascinating stories of more than 350 everyday words and phrases

I opted to review this book from Booksneeze.com as my children are always asking "what does that mean?" and "why do we say that?" and I thought they would love the information provided.

I was right...as usual :)

This has become our just-before-bed routine, reading a few background stories behind normal, everyday phrases to leave them with something to think about while drifting off.  Sometimes we all laugh and sometimes it is silent as we ponder the meanings of things like "hair raising" (actually came from the scalping of the early Indians) and "marshmallow" (orginally the makings of mushed "mallows" from the marshlands, used as medicine).

This is just an overall fun resource to have handy.

Cover Information:
Have you ever woken up on the wrong side of the bed? Did you make it to that early morning meeting by the skin of your teeth? Was your heart in the right place when you proposed that idea, even though you couldn’t hold a candle to the guy next to you who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth?

If you’ve ever wondered what that word or phrase you just heard means, What’s in a Word? is just the book for you. If you love words, this fascinating and humorous encyclopedia of more than three hundred fifty words and phrases and how they evolved will keep you entertained for hours.

**Thomas Nelson provided me this book for review purposes & is allowing me to keep this title once finished. I get no other compensation...other than the chance to fill my heart and soul with an excellent read. :) **

Looking up as always...