Book Review: Schools in Crisis by Nicole Baker Fulgham

Schools in Crisis is one of a series of "Frames" published by the Barna Group. Each of the Barna Frames provides data-driven information about a particular social issue or trend. The Frames are meant to be an overview, a discussion starter, and possibly a springboard to action for a group of interested people.

This particular frame focuses on America's public schools. Barna's research found that 46% of Americans think public schools are on the decline and fewer than half of Americans view public schools favorably.  While more than 77% of Christians believe that they should get involved in public schools, many are unsure how to get involved or feel that schools don't want Christians to be involved.

Author Nicole Baker Fulgham introduces readers to the world of students at low-performing (mostly urban) schools and the need for Christians to take an active role in mentoring, tutoring, and otherwise supporting schools as they work to overcome overwhelming social and educational problems.

The final chapter briefly introduces us to a church in Oregon that has gotten involved and provides advice for finding ways for churches to partner with schools in crisis.

I was interested in this Frame because I work at an urban school that is succeeding, largely through the efforts of dedicated staff and numerous volunteers who support teachers and students.  My own church partners with several local schools to address the needs of children who run the risk of going hungry on the weekend when no school breakfast or lunch is available.

I applaud Nicole Baker Fulgham for her call to Christians to engage this social problem head on.  She invites Christians to get involved directly through volunteering, but also encourages Christians to take on the role of advocate with local school boards and state and local governments to provide better funding and to learn about the social issues that impact the community.

Although Schools in Crisis is brief--a mere 72 pages of discussion--it packs in a good deal of well documented research and personal stories.  I agree with Fulgham; this is an issue that Christians should engage--not to throw stones at public schools, but to help lift up the teachers, staff, and students in at-risk schools.

This is a social issue that impacts everyone in America, whether you have children or not. Highly recommended.

I was provided with a copy of this book by HarperCollins Christian Publishing in return for an honest review.

Book Review: The Adam Quest

The full title of this ambitious work is The Adam Quest: Eleven Scientists Who Held on to a Strong Faith While Wrestling with the Mystery of Human Origins and author Tim Stafford has condensed a tremendous amount of research into a highly accessible book for laypeople.  You won't find an in-depth explanation of the scientific work involved, but you will get the flavor of current research and meet some notable scientists who spend their days researching questions about life on earth.

Stafford, who is Senior Writer for Christianity Today, provides a snapshot of 11 different scientists whose work converges on one of 3 different Christian beliefs about evolution and creation:  young earth creation,  intelligent design, and evolutionary creation.  The scientists disagree with each other on how life has and is developing, but all hold firm to the belief in God as creator.

Some names might be familiar to readers: Michael Behe, author of Darwin's Black Box.  Others might be known more for their discoveries: Mary Schweitzer's discovery of blood vessels in a T. rex bone.  Within the chapters readers discover how these scientists came to faith and how their beliefs clashed with and developed while working alongside well known scientists such as Jack Horner and Stephen Jay Gould.  The men and women Stafford profiles are not lightweights; they're well educated, thoughtful, inquisitive, and articulate.

My main takeaway from this book is a list of names to look for and some additional books to read. As a former science teacher, I've followed this debate and am dismayed--as Stafford and the scientists he interviews are--that too many Christians and scientists feel that faith and science are mutually exclusive. This leads to anti-intellectualism on one side and empty materialism on the other.

One of my favorite sections is where Ard Louis discusses the false notion that science is the arbiter of all truth.  If someone notices a kettle on the stove and asks "why is the water boiling?", a mechanistic explanation provides the pure science involved in transmitting energy and changing the velocity of water molecules.  On the other hand, "why is the water boiling?" can also be answered "I'm making a cup of tea." Both explanations are true. Science will never give us the whole picture and God is not diminished when we examine the wonders of His creation.

I highly recommend this book as an introduction to the different schools of thought on creation and as a book for small group study.  I would like to see a video series or study guide developed to accompany this book.

The Adam Quest
by Tim Stafford
Thomas Nelson
2013

I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson in return for an honest review.

Our Lego Problem

At last count we had a bazillion Legos, most of which were once assembled into models, then taken apart and scattered around the house.  Keeping the collection contained became an all consuming passion a couple of years ago.

Stage 1: The Beginning
One of the grandmothers scored a Lego table at a church rummage sale for something like $10 (!) and that was good for building. We kept the blocks in a large container, but nobody wanted to rifle through it to build anything new. Not good.

Stage 2: The Legos must be contained
Summer 2012 found us sorting Lego by color into gallon freezer baggies. This worked OK and more unplanned building occurred, but nobody wanted to clean up after the Legos were dumped out.  Really not good.

By December 2012 I decided that we needed individual boxes for each color.  I discovered Really Useful Boxes at Office Depot and waited for the after-Christmas-get-organized sale.  The 12"x12" boxes are shallow enough to allow the boys to sift through their collection and they can build projects on the lids.  Cleanup is easy, the boxes stack well, and they're very rugged. I'd say unbreakable, but one of the boys managed to chip off a piece of a lid while standing on it.

Lego Headquarters

Stage 3:  The models stay built
With the arrival of the X-wing fighter, one of the boys realized that he wanted this model to stay built. So we needed something on which to store models.  Some older toys were discarded to free up space on a bookshelf.  I also found an IKEA Lack table at Goodwill which became a display center.

But the boys wanted something on which to display their minifigs.  Lego sells a display case for $25, but it didn't hold many.  I searched Pinterest for solutions and found one family that had repurposed a silverware tray and one who had painted a shadowbox white. I can do that!

I went to one of the local Goodwill stores and found a toy cash register tray and a dinged-up wall shelf.  A couple of coats of spray paint later, I had a shelf for small models and a nifty minifig cabinet.  I cut a large Lego flat into strips with a utility knife and used contact cement to glue them to the shelves of the tray. (Thank you Jedi Craft Girl!)

Now that they have easy access, a place to build, and a place to display, the guys are enjoying their Legos again.  I'm happy that the living room doesn't look like a Lego outlet anymore.

Now the guys want a "Lego Closet" in their bedroom.  'Cause who needs clothes anyway....

Shalom y'all!

Book Review: Pirates on the Farm

This was a great week to review children's books, since we're on Thanksgiving break.  Pirates on the Farm received multiple readings today and was even written about by my 1st grader in his school reading log.  He chose this book over the 3-4 others he'd read today, so I know he liked it.

Here's my review of Pirates on the Farm:

Five wild and unsavory pirates cause an uproar in a "proper little southern community" when they purchase the farm next door to the narrator's family.  They lack both farming and social skills, which horrifies the mother.  The father, however, shares his farming expertise and friendship with his swashbuckling neighbors.  When the pirates steal from the church's collection plate and tear up the General Store, a "Ban the Buccaneers Brigade" begins to catalog the damage.  Only a timely sacrifice from one of the wronged townspeople can save the pirates from being run out of town.

The message of this story can be summed up in the father's words, "When you plant love, it grows."   While the story stands well on its own, the final page provides parents (and teachers) with questions leading to a discussion of the deeper meaning of the story:

• Who is my neighbor?
• What character most consistently lets his light shine before the pirates? 
• How were X's (I won't give it away) actions Christ-like when the pirates' bill was paid?

The author's hope is that this story will inspire readers to show God's love to the "pirates" in their lives and plant seeds so that love will grow.

Perfect for ages 4-8 (even a 9-year-old who couldn't resist coming over to listen). Pirates on the Farm has fun characters, colorful illustrations, and includes a pirate glossary of Seadog Definitions at the end.

Pirates on the Farm
by Denette Fretze
Illustrations by Gene Barretta
Zonderkidz, 2013

I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson in return for an honest review.

Book Review: Unglued by Lysa Terkeurst

A few months ago I reviewed the Unglued Devotional and wished I had a copy of the original Unglued book. Then, voila, the opportunity to review it arose this fall.

Just like my review back in March 2013, this one is a long time in coming.  It seems that fall just becomes so hectic that I can barely keep up with work and family, much less book reviews....but here goes.

Unglued is a book about examining our reactions to life in light of Scripture and according to a 4 quadrant grid that Lysa TerKeurst explains in the book's appendix.  While some people sail calmly through life, the rest of us find ourselves at wit's end--coming unglued--by circumstances and stressors.  TerKeurst identifies 4 types of unglued reactions:  the stuffer that builds barriers, the stuffer that collects retaliation rocks, the exploder that blames others, and the exploder that shames herself.

There's an introductory chapter that allows readers to figure out where they fall on the continuum. Subsequent chapters explore ways to identify when you're beginning to either stuff or explode and offer guidance on how to stay calm and handle life more wisely. 

I admire Terkeurst's openness about her own "imperfect progress" as she seeks to become a calmer wife, mother, and friend.  I think the best part of this book is her willingness to come alongside the reader as an encourager. Her writing style makes her seem like a welcome friend, the type you invite in for coffee when your house is a mess...and you are too.

This book would make a fantastic book study for a women's group and it's great simply to read on your own.  Pair it with the Devotional and you have a program for becoming a little less unglued and more of the godly woman you really want to be.

I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson in return for an honest review.

Book Review: Encouragement for Today

A friend of mine regularly forwards devotionals from Proverbs 31 Ministries to a bunch of us moms. I find they are always worth reading--as if the women who wrote them have been eavesdropping on our lives.  Lysa TerKeurst is my personal favorite.  She has a way of revealing her inner struggles in a way that just grabs me and when God's grace breaks through and she writes about that....well, preach it sister!

So I jumped at the chance to get an early review copy of Encouragement for Today, containing 100 devotions by TerKeurst and other members of the Proverbs 31 Team.  Each devo follows a set pattern: Bible verse, essay, prayer, a 1-3 sentence main point, questions to reflect on, a challenge to respond, and a few more verses to look up.

The women who contributed to this volume write about friendships, husbands, children, physical struggles, work and the economy, spiritual growth, and finding one's way as a woman of God in American culture.  You'll laugh; you'll cry, and sometimes you'll find yourself in the story.  Best of all there's honesty, authenticity, and truth contained within these pages.

This would make a great personal devotional, but lends itself well to a women's group study, particularly using the sections entitled "Reflect" and "Respond."

The release date is September 24th so this'll be out in time to order as a Christmas gift.  Highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program in return for an honest review.

Book Review: Runaway Emotions

Worry, frustration, anger, loneliness: as believers in Christ we know that when we feel these negative emotions something is wrong. In Runaway Emotions, Jeff Schreve invites us to consider that we should not deny, hide, or ignore these emotions, but use them to find out how God is speaking to us.  In writing about negative emotions, Schreve uses the analogy of the smoke detector: its alarm goes off long before we experience the full force of the blaze to let us know that there's a fire somewhere that needs to be addressed. 

Runaway Emotions addresses 8 alarm emotions: embarrassment, loneliness, frustration, worry, anger, guilt, discontentment, and depression. Schreve outlines the message contained in each emotion, then discusses how God uses these feelings to let us know what God given desires in our life are out of balance.  The bulk of each chapter equips readers with Scripture and actions useful for bringing our lives back into balance.

So much of the information here is not new; even Schreve lets readers know that the fundamentals in this book came from seminary lectures by Dr. Wayne McDill. However, Schreve's writing and organization of the topics make this book a valuable, practical tool that I've found myself referring to over and over again.  Schreve's style is such that he says what he needs to say, then moves on, making this a content rich book that you'll want to read and reread with highlighter in hand. I found that, once I read the introduction, I could skip around to the chapters that I needed most then come back to the rest.  Runaway Emotions was not only useful for self-understanding, but also for understanding others who exhibit these alarming feelings.

Very highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program in return for an honest review.

Book Review: Gospel Deeps

Gospel Deeps takes readers beyond the altar call, beyond the commitment, beyond acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and into the deep water of what the Gospel means and how it transforms everything. This is not a lightweight book (full of cute anecdotes or pithy sayings), but it remains accessible to readers who are willing to do a little thinking and stick with it.

Chapters address different facets of Jesus and Christian theology (hence the diamond on the cover): the Persons of the Trinity; the meaning of atonement; why God allows suffering; characteristics of God; our longing for heaven; redemption; joy found in the Gospel; and the glory of Christ.

This book reawakens the beauty, joy, and wonder of the Gospel. I loved it because I'm not satisfied with a casual, "Jesus is my buddy" kind of Sunday morning Christian faith. I want to go deeper. Jared Wilson is awed by the majesty and excellencies of Jesus and he respects his readers enough to bring us along with him. Yes, there's some deep theology in here--but dive in--you can handle it.

Highly recommended.

Gospel Deeps
by Jared C. Wilson
Crossway Books, 2012

I received a copy of this book from the Amazon Vine program in exchange for a review.
 

Book Review: The Christian Mama's Guide to the Grade School Years

It's been 3 years since I first sent a kid off to Elementary School and my youngest is just finishing Kindergarten next month.  So I'm in a good position to review this new book in Erin MacPherson's "Christian Mama's Guide" series.

How should a family prepare a child (and themselves) for the big wide world of Elementary School? MacPherson's book claims to have "everything you need to know" but it's really divided into a few themes:  the "15 Factors" that will help a child succeed in life, choosing a type of schooling that's a good fit for your family, social-emotional learning, and how to handle difficult situations.  Most of this book addresses preparing parents on how to be parents of grade school children: how to let go and guide children in making decisions.  If you're looking for academic preparation, there's little here--but that's a good thing, since young children need to get the social behaviors in order before any real academic progress can be made. In other words, it's important that his little bottom stay put in circle time and that he knows not to push in line or grab toys.

MacPherson is a little out of her depth since her own experience sending kids off to school is limited. So she calls in her mom and more experienced friends to help. That's where this book really shines.  The sidebars--"From the Principal's Office"--offer seasoned advice on how to be a supportive parent, how to teach kids to handle bullies, and how to grow a child's faith.  The section on selecting a school is valuable for its balanced approach to the public school/Christian school/homeschool debate.

The author's manic style of writing and endless coffee references got to be a little too precious for this middle-aged mom and anyone who's taught preschool probably already knows this stuff.  However this would be a valuable book for moms of preschool aged children and even those whose kids have already started Kindergarten.

I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson in return for an honest review.

Unglued by Lysa TerKeurst

Why has it taken me so long to sit down and actually write this review?  Perhaps it's because I live the kind of hectic life that would lead a woman to need this book.

I've heard of Lysa TerKeurst, and have read some of her Proverbs 31 Ministries devotionals, forwarded by other moms.  So I was delighted to get to review the Unglued Devotional.

Unglued Devotional (the companion book to TerKeurst's Unglued) contains 60 days of devotionals designed to lead women through exploring the emotions, hangups, and situations that can cause us to come completely unhinged whenever a problem arises. Her devotions are a blend of storytelling, psychology, Christ-based mentoring, and humor. She writes about responding (as opposed to merely reacting), about acknowledging emotions (rather than stuffing them), and how to accept (and give) grace as we make imperfect progress toward a goal of leading a more peaceful, Christ-centered (as opposed to me-centered) life.

If you don't see yourself somewhere in the pages of this book....you are a living saint.

Lysa TerKeurst is at her best when she opens up and shares the real challenges she faces being a woman, a mother, a wife, and a friend.  I found myself referring back to this book again and again through the day--some of the devotionals were just what I needed.  I need these lessons to be ingrained so that I can use them with my own kids and with the kids I teach so that they can learn to recognize their own tendencies and not become "unglued" themselves.

I highly recommend this book as a personal devotion book and as an excellent choice for a women's accountability/support group. You may even read this and want to buy copies for all your friends.

I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson in return for an honest review.

Book Review: Yours Is the Day, Lord, Yours is the Night

Is there room in the modern, evangelical Protestant life for a prayer book?  Shouldn't our prayers be spontaneous, free-flowing from the heart rather than read from the page?  Isn't that what we've been taught is the more authentic prayer?

In answer, let me ask you to consider this unique collection the next time you're looking for a way to enrich your prayer life.

Yours is the Day, Lord, Yours is the Night is a collection of prayers taken from Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox sources. You'll find prayers taken from the Book of Common Prayer, prayers authored by well-known figures from Christian history: Bernard of Clairvaux, Thomas Aquinas, St. Patrick of Ireland, and John Wesley. You'll find excerpts from poetry, verses of Psalms, and anonymous inscriptions found in European cathedrals.

These morning and evening prayers are not meant to replace your daily prayers, but rather to enhance and enrich them, much like a devotional book does not replace Bible study, but grounds it in daily living.

I love this book and it sits alongside my devotional book by the chair where I drink my morning coffee.  Like my daily devotion, sometimes these prayers say exactly what my heart is feeling, though I cannot put it in words myself.  Over the past few years I've been toying with the idea of getting a prayer book to help me develop a better daily practice of praying.  But nothing seemed to fit until I found this book.  Not only has it given me a springboard for my own prayers, it has connected me with believers throughout the ages who also long for a closeness with God and peace in the midst of life's troubles.

Highly recommended.

Yours is the Day, Lord, Yours is the Night (A Morning and Evening Prayer Book) edited by Jeanie and David Gushee, Thomas Nelson, 2012.

I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson in return for an honest review.

I (don't) Want Candy

Yikes! Halloween is just a few days away and it's time for my annual "what are we going to give out this year" dilemma.  I seem to remember (back in the old days--my old days at least) that we used to get 1 piece of candy at each house. If you received 2 pieces--that was a "good house" that we remembered to return to the next year.  We had to cover a lot of ground to fill up the plastic pumpkins (and later pillowcases) that we toted around our neighborhood.

Where I live now, folks can afford the hefty bag of fun size candies and they seem to be extravagantly generous. My kids have been known to return home to dump their stash after only completing half of our street.

I suspect the problem lies in the in the easy purchase of megasize bags of candy (thank you, Target) coupled with the fear that one will be stuck with all this candy on November 1st.  Hence the practice of handing out not 1 or 2, but 3 or 4 treats per tot.

My kids can't wait.

My problem is that, having thus dispensed with my chosen crate o'treats at my doorstep (and feeling pretty good about myself), my kids return home with approximately 3 times as much candy as I've just given out.

It's the devil's math!

After lifting and stowing the mountain of candy from last year's haul, I decided something had to be done.  I let my kids keep a portion and bought the rest off of them to donate to Treats for Troops at my church.  Cash for candy--how's that for a treat?

Each day I'd let my kids eat some, but all evening the remaining candy would whisper my name from the cupboard.  It became a battle of will and when it comes to Twizzlers, Tootsie Rolls, and anything with chocolate and coconut I cave like a sandcastle at high tide.

This year I waited until the final week to make my purchase. What could I buy that won't tempt me over the next few days? Was there something substantial that I could give out 1 at a time (and not seem cheap)? Something that I can put in my kids' lunchboxes in the event that I have leftovers? 

Halloween themed fruit snacks. Hooray!

Book Review: 40 Days to a Joy Filled Life

What a great title. Who wouldn’t want a joy-filled life?  And in 40 days?  Sign me up!

I’ve been carrying this book around with me to read in waiting rooms, car line, spare bits of time during the month of October.  The giant smiley face is an attention getter and I have had one conversation (at the veterinarian’s office) about this book and what it promises to do:  cause you to change your thinking and find more joy, even in the midst of difficulty.

This 40-day workbook is based on Tommy Newberry’s book The 4:8 Principle which draws inspiration from Philippians 4:8--”...whatever is true, whatever is noble....”  I actually wasn’t too crazy about the self-help tone of The 4:8 Principle, especially the somewhat New Age idea that if I put good thoughts out there, blessings will come.  That’s only mentioned once, but it soured me a bit on his message.  I also felt that Newberry didn’t do enough for people who cannot get away from negative people (coworkers, relatives).  Perhaps that’s another book?

However,  I loved the book 40 Days to a Joy-Filled Life.  The message is the same (there’s even that New Age bit), but the tone is slightly different.  It felt less “do this to get blessed” and more “don’t miss out on the joy of Christian life.”   I learned that I have much work to do on capturing each thought and focusing on praiseworthy things in the midst of a painfully difficult year.

40 Days gives you one thing to think about each day and leads you from where you are to a closer relationship to God.  It’s not a devotional--there’s no daily Scripture verse-- but it draws from Scripture, and encourages Scripture memorization as a way of transforming your mind.  Each day has a reflection, an application, a prayer, and a reminder to write on a post-it or email/text yourself so that you carry the thought throughout the day.

Though I read this through rather quickly in order to write a review, I liked it well enough that now I’m going to read it again as a 40-day exercise.  Who couldn’t use a little more joy in her life?

40 Days to a Joy-Filled Life by Tommy Newberry, Tyndale House, 2012.
The 4:8 Principle by Tommy Newberry, Tyndale House, 2007.

As part of the Tyndale Blog Network I received a complimentary copy of 40 Days as well as a copy of The 4:8 Principle in return for an honest review.

Book Review: Grace by Max Lucado

Do we really understand what grace is?  Max Lucado doesn’t claim to know everything about grace, but he does know that grace is something we should stop and consider.  Instead of settling for sentiments about grace, we should be asking if grace has made a difference in our lives. 

This book contains the classic Lucado formula: conversational style, touching real life stories, lessons from scripture, and thoughts to take away.  This is not an academic study of grace, but a book about grace found in everyday life examined from different angles.

Lucado introduces us to a God who embraces us and purchases our souls at a price. He writes of the rest God offers to the weary. He examines what it means to offer forgiveness to our enemies.  He shares a personal account of grace experienced after confession of sin. We meet people who experienced God’s provision, generosity, and adoption into a family.  Finally, Max offers assurance that we can trust God’s grace.

While this book is enlightening and enjoyable, it would be most useful to read it along with completing the Reader’s Guide questions in the back.  Lucado’s friendly style makes this book easy to put down and walk away from, but the questions bring the reader back to Max’s point: Have you been changed, shaped, strengthened, emboldened, and softened by grace?

Recommended for self study, but would make an excellent group study.

I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson in return for an honest review.

Book Review: The MoneySmart Family System

The latest book from “America’s Cheapest Family” provides parents with tips on teaching their children to be good money managers and, eventually, financially independent.   The book’s premise is that financial management can be taught at any age--it’s just less expensive to begin teaching children when they’re young and their wants are fairly small (the “$5 stage”). But even older children with bigger “wants” (the $50, $500 and $5,000 stages) can learn to budget their money and become more responsible. Sounds great.

Authors Steve and Annette Economides developed a MoneySmart kids system where kids earn money based on a system of points for completing different tasks throughout the day. This “payday” (don’t call it allowance) teaches responsibility and gives the kids funds to use for learning how to give, save, and spend wisely.

But this book is not just about money management.  Chapters address time management (morning and evening routines), chores, teaching children how to give and share, how to set savings goals, clothes, college, and what to do when adult children move back home.

I love this book.  It’s so packed full of advice and strategies that it’s difficult to truly capture all the content of this book in a review.  My kids are still in the $5 - $50 range, and this book has given me confidence--and a system--for teaching my kids about money just as I’ve taught them to take care of themselves in other ways.  I like the authors’ realistic and practical approach which is grounded in respect for kids’ abilities and parents’ boundaries. 

 Even if you don’t use every aspect of their system, this is a worthwhile read. Highly recommended.

The Money Smart Family System by Steve and Annette Economides
Thomas Nelson, 2012

I received a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson's BookSneeze program.

Book Review: Grieving God's Way

How I wish I had owned this book after my dad died.

Author Margaret Brownley stopped writing when her oldest son died after a lengthy illness.  Three years later she sat down to write Grieving God’s Way: The Path to Lasting Hope and Healing--and I’m so glad she did.  Each day of this 90-day devotional includes a Bible verse, a reflection on the day’s topic, a haiku by poet Diantha Ain, and a practical tip on recovery called “Healing Ways”. 

This is the sort of book that a writer can’t fake and Brownley doesn't offer generic platitudes or "feel good" thoughts. Brownley digs deep, drawing from her own personal experience and from that of other other authors, artists, doctors, therapists, and friends.  She make a distinction between “Man’s Way” of grieving (hurried, busy, numbing, alone) and “God’s Way” (healing, healthy, faith-filled, in community).  She addresses the different ways men and women grieve, children’s grief, journaling, waiting, remembering, prayer, and asking for help. 

I find that, though I’m not currently in a time of mourning, this book is useful for personal reflection.  Not only would it be a helpful guide for someone who is grieving, it would be useful for someone who has a grieving friend or family member.  I would recommend it for individual or small group use.  There’s even a website (http://www.grievinggodsway.com/) where you can find additional resources mentioned in the book or request a free copy of a related workbook. You can also purchase materials for a church or small group study.  The Grieving God’s Way website includes a printable poster of “Rules for Family Healing” that can be printed (Adobe Reader) from the Resources page.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book through Thomas Nelson’s BookSneeze program in return for an honest review.

Book Review: Road to Valor

I just finished this book and it is one of the best books I've read this year.  Here's my review:

Road to Valor: a True Story of World War II Italy, the Nazis, and the Cyclist Who Inspired a Nation by Aili and Andres McConnon, Crown Publishers, 2012.


For casual fans of the Tour de France, Gino Bartali’s name is the answer to trivia questions: Who holds the record for longest time span between Tour victories?  Who is one of the oldest riders to win the Tour? What’s largely unknown is the story of Bartali’s life between those victories and what made him not just a champion, but a hero.

Road to Valor chronicles Bartali’s early life as a gifted cyclist and the son of an impoverished Tuscan family.  Bartali’s 1938 Tour de France win comes on the verge of WWII and his heroic victory and promising career are overshadowed by the rise of Fascism and Italy’s entry into the war on the side of Hitler.

During the war, Bartali, a devout Christian and Catholic activist, becomes involved in a network of smugglers who risk their lives and families to help Italian Jews obtain identity papers, food, and housing during the German occupation. 

After the war, Bartali resumes his cycling career.  Ridiculed for being too old and dismissed by all but his most ardent fans, Bartali summons the courage and strength to conquer the mountains again and emerges victorious in the 1948 Tour de France.

The McConnons have produced a well-researched, fascinating story of a classic hero. Bartali’s talent, faith, and independent streak inspired a nation and saved hundreds of lives.  I found myself unable to put this story down--both physically and mentally as I reflected on Bartali’s life, his choices, and how a simple man of conviction becomes a hero in the face of extreme adversity.

Highly recommended for fans of cycling, readers of WWII books, or anyone looking for an inspiring story.  This is a dramatic story that will have you cheering.

What’s in Your Pocket?

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have...” (1 Peter 3:15 NIV)

Sharing your faith is the heart of evangelism.  The Pocket Testament League (PTL) believes so and they will equip you with free evangelism training and tools so you’ll always be prepared.

But wait....what is evangelism?  Do I knock on doors or hand out tracts on a street corner?  You can, but PTL’s vision is deeper than that: their goal is to equip believers for a lifestyle of evangelism.    PTL’s simple mission is three-fold:  Read, Carry, and Share the Word of God.

Read the Word of God
PTL wants people to develop a living relationship with Jesus Christ through daily Bible study and prayer.  PTL members receive a free daily devotional every weekday via email.  Members have access to the free 21-Day Challenge to learn more about Jesus Christ by reading and reflecting on the Gospel of John.  PTL’s online guide to Bible verses will strengthen your faith and help you share the Good News with others.

Carry the Word of God
PTL equips members with evangelism tools: pocket-sized copies of the Gospel of John, available in English, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, and Japanese.  These pocket testaments are available in different Bible translations and come in a variety of  attractive designs so you can take them anywhere and share them with everyone.  There’s even an illustrated Gospel for children.

Dedicate a pocket to the Lord and carry a Gospel there to give away each day.  Carry a Gospel in your purse, diaper bag, briefcase, backpack...(you get the idea).

PTL’s evangelism ministry is supported through donations for each Gospel copy ordered by members, but members in financial need may receive support from sponsors.  No one who wants to share God’s Word will be turned away.

Share the Word of God
PTL’s evangelism ministry puts free copies of Scripture into the hands of others, so that they can read it for themselves, perhaps for the first time. PTL members plant the seeds and the Holy Spirit helps them grow.

Members receive free evangelism training through a self-paced 7-part Evangelism Boot Camp that prepares you to share your faith. 

Visit PTL’s website to find over 100 creative ways to share the Gospel with others: on the go, on the job, even from home.

Community of Believers
The Pocket Testament League is not just an evangelical ministry, it’s a community that encourages each other and shares prayer requests and stories.  You’ll find a thriving PTL community on Facebook.  There’s even a mobile app.

Find out more or register online for a free membership (including free daily devotionals and evangelism tools) at the Pocket Testament League’s website.

You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.  (John 8:32 NIV)

FaithWriters: the Home for Christian Writers

(This is a promotional review for the Pocket Testament League.)

Weathering the Storm

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed. 

We’re into Day 3 of Tropical Storm Debby and still stuck in our neighborhood due to high water. Day 1 (Sunday) was a rainy, restful break from a busy week.  Day 2 (Monday) was a disappointing day of cancelled plans--but with guarded hope that conditions would improve.

Day 3 is a day for taking stock:  how are our food supplies?  how are our neighbors doing?  will our patience run out? 

When I looked out the window this morning at the scudding clouds, wind-whipped trees, and whitecaps in the canal, it brought to mind the hymn I quoted above.  Debby’s center is far away and yet we feel it’s power, and that’s just a fraction of God’s power displayed in creation.

The weather forecast does not look promising. Debby’s stationary position in the Gulf of Mexico means that we’re due for SW winds for at least another day.  Those strong SW winds push water into Tampa Bay, which means higher than normal tides in our part of town. The water backs up the drains into the streets and, as the drains are full, rainwater collects on top.  So it might be Wednesday night or Thursday morning before we can safely drive anywhere. And that’s assuming that TS Debby moves ashore and the winds shift.

At least one more day with no trips to town, no Vacation Bible School, no morning paper delivery, no US Mail. But these are, at best, inconveniences that remind us of all that we take for granted. The waters will recede (eventually) and we’ll resume our regular schedule. We just need to be patient.

Mom sent me a quote today that was shared at a cancer survivor’s meeting, but it’s particularly appropriate as our current situation challenges our attitudes and patience. 

“It’s not about waiting for the storm to pass--its about learning to dance in the rain.”

Shalom, y’all.

Book Review: Busy Mom’s Guide to Family Nutrition

I feel a bit guilty at how long it took me to review this book, but that’s because I’m a busy mom.  So there we go.

Busy Mom’s Guide to Family Nutrition is a brief overview of nutritional topics:  controlling sugars, what vitamins are essential,  weight management, dieting, and helping children with weight problems.

What does this book have to offer that you can’t just get off the web?  Nutrition is a vast topic so there’s quite a bit to wade through and evaluate. Rather than being a complete guide to anything, this book briefly addresses topics that arise when trying to plan meals for families and when trying to evaluate what is/isn’t healthy or helpful for raising healthy children.  It provides the vocabulary and concepts that are useful for doing deeper research.

I have a basic knowledge of most of the bigger topics in this book (gained from pediatricians, nurses, and reading web and magazine articles).  However, I found the discussion on sugars and sugar substitutes useful and I refer back to it often as I navigate the changing nutritional labels on packaged foods (though I tend to avoid sugar substitutes more than the author advises).   I also found the history and comparison of different diet trends fascinating (Pritikin, Atkins, Raw Foods).  That chapter is useful for evaluating diet claims. 

Is this a useful book?  Yes.  Is this an essential book?  Hard to say since this book is poorly indexed and you have to dig through each chapter to look for answers.   It is, however, a good overview and would be useful as a starting point for discussing nutrition with your (or your child’s) doctor.



Recommended for families to read and teens to read themselves if they're interested in nutrition.

Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complementary copy of this book.