Plastic Donuts by Jeff Anderson

If you are looking for a SHORT, easy-to-read book on biblical giving, this book may be for you!  Being only 109 pages and measuring just over 4" x 6", it doesn't take long to read.  My first impression was that it could have been condensed into a great blog post...but instead was drawn out enough to make it book-worthy to increase circulation.  That being said, the main point is a good one.

The title was taken from an experience the author had when his daughter gave him the gift of a plastic donut.  His delight in this simple gift led him to wonder if God views the gifts we bring Him in the same way.  Is there a certain amount or type of gift that pleases God the most?  While there are a few points discussed, I think the answer is best summed up in this quote. "When the gift amount matters to us, it can matter to God too.  When the amount doesn't matter to us, it doesn't matter to God."  Gifts that are sacrificial and given with a pure heart are more meaningful than a pre-determined amount or percentage.

There are many Scriptures referenced in these pages related to giving.  This book will help you to evaluate your own level of giving and possibly view your gifts with a new perspective.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Multnomah Books in exchange for an honest review.

The World of Jesus by Dr.William H. Marty

I must preface this review by admitting that world history, or any history for that matter, is not my area of expertise.  While I normally avoid books that I think will be over my head, the subject of this one caught my attention.  So I opened it up hoping that it was written in a way I could understand.  For the most part, I was not disappointed.

Understanding the culture and history in biblical times is beneficial for understanding the Scriptures.  This book does a great job at taking the books of the Bible and blending them with what was happening historically.  A major focus is the 400 year span between the testaments.  The author consistently relates the historical events of the day to the impact it had on the Jewish community.

The first few chapters were amazing.  In the Introduction, Dr. Marty gave an overview of the Old Testament (Abraham to the Exile) in just 4 pages!  Then Chapter 1 begins with the return from the exile.  What was so neat is that in telling about the events, he pulled in the minor prophets and characters so that is was easy to see how everything fit together.  Normally these books in the Bible seem so disjointed to me because I can't see how they chronologically fit.  Now I have a better understanding of the place Daniel, Esther, Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, and others have in history.  I also got some questions answered such as, "Why did the Israelites begin to be called Jews?" and "What is Hanukkah?".

The middle chapters became a bit more confusing for me, mainly because they focused on those years not referenced in the Bible.  I could recognize some key terms and players that I had learned about in high school history classes, such as Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, and Herod the Great.  However, I think someone who had a better grasp on their Greek and Roman history would benefit much more from these chapters!  This book would be a great companion for someone studying this time period because it makes connections between the political events and the impact the events had on the Jews.

This brings me to the end of the book, which again was more to my level.  I enjoyed learning more about the religious parties that are referenced, yet not explained, in the Bible: the scribes, Sadducees, Pharisees, Zealots, and the Essenes.  I also liked the Conclusion which summarized those detailed chapters that I had trouble with earlier, from the exile to the birth of Christ.  (The glossary at the back is a nice touch too!)

While this is a history book, it is much easier to read than a textbook.  The only thing that would have been helpful to include for visual learners, but was left out, are maps (yep...I struggle with geography too!)  Overall, this is a good book for anyone who wants to understand the world Jesus was born into. 

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.

The Blessed Woman by Debbie Morris

I enjoy when I can hear familiar stories from the Bible, yet view them from a new angle.  That's what Debbie Morris does in this book.  She shares the insight and lessons that she has learned from reading about 12 women in the Bible.  Some women are commonly spoken about, such as Eve, Mary, Esther, and Naomi.  Others such as Jael, Zipporah, and Miriam are less often referenced.  These women all have something to teach us today, and Debbie beautifully explains their stories and helps us make relevant applications.

One lesson that stuck out to me was from the life of Zipporah.  Her name doesn't ring a bell?  It didn't for me either.  She was Moses's wife.  They were married before the whole "burning bush" incident.  Anyhow, once he got the call on his life to go to Egypt and free the slaves, her attitude went south.  It wasn't in her plan.  She set out to accompany Moses to Egypt, but somewhere along the line Moses sent Zipporah and his sons back to live with her father (Exodus 18:2).  She missed witnessing God's miracles.  Debbie writes "Despite her faults, I love Zipporah.  She gets me thinking about how much my bad attitudes can cost me.  She reminds me of what I will miss out on if I choose to be grouchy instead of gracious when things aren't going right". Point taken...my attitude matters!

Being a small group leader, I also like the in-depth study guide for each chapter included at the back of the book.  There are journal questions women can complete prior to the group meeting, icebreaker and discussion questions, and suggestions for prayer. 

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Waterbrook Press in exchange for an honest review.

Scared of the Ball

Kid-Pitch Baseball.  That awkward age when boys are learning to pitch, and are encouraged to throw the ball fast - but their accuracy stinks.  Jacob's first introduction was last year.  While he played on a coach-pitch team, he was asked to fill in a few games on another team.  He ended up getting hit in the back by a fast pitch.  Because of the symptoms he was experiencing, he was taken by ambulance to the ER to check  for kidney damage.  Scary stuff for him and for me!

Fast forward to this season...before the season officially started he has been hit twice.  Once in the thigh while running bases, and once on the hip during a pitch.  Besides some nice bruises, these hits have created a fear in my sports-loving son that he is having difficulty conquering.  He wears under armour to protect his kidneys now, but the mental resistance remains.  We have tried talking to him rationally, praying with him, encouraging him, and yes...we have even resorted to bribery!  It's not that we have dreams of his becoming a professional baseball player and are forcing him to play against his will.  We just don't want him to quit because of fear.  He has so much fun at practice and he is very talented!  When he decides to get up to the plate, I don't care if he steps out of the box or strikes out.  I am proud of him for being courageous.  I am proud of him for putting the interest of the team above his own and for trusting in God for his care.  But when he flat-out refuses (which he has done) and instead opts for an automatic out for his team, that saddens me.  I don't want him to get hurt any more than he does.  In fact, my stomach is in knots when it's his turn to bat just because I sympathize with what he is going through.  So what is a mother to do?

While mulling all this over this morning, I think I understand a little better how God might feel toward us when we don't try....when we don't trust him.  Fear is present in so many areas in life, not just baseball.  No matter how protected we try to make ourselves, there are still times we're going to get brusied by life.  People don't always throw straight and sometimes that ball hits us.  Yes, it hurts...but we also heal.  Sometimes if we would only stick with things and fight through the fear, we would find the joy on the other side that comes with playing the game.  I don't think God cares if we succeed.  I think it makes him proud simply by us being obedient and using our talents for His glory.

Please pray with me for my son, both for his protection and that he would find the courage and strength to persevere and come out victorious.  Thank you friends!

The Passionate Mom by Susan Merrill

The Passionate Mom is the best book on motherhood that I've ever read...and I read a lot of books!  What makes this book unique and memorable is that Susan used the biblical story of Nehemiah to draw parallels between his task of rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem with our task of parenting.  She writes "Nehemiah loved his people, and he knew they needed a wall to protect them and provide them a future hope...Our children need walls.  That's why God gives them moms."  There is much wisdom to be gleaned from Nehemiah's experience.

Each chapter talks about a "brick" in the wall and the character qualities we need to develop to hold them in place.  The bricks are Perception, Pondering, Passion, Prayer, Patience, Preparation, Purpose, Planning, Problem Solving, and Perseverance.  Not only do our kids need protection, but they also need to be prepared to leave that wall of protection one day.  Therefore, the idea of "gates" is introduced along with many helpful ways we can let our children experience freedom at a safe pace.  Susan's website, www.imom.com, provides many helpful tools such as conversation starters and contracts for cell phone use and driving privileges.

This book is well-written and encouraging.  Susan is authentic and freely admits that she does not have motherhood mastered.  There are "confessions" throughout the book to show readers that she is on a journey too.  She is simply a mom who God spoke to through the book of Nehemiah and she is sharing her insights and experience.  I plan to re-visit this book from time to time as my children grow.  I think any mom with children still living at home would benefit greatly from this book and the resources on the website.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from BookSneeze in exchange for an honest review.

Life Beyond the Books

Since my blog these days has been mainly book reviews, I wanted to give you a little update on what's been happening in my family.  Reading is only a small part of my daily life...

I have been substitute teaching more often than not...and I enjoy it!  After being at all grade levels and in various positions, I must say that my favorite is teaching the younger grades.  The day is full and I actually get to TEACH (versus monitoring "study halls"), which makes the time go by quickly and is a better use of my brain.  I may not be the most skilled at behavior management, but I do a good enough job that they ask me to return! lol  One lesson I had to learn is to how to say "no".  If someone asks for my help it is very hard for me to turn them down.  But I realized that working 5 days a week was too stressful for me.  I need at least one day off to grocery shop and do some things around the house.  So my #1 rule is now to say NO once I have 4 days of the week scheduled.

My boys all have birthdays around this time of the year.  They are (or will soon be) 6, 8, & 10.  Some of my family members got this birthday surprise for them:

Meet Rocky!  He is a good puppy, but also takes a lot of time to train and care for!  Baseball season has also started.  My two younger boys will be on one team (with their dad as one of the coaches), and Jacob will be moving up to a kid-pitch team.  Lots of ball games in our near future!

The other big news in our house is that my husband will be making the transition from high school teacher to full-time worship pastor at our church this summer!  It is something he has been wanting for a long time.  It will mean lots of changes with our schedule and finances...many of them good changes :)  However, any change creates anxiety in me.  And the thought of becoming a "pastor's wife" is very intimidating!  God and I have been having lots of conversations about this recently...

I am also involved in two women's groups that meet on opposite weeks.  I've been challenged recently to start journaling again as part of my time with God, which of course means setting aside more time.  I can already see some future blog posts in the making coming from this process...(but most realistically not until the summer).

So that's my life in a nutshell.  Just trying to balance family, friends, chores, work, exercise, and rest, all while remaining flexible enough to be obedient to God's voice.  I don't expect to ever have it all together.  I simply hope to enjoy the journey.  Thank you for being a part of it!

This pic was just too cute not to share :)

Captive in Iran

Maryam Rostampour and Marziyeh Amirizadeh are two brave women who refused to compromise their faith in Jesus, even when threatened with torture and execution.  This book is the account of their 259 days in Evin Prison in Iran.  It opened my eyes to the injustice happening in Iran, strengthened my faith by demonstrating how God can work all things for good, and challenged me to examine the depth of my beliefs.

Living in the U.S. it is hard to imagine a place without justice or religious freedom.  A place where women are considered "property" and justice is in the hands of the party who has been wronged. We take so much for granted.  In Iran, there are many women imprisoned unfairly and held in terrible living conditions. Many of their stories are shared in these pages.  Maryam and Marziyeh went to prison for sharing their faith with others.  But what they discovered was that they were put "in the best place they had ever been for witnessing to people hungry for the gospel of Jesus."  The authorities thought prison would teach these girls a lesson.  Instead, God got the last laugh.  The prison became their church.  Between being able to minister to the people there and the world-wide publicity their case received, the gospel was spread even further!

I was struck by something Anne Graham Lotz wrote in the forward.  Maryam and Marziyeh told her that "it had been easier for them to experience God's peace and presence and power inside Evin Prison than on the outside in America."  Wow.  They could have been released much sooner from prison had they compromised their faith, but they didn't.  Would many Christians in America be able to do the same thing?  Would I?

This book is well-written and worth the time to read.  May we stop taking our freedom for granted and lift up in prayer those who aren't as fortunate.  Thank you, Maryam and Marziyeh, for sharing your story with the world.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale in exchange for an honest review.