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.

Learning to Love by Heidi & Rolland Baker

This is essentially a book about Iris Ministries, which is centered out of Mozambique, Africa.  The Bakers share their passion for the poor and show what it looks like to stop and care for the one in front of you.  While there is some teaching and application to be taken from the book, it is mostly an account of God's power and miracles being displayed in Africa through this ministry.

On a positive note, the stories shared are eye-opening.  Miracles such as healings that we Americans find so hard to believe in are very common in a land of desperate need and strong faith.  To think that the deaf hearing and the blind seeing are "normal" occurrences simply amazes me.  While I don't feel the call to be an overseas missionary, it is so encouraging to hear how entire villages are hungry for the Word and have been transformed due to the Body of Christ.  I also really enjoyed the pictures throughout the book.  It helped me to visualize the land and the people who are being reached.

My only critique is that the text didn't flow well.  It seemed like a series of ministry newsletters stacked together and bound into a book!  I'm not even sure if there was a chronological order to the chapters. 

Heidi writes "I realize that reading this account of what God is doing in Mozambique can seem terrifying, overwhelming, and somewhat detached from the day-to-day reality of life for many.  Or is it?  If there is one thing I have learned it is this: Poverty and desperation do not always look the way we expect.  There are countless thousands in our world who need someone to stop for them, someone to show them God's kindness and mercy...There are people in need where you are, just as there are people in need where I am".

The main message here is to pay attention to those who are right in front of you and be obedient to do what you can do - so that God can love others through you.

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

God's Not Dead by Rick Broocks

I decided to read this book because the back cover promised "clear, easy-to-follow explanations of the key concepts and controversies" regarding the Christian faith.  But be warned...unless you are a very intellectual and scholarly-type thinker, this book may be over your head.  In my opinion, this is not written in a way the "average" skeptic or Christian would easily grasp.  Here's why...

While there are good bits of information in the text, they are hidden between gobs of references and quoted sources.  (To prove my point, the "Notes" citations in the back of the book is 20 pages long!)  Having all these references may be thorough, but it makes the reading choppy.  The language is also very complex and at times hard to understand.  It is nice that there is an index at the end of the book to assist in finding information about a specific topic...otherwise it would be very difficult to do.  (And as a side note - doesn't this book cover look like it was printed 50 years ago?)

I think the author's intent was great...to help the believer "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) Also - to provide evidence for the skeptic that God is not dead.  However, I think it was done in a manner that only very intellectual thinkers will be able to appreciate and comprehend.

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

Outrageous Courage by Kris & Jason Vallotton

This book shares the testimony and adventures of Tracy Evans, a physician assistant who is serving as a missionary in Mozambique, Africa.  Her story is a powerful account of how God can and does work in the world today.  She has ministered to the homeless in LA and to the poor in various other countries.  She has seen miracles, such as God raising a women from the dead.  She has nurtured babies, tended to the sick, and led prisoners to the Lord.  Yet while she shares her acts of courage and compassion, I liked that she also is authentic in sharing her mistakes along the way.

What made Tracy so bold and courageous?  This quote may be a clue..."I am forever grateful that God led me in my early years with Him to places where, instead of being confused and trapped by powerless religion, I saw people set free and transformed by the real power of the Gospel.  Those years established an unshakable confidence in me that what Jesus did on the cross was real and powerful - powerful enough to take the most broken, bound sinners and turn them into whole, righteous saints.  Not only that, but I also came to understand that seeing such transformation was why I was on the planet."

I liked this book because it is another witness to God's power and love.  However, it was hard to relate to because Tracy's personality and experiences are radically different than mine.  I could not even imagine walking in her footsteps...but then again, I haven't been called to.  What I did find was a challenge to a deeper faith, obedience, and love...right where I am.

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

Next Generation Leader by Andy Stanley

This short and engaging book is written by an influential pastor to help the next generation build a strong foundation for leadership.  But the lessons here don't just apply to church leadership.  Whatever field you work in or sphere of influence you have, there is wisdom to gain.

Andy Stanley has identified 5 essentials for leaders of the next generation.  In a nutshell, as a leader "you must discover and play to your strengths and delegate your weaknesses.  You've got to be courageous, and you've got to be clear in the midst of uncertainty.  You need to find a leadership coach.  And along the way it is absolutely essential that you maintain your character".   Through sharing his own experiences and various biblical stories, Andy teaches upcoming leaders how to identify and develop these traits.

One of the points that resonated with me the most is finding the courage to say NO.  He writes "Don't allow the many good opportunities to divert your attention from the one opportunity that has the greatest potential".  It's hard to say no because we are afraid of disappointing people or missing out on something.  A leader must have the wisdom and courage to say no to good things when they are not in line with his or her vision.  Easier said than done, right?

If you are a leader, or think you might have the potential to become one, this is a great book!  I will close with a prayer that Andy and his family say frequently...May God give you and I the wisdom to know what's right and the courage to do what's right, even when it's hard.

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

Undaunted by Christine Caine

Wow...this book is a keeper!  For those who have ever felt unwanted, paralyzed by fear, pain, or disappointment, or unqualified for the task God has called you to - this book is for you!  After overcoming the challenges of coping with her adoption, abuse, and miscarriage, Christine Caine is qualified to teach on overcoming these daunting circumstances and more.

I enjoyed this book from beginning to end.  It is the perfect blend of the author's own experiences/lessons learned, and teaching from God's Word.  I was challenged to be open to divine interruptions in my life, not letting fear of the unknown hold me back.

Christine says "God has set before each of us an exciting and world-changing mission...He wants to work in us, to equip and empower and qualify us, so that he can work through us." God awakened a passion in Christine's life for the oppressed.  In the book, she shares about the adventure of starting a non-profit organization called A21, which serves to prevent and protect victims of human trafficking.  (For more info, click here.)  Her story opened my eyes to the horrors that are happening in our world today.  Maybe God is calling you to support this ministry, or maybe your passion lies elsewhere.  What is standing in your way - keeping you from doing what God is calling you to do?  This book will give you a great perspective to move forward...undaunted.

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