Worship Together Bible

Being the wife of a worship pastor, I was excited to get the opportunity to review this Bible.  My husband and I are frequently looking to identify which Scriptures inspired various worship songs so that he can reference them during the service.  Many of the songs highlighted in this Bible are ones that we sing or have sung at our church.

Within this Bible there are 2-page devotions for 50 songs.  Each devotion displays the song lyrics, the Scripture that inspired the song, a few paragraphs giving the song background (usually including quotes or thoughts from the songwriter), and a short devotional thought.  These devotions are what makes this Bible unique.  The Song Index near the back lists each song, the Scripture reference, and what page it is located on.  I think these devotions will be a great tool for my husband in preparing his heart for leading these songs.  They are also great for anyone wanting greater insight into why the songs were written.

The thing that I didn't like was the way the devotions were organized in the Bible itself.  It seems they were randomly placed throughout the text.  I expected that if I were to be reading in the book of Job that I would find the devotion for the song Blessed Be Your Name (taken from Job 1:21) to be found there.  Instead, it is found in the book of Genesis!  Why put these devotions within the Bible if there is not going to be a rhyme or reason behind where they are placed?  I would much prefer a book with these song devotions (and others) only, and then use it in conjunction with a study Bible.

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

Blood and Bone by Don Hoesel

I chose to read and review this fictional story without realizing that it was the third book in a series.  Elisha's Bones and Serpent of Moses are the books that precede this one.  So for those of you like myself who feel like you are missing out on something if you don't read books "in order", you may want to start with the others.

Blood and Bone is a suspense novel with a plot that reminds me of an Indiana Jones movie or the Da Vinci Code.  You have a very smart couple trying to figure out clues and avoid bad guys, all in an attempt to recover an ancient artifact to ensure the safety of their children.  The story is entertaining, although I figured out I don't enjoy reading these types of stories as much as I do watching them on the big screen.  Too much action and not enough content that engages my emotions. 

There are a few brief lines of dialogue that serve to classify this as "Christian fiction", but not much.  Other than the violence, the content is clean...no foul language or inappropriate sexual content.  The characters display some trust in God and put their family first.

The only part of the book that I struggled with was the first chapter.  In fact, I probably would have quit reading at that point had I not committed to finish.  Having not read the other books in the series, the first chapter (which was a "flashback") was very confusing.  It doesn't tie back in until the end of the story.  Some of the word choices were a bit over my head too.  So in my opinion, the book should have started with Chapter 2 for easier comprehension.  Other than that I liked the way the story progressed. 

If you're into suspense and action novels, this is a great book to check out!

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

Fight by Craig Groeschel

Since this is a book for men, I have a guest blogger today...my husband!

Craig Groeschel is a man’s man!  He knows how men think, and his writing style reflects it.  I have only read a handful of books in my life, most of them fiction, but this is probably the quickest read of any of them.  I read “Fight” in less than a week!

Groeschel’s latest book, Fight, does not actually get released until this fall, but I received an early copy for review.  In it, he outlines what God created and called men to be…  warriors!  Following the story of Samson in the Bible (Judges – chapters 13-16), Groeschel points out the things that Samson did, things that we as men typically do, that were the cause of his struggles.  He illustrates how the warrior in Samson ultimately wasn’t enough until he realized where the source of his strength came from – God.

The focus of “Fight” is on lust, entitlement, and pride.  These three words encapsulate most of the thoughts of men:  I want it;  I deserve it;  I can handle it.  Groeschel teaches men how to change these three thoughts around, focus them instead towards God, and how to fight for your marriage, your family, and for your life!

Craig Groeschel, a pastor and author, writes this book in a way that makes it very easy for a non-reader like myself to not only get through it, not only enjoy it, but to anxiously desire to continue reading it.  The book is broken into 5 main sections, each section containing 7 mini-chapters of 1 to 6 pages.  You can sit down and read for 5 minutes or 45 minutes.  He mixes in stories from his own life that at times had me laughing out loud.

I would recommend this book to any man who wants help in releasing the warrior God created them to be.  If you’re fighting addictions, relationship issues, character issues…  any struggle that life is throwing at you.  God wants to equip us for battle, and this book can help!

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

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

Just finished reading one of my favorite fiction novels...for the 3rd time!  I know a book is good when I can read it more than once (with a few years in between each time) and have it still captivate me.

Redeeming Love is a story that can be understood on many different levels.  First there is the fictional story, set in the California gold-mining era of 1850, in which Michael Hosea senses a call from God to marry a prostitute.  It is grand love story in which patience, grace, and forgiveness are key.  Very well-written and never a dull moment!

But this is more than simply fiction.  The main plot is taken from the story of Hosea and Gomer in the Bible.  Adding the fictional elements to the true account allow the reader to think through what that call of God truly meant.  What kind of faith would it require for a man to follow through on God's command to marry a prostitute?  What other issues may have arisen?  What could God's purpose have been for including that story in His Word?

The life-changing aspect of this story occurs when the reader understands that the love Michael has for Angel (or that Hosea has for Gomer) is a reflection of God's heart toward us.  It can open our eyes to the consuming, grace-filled, redeeming love God has for us.  A love that sees what we've done and still pursues us, wanting to give us a full and greater life, and also desiring to be loved in return.

If you are looking for a book that will captivate your heart and mind, while speaking God's truth at the same time...give this one a try!

There is also a reading group guide included in this anniversary edition.  While it's nice to have some discussion questions to draw from, I wasn't impressed with the way it was organized.  There are 6 sessions to the guide, but no clear directions as to which chapters each section refers to.  It seems like the book should be read completely first, and then the group would meet for discussion.  But, if that's the case, 6 sessions seems a bit long to stretch it out.

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

Angels in the Fire by Dann Stadler

Angels in the Fire is the true story of Dann and Tracey Stadler, who survived a car accident and the resulting life-threatening injuries.  Tracey shares her experience of being rescued by an angel and Dann describes other supernatural experiences that their family has witnessed.  It is a book about walking through difficult circumstances while at the same time keeping our eyes open to the way God is working around us.

It is very difficult to review a book about a person's experience.  For anyone who knows this couple, especially family, I'm sure this book is a priceless treasure.  It is a testimony to what they have experienced...now written in ink for future generations. 

My opinion that I present here is for the average reader with no connection to this family.  I thought the book was easy to read and interesting...but too detailed.  I would estimate that 25% of the book contained information that was relevant to the rescue and other spiritual experiences they had (which is what I expected the book to be about).  The rest of the book contained details about their medical conditions and other family members that wasn't necessary for my understanding. 

The Stadlers story is worth being told.  I just would have preferred a shorter version :)

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

Anomaly by Krista McGee

It's summertime...which means it's the perfect time to get lost in a few Christian fiction novels!  This one is a real page-turner (I read it in 2 days!)  I can easily see this book being turned into a movie someday.

Anomaly is a sci-fi story set in the future.  The world has been destroyed by a nuclear war and the only survivors are a group of scientists who had been developing and creating an underground facility to sustain life.  The scientists have created a new society in which humans are genetically designed to be devoid of emotion and each have certain skills to be used to benefit the community.  They decided that taking out emotions would be the best way to prevent people from hurting each other and destroying the small remnant that remained.  So the question is raised...what would a society like that look like? A society without anger, without jealousy, without lust, yet without love and without faith.

The main character, Thalli, is an anomaly...she can feel...and she has questions.  The problem is that humans who get sick or have emotions are considered dangerous to the society and are annihilated.  This story is about her adventure in discovering who she is and who her real Designer is, while keeping her quest hidden from those who would consider her curiosity a threat. 

I really enjoyed this book.  It was a stretch from reality, yet it raises some interesting questions.  The suspense and a few twists and turns keeps the story moving.  There is also an element of romance, which is presented in a pure and tasteful manner. 

This book is the first in a triology.  The only bad part about reading it now is that I have to wait until July 2014 for the next book, Luminary, to come out!

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

Popular by Tindell Baldwin

I may be in my mid-30's now, but I remember my heartaches and teenage mistakes like they were yesterday.  Maybe if I had read such an honest testimony as is given in this book, those mistakes could have been avoided.

Movies show us the glamorous side of being popular, going to parties, drinking, and having casual sex.  In her book, Tindell shares her story in the hopes that teenage girls can understand the other side not commonly talked about.  She wishes she had known "not more cold facts and statistics, but more of the emotional reality...The challenge is that while the feelings are real, they are fleeting, and the pain that follows is not."  She says making the right choices "might mean you're lonely today, but it also might mean you aren't scarred tomorrow...It's true that God can bring beauty from a pile of ashes, but rising from the ashes is not easy or fun - it's so much better to avoid that type of death."  Tindell then shares about her Christian faith and how Jesus has made all the difference in her life.  She says that her desires weren't the problem, but the way she was filling them was.  I'm sure it is not easy to bare your soul for the world to see, but in doing so I believe that Tindell will be able to connect to girls where they are, and then show them a better way.

I would recommend this book to all teenage girls and the adults who love them.  It may keep some girls from making the same mistakes.  It may help parents find the right words to explain "why" not to make certain choices.  It may also allow others to develop an understanding and compassion for girls trying to navigate through all the emotions and decisions that come during the teenage years. 

On a side note - I think it would be beneficial if Tindell's parents wrote a book.  According to her, they provided a loving, stable home and were able to show her unconditional love even through her rebellion and bad decisions.  They must have a ton of wisdom to share!

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