Married Mom, Solo Parent - Carla Anne Coroy

Who knew a married woman could feel like a single mom?

Bookstore shelves are full of parenting resources for single moms. But where do moms turn if they feel like a single parent—but they’re not? Whether he is away on business, deployed in the military, or obsessing over a hobby, families face unique and difficult challenges when dad is unavailable. Moms who parent in these situations need help and don’t necessarily relate to the advice given in divorce recovery or single parenting resources.

Married Mom, Solo Parent is a common-sense, down-to earth look at the struggles wives and mothers face when their husband is not actively involved in family life. Writing from her own experience as a “married single mom”, Carla Anne addresses tough questions such as: Can I do this alone? How do I raise kids to honor a father who’s not around? How do I give my children a healthy perspective of marriage if they never see one in action?

With practical suggestions, anecdotes, and biblical teaching, this book encourages moms to see their position as a high calling, to find healing amidst their worries and frustrations, and to tap into God’s strength for help in facing the daily challenge of being a married mom, solo parent.

***

Ten years ago when I met my husband he was charming and intelligent.  He had a fine sense of humor and seemed quite easy going.  He had a child from a previous relationship and he seemed to really mourn the absence of his child.  We were married shortly after we met and immediately I became pregnant.  We were in many ways a typical young family, eager for the birth of our child and ready for family life.  We planned like most parents do and dreamed of what life would soon be like with a new baby.  

I might have had in inkling of what life would soon become when he left the hospital that day our baby was born to go to work.  I might have had some idea when he left one hour after we brought her home from the hospital to go to work.  I told myself that he was simply doing the manly thing.  That he was proving to me what a wonderful provider he would be, how responsible he was and dedicated he was to being the man and father we would need him to be.  Because of his strong work ethic it was easy for us to make the decision for me to stay at home.  We loved the idea of a traditional family and we knew that we had what it took to make that work.  

I soon found myself immersed in the daily workings of running a household, caring for our newborn and taking care of a husband and as it turns out my new extended family.  Day in and day out when it was evident that my husband was rarely home I repeatedly told myself that I was lucky to have a man that worked hard and provided a living for myself and our child.  I kept telling myself that over and over through the years.  It wasn't until I found myself hanging ceiling fans, hanging doors, repairing broken sink drains that I began to wonder if things hadn't gone terribly wrong along the way.  The internet was a blessing because I could turn to it when I needed advice for home repair.  

As my child grew through the years we spent days together at the park, the zoo, Disneyland, birthday parties, shopping, playing, learning.  I taught her to ride a bike, how to plant in the garden, how to read and cook.  As she grew she began helping me around the house.  Her father was witness to none of this.  He began to drink shortly after she was born and what began as an innocent night out with the boys soon grew into a habit.  We've struggle through the years with his addiction, his coming and going, his hangovers and drunkenness.  I've spent many nights alone in bed tears soaking my pillow.  I have had to answer some pretty tough questions from my daughter.

I love my husband and for the most part he is a gentle, kind and generous man.  He suffers from a disease and we've adapted over the years.  We have had some very rough days and I've had one hand holding my daughter with the other hand holding a suitcase on many occasions.  I have learned to count my blessings, relying on my faith in God to see us through.  It hasn't been easy.  I have grown in ways that I could never have foreseen.  I've become better, stronger and more patient and reliable than I ever thought I was capable of.  The road has been rocky but it is my path-our path-and I've found through God that we could not only survive but thrive.  

Unfortunately, I struggled along this path mostly on my own.  The shame of being basically a single parent while my husband alternately drank himself into a stupor or worked himself into non existence kept me from confiding in only a very few people.  It has taken the courage of a woman like Carla Anne to finally speak up and tell the other people like myself that they are not alone in this journey.  Finally, for all of those confused, lonely, angry single parents there is a bright and shining hope.  There is a resource available to them that did not exist before.  As I read through 'Married Mom' I found myself connecting with Carla's struggles and doubts.  If she had written this book ten years ago my path would have been so much easier.  I might have cried a few less tears.  I might have not thought so many dark thoughts.  I might have saved myself so much time...time that I spent in frustration and resentment.  I might have understood that this is simply life.  My life, like it or not this was my cross to bear.  

My husband was never abusive or aggressive.  Thank the Lord for that blessing.  Had he been, my story would be a different one.  It would have been a story of a woman who left her husband for a better life.  It saddens me because he missed out on so much.  What he was around for he doesn't remember because he was probably either drunk or hungover.  He does not have the same sweet memories of our daughter's milestones that I do and for that I have a great sadness.  I have tried to honor him in as much as I can but my daughter still holds resentment for his choices.  We are working through that.  Damage has been done.  The seeds for forgiveness and understanding are there but I can't say that theirs is a relationship that will ever become anything more than what it is right now.  I am praying and really, other than being open with my child there is little else that I can do.  No I should restate that...I am praying and I am solidly present for my daughter and that is the best that anyone can do.

I am very grateful to Carla Anne for writing this book and I sincerely hope that 'Married Mom, Solo Parent' reaches every single Married, solo parent out there.

***

About

Carla Anne Coroy is a gifted storyteller and teacher with contagious enthusiasm for life.  Even the mucky parts.  Her humorous and down-to-earth style quickly engages her audiences as she ignites God’s hope in everyday situations.

Carla Anne speaks and conducts seminars on a variety of topics including Christian life, parenting, marriage and biblical finances.  Watch for her upcoming book for married moms who solo parent, and be sure to check out her blog!

A veteran homeschooling mom and Christian mentor, Carla Anne has a deep passion to see others grow to maturity in Christ.  She has served full-time with ministries such as Youth for Christ and Crown Financial Ministries, and is currently developing an international mentoring organization for youth.  She also serves as a staff writer for the online Christian women’s magazine Mentoring Moments for Christian Women.

Carla Anne and her husband live with their four children in Manitoba, Canada, where they try to stay warm in winter and mosquito-bite-free in summer.

 

* I received an advance copy from the publisher for purposes of review. I was in no way obligated to write a review much less a favorable one. The opinions stated herein are all my own.

Wellness on a Shoestring - Michelle Robin, D.C.

Product Description

Wellness on a Shoestring: Seven Habits for a Healthy Life

Learn seven steps to achieve and maintain wellness without spending lots of money--from getting plenty of rest to clearing the "junk" out of your space or your life.

Now available for your Kindle or Sony e-Reader.

 ***

I read a lot of alternative wellness titles.  Most of them are garbage.  Really.  If the book isn't one extended infomercial then it is usually filled with obscure "cure alls" that are impossible to find and are usually extravagantly priced.  Some books are a simple rehash of common knowledge or are focused on only one aspect of wellness-usually weight loss or a disease.

Wellness on a Shoestring is exactly what a wellness book should be.  The author covers a very general area of well being and the over all theme is stay healthy and maintain that momentum to avoid problems later on.  She does however illustrate how her simple advice works to cure common everyday problems if you've neglected to take of yourself and now find that life is no longer enjoyable.  Her 'cures' are not exotic and require very little in terms of monetary investment.  She tells the reader why getting the right nutrients are important, why getting a modicum of exercise is beneficial, why sleep is vital etc.  She makes the reader feel like they can take control of their health and that we really don't have to rely on artificial drugs and fancy programs to achieve the goal of feeling great.  

She really has inspired me and she must have done something right because I absolutely approach eating completely differently than I did before reading her book.  I make sure that every meal, every ingredient is adding something beneficial to my body...I make sure to add those dark leafy greens to my salad, I'm choosing oatmeal over fried eggs and bacon.  There must have been some magic in that little book of hers...and I am glad of it:)

Thank you Michelle Robin!

Seven Habits for a Healthy Life:

1. Rest, reflect and rejuvenate.
2. Breathe deeply.
3. Move your body.
4. Free your space.
5. Go for the greens.
6. Eat from the sea and enjoy the sun!
7. Drink to your health.

Whatever your financial resources, the power to improve your health is within you.

It’s in every choice you make, in every moment.

Michelle Robin shows you how to harness your inner voice as you practice seven essential habits for complete well-being.

Read stories from real people, at all income levels, who’ve adopted these practices-using little money-and seen their health dramatically improve.

Better yet, follow the tips in each chapter to create a lifestyle that leads to a phenomenal experience of body, mind and spirit.

* I received an advance copy from the publisher for purposes of review. I was in no way obligated to write a review much less a favorable one. The opinions stated herein are all my own.

Writing down the bones

When I was just a little child, six years of age or so, I began writing stories.  I didn't stop until I was in my twenties and I still don't know why ever quit.  In my late teens I was introduced to an amazing book called Writing Down the Bones and I kept that book close by...always with me, ever present.  It was truly a gift in every way that a present is meant to be.  It changed the way I looked at the process of writing, creativity and it freed me in ways that I didn't think possible.  I couldn't thank Natalie Goldberg enough for writing this book.  If you haven't read Writing Down the Bones or if you haven't even heard of it, I want to let you know that it is out there.  Waiting for you to discover it.  Waiting to liberate your creative soul.  Waiting to breathe life into your passion.

Perhaps, my rediscovery of this old classic will re-inspire me to take pen to paper and begin again what I left behind all those years ago.  Perhaps, I will once again find the muse that use to keep me constant company...urging me on, coaxing me further and encouraging me when I felt lost. 

N. Goldberg

Click Image to see it on Amazon

Quick-Fix Vegan Healthy Homestyle Meals in 30 Minutes or Less by Robin Robertson

U.S.: $16.99 Canada: $19.99

ISBN: 9781449407858

Format: Paperback

On Sale: October 4, 2011 — Coming soon! 

Robin Robertson's Quick-Fix Vegan provides 150 vegan recipes ranging from starters, snacks, salads, sauces, and sandwiches to stovetop suppers, pastas, soups, and desserts that can all be prepared in 30 minutes or less. Quick-Fix Vegan also features "Make-Ahead Bakes," convenient recipes that are assembled ahead of time (in less than 30 minutes) and then baked before serving.
Quick-Fix Vegan draws upon a myriad of ethnic influences including French, Mexican, Moroccan, Mediterranean, Greek, Cajun, East Asian, Italian, and Middle Eastern, and features recipes such as Spicy Black Bean Hummus with Orange, Korean Hotpot, Rotini with Creamy Avocado-Herb Sauce, Moroccan-Spiced Pumpkin Soup, BBQ Pinto-Portobello Sandwiches, Burmese Ginger Salad, Autumn Harvest Gratin, and Catalan-Style Créme Brûlée.
An introductory chapter provides the reader with basic information on how to maintain a "quick-fix" vegan kitchen, a complete pantry list, and kitchen tips, while an appendix includes recipes for optional ingredients such as homemade vegetable stock and seitan. Cooks of all skill levels will find that the recipes inside Quick-Fix Vegan are just as delectable and adaptable to the omnivore, as they are essential to the vegan lifestyle.
Quick-Fix Vegan is a companion volume of Robin Robertson's Quick-Fix Vegetarian.

***

This is a very good cook book.  While I am not a full time vegan I occasionally go on vegan fasts and this book really helped out when boredom set in.  The recipes are easy to follow, tasty and contain common ingredients that could be found in an average supermarket.  Easy peasy.  There are no photos in the cookbook so you are left on your own as to how a dish is supposed to end up looking...and let's be honest here sometimes having that little bit of info can make the difference between a successful meal and a disaster.

***

Robin Robertson

---

An experienced chef and consultant, Robin Robertson is a 25-year veteran restaurant chef, caterer, columnist, cooking teacher, food writer, and author of 19 vegan and vegetarian cookbooks. She writes "The Global Vegan" column for VegNews Magazine and was a contributing editor and columnist for Vegetarian Times. She has also written for Cooking Light, Natural Health, Better Nutrition, Health, Restaurant Business, and other magazines. She lives in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.  Visit her at globalvegankitchen.com or visit her blog HERE.

All Wound Up by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

U.S.: $16.99 Canada: $18.99
ISBN: 9780740797576
Format: Hardcover
On Sale: October 18, 2011 — Coming soon! 

Inside All Wound Up, New York Times best-selling author and self-proclaimed Yarn Harlot Stephanie Pearl-McPhee spins her third yarn on knitting for the 60 million knitters in North America who collectively spend $45 billion a year on knitting-related merchandise.

In her trademark style, McPhee talks about knitting, parenting, friendship, and—gasp!—even crocheting in essays that are at times touching, often hilarious, and always entertaining. Fans of her popular blog at www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/ will adore this all-new collection of tales of the woolen and silky skein, which follow the Yarn Harlot's previous exploits chronicled inside Yarn Harlot and Free-Range Knitter.

***

Well.  What can I say about Stephanie Pearl- McPhee's latest book?  I want to tell you how I had to stop reading this book in public less I look like a loon.  Ms. McPhee's sense of humor and witty use of language had me laughing uncontrollably.  Giggles would erupt unexpectedly as I would suddenly remember a passage from the book.  Her relationship with her craft is genuine and her connection to the reader is so very...real.  This is an honest woman being honestly funny telling the truth the best way she knows how.  And she shines.  Buy it and love it but be prepared to read it alone.

***

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee is the author of Yarn Harlot, At Knit's End, Knitting Rules!, and Casts Off. She maintains a popular blog at www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/. She lives with her family in an untidy, wool-filled house in Toronto, where she avoids doing the laundry and knits whenever she gets a minute. This biography was provided by the author or their representative.

HAVANA REAL by Yoani Sánchez

9781935554257 / eBook: 9781935554912

HAVANA REAL
One Woman Fights to Tell the Truth About Cuba Today

 

A diary of life inside Havana by one of Cuba's few bloggers--a worldwide sensation. 

Yoani Sánchez is an unusual dissident: no street protests, no attacks on big politicos, no calls for revolution. Rather, she produces a simple diary about what it means to live under the Castro regime in Cuba: the chronic hunger and the difficulty of shopping; the art of repairing ancient appliances; the struggles of living under a propaganda machine that pushes deep into public and private life. For these simple acts of truth-telling her life is one of constant threat.

But she continues on, refusing to be silenced—a living response to all who have ceased to believe in a future for Cuba.

***

I'm reading Havana Real. My thoughts turn to my youth in the seventies. I remember watching news coverage showing, what seemed to me, valiant people daring shark infested seas in search of freedom. Their 'boats' little more than flimsy rafts pieced together from the most unlikely parts: old tires, planks of plywood, the shell of an old rusting car. I remember seeing the US Coast Guard waiting beyond an invisible barrier silently cheering the refugees on, waiting to bring them to freedom. These were days just after the Cuban Missile crisis and my country was still fearful of our neighbors, fearful of the might of a little island with a strong and passionate leader. Every Cuban that crossed that imaginary boundary in the middle of the Atlantic was a victory for freedom and even I, as a child, was touched by their bravery.

It's been many years since I was first exposed to the desperate plight that plagues this small island yet the struggle of Cubans still wages on. I recently met a man that told me his story. He first tried to come to The US as a young man, still in his teens. His crossing was not successful and he and his raft mates were caught somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic between America and Cuba. He was held in prison for nine years emerging finally, a man in his late twenties. He told me how he felt that his most important years had slipped away from him. First love, a chance for education, any kind of decent employment were lost to him. He emerged into an island more degraded than the one he had sought to flee and his sadness overwhelmed him. After three years of working, doing anything to earn enough money to buy his right to risk his life on yet another raft he finally made it to the US.

He is free now, he misses his family, he is grateful for his freedom. He spoke of the wonderful people he left behind in Cuba, of his family, of the slow pace of life, the warmth of community and I wondered at the price of freedom. I wondered at the lengths humans will go to so they can be free to speak and think, to worship and simply live. I wonder how those of us fortunate enough to have all of this seem not to notice how millions around the world are living under conditions so severe that they can not even voice an opinion for fear that they may end up in prison. I wonder how many millions of stories there are left to be told. Stories of oppression and desperation. Tales of constant fear, hunger and terrible hardship. We see the news, we hear stories of war and we are saddened at the loss of life. But what do we know of the human tale? What do we know of mothers trying to feed their children when there is little food to be had, of father's leaving in the morning to find work when there is none? What do we know of hunger or seeing your child go barefoot in the cold because shoes can not be found much less bought? What do we know of the little struggles that people go through every day just to survive? Reading a book like Havana Real makes the situations, not just of the Cubans but millions around the world, so personal. We are familiar with the horrific stories but the little daily struggles we can not understand because we have no frame of reference. We have no gauge by which to measure it. At what point would it be too much of a burden to bear? At what point does a young man break under the pressure and leave everything behind to build a life in foreign country where he knows no one? Would I be strong enough do that? The answer I can tell you is no.

Havana Real is a book that needed to be written but more than that it is a book that needs to be read.

***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Yoani Sanchez, a University of Havana graduate in philology, emigrated to Switzerland in 2002. Two years later, she decided to return to Cuba, but promised herself she would live there as a free person and started her blog, Generation Y, upon her return. In 2008, Time magazine named her one of the "100 Most Influential People in the World"; it named Generation Y one of the "Best Blogs of 2009." Spain honored her with its highest award for digital journalism, the Ortega y Gasset Prize. This year, First Lady Michelle Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton honored her with the International Women of Culture Award. She lives with her husband, independent journalist Reinaldo Escobar, and their son in a high-rise apartment in Havana, overlooking Revolution Square.
Translator M.J. Porter lives in Seattle, where she is a partner in a transportation-consulting firm. She co-founded the cooperative website, HemosOido.com, where volunteers now translate the work of more than thirty Cuban bloggers into English, German, French and Danish.




* I received an advance copy from the publisher for purposes of review. I was in no way obligated to write a review much less a favorable one. The opinions stated herein are all my own.

Vampires and Cells by Agnieszka Biskup

Click to buy

In cartoon format, uses vampires to explain the science of cells.

Reading Level: 3-4

Interest Level: 3-9

ISBN:  9781429665827 / 1-4296-6582-3

Okay, let me say up front I really like vampires.   Even if, lately, I've developed a keen fondness for Zombies, I still have an undeniable soft spot for a rakish vampire or two (a la Anne Rice-sorry Twilight fans).  I also should mention that I really like anything educational for children that makes it fun for them.  So, when I saw that there was a vampire all poised and ready to explain the basics of life/biology well, the pun was not lost on me.  It's a clever and cute way to teach kids a little bit of how the world functions in an engaging and easily accessible format.  I stand by that assessment and I wholeheartedly love that there are authors out there interested and willing to put out this sort of material.  However, this reviewer, does almost all her reading on a Kindle and unfortunately this book did not fair well in the translation. I do believe that as a physical book it is probably wonderful. 

Don't Check Your Brains at the Door By Josh McDowell & Bob Hostetler

Buy Book Now

 Author:  McDowell and Hostetler
Publisher:  Tommy Nelson

“Seven in 10 Protestants ages 18 to 30—both evangelical and mainline—who went to church regularly in high school said they quit attending by age 23, according to the survey by LifeWay Research.” (USA Today)

Don’t Check Your Brains at the Door gives teens answers that make sense, even for the toughest of questions. Internationally known defender of the faith Josh McDowell and co-author Bob Hostetler offer clarity laced with humor to expose common myths about God, the Bible, religion, and life to show how Christianity stands up to the test of fact and reason. Teens will be better equipped to stick with their faith as they begin to understand why they believe and why it’s important to make a lifetime commitment to Christ and the church.

I am about to write a not so favorable review.  Let me begin by stating that I had very high hopes for this book.  I had hoped that it would be a valuable resource for my little one someday.  However, even at the tender age of eight, I have to say that her reading level already far exceeds the scope of this book.  The introduction to this book states that it is the authors intention to equip its reader with the tools necessary to defend their faith with fact and reason to those who would malign it.  The authors then proceed to work their way through the top "myths" about the Bible...attempting along the way to provide the reader with solid irrefutable evidence to the contrary.  It is my opinion, that if someone finds fault with the Bible and you seek to defend it, probably it's best not to use the Bible to do so.  The criticizer has already decided that the Bible itself is faulty.  Therefore citing from it isn't going to change their mind.  It's like saying the Bible is true because the Bible says so. It won't sway anyone.

There are far more effective ways for the faithful to defend their faith in a world that is increasingly more dubious.  “I’m rubber and you’re glue . . .”  Would be a more convincing argument.  Well it would be if we were say... four years old.  Unfortunately, utilizing such and argument (while no less convincing than the ones posited by the authors of "Don't check your brains..") against those seeking to attack Christianity will not win you any debate.  Eventually there will come a time when you have to come up with better arguments, especially when defending your faith in Jesus Christ.  So truly, ultimately, we must each look deep inside and first ask ourselves our reasons for believing.  Not the reasons we've been taught but the reasons deep within our souls. If our faith is true then that truth shines through our words and actions and that is by far the most convincing argument.  Besides, it isn't for us to change others...only God changes minds and hearts.

BookSneeze® has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy.

About the Authors

J. Mcdowell

Josh McDowell has been reaching the spiritually skeptical for almost five decades. Since beginning ministry in 1961, Josh has delivered more than 24,000 talks to over 10 million young people in 118 countries. He is the author or co-author of 120 books, with over 51 million copies distributed worldwide; including More Than a Carpenter (over 15 million copies printed in 85 languages), and The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict, recognized by World magazine as one of the twentieth century's top 40 books. Josh continues to travel throughout the United States and countries around the world, helping young people and adults strengthen their faith and understanding of Scripture. Josh will tell you that his family is his ministry. He and his wife, Dottie, have been married for 39 years and have four children and four grandchildren.

This biography was provided by the author or their representative.


B. Hostetler

Bob Hostetler is a writer, editor, and speaker from southeastern Ohio. His 20 books, which include "They Call Me A.W.O.L." and "Holy Moses (and Other Adventures in Vertical Living)," have sold over 2 million copies. He has coauthored eight books with Josh McDowell, including the best-selling "Right from Wrong: What You Need to Know to Help Youth Make Right Choices" and the award-winning "Don't Check Your Brains at the Door." He has won two Gold Medallion awards, three Ohio Associated Press awards, and an Amy Foundation award.
Bob is a frequent speaker at churches, conferences, and retreats. He has been a disk jockey, pastor, magazine editor, freelance book editor, and, with his wife, Robin, a foster parent to 10 boys (though not all at once).
Bob and Robin have two adult children, Aubrey and Aaron.
This biography was provided by the author or their representative

Am I Really a Christian?-By Mike McKinley

 

About Am I Really a Christian?

Jesus divided the world into two groups—those who follow him and those who don’t. But what happens when someone thinks he or she is a Christian, but isn’t? With his witty, engaging style, Mike McKinley takes readers on a journey of what it means to be a Christian. He asserts that “manipulative evangelism techniques and a poor understanding of the gospel have resulted in an abundance of professing Christians who have no idea what it means to follow Christ.” 
Each chapter title begins with “You’re not a Christian [if/when/just because you]…” As he surveys what it means to be Christian, McKinley offers criteria for evaluating one’s standing before God. Readers are guided through a series of challenges to reflect, repent, remember, and report to another person. Am I Really a Christian? ends with chapters on salvation and the local church. This unique book is written for nominal or new Christians and can be used in personal or small-group study.

What an amazing book for new believers, "casual" Christians looking to ratchet up their faith and I might add many people who would count themselves as having a strong and abiding faith in God.  It is a book that has the possibility of making the reader a little bit uncomfortable.  You may just find yourself wondering how deep your walk with the lord really is.  Have you faltered without even realizing it? McKinley writes from his heart in an engaging and friendly tone.  He openly admits that to write such a book could invite criticism on alot of fronts. For example, McKinley addresses the often tossed about "once saved, always saved" catch-phrase and the concept of "losing" salvation when a Christian doesn't persevere in his faith.  I applaud him for tackling this task.  Many will benefit.  This is simply an essential read that is packed with (and backed by) solid scripture.

Find out more about the book here.

About the author:

MIKE MCKINLEY received his MDiv from Westminster Theological Seminary and is the author of several articles and reviews. He served on the pastoral staff of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington DC, and in 2005 was called to revitalize Guilford Baptist Church in Sterling, Virginia.

Praise for Am I Really A Christian? :

“This is a truly important book in the most urgent sense—a book that serves the cause of Christ by raising the most important question human beings face, and helping to answer it, no less. I am thankful to McKinley for his faithfulness and for the pastoral concern that prompted him to write such an important work.”
-R. Albert Mohler Jr., President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

“There can be no more important question than ‘Am I really a Christian?’ and Mike McKinley helps us answer it with great skill. He manages to challenge nominal Christians while comforting genuine believers. McKinley’s writing is accessible, engaging, and simple without ever being simplistic. I particularly appreciate the way he encourages us to explore this crucial question in the context of a Christian community. If you’re not sure where you stand before God, or you know someone who’s not sure, then this is the book for you.”
-Tim Chester, Director, The Porterbrook Institute; author, You Can Change and A Meal With Jesus

Buy the Book HERE.

NOTE: I requested and received a copy of this title via NetGalley.com but made no commitment to review it.
 

PrayerWalk: Becoming a Woman of Prayer, Strength, and Discipline-Janet Holm McHenry

Prayerwalking Basics

“By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.” (Proverbs 11:11) Prayerwalking or “praying on site with insight” is about intercession. Those who practice it believe that God answers prayer and that prayer is one of the most powerful tools of evangelism that God has given us. Those who have participated in prayerwalks can share some incredible stories of how God moved before, during, and after their prayerwalks. God honors prayer because it focuses on Him and not on us. Prayerwalking is not a program, a process, nor a prayer event. It is intercession that transforms the intercessor and his/her praying. Let me encourage you to begin where you are.

God is at work. Prayerwalking is just another way of joining Him in what He is doing. It is praying that enlightens and educates us so that we may intercede with internationality and a heart for the people of our target area. The primary reason for Prayerwalking is God. We are being obedient to His command to pray for one another. 

McHenry has written an inspiring and helpful guide to the practice of prayerwalking.  If you have a difficult time finding the time and/or inspiration for deep personal prayer I absolutely suggest that you try prayerwalking.  McHenry has wrtten a thorough guide that will guide you on a path that you will not regret having chosen.  I have been prayerwalking for the last year and I can say that it has born fruit that sustains me. Prayerwalking has opened my eyes and heart to the will of God.


McHenry's book should be a quick read that will (hopefully) get you up on your feet and walking with God and for God.  If you are unaccustomed to prayer or are not sure how to pray or what to pray McHeny also guides you in that direction as well.  Not only will you find yourself becoming more physically fit you will find that spiritually you will be stronger and stronger in your faith with each step.  


I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review

40 Days Without food - Russ Masterson

Russ Masterson had read and heard about purpose, but didn't have a clue what his own purpose was to be.  And there was emptiness where there should have been value.  As he puts it, "I kept hoping a step would arrive when it was time to lift my foot."  Disillusioned with his life, as well as with God, he heard this advice: fast from food for 40 days.  Faithless and frazzled, Russ accepted the challenge, hoping for direction, reflecting on the past, and wrestling with issues like purpose, faith, and love. In this book, readers will find a fresh literary voice -- an insightful thinker who meets people in their humanity while helping them to see they can be rescued from it.  The journey of these forty days without food will help you explore what really matters in life. 

40 Days Without Food is a very honest account of one man's journey through faith.  So many Christian books take faith as an absolute ideal, skirting around the issue of doubt and uncertainty.   Yet all of us struggle with belief and faith at the intersection of worldly things and the spiritual.

Earlier this year I myself fasted for 21 days and 41 days respectively.  I am always curious about other people's experience during a spiritual fast.  Did they meet God somewhere along the way?  Were their most fervent prayers answered in some grand and mystical way?  I personally didn't experience any particularly religious epiphanies.  Nor did I have any of my more pressing questions of faith resolved.  What I did receive was a deeper and more settled faith in God.

Masterson's personal account was inspiring, inspirational and brutally honest. He details his struggles with greed and vanity...his thoughts on contentment and love.  He tackles the very big question on what it means to be saved and yet still human.  How can we as very broken, sinful by nature people, succeed in honoring our Lord and Saviour?  Each and every decision we make hinges on this one central question.  How do we know if what we desire, think and strive to achieve is in line with our Great Maker's purpose?  It is in the questioning of this that we find the answer.  The very fact that we question our motives and measure our actions against our beliefs leads us (hopefully) in the right direction.  God guides us gently and faithfully and if we simple surrender our lives and selves up to Him we are never truly alone and without purpose.  Our purpose is simply this...Bring Glory to our Lord.

"Life is about more that stuff.  Stuff corrodes.  One hundred years from now, Bill Gates will be as poor as you.  Money can't bring contentment or purpose.  Money can only propel purpose that already exists." 

This book is so much more than a book about fasting-although it can be helpful in that regard.  It is a solid and truthful portrait of every Christian's journey through faith.  If you've ever experienced spiritual doubt, know that you are not alone.  If you've ever felt that God has forgotten you, know that you are deeply loved by Him.  If you ever wanted to know how to walk this path of faith, read Russ Masterson's words and find camaraderie and comfort. 

Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or ARC.

The Blessing Giving the Gift of Unconditional Love and Acceptance By John Trent & Gary Smalley

Book Description

Every human needs the gift of "the blessing"—the unconditional love and approval that comes from a healthy relationship with one's parents. In this update to the best-selling classic The Blessing, coauthors John Trent and Gary Smalley offer a fresh perspective on this life-changing gift with solid, practical advice on how to lay a secure base of in each child's life.
The Blessing powerfully communicates biblical truths on how to instill self-worth and emotional well-being into others based on these five essential elements: meaningful touch, a spoken message, attaching high value, picturing a special future, and an active commitment.
No matter the age, the approval of our parents affects how we view ourselves and how we relate to others. So what if we've missed it? The final chapters include help and hope for those who grew up without their own parent's blessing, the blessing and grandparents, ways to live out the blessing, and ideas for blessing events.

The Blessing is the book that every new parent needs to read.  It is essentially the only guide on parenting that adults should really need.  I would love to see it handed out in the maternity ward and be required reading for all new parents.  Our cherished children would benefit immeasurably.  It however is not too late to at any stage of life to benefit from this book.  Adult children, grandparents, caregivers...really anyone that has loved ones can utilize the wisdom found in the pages of The Blessing to lift up those they love the most.
The "Blessing"  involves five simple elements: meaningful and appropriate touch, a spoken message, attaching high value to the one being blessed, picturing a special future for them and an active commitment to fulfill the blessing.
This updated and revised edition contains practical ideas and exercises, questions for consideration, and utilizes the internet with links to web video. The book also contains a challenge to individuals and churches to be an involved part of a worldwide movement to spread the blessing to children and others.
I highly recommend that everyone read this book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Cure for the Common Life By Max Lucado

Book Description

"Sweet spot." Golfers understand the term. So do tennis players. Ever swung a baseball bat or paddled a Ping-Pong ball? If so, you know the oh-so-nice feel of the sweet spot. Life in the sweet spot rolls like the downhill side of a downwind bike ride. But you don't have to swing a bat or a club to know this. What engineers give sports equipment, God gave you.A zone, a region, a life precinct in which you were made to dwell. He tailored the curves of your life to fit an empty space in his jigsaw puzzle. And life makes sweet sense when you find your spot.
But if you're like 87 percent of workers, you haven't found it. You don't find meaning in your work--or you're one of the 80 percent who don't believe their talents are used. What can you do? You're suffering from the common life, and you desperately need a cure.
Best-selling author Max Lucado has found it. In Cure for the Common Life he offers practical tools for exploring and identifying your own uniqueness, motivation to put your strengths to work, and the perfect prescription for finding and living in your sweet spot for the rest of your life.

I really enjoyed reading "Cure for the Common Life".  It is packed full of advice, resources and anecdotes to assist the reader in his or her personal journey through life.  If you  need a cure for your common life and feel that you are not leading the life that God had planned for them then I highly suggest that this book be the next on  your reading list.  It's a quick read that will have you on your way to finding you personal "sweet spot" in no time.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Churched by Matthew Paul Turner

He spent his childhood trapped within the confines of countless bizarre, strict rules. And lived to tell about it.

In this first-hand account, author Matthew Paul Turner shares amusing–sometimes cringe-worthy–and poignant stories about growing up in a fundamentalist household, where even well-intentioned contemporary Christian music was proclaimed to be “of the devil.”

Churched is a collection of stories that detail an American boy’s experiences growing up in a culture where men weren’t allowed let their hair grow to touch their ears (“an abomination!”), women wouldn’t have been caught dead in a pair of pants (unless swimming), and the pastor couldn’t preach a sermon without a healthy dose of hellfire and brimstone. Matthew grapples with the absurdity of a Sunday School Barbie burning, the passionate annual boxing match between the pastor and Satan, and the holiness of being baptized a fifth time–while growing into a young man who, amidst the chaotic mess of religion, falls in love with Jesus. 

I wanted to like this book.  I couldn't wait for it to come.  I dived right into it the minute I received it and...well.  Let me start off by saying that it's a funny book to a lot of people. I know because I've read their reviews.  Other reviewers loved this book. It's been tagged as poignant, hilarious, truthful and refreshing.  Really?  Am I reading the same book?  Because I didn't get any of that out of this book. I got bored.  Maybe because I am a lifelong Californian.  Maybe you need to be from the bible belt to get this book.  I didn't find the author compelling or even engaged in the story he is telling.  AND  it's his story.  His memoir. If he isn't engaged in it then how can a reader get engaged? I may give this book a second chance as I was also reading the superb "Skin Map" simultaneously so maybe one outshone the other.  I don't know.  It's a great premise and has great promise but in this reviewers humble opinion it fell way short of the mark.
“I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review”.

Max On Life-Max Lucado

Book Description

We have questions. Child-like inquiries. And deep, heavy ones.
In more than twenty-five years of writing and ministry, Max Lucado has been the receiving line for thousands of such questions. The questions come in letters, e-mails, even on Dunkin Donuts napkins. In Max on Life he offers thoughtful answers to more than 150 of the most pressing questions on topics ranging from hope to hurt, from home to the hereafter.
Max writes about the role of prayer, the purpose of pain, and the reason for our ultimate hope. He responds to the day-to-day questions—parenting quandaries, financial challenges, difficult relationships—as well as to the profound: Is God really listening?
A special addendum includes Max’s advice on writing and publishing.
Including topical and scriptural indexes and filled with classic Lucado encouragement and insight, Max on Life will quickly become a favorite resource for pastors and ministry leaders as well as new and mature believers.
I can only say good things about this book.  It is a concise and pleasurable read.  It is not a book that needs to be read from beginning to end rather it is a book that can be picked up from time to time and picked through.  A bit of perspective here, a little advise there and whole lot of common sense and guidance throughout.  Max Lucado is a well loved author and theologian who has proven himself to be a thoughtful and intelligent voice in the Christian world for years.  With this book he has used a question and answer format to address his readers most pressing, common and, at times, desperate questions regarding their faith and their personal walk with God.  Mr. Lucado guides his readers gently among some of the more difficult circumstances and questions of faith that inevitably creep up as we endeavor to make our way in an increasingly confusing world.  With gentleness, common sense and a strong basis in scripture Max guides the reader and I personally felt as I read this that my faith was strengthened with each turn of the page.

I hope that if you get the chance to read this book that you will not hesitate to add it to your personal library.  It could prove itself to be a useful reference for those times when you comes across a difficult time in life and find yourself in a crisis of faith.  You just might find that with Max Lucado's gentle words you will not find yourself despairing in the wilderness but rather emerging from that dark place with a stronger faith than before.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

“While the World Watched” -Carolyn Maull McKinstry

“While the World Watched” written by Carolyn Maull McKinstry is a powerful read. It is a unique look into this country's darkest, most shameful period of history. While it hurts to read this book Carolyn manages to remind the reader that God is always working for our good. Even when we can't possibly see it He has a plan for our lives. He is faithful even when we are not. I love the part of her story when, Carolyn at one of her lowest moments, reaches out to God for comfort she hears His words; “...I need you to tell people that this is not about skin color or ethnicity or religion. It is about love....Just lift me up.” That is such an essential truth. Love thy neighbor. Regardless of the color of their skin. Regardless of their background, education or political beliefs. Regardless of their religion or lack therof. Just simply love like Jesus loves and we will surely be a hammer for God's Kingdom here on Earth.

“While the World Watched” has so many lessons that we can learn from. Social responsibility lessons. We must not sit idly by complacent in our comfortable lives while those around us suffer. Even in our own families hearts break and we as parents, children, aunts, brothers, sisters have a deep responsibility to reach out to our own loved ones that need to be heard and their pain acknowledged.

Mrs. McKinstry's beautiful book will touch you in many places...part history lesson, part morality tale and part family counseling. She takes you to all the dark places that we are intrinsically afraid to go but she takes us there with the light of God's eternal promise.

Read the Press Release Here 

List Price: 17.99 

ISBN: 978-1-4143-3636-7 

Trim Size: 5 1/2 x 8 1/4 

Binding: Hardcover 

Release: February 2011 

Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book