Brought thoughts to my mind...

I received this book as a review copy from Tyndale. I usually don't read books like this and consider them "alarming" in nature. I have enough to worry about in this world and don't need one more thing. Ah, but as I began to read I found this book very balanced in views and, although alarming in nature, a good, thought provoking read. He handles the subject of the state of our country very well. After stepping through the situation our nation is in, he very carefully lines out a path of action for the church and individuals.

As I wrote, there are many alarmist books out there which I choose to ignore because they are very biased in one direction or another. This one is an exception to what has become the rule and I enjoyed it.

If you want a well thought out book dealing with the state of our country and how things can change for the better, read this book.

The Miracle of Jen

Wow. What a book! This book, a complimentary copy which I obtained from Tyndale publishing for review, was great. It tells the moving story of Jennifer Barrick and her recover after a horrible automobile accident. The book focuses on Jen and her recovery, but you do get a grasp at how the entire family dealt with her recovery. I was concerned we would not get a true picture of how everything went after the accident. In some Christian books, there is a lot of fluff and no real evidence of struggle with the reality of the pain and suffering. I was relieved to find that Linda shares all in this book. She is up front with her readers and does not hide any of the difficulties of recovery. Recovering from a horrible accident is not a walk in the park and Linda does not paint it as such. For that I am glad. I have read too many books and seen too many Christian movies where the reality of pain and suffering are not dealt with in a realistic way. Overall, this book will bring you into the hospital room and put you right alongside Jen as she recovers. Great writing and a wonderful true story of triumph and personal growth for the mother, Linda, and for the reader. For more information you can go here http://www.miracleforjen.com/ 


By the way, exciting news! I have a certificate to get a copy of this book for free if you can name my favorite Star Wars character. The first one to answer correctly gets the certificate. You take the certificate and redeem it at your nearest Christian bookstore.

The Search Committee, by Tim Owens: A review

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes from Tyndale House. The book, in short, is a hilarious, but serious look at a seven member committee charged with finding a new pastor for their small church. It has a "Jan Karon Mitford series" kind of ring to it. That brought a smile to my face. Tim is not copying Jan, but his book falls in the same vein and is much appreciated by those looking for such a ride that this book takes you on. 

Having only been on the Pastor end of such a situation I do feel that this book truly "tells it like it is" when a committee heads to a church to hear a prospective candidate. 

The characters are well developed and truly human. One gets the feeling one knows them. There were some unexpected incidents that truly made the story believable. I highly encourage all church members to read this book, even if you haven't served on a search committee. It's a light and easy read, but has enough depth to make you want to look for another book by Tim Owens. I certainly hope he is working on another.

Tyndale books

From time to time you'll see a book reviewed here. I am part of a review program with Tyndale Publisher's. The first book I'll review is a recent one by Randy Alcorn. Keep looking here for the review.