Monday, July 27, 2015

Seeing in the Dark by Nancy Ortberg

What does God want me to do?


Ever found yourself asking that question? Perhaps you've asked, "What are you doing with my life, God?"

This book is for those who feel like their Christian life is like wandering around in the dark.

Nancy Ortberg provides encouraging and practical words to those who feel like God is silent. She takes big ideas, wraps them in metaphor, and allows the words to wrap around your mind in a clear understanding.

The big idea is how can followers of Jesus be light in such darkness. Each chapter will touch on this theme in ways that will challenge and inspire.

In the same spirit as her husband, Nancy, has a way of calming your soul while solidifying your basic foundation. Many readers have commented on how they read this book at just the right time.

Perhaps this is a book for your or for a friend who needs that extra help during a "dark" time. You may need to find the words to say as an encouragement to them. This book is that help.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Tyndale House Publishers.

Jesus Calling for Little Ones by Sarah Young

This is a board book devotional that is easy to read and illustrated for young eyes.


The devotions last about two pages and written in a way that makes it seem like Jesus is speaking directly to your child.

Being a board book, the pages are easy for young fingers to grasp and play a role in turning pages.

This makes an excellent bedtime book. The illustrations make up most of the pages with a smaller area set aside for the words.

Each devotional is biblically based with the Scripture chapter and verse provided for you.

This was a fun book to use with our kids. The stories are great for the early learners and a positive way to finish the day.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Thomas Nelson Publishing.

Monday, July 6, 2015

Laugh-Out-Loud Pocket Doodles for Boys by Rob Elliott

My son loved this book.


Simple premise: write jokes on each page and have partially finished illustrations (by Jonny Hawkins) for your child to complete.

It's super creative and *most* of the jokes get a chuckle.

Each page gives small prompts about what to add to the drawing to help complete the joke, but the work is completely up to the young illustrator and jokester at heart.

It's a small book that can fit easily in a child's lap while they wait at the doctors or while they are in the car.

I was laughing with my son after the first page once he realized what silliness he could create ("You mean I can draw in this book???) It was a lot of fun. Now they need to make more so the drawings can continue.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Revell Publishing.

A More Christlike God by Bradley Jersak

Is Jesus fully God? Do you believe Jesus is the greatest example of God we have? Then how do we reconcile the God Jesus represents with the God declaring the people of Israel to destroy entire peoples?

What if we realigned our thinking with a more Christlike God? Will that completely destroy the stories from the Old Testament?

This is the big debate currently hitting the bookshelves. (at least the ones I'm reading) It's almost a debate behind the eight-ball as the question typically begins with New Testament Jesus vs Old Testament God.

Bradley Jersak is an amazing writer. Right off the bat, he hooked his talented talons into my mind and kept me reading until the book was finished. I have to go back and reread all the things I've underlined.

There is so much goodness to be found in this book. Even if some of the ideas cause a "mind squint" in which you sit back and ponder what you just read to see if you agree, you'll be totally engaged with what Jersak is talking about.

This isn't a book designed to anger fundamentalists. At least I didn't perceive it to be written in that manner. It very much feels like a conversation talking place where this brilliant conversationalist shares deeply profound thoughts on a level that anyone can understand.

You won't find the rhetoric that has grown stale, you will find grace and a book that pulls you in as you contemplate Jesus, God and your own, possible, misconceptions that have laid claim to your mind.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by CreateSpace Publishing