Book Nook: As One Devil to Another

If you enjoyed the Screwtape letters book from CS Lewis, you are bound to love One Devil to Another!

In the tradition of the screw-tape letters, a demon Scardagger corresponds to a minor demon, Slashreap, directing him in the ways to lead his assigned woman astray.  The book takes us though the struggles of temptations, human nature, and the journey we all take spiritually, trying to follow in the Lord's will rather than the human flesh.

Personally, I found this book insightful. Rather than having the traditional lecture and informational setting, this book brings the struggles and temptations to life in a more personal, profound way. I found many times as I read along the correspondence those epiphanous, "ah ha" moments really connected for me.

Sometimes the text would drag in some places but overall, I found "One Devil to Another" to be a great book.

disclosure; I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher. However, my opinions are my own and are not at all swayed by provision from the publisher.

As One Devil to Another

Book Nook Review: It Just Couldn't Happen

What an exciting new product! As a home-schooling family, this has just taken it's place in our standard curriculum! If you are not a home-schooler this is still a fantastic resource. Want to address those tougher questions about biblical vs scientific subjects typically taught in schools? This is fantastic for that too!

The book is easy to read, geared for all ages as it is well written, and has fantastic pictures to captivate. "It Just Couldn't Happen" outlines the points of view in easy to digest segments, providing not only "facts" but a means for you to discover and understand how science comes to its conclusions as well. They encourage learning more, seeking your own answers and going further. (perfect for library visits or building further for older children).

The "Just for Fun" area is a fantastic addition to the book as well. At the end of each chapter they place fun, fanciful questions (such as: if you could live on any plant, what would it be an why?)and hands-on experiments. These engage minds and hands, bringing the subjects to a new level of imagination and interaction; a perfect way to retain knowledge and fuel further passions for learning!

I also love that the book takes both science and bible verses to guide you on the learning journey; something so other books so often fail to do. It's a delight to see that science CAN be merged with Biblical wisdom and rather seamlessly as well.

Overall, the book was a delight. I receive this as an e-book to review from book sneeze but honestly, I may go out and buy the tangible paper version - I see this being a beloved portion of our curriculum for years to come.

Book Nook Review: The Fight of Our Lives...

The Fight of our lives is really aptly named as the book takes you inside the truth of raw, real Islam facts. The book is written from a conservative point of view but they work hard at keeping the facts laid out neutral. Revealing facts without the overtly emotional opinions most books like to use as a basis, The fight of Our Lives addresses the issues well.

On a personal note, I believe this book should be read by everyone in America. Honest, traceable facts bring to light the true nature of radical Islam. How by their very doctrine, radical Islam is a threat to the American way of life and that it simply cannot co-exist "peacefully" as so many other want to believe. Their own doctrine outlaws it. A fascinating, insightful read. Highly recommended.

Book Nook Review: Grey Matter

Gray Matter: A Neurosurgeon Discovers the Power of Prayer . . . One Patient at a Time by Joel Kilpatrick
Edition: Paperback

Gray Matter is a fantastic story of a neurosurgeon who feels lead to offer prayer and praying with his patience despite the risks to his profession. He takes a leap of faith and decides to listen to his convictions which ultimately leads him in a path of the unknown except, that is, by God. His simple obedience lead to countless lives touched.

The Book grabs you nearly the instant you begin (my favorite!) and keeps you going. The story often makes you as if you were there with him (or at least it did for me).  I found his honestly and his leap of faith to be refreshing. I do hope this will lead other doctors to do the same. 

A great book and an inspiring read!

(Disclosure: as a member of the Tyndale media blogging community, I selected this title as a free trial. The opinions are my own; honest and without influence.)

Life Musings...

I was just reviewing my little piece of the web here today. I wanted to see the direction I wanted to go and what I needed to do more. I was actually surprised to see how many book reviews I have here LOL.

I want to share with you all that I will probably keep having book reviews. The major reason is simple; I love books. I love reading. I read as often as I get a chance, often reading in the car waiting on kids or in lines, just so I have time to read!

If I were to take off my reviews I feel like I would be taking a big part of me away. Books are a major part of my life and our homeschool. I thought I would start sharing more of my homeschool and kids books maybe. I also plan on giving away a lot more books that we are done with.

Once we get the rest of our stuff shipped out to us (eta March!) I will be doing more unit studies and fun activities as a part of our homeschooling. I hope to share those moments with you all much more. We've had our hands tied a bit due to the move, and lack of 99.9% of our belongings. We've mostly been working out of workbooks and the internet.

Part of that is a relief. We have been just getting school done most days so the days are much more open for free time. Getting together, planning and setting additional items to the homeschool takes a lot more time. In the long run, we are going to have to do more of these fun things or its going to get dull and more like a chore.

I do know I will be posting more pictures as we are FINALLY getting a new camera! I cannot wait for it to get here!

I guess I am rambling. Honestly, I am not perfectly sure where to take the blog. If you have any suggestions of what you'd like to see more of, please be sure to drop me a line! I have lots of freebies to give away, so I will be drawing winners from your posts or emails!

Can't wait to hear your thoughts! :)

Learning about the men that surround us

I have been blessed with a wonderful husband. We have been together for 15 years now and counting! However, in all this time, we still struggle to "understand" each other.

Too many times we bicker over t trivial things that seem to tie into the very "manly way of thinking". I scarcely think that I am alone in that. Women and Men just don't seem to "get" each other much too often.

I have enjoyed books that have given me insight into the manly mind that I have enjoyed which have actually help our relationship. Given the insight into the male mind gives me a perspective I really need to understand him. I've enjoyed books like "the proper care and feeding of husbands" and "men are made from waffles and women are made of spaghetti". I was really excited however, when I saw a new book out from Thomas Nelson.

As a blogging member of the Thomas Nelson review, I was excited to see a book on this very topic. I picked it up and jumped right in! What I love the most is that they are offering a free preview into the book! So often I pick up a book that sounds like what I was looking for, only to find that it wasn't what I wanted at all!

Check out this latest book here. Hopefully it will bless you and your marriage just as much as it has mine!

Buy		Read

Book Review: Rumble! Zap! Pow!: Mighty Stories of God

Rumble! Zap! Pow!: Mighty Stories of God is a clever way to bring an engaging "comic book" style bible-study to kids. The book is colorful, engaging and just fun. In fact, when I received it, I wanted to review it before I turned it over to the kids but I ended up having to FIGHT the kids off of it!The adventure, comic book style is perfect for my boys. I would often find them curled up in front of this book rather than watching cartoons! The whoosh, bang, boom is engaging to boys and the colors are bright and inviting. The book is a fun way to bring biblical concepts to young kids who may have not been interested otherwise.
Rumble! Zap! Pow!: Mighty Stories of God covers basic biblical topics such as "God made the world, God rescues, God is in Charge" and so on. It could be a fantastic means to us as a homeschooling Bible curriculum to the younger kids as the book has memory verses and a crafty activity at the end of each area.
The only potential cons I could see is not a true bible which some may mistake as such. It is a bit light on content but I could see this as just part one to a series of these type of books, each centered around additional biblical stories. It retails for only $12.99 but is often available for less at Amazon.com or B&N.com.

FYI: I have had the pleasure of being a blogging reviewer for Tyndale publishers for a while now and I love it! They offer free copies of various books to review - I take this seriously and only review honestly, regardless if the copies are free. :)

Book Nook Review: Cast of Characters by Max Lucado

I received this title as a part of the blogger review network.  I was excited about receiving a Lucado book but this one is a surprise.

This book is a much lighter read than his typical publications.  The sentence structure is short and a bit simplified.  However, I believe he was trying to make it this way for a reason.  This book is about Characters. The cast of characters directly from the pages of scripture. He painted a picture of a real person, with real thoughts and struggles.

I enjoyed the book immensely. The easy reading allowed me to dive right in, even with the kids playing beside me. The characters were captivating, bringing them all that more to life. The simplistic way he writes allows you to become engaged by the story, (even when interrupted often) and the amazing transformation of having the Lord in their lives. Selected, transformed yet still uniquely human.

This is not a book on religious theology. If you are looking for Biblical reiteration, look elsewhere. However, if you want to immerse yourself in what it might have been like to live and struggle with life as a chosen child of the Lord, you won't be disappointed.

Book Nook: Review The boy who came back from heaven

I received this book as a part of the blogger review network and I must say, it was an amazing read!

The story immediately reaches out and keeps your focus. I didn't want to put the book down! 

The book takes you through a life transformed by tragedy and the amazing power of The Lord. It's raw, honest and you feel as if you were there along the struggles. I was amazed to see a perspective of true miracles but a bit disappointed that the book didn't really delve into what heaven was like.  Overall, It's a touching, emotional experience that is sure to have you evaluate your current life situations and your faith in the Lord.

Book Nook: Review

I have just recently had the joy of joining Tyndale House publishers are a blogging reviewer.  I feel so blessed to be offered with some amazing books just for my opinions (and it's my true opinions they will get LOL)

I just joyfully received Devotions for Lent from the Mosaic Holy Bible and I have to share!  First of all, they sent me TEN copies!!  So that means... GIVE AWAY!

Anyway, back to the book LOL...

I really loved the book concept; it's compact and great to take with you. However, that is also what I don't love about it.  The books it almost too small to read easily: the print is very tiny.

Putting the print size aside, the content is really great.  Even though we are already in the midst of the Lent season, it is a great devotional for anytime self reflection.  I just jumped in from the day I got it.

When you first open the book you  are greeted with a "how to" section that quickly moves into the individual day devotion.  The devotions center around a theme (for instance; Identifying Discontent) and works to weave that theme into each day of that week in an effort to draw your life closer in parallel to the Lord.

This devotional provides a personal thought for the day along with suggested biblical reading, as most devotionals do.  However, what makes it unique is that the book actually has the weekly suggested reading in the back of the book (NIV) so there is no need to take a bible with you.

In addition, "Devotions for Lent" also provides historical quotations and a meditation section from outside authors, which adds additional insights that work into that days theme.  Most days even offer a line area to put your own thoughts, reflections, meditations or prayers. The book is designed to be used in many different applications and it delivers

"Devotions for Lent" is a compact, affordable book that is convenient, well thought out, and insightful. Pick yourself up a copy today, or WIN ONE HERE!  Just enter a comment below!

Book Nook: Review

A delightful treasury of 250 most remembered stories from the Bible. Truly a wonderful add-on to the family bookshelf! This is not a bible but, rather, a biblical story archive taken directly from the NKJV text.

This is a fantastic way to add the glory of the word as a family or individual devotional. The book is bound in hardcover that is reminiscent of a well worn, much loved, leather bound book of antiquity. I strongly suggest this book join your home library, or as a wonderful gift for the Christmas season... it is a delight~!

Book Nook: Current Review... The Noticer

The Noticer by Andy Andrews

I had the pure DELIGHT of reading this book just recently. Honestly, I was initially not that interested with the title or the packaging however, this is truly a book you cannot judge by its cover!

From the moment I started to read I was hooked!  The story is an intermingled perspective around the an old man who weaves his influence in and out of people's lives; arriving at exactly the right time to help lead themselves and give them the proper perspective.  Honestly, I cannot give it a proper description to convey how joyous this book is!  

It'll grab you from the start and you will want to stay on the journey for as long as possible.  The advice and perspective given during the journey is also solid and helpful.  Get two for the price of one; a personal story that is rich and interesting and self help ideas... all in one!  (hehehe)  Very much recommended!

Book Nook: new review

I had the pleasure of reading "Called to Worship" from Thomas Nelson.  Initially I was not enthused as it seemed very dry but that was soon replaced by joyful surprise. 

The book goes in deep to explore the Lord's character, will, and desires for you. Why we worship and how the Lord may be viewing it.  I had a fantastic voyage as page after page illuminated my own personal relationship with Jesus. It seemed with every new subject I was reveled a new viewpoint, and countless epiphanies for growth and perspective in my own personal journey!

If you are feeling your own worship growing stale, want to learn more, or be in awe of the Lord you are serving, this book is a fantastic voyage!  I am keeping my copy to read again and again~!

Book Nook : Current review

I had the delight of having a Thomas Nelson book to read and review. I received Fearless by Max Lucado. I was delighted when I received the book and rightfully so!

I have other pieces by Max Lucado; he seems to really been gifted with the gift of bringing the Word to life in our current situation.  With the world being what it is today, this book could not have come at a better time.

As I delved into the depths of his work I found that I have been fighting a great deal of fear in my life but I had no real idea that was the issue at hand.  It was something I just could not put my finger on. Lucado's friendly style of writing as well as his use of scripture and poignant points really struck home to me.

This book is open, honest, and really moving. You leave the book feeling like you know Lucado's personally as he really opened his home and life up to you to communicate his points and to share the human story that we all share. This can easily be used as a bible study for yourself or small groups.  I leave my review with this; do not fear this purchase; dive right in and grow in faith, love and the wisdom of the Word.