Seat edger | Posted April-23-2013 Author Vicki Hinze’s first work of Christian fiction, Forget Me Not, is a must read. If you like a book to keep you on the edge of your seat, this will surely do it. A woman who looks exactly like main character, Benjamin Brandt’s, diseased wife shows up at their crisis center. In her pocket is Ben’s wife Susan’s necklace and a card bearing her name. This woman has been left for dead and has no memory except that someone had tried to kill her. Nameless and homeless, Ben takes her in trying to figure out who she is and how her case links to the death of his wife. This is a story of mystery, love, and faith. I have never read a book that was better at showing how bad things still happen when you’re a Christian and that faith takes effort. Faith isn’t a one time deal, it is a continuous thing. You’ll find this book to have a shocker or two. I could not ask for more in a story, it had everything in it. I sincerely hope that Vicki Hinze takes to writing more Christian fiction. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for it!
The hardest of his novels to read so far, but my name's in the book! | Posted April-23-2013 Ted Dekker has done it again, he has written another brilliant thriller. This newest novel is called The Bride Collector. It is about a serial killer who murders women leaving a bridal veil at each crime scene. The novel starts with the death of his fourth victim and you read through his pursuit of his seventh and final, who in his perspective is God’s favorite and perfect bride. Dekker dives into the subject of mental illness, asking the question are those who are dubbed mentally ill really normal and those who are dubbed normal really the ones who are mentally ill. Not for the light of heart, the killings are gruesome and it was hard for me to read at first. Dekker used a great name as an underwear brand though; maybe that’s what hooked me. ;) Dekker is one of those minds that dare to ask the questions no one else wants to think about. Maybe that’s what makes this book so brilliant. If we all just understood each other; if we understood that we are all God’s favorites because He loves us unendingly we wouldn’t pin false stigmas upon one another. I dare you to open your mind to Dekker’s questions.
Eerily realistic | Posted April-23-2013 David Gregory’s novel, The Last Christian, is about the future. In this future “tolerance” has come to pass and Christianity no longer exists. Abigail Caldwell grew up in a remote jungle in Papua New Guinea. A disease killed her village, forcing her into a “real world” that she has no connection to except a dated message from her grandparents, a mission to return the Christian faith to America. Technology now offers eternal life, but at an expense. Abigail, with a little help from a professor and an ousted FBI agent, takes on the most powerful players in America in order to show the world what real eternal life is.
The future in the book is eerily not so far in the future anymore. It’s almost scary how easily the reader can imagine the circumstances in the story coming to pass. The faith aspect of this story is very thought provoking; the reader will definitely look at the gospel in a brand new light. There’s a heavy focus on life, a little love, and a tolerance that isn’t so tolerant. Christ freely gives what the world tries to sell, but cannot come through on. So America, what life are we going to buy into?
Modernly Poetic | Posted April-23-2013 Max Lucado’s book Facing Your Giants is modernly poetic. Lucado’s style of writing is sophisticated yet understatedly simple. In this book Lucado takes the reader on a journey through the life of biblical hero David. You see David’s good and bad and how he faces his giants the different times of his life. I think it’s important to learn from other people’s mistakes, it allows you to save yourself from the misery of making the same mistakes and having to face the consequences of such. Lucado does a great job of relating David’s giants; to the giants we face today. I mean how many of us will be gunned down by our best friends father because we were just declared king? My guess is none. My favorite bit of advice from Lucado is the fact that David took five stones to fight Goliath. He suggests using your five fingers to remember those five rocks and what they stand for the fight your giant. In fact I am constantly looking at my fingers reminding myself of those stones. If a young-teenage Sheppard boy can beat his giant, I can beat mine. There is also a very helpful study guide to finish the book off.
Common stories told in an uncommon way | Posted April-23-2013 Cast of Characters: Common People in the Hands of an Uncommon Goddefinitely tops my favorites list when it comes to books written by Max Lucado. There is just something about his writing style that I love. Each chapter is the story of a different person from the bible. The way Lucado tells each story is uncommon, suitably so since these are stories about “common people and an Uncommon God.” He tells their stories as if they are happening today. I think this aspect helps the unbeliever to understand and the believer to understand stories that they’ve heard and read a million times in a fresh way. You’ve probably heard these stories before, and if you’ve read a lot of Lucado’s books you’ve probably even heard them the way that he tells them. Little did I know I had already read one of the stories that spoke to me most; I guess this was just the time in my life that I really needed to HEAR it. I love how each separate story comes together to form the entire book and an overall message that I think is most magnified in the last couple chapters, those about Lazarus and Peter. These aren’t just their stories, this is your story.
Don't let the title deter you. | Posted April-23-2013 Demon: A Memoir, by Tosca Lee, is one of those books that make you think. The title’s strong; it will draw you in or make you run away. If the title turns you away I urge you to read specifically about what led Lee to write this novel. The questions she asks are ones that you’ll wonder why you’ve never asked yourself. If it draws you in, let it continue to work its magic. This love story that God is so intricately writing, Lee retells in a way that you probably have never heard nor read; from the view-point of a demon. Maybe the least important aspect is how the demon feels, which is what propels the story--therefore making it the most important. Let me explain, through the demon’s story you will find your own. Lucian, the demon, is ravenously jealous over God’s love for humans who mess up repeatedly. This is why “it” wants to tell this story through an editor. The editor, who is cleverly named Clay, becomes wholly enthralled into this task. In the end he faces an ultimate decision, the same as us all. Clay symbolizes every one of us-- those who have heard of God’s love, of his sacrifice, and those who have not. Either way we all must make the same choice, or choose not to make it, that’s still a choice. I urge you to make the choice to read this book.
The butterfly effect for kids | Posted April-23-2013 Best selling author, Andy Andrews, does a wonderful job illustrating with the art of words exactly what the butterfly effect is in his children’s book The Boy Who Changed the World. Philip Hurst does his job well in the wonderful illustrations that add to the story. The story starts with how a boy named Norman changed the world, and throughout his story a butterfly follows along. Once you finish reading about Norman you find out that really a boy named Henry changed the world and there you see a new butterfly following him along. Then you find out that Henry really didn’t change the world but in fact it was…you get the picture. Not only do you find out how 4 different boys changed the world, but you may actually recognize some historical figures. This is a great book for any child who is old enough to sit and listen to a story that has more than one sentence on the page. In fact, I think the adult reading it to them will enjoy the story and learn something from it as well. Not only does the lesson ring loud and clear that every good choice you make, no matter how small can change the world, but I think the challenge will be heard by the children who read it and confidence to make those choices instilled within them.
Perfect "Thank You" gift! | Posted April-23-2013 Max Lucado’s, You Changed my Life: Stories of Real People with Remarkable Hearts, is one of those reads that is bound to challenge, inspire, and change your life. It is a short read with small but hugely powerful stories. Designed to give as a gift to someone who has changed your life, it even comes with space for you to write your own story of appreciation to the receiver of the book. There are many stories of unknown heroes who had courage to do both small and big things that impacted someone’s life for the better. Some of these actions took great courage, while others may be easily overlooked. They are separated into different categories from compassion to friendship. These stories are accompanied by pictures that inspire my love of photography and little inspirational quotes. It’s the perfect size for a “coffee table” book and the stories are the perfect size for any library. Some stories you may recognize from other works by Lucado, but every one will inspire you to tell the people in your life just how much they matter in yours. We often do not thank those who change our lives, but they are exactly who we do not want to overlook. This book is a great way to thank them!
Acting out Acts | Posted April-23-2013 Max Lucado’s Outlive Your Life is a study on Acts unlike any other I’ve seen. Lucado challenges the reader to take after the example of the early church we read about in Acts and get up and make a difference in the world around us for the Lord. Each chapter starts with a scripture verse and ends with one along with a prayer. At the end of the book you’ll find a discussion and action guide that has suggestions to take action that are both reasonable and impactful. Our world is a distant one covered with a façade, we are called to have compassion on this world, to not just see those in need, but to really see the heart of them and to take compassion on them. To use those action words. We really should live in a way that we would be proud if our great-great-great-grandchildren heard about how we responded to the world around us. In a way that we will be excited when the Lord holds are actions accountable to us, to have confidence that we made our Daddy proud! This book has truly challenged me in the way I respond to those around me, especially to those I may not be particularly fond of.
Don't judge a book by it's title? | Posted April-23-2013 To most Christians, Michael Spencer’s Mere Churchianity may seem to be a scary book.And it is if you focus less on a relationship with Jesus and more on churchianity, or a “church-dependent religion.” (186)This book should come with a warning to not be quick to judge. I fear that most would start reading and assume that Michael Spencer is against Christianity or even Christian communities in general. This however is not the case.I believe that he has a ministry that is reaching out to people that most Christians miss. Those that are leaving the church, not because they don’t believe in God, but because they don’t believe in what “His followers” are doing. And the reason why Christians miss this people group is because they are the ones pushing them away. Spencer gives the reader the freedom to actually read your bible and grow in a relationship with God that is in no way dependent on other people. He also highly encourages you to find a community.Maybe it’s not the typical Christian community most call the church; it could be as simple as a community consisting of all the neighborhood moms.So find a Jesus-shaped spirituality and read this book, maybe you’ll find your own journey.
GodsDanceralwayz's Music and Book Reviews 
