Forget Me Not - A Book Review

Recently I read Forget Me Not by Vicki Hinze. Believe it or not, this is the first mystery/suspense Christian novel I have ever read. I'm not sure why, but I've just never gotten into that genre of books before.



The back cover of Forget Me Not says:



Crossroads Crisis Center owner Benjamin Brandt was a content man- in his faith, his work, and his family. Then in a flash, everything he loved was snatched away. His wife and son were murdered, and grief-stricken Ben lost faith. Determination to find their killers keeps him going, but after three years of dead ends and torment, his hope is dying too. Why had he survived? He'd failed to protect his family.

Now a mysterious woman appears at Crossroads seeking answers and help - a victim who eerily resembles Ben's deceased wife, Susan. A woman robbed of her identity, her life, of everything except her faith - and Susan's necklace.

The connections between the two women mount, exceeding coincidence, and to keep the truth hidden, someone is willing to kill. Finding out who and why turns Ben and the mystery woman's situation from dangerous to deadly. Their only hope for survival is to work together, trust each other, and face whatever they discover head on, no matter how painful. But will that be enough to save their lives and heal their tattered hearts?



What I thought:

Since this is my first venture into the mystery/suspense genre, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised that I liked it so much. In fact, after reading the first couple of pages, I found it very hard to put the book down. I was a little surprised at the violence it contained - although nothing was graphic or even very discriptive - I still wasn't expecting it. I was pleased that there was such a strong salvation message in the book without being overly preachy or simplistic. Even though it was easy to guess some of the mysteries in the storyline, there were a couple of twists that I didn't see coming. By the end of the story there were several characters that kind of came out of nowhere and it made it a bit confusing to keep everyone straight. It's ending leaves the reader knowing that there will be a sequel. I love sequels.



Overall, I recommend this book. It was very entertaining, well-written and kept the reader throughly enthralled with the story.



Would you like a chance to read this book? I have an extra copy I would like to give away. Leave me a comment telling me you would like to read it and I will do a random drawing sometime next week. I will also announce the winner for the children's book I reviewed last week at the same time.



By the time May rolls around, I hope to be back to my regularly scheduled life, which means I plan to be blogging more. I miss it. I truly do.


This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Catching Up ...Book Review....And a Giveaway

So do you ever have those times when everything just seems so overwhelming? I know you do - and I'm there right now. I have over-committed myself in several areas - do you think I would ever learn? The sad thing that happens when I do that is that I don't feel like I do anything well. I just get by - and I really hate that. Hopefully by the first of next month things will be slowing down and I hope to take a deep breath and just be. Not do. Just be. Doesn't that sound lovely?



In the meantime, you wouldn't be wasting a prayer on me. Truly.



In the midst of all the things I am doing I came down with a horrible case of the stomach flu. Yuck - it knocked me down for 4 days. And it was the strangest flu- it made me very irritable and everything seemed so depressing. I've never experienced that with the flu before and I was so relieved on the fifth day when the clouds left (figuratively speaking anyway) and the sun came out again. I was getting a little worried about myself. I was nice enough to share it with family members so it hasn't left our house yet.



While I was sick I was laying in bed and I kept staring at my huge yarn stash that has started multiplying and creeping out all over my bedroom. When the kids moved in with us in November I gave my sewing/craft room to Tyler and my knitting took up lodging in my bedroom. It was to the point that it really needed to be dealt with. So on my first day of feeling human again I got a box of zip lock bags and organized all my yarn into projects and put each one into a zip lock bag with a copy of the instructions for whatever it is going to be inside with it. I love this idea - now I just have to grab a bag and I have an instant project. But I am not allowing myself to start a new project until next month, because, ahem, well, because of the aforementioned overcommitment issues I have.



One of my commitments is a sewing project I promised to my niece who is expecting a baby in June. I promised to make her nursery layette and I have finished the crib sheets and the bumper pads but I still need to finish the crib blanket and start the dust ruffle. I absolutely will not start another project until that is done. It's a bit more challenging these days to sew since I no longer have my sewing room. My sewing machine is in Jessica's room, the ironing board is in the laundry room, and the only space large enough to cut fabric is the island in my kitchen. It spreads me out all over the house! I think I can finish fairly quickly though and it will be good to have that project behind me.



I also had really good intentions of getting our taxes done early this year, but let's see, my calendar tells me April 15 is next week and I have yet to even start them. I guess we know what I will be doing this weekend.



And the biggest thing I have been dealing with is that I committed to speaking at a Woman's Retreat at the end of this month. I have never done this before for another church and I am scared to death! It didn't seem like that big of a deal about 6 months ago - but suddenly - wow - what was I thinking?!



And the yardwork, people. Oh the yardwork. It just mocks me everytime I glance out the window. I really need to do something to clean up my gardens and pond and fencelines, and well, just everything.



Well, thanks for listening to me whine! It feels better just to tell you all about it :)



In the meantime I have a fun book review to share.

This children's book was sent to me to review by Waterbook Multnomah Publishing. It is just the sweetest little book for kids. The first thing that struck me was the beautiful and colorful artwork. The pictures are large and life-like and every child has such great expression on their faces. The storyline teaches children how you can talk to God about everything - what is happening in your life - what you want to be when you grow up - relationships with your friends. It demonstrates how prayer is just as natural as breathing - a great lesson for kids to learn. I think the book is geared to kids in the 4 - 8 year range. I love how one of the pictures shows a child playing with a handheld game system - very relevant to the day. Would you like a copy of this book? I have one for you. All you have to do is be #8 to email me telling me you want it. My email address is rgryan(at)nnu(dot)edu.

I'll announce a winner soon. I hope. At least it will be on my list of things to do!

Two New Book Reviews and a Giveaway

And the winner is . . . . . Julie from Journal for Women. I'm so happy you won - I have enjoyed your blog for a long time.

Thanks for playing everyone - I always think it is so interesting to get emails from people I had no idea read my blog. Fun!

Relationships. We all have them. Some are easy and some are hard. Some go up and down and all around. Waterbrook Press sent me two books to review and they are all about relationships.

The first one is called Mother-Daughter Duet and it is written by a mother-daughter team, Cheri Fuller and Ali Plum. I was born the oldest of five daughters and I am the mother of four daughters and now the grandmother of a precious granddaughter. I know a little bit about how complicated female relationships can be. Every mother of a newborn daughter holds that bundle of pink and dreams of ribbons and bows, dance recitals and girl scouts. We don't think of all the times ahead of us that are filled with tension and strife. We can't imagine being anything but the best of friends with our little girls. But growing up is hard and this book is full of good advice on how to make it through the challenges that often occur. As a daughter, mom, sister and grandmother I highly recommend this book.

The next book is called Dancing With My Father written by Sally Clarkson. This is a beautiful book that concentrates on the pure joy in our relationship with God. It's about taking the time each day to spend in the presence of our Creator. It's about setting aside all the "stuff" in our day and intentionally choosing to be with the One who finds so much joy in us. It is refreshing and encouraging and a very good read. Sally's writing style is like sitting with a good friend and listening to her share. This book is a true delight.

If you would like an opportunity to read these books, be the fifth person to email me at rgryan(at)nnu(dot)edu. Include your mailing address and I will mail these to you right away. If you would like to buy one or both of them, click on the titles above.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Book Review - Angels by Dr.David Jeremiah

Like most people, I have always been fascinated by angels. I have never run into one that I'm aware of, but I have always wondered if I have "seen one unaware". So when Waterbrook Multnomah Press asked me to review "Angels" by Dr. David Jeremiah, I jumped at the opportunity.

It's a great read. What I appreciated about it the most is that it sticks ONLY with what the Bible has to say about angels. Dr. Jeremiah talks about who angels are and who they are not. I feel that I learned a lot from this little book and would recommend it to anyone with an interest in the subject of angels.

Here is the bio:

What are angels? What is their role in God’s plan? Are they present? Do they appear? Do they give us personal insight about our work, our worship?

Many contemporary beliefs about angels are based on misconception and myth. Dr. David Jeremiah uses scripture to unveil the remarkable truth about these agents of heaven, and their role and work in our world—and lives.

More than 60,000 units of this powerful book have sold in two past editions. This repackage of the original 1996 paperback will surely capture the attention of readers of all ages who seek a broad and thorough survey of scripture that clearly separates fact from fiction as it relates to angels. The book will appeal to the thousands who follow Dr. Jeremiah’s books, and radio and TV broadcasts.

Relevant, little known biblical facts help readers sharpen their knowledge and sensitivities toward the spiritual reality of angels. Dr. Jeremiah’s enlightening findings are supported with illustrations and insights from Billy Graham, Corrie ten Boom, C.S. Lewis, and more.

You can buy this book right here.


This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Book Review: Tea with Hezbollah

Tea With Hezbollah - Sitting At the Enemies Table - Our Journey Through the Middle East by Ted Dekker and Carl Medearis

When I agreed to review this book, I must have been in a hurry that day, because I truly thought I read that this was fiction. I imagined it being similar to The Kite Runner or something like that. When I received the book and thumbed through the pages I quickly realized how mistaken I was. This is a non-fiction book, a travel journal of sorts. It is the story of a 2 week trip through the Middle East involving meetings with high-level leaders of groups and militia that we would consider enemies of our country in every way. Mr. Dekker and Mr. Medearis desired to interview these men and ask them questions that would help their readers "get to know" them on a more personal level. The premise was that if we could see each other as just "people" and not "enemies" perhaps we would find it easier to practice Jesus' greatest command - Love your neighbor as yourself. So he asked questions such as "What makes you laugh?", "What movies to you like?" "What kind of a car do you drive?", "What misconceptions does the Arab world have about America?" and "What misconceptions do Arabs have of Americans?".

Fascinating idea. Fascinating book. Is it possible to obey Jesus' command when it comes to people in the Arab world, people we are told would love to kill us? Is it possible for them to love us in America?


What I thought .....


Mr. Dekker repeatedly states in the book that he was not interested in debating politics or religion. Personally, I don't think he batted 100% on that statement. I felt that he ventured into a bit of unnecessary criticism of America. Some of his statements should have at least been labeled as his own opinion instead of stating them as though they were facts of truth. However, I do believe overall he tried to be honest and I do believe that his quest was a genuine endeavor.



The book contains the actual transcripts of questions and answers with the people he interviewed. People such as Osama Bin Laden's brothers. Mufti's. Arab leaders in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Beruit, Damascus and Jerusalem. Some of these people have been targeted by our government as well as others to kill. How they were able to gain access is incredible and I wondered if the questions had been previewed or not. I suspect they may have been - but that's just my opinion.

The book was an easy read and hard to put down. It made me think about things that made me uncomfortable. It stretched my thinking. One thing in particular I learned was that the term "Christian" doesn't mean the same thing to all people as it does to me. In fact, all people in the eastern world view everyone in the west as Christians. The name of Christ has been distorted and stretched into something very unrecognizable to the people I know who bear His name.



Mr. Dekker never pointed out that although the religion of Islam accepts and reveres Jesus as a great prophet - they don't accept Him as the Son of God. In fact, the biggest problem the religion of Islam has with Christianity is that we believe that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are three in one. They are very offended by this and believe that we are polytheistic - the biggest offense there could be in their opinion. This matters a great deal in their conception of us and while they are okay with us promoting Jesus, they cannot accept that we worship Him - because they see Him as a totally separate "God". Perhaps making more of an effort to help them understand the Trinity could help in them understanding we do not worship more than one God.



I have always believed that the century's old struggle over a piece of land no bigger than the state of Rhode Island has much more to do with spiritual warfare than it has to do with the never ending fight between the people who inhabit the earth. This is bigger than anything humanity is capable of solving. This is more than we can comprehend. The spiritual battle is not going to be resolved until the day the trumpet sounds. I don't think we can really expect the physical battle to stop before then either.



Did Jesus give the world an impossible teaching? I don't think so. We are human, so we will never do it perfectly. But I believe this command was given to individuals, not governments. The parable of the Good Samaritan was shared to help us as individuals - to teach us how to behave, how to live. By following Jesus' teaching we will become more Christlike and through that our governments will improve - but governments will never be completely made up of followers of Christ. I don't believe governments will ever be able to live in perfect peace - Jesus said the same thing. I was thankful that Mr. Dekker declared he was not a pacifist and he was not promoting pacifism. I believe in "Peace through strength" and I appreciate our country's strong military. It is necessary to keep us safe.

In conclusion, I started reading this book certain I would not like it. I am proud of my country and proud to be an American and I felt this book was going to bash America - which is so popular these days. I ended up feeling glad that I read it. As I said earlier, it stretched my thinking and gave me new ideas to consider. I am begging my husband to read it so we can discuss it. This is the kind of book that needs to be discussed.



Would you like to read this book? Waterbrook Multnomah sent me an extra copy to give away on my blog. Leave a comment telling me what middle eastern country, if any, you would like to visit. I will leave this contest open until this Friday the 29th at noon. And then I will draw a name to find a winner.

If you would like to purchase a copy you may go here, here or here.

This book was provided for review by the Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

The One Day Way

Update - Wow, being it is Sunday I didn't check my email until this evening. I am happy to announce that the winner of The One Day Way is my very own sister, Lisa, who lives in North Dakota! Congratulations Lisa - I will put the book in the mail tomorrow!

Many times the fresh new start that January brings is to our plans to lose weight. Waterbrook Press sent me a book to review and I would like to take the opportunity to share it with you.

I have struggled with weight for many years and I do not believe there is a solution or weight loss program that will work magic. To me the key to success is a lifestyle change - and that is major. I don't like diet plans or formulas that guarentee that you will lose X amount of weight in X amount of time. It's all a gimmick in my opinion.

That is why I liked this book - The One Day Way. It is a practical approach that doesn't offer any magic recipes or techniques. Instead it shares mostly about how to "think" about a diet. How to live it. One day at a time.

Author Chantel Hobbs breaks the chains of past diet debacles and frees readers from unrealistic goals. She teaches daily fitness tasks that develop into lasting habits. By focusing energy and attention on doing the right things every day, she frees readers to achieve their weight-loss goals one day at a time.

I’ve got great news for you: You are about to feel better and look better beginning today! Today is truly a new opportunity for you to reach your weight loss goals. No, you won’t fit into your “skinny jeans” today, but I’m going to show you how each day will get you closer to that goal.

Yesterday’s mistakes are gone so let them go. You can’t control tomorrow, so stop worrying about it. Today is your opportunity to lose weight, get strong, and look great. It won’t happen overnight, but you can build a new life by changing your actions immediately and I’m here to show you how to make the changes that will create the new lifestyle you dream of: body, mind, and spirit. Best of all, you will start celebrating right away!

Come on, my friend. Let’s get started! By opening this book, I’ll show you how to unlock every tool you need to lose weight and get fit —and stay that way for the rest of your life. Success can be yours, what are you waiting for?

Chantel

The One-Day Way produces lasting results by taking you back to basics. No more complicated weight-loss strategies. No more expensive diet plans that achieve only temporary results. Instead, you will lose weight and get fit with Chantel Hobbs’s simple, high-energy meal plans and her at-home program for cardio exercise and strength training. She will teach you how to change the way you think, which leads to new actions. Before you know it you will be strong, fit, and healthy. All it takes is doing things differently for twenty-four hours—and then repeating it.

The One-Day Way gives you everything you need to lose weight and get fit in body, mind, and spirit:

* Break free from past dieting defeats
* Learn a realistic, life-changing way to measure success
* Change the way you think so you can change your life
* Translate your dreams into goals, and your goals into lasting achievements
* Get strong with thirty-one simple exercises, no fancy equipment required
* Take advantage of ten ways to eat better while you lose weight

By focusing on food, faith, and fitness, Chantel shows you not only how to lose weight, but how to build the new life you were designed to live. You don’t have to wait any longer. The One-Day Way gives you all the tools for success, starting right now.

Author Bio:

The author of Never Say Diet and The Never Say Diet Personal Fitness Trainer, Chantel Hobbs is a motivational speaker, life coach, personal trainer, marathon runner, wife, and mother of four whose story has been featured on Oprah, The Today Show, Good Morning America, Fox & Friends, the 700 Club, and the covers of People and First magazines. She appears weekly on two fitness-themed radio programs and promotes her One-Day Way Learning System on television. Visit Chantel at ChantelHobbs.com for fitness updates and coaching tips.

[For more information about this book, visit the publisher's web site.]

Note: A copy of this book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing was kind enough to send me another copy of this book for a give away on my blog. So the first person who emails me their mailing address to rgryan(at)nnu(dot)edu will be sent a copy. Good luck!

Start Your New Year Right

Need a new devotional for the new year? Here's one to consider:40 Loaves: Breaking Bread with Our Father Each Day

Why don’t I have more faith?Why am I so bored with Jesus?Why don’t I feel connected at church?
These are the types of questions the religious establishment often makes it uncomfortable, if not impossible, to ask. And by asking them, C. David Baker, author of 40 Loaves: Breaking Bread with Our Father Each Day hopes to start a conversation in people’s hearts, then with others, and ultimately with God. Many circles of Christianity have led us to believe that certainty and confidence are the proof of true spirituality; questions are discouraged.
But Jesus offered his followers an ongoing conversation—a relationship built around a free, open-ended discussion. Questions were encouraged. They were often impertinent, sometimes alarming, and the religious establishment was distinctly uncomfortable with them … just as it is today.
“40 Loaves is something of a collection of the kinds of questions I felt finally free to ask of myself and of my relationship with Christ,” says Baker. “It’s my belief that these questions are shared by many others who long for the freedom to simply ask them out loud. I hope this book becomes a platform that frees others to search their hearts more deeply and be fed with the Bread of life.”
Each “loaf” here is a big question that stimulates discussion, investigation, and contemplation; it will take hours—or days—to digest. Conversational, inviting, disarming, and real, 40 Loaves nourishes self-examination and offers validation for those who feel discouraged, guilty, or even shamed when the realities of their lives don’t match up with the ideals of the Christian establishment.
C. David Baker founded an award-winning business before redirecting his career to write full-time from his small farm in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He is the author of eight books, including six novels, one of which was nominated for a Christy Award. He has contributed articles to the Christian History Institute’s international publication Glimpses, and to Christian Singles magazine. Baker has a Master’s degree in theological studies from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.
This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

Stocking Stuffer Books

TREASURED by Leigh McLeroy

Cigar boxes. Refrigerator doors. Scrapbooks and sock drawers and top shelves. These are the places we store our treasures–the keepsakes that tell the story of whom and what we’ve loved, how we’ve lived, and what matters most to us.

God is a collector, too, whose treasures are tucked securely into the pages of his book: a golden bell here, an olive leaf there, a scarlet thread, a blood-stained cloth, a few grains of barley. Each of these saved artifacts reveals a facet of his heart and tells the story of a Father whose most precious possession is…us.

In Treasured, Leigh McLeroy considers tangible reminders of God’s active presence and guides us in discovering evidence in our own lives of his attentive love.

GOD GAVE US LOVE by Lisa Tawn Bergren

As Little Cub and Grampa Bear’s fishing adventure is interrupted by mischievous otters, the young polar bear begins to question why we must love others… even the seemingly unlovable.

In answering her questions, Grampa Bear gives tender explanations that teach Little Cub about the different kinds of love that is shared between families, friends, and mamas and papas. Grampa explains that all these kinds of love come from God and that it is important to love others because ... “Any time we show love, Little Cub, we’re sharing a bit of his love.”

This sweet tale will warm the hearts of young children as they learn about all the different sorts of love, while the gentle explanations of each provide a valuable opportunity to encourage children to share with others a “God-sized love.”



GOD GAVE US CHRISTMAS by Lisa Tawn Bergren

As Little Cub and her family prepare to celebrate the most special day of the year, the curious young polar bear begins to wonder… “Who invented Christmas?” Mama’s answer only leads to more questions like “Is God more important than Santa?” So she and Little Cub head off on a polar expedition to find God and to see how he gave them Christmas. Along the way, they find signs that God is at work all around them. Through Mama’s gentle guidance, Little Cub learns about the very first Christmas and discovers that ... Jesus is the best present of all.

This enchanting tale provides the perfect opportunity to help young children celebrate the true meaning of Christmas and to discover how very much God loves them.

It seems hard these days to find good children's books that teach about God. Both of these books are books that I will read to my grandchildren over and over again.
These books can be purchased by clicking here.

These books were provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

White Picket Fences - A Book Review

Oh I have failed. I have failed miserably. I made a promise to Waterbrook Press that I would read and post about the books they are sending me. I have been good on my word - until last week. And then with the trip to California, and seeing my little grandboy, and bringing them all home with me to live for a while - well, I guess life just got in the way.

And that's not an excuse. But it is a reason.

So I am a week late.

And worse, I haven't even finished the book.

Regardless, I am going to share my opinion of this book because it is a good one. Really.

White Picket Fences is a novel written by Susan Meissner. It is a story about a family that seems to have it all together on the outside. But guess what? They are a lot like my family - and maybe even your family. They have issues.

Now, as I have said I have not finished the book - in fact I am still in the first third of the pages. But I am mesmerized by it. Honestly. It is different. It is attention grabbing. It is page-turning. It is edgy. I am captivated by Susan's writing style - it is beautiful.

Sometimes I hear people say they don't like reading Christian literature because the style is all the same. Goody goody. Predictable. Not gripping enough to stay with. If you are one of those - you will be pleased - really, really pleased with this book. I challenge you to read this book. In fact I double dog dare you to check it out!

One of the most interesting things about it is the way the storyline parallels the story of the Holocaust. I won't say anymore because, well, you just need to read it for yourself.

And WaterBrook Press has given me a copy to give away. So today if you will leave me a comment telling me what YOU are busy with in life right now - I will put you in a drawing that will take place on Monday - after Thanksgiving.

And speaking of Thanksgiving, I am working on a post about making Pumpkin Rolls. Hopefully I will have that up soon, assuming of course that life doesn't interfere again!

If you don't want to wait to see if you can win a copy - buy one here, here, or here.

This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

Leaving Carolina - A Book Review

Have you ever wished you were somebody else? I mean have you ever maybe wished your family tree had more exotic foliage on it and not just have the ordinary green leaves? Have you ever wanted to leave your hometown and move somewhere exciting where things are "happening"? Do you have a secret from your past that you wished never had happened, but you have never dealt with it, preferring to move far, far away and just ignore it?

Well, these are all issues that Piper Wick, aka Piper Pickwick is dealing with. And she is learning the hard way that even though you might be able to escape reality for a season, the truth will ALWAYS find you out. But even better, the truth will ALWAYS set you free.

Leaving Carolina is Tamara Leigh's latest novel but it is the first one I have read. Written in first person, it is the type of novel that draws you in immediately by teasing you with just enough storyline to make you want to read further and just enough back story to keep you piecing it all together. I truly enjoyed Tamara's writing style of incorporating humor, mystery and romance into one delightful, easy-to-read package. You might be able to take the girl out of the south - but you can never take the south out of the girl! I always enjoy reading about the south - they just seem to be the most fun people!

Personally, I enjoy Christian contemporary novels but I do find a lot of them to be unrealistic and a little too sugary-sweet. Leaving Carolina does not fall into that category and I look forward to reading more of Tamara Leigh's novels. I think this would be a great read for a book club as well, because it would propagate lots of discussion questions.

If you would like to purchase this book you can go here, here or here.

This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

Kiss Me Again

Today is a blogging book review day. I am reviewing "Kiss Me Again" by Barbara Wilson. This book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

I have been our church's wedding coordinator for several years and have had the pleasure of assisting my husband in performing weddings both in and out of our church. Mostly it is fun and exciting. Always it is a lot of work :)

But I have noticed a trend over the years that bothers me. It bothers me as a woman, as a wife, and as a Christian. I have noticed that there has been a huge attitude shift towards living or sleeping together before marriage. It just isn't that big of a deal to people anymore. I realize that this is something that has always happened, but it used to be that even though people did it - they still knew it was wrong and felt guilt over it. Nowadays there are many people who either don't care or don't think that it is wrong. Some women get pregnant and wait to get married until the baby is born because they still want a big wedding someday - it's all about the beautiful dress and fancy party. Much more thought and planning is given to the wedding than is the actual marriage. This is happening out of the church and sadly it is happening in the church.

God designed the sanctity of marriage for many reasons. It doesn't matter if we agree with Him or not - it is God's decree. His requirement that we wait until marriage is actually a loving form of protection He has provided for us. He desires to protect our hearts and our spirits. God isn't just making up a bunch of rules for us to live by because He wants to be a tyrant. He knows us and He knows how we work. He knows what will damage us and He desires the best for us. But somehow when our society thinks of "laws" and "rules" we think of oppression and submission. We want to do it our own way, our own situation is "different" and we go on our own way not even realizing how we are inviting all kinds of harm and hurt into our hearts. We choose to only live in the moment.

Barbara Wilson, in her book "Kiss Me Again" addresses all the issues that intimacy before marriage bring after the marriage. She shares how she has counseled many women who now in marriage relationships have lost their desire for intimacy. This book is also a "workbook" that teaches you how to break free from the invisible bonds our past choices/experiences have placed upon us.

Barbara Wilson has vast experience in this area. She has also written The Invisible Bond and is the former director of sexual health education for the Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Center in Sacramento. She speaks nationwide to youth and adults with her message of sexual healing, and she teaches frequently in the women’s ministry at the multi-campus Bayside Church in Northern California.

While this topic isn't one that is easy to talk about, there is a great need for it. This isn't a light read. If you struggle with your past se*x*ual history you will find this book helpful. Perhaps this book would be a catalyst to opening conversations within women's Bible study's and prayer groups. Every church library would benefit by having this book available. If you would like to purchase it for yourself or your church library you can go here, here, or here.

Waterbrook press has also given me a copy of this book to give away. If you would like a copy of this book, email me a rgryan(at)nnu(dot)edu. The first email I get will get the book and I will not announce a winner on my blog. Confidentiality, you know.

And We Have A Winner

Actually you are all winners. But the random number generator could only pick one of you to win the book, "The Sound of Sleighbells" and that winner is . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Karen at Over the Backyard Fence!

Congratulations Karen. Email me your address and I will pop it in the mail on Monday.

And there will be more book reviews and prizes to come.

The Perfect Weekend and a Giveaway at the End of This Post

It is Monday and I am back at work. Usually I come back to work and recover from my weekend. Life in the ministry does not ordinarily come with relaxing weekends. But this weekend......this weekend was different. It was perfect. Here is how it went:

Friday night I went to dinner with a girlfriend. We spent hours just talking about girl stuff. What fun! Do you know how long it has been since I have gone out with a girlfriend? I can't even remember - that's how long it has been. I am determined to change that. We had a great time and it made for a perfect Friday evening.

Saturday:


No alarm clock.


Three cups of coffee with my husband in front of the fireplace.


Prayer time together with my husband.


I went to my sewing room to work on a baby quilt. He went to the garage to build a workbench- a project he has wanted to do for 10 YEARS.


Coffee break together.


Back to our corners. I finished my baby quilt. He finished his workbench.


Celebrated our accomplishments over coffee with cookies this time.


Gave one of the dogs a bath and a quick hair cut.


Ran to the store to buy dinner at the deli.


Knit the rest of the evening while watching tv.


A perfect Saturday.



Sunday:


Coffee and prayer in front of the fireplace again.


Put a roast in the oven.


A great church service.


Dinner with the kids.


Played with Ava Claire.


Cut out coupons.


Played with Ava Claire.


Baked some cookies.


Played with Ava Claire.


A perfect Sunday.



Somewhere in there I also found time to finish a book. Awhile back I received an email from Waterbrook Multnomah Press wondering if I would be interested in receiving some free books. There was a small catch - I just had to review the books on my blog. Oh, and then if I wouldn't mind, would I give a free book to one of my readers.

It took all of about 10 seconds to make up my mind about that. So here we are. Oh, and excuse me a minute while I take care of a bit of legal business.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Okay, on to the business at hand.


The Sound of Sleighbells by Cindy Woodsmall Amish life, tragedy, mystery, mistaken identity and the angst of love are all a part of Cindy Woodsmall's latest novel, The Sound of Sleighbells. Beth, a young and beautiful woman who is living in grief long after what is deemed the appropriate amount of time following the death of her fiancee', has a secret. And this secret is about to do her in. At least that is what her spinster aunt believes. So she takes matters into her own hands. In another Amish community a young man, Jonah, is slowly recovering after a tragic accident in his own life. His gift of wood carving has brought much healing into his life. But he never imagined it could be used in the healing of another as well.

I have always loved Christmas books. In fact I have a collection of Christmas stories that I pack away with all my ornaments and I bring them out each year to enjoy again during each Christmas season. Cindy Woodsmall's book is the type that can be enjoyed sitting in front of the fireplace while drinking a mug of cider. It is a light read with a storyline that is rather predictable, but nonetheless it leaves you with a satisfied feeling. It's Christmas-y conclusion is just right to enjoy during the holiday season. If you enjoy reading books of the Amish genre - you will enjoy this story.

If you would like to purchase this gift, perhaps for a Christmas gift or stocking stuffer, just click here, or at CBD or Amazon.

Or even better, if you would like to win a copy of The Sound of Sleighbells, how about if you leave me a comment telling me what your favorite Christmas book is. Or movie. What book or movie do you have to read or watch every December before the season feels just right to you? I will add your name to a random drawing that will take place on Friday, October 19.


Monday morning. Basking in the memory of the perfect weekend. Talking to my blog friends. Giving away a book. So far, this has all the markings of a perfect Monday!