The Practice of Godliness by Jerry Bridges

Link for the book @ NavPress:
http://www.navpress.com/product/9780891099413/The-Practice-of-Godliness-Jerry-Bridges

Link for the discussion guide @ NavPress:
http://www.navpress.com/product/9780891094982/The-Practice-of-Godliness-Discussion-Guide-Jerry-Bridges
Link for the book/study guide @ CB:
http://www.christianbook.com/the-practice-godliness-book-study-guide/jerry-bridges/pd/99449X?event=CF

Jerry Bridges information from Navigator website:
http://www.navigators.org/us/staff/bridges

 I had a difficult time finding the exact book cover that I have, what is displayed is the exact replica of what I read.

I feel The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges should be read before reading The Practice of Godliness.
The Pursuit of Holiness is about taking off the old self--the sin nature.
The Practice of Godliness is about putting on the new self--the new creation/holy in Christ Jesus.

My previous review of The Pursuit of Holiness:
http://awell-wateredgarden.blogspot.com/2010/06/pursuit-of-holiness-by-jerry-bridges.html

Published by NavPress in 1983, 1996 and 2008
Book has 240 pages
Discussion Guide has 72 pages

List of Christian character traits in the Bible:
Galatians 5: 22-23
Colossians 3: 12-16
Ephesians 4: 2-3, 32
James 3: 17
2 Peter: 1: 5-7

The highlight of my summer by far has been in reading these two books by Jerry Bridges----
The Pursuit of Holiness and The Practice of Godliness.
I am in BSF during the fall and spring, during the summer I feel dry and in need of deep Bible study. Jerry Bridges' two books were just what I needed.
The author has written in seventeen short chapters what is means, and how to grow, to be a person that has holy/godly character.
Some examples are: humility, contentment, joy, self-control, and patience.
I took eleven pages of notes on the book! I looked up the Scriptures that were given---this is so important to do!!!
As a human and Christian it seems impossible that I will ever attain a godly character on earth, yet Scripture encourages me to never give up. As a believer in Christ Jesus I am not called to be like the kosmos--the world, I am called to become more and more like Jesus. I am to reflect Him in my life, for His glory and for a living testimony of what He has and is doing in my life. Praise His Holy name!
The area I feel I am most lacking in (of course all areas need work) is contentment.
For those who do not know, I live with my elderly dad in his home and care for him full-time. My husband works in another city and is only here on the weekends. We have lived under this arrangement for over 8 years. Contentment is difficult, I miss my husband terribly and at times I feel sorry for myself; yet in the same breath I know and understand that this is God's will for my life....at least for this season. I have some days that are a struggle to be content, other days are fine. Then there are some days that satan tries to really hammer it on me. I endure, persevere, pray all the time, memorize Scripture.
This book has helped me more that words could ever express in this review. Thank you Jerry Bridges!

I feel this book would be excellent for small group discussion.
The discussion guide is a condensed version of the book. There are Scriptures that are taken from the book and looked at more deeply, included are great questions on which to ponder and discuss.

Favorite quotes from the book:
"...godly is more than Christian character. Devotion to God is more than a warm fuzzy, it is always devotion in action. Devotion is an attitude towards God."

"The practice of godliness is first of all the cultivation of a relationship with God, and from this the cultivation of a life that is pleasing to God. Our concept of God and our relationship with Him determine our conduct."

"The contented person experiences the sufficiency of God's provision for his needs and the sufficiency
of God's grace for his circumstances. A godly person has found satisfaction and rest in his soul."

This book was provided for me for free by NavPress for the purpose of reading/reviewing.

Blissful Reading!
Annette

2010 Christy Awards

The Christy Awards were held last Saturday night.
The award was named in honor of the author Catherine Marshall's book Christy.
The award program began in 1999 as a way to recognize those books in Christian fiction that were outstanding. 

The winners are:

Contemporary Romance:
Breach of Trust by DiAnn Mills, Tyndale House Publishers

Contemporary Series, Sequels, Novellas:
Who Do I Talk To? by Neta Jackson, Thomas Nelson

Contemporary Stand Alone:
The Passion of Mary-Margaret by Lisa Samson, Thomas Nelson

First Novel:
Fireflies In December by Jennifer Erin Valent, Tyndale House Publishers

Historical:
Though Waters Roar by Lynn Austen, Bethany House: a Division of Baker Publishing Group

Historical Romance:
The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen, Bethany House: a Division of Baker Publishing Group

Suspense:
Lost Mission by Athol Dickson, Howard Books: A Division of Simon & Schuster

Visionary:
By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson, Marcher Lord Press

Young Adult:
North! Or Be Eaten by Andrew Peterson, WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing a Division of Random House


I have personally congratulated some of these winners, but I will say it again-----so proud for all of you,
congratulations!!!

Blissful Blogging!
Annette

Guess What I Bought?

I bought a Kindle last Saturday. Yes, I know some of you have strong opinions about these e-reader machines.
I spent weeks searching and contemplating, you would have thought I was buying a car.
I am pleased with my purchase. I have two books I'm reading on my Kindle--one for an author, this book is Jacob's Courage by Chuck Weinblatt. Jacob's Courage will be reviewed on my other blog @ Impressions In Ink.
I'm also reading My Lady of Cleves by Margaret Campbell Barnes.
From now on when I post reviews I will be stating whether the book was read in a book or e-reader.

Blissful Blogging!
Annette

Intervention by Terri Blackstock

Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/Intervention-Novel-Terri-Blackstock/dp/031025065X

CB link:
http://www.christianbook.com/intervention-terri-blackstock/9780310250654/pd/250654

Publisher link:
http://www.zondervan.com/Cultures/en-US/Product/ProductDetail.htm?ProdID=com.zondervan.9780310250654&QueryStringSite=Zondervan
Authors website:
http://www.terriblackstock.com/

Intervention is a New York Times bestseller

YouTube for the book:

Published by Zondervan, 2009, 336 pages, Fiction/Suspense/Mystery

This is the first book I've read by Terri Blackstock. It is an awesome read!!

Barbara Covington is a widowed middle age woman struggling to raise an addicted teenage daughter and a younger teenage son. The daughter is Emily a bright and beautiful girl, she has so much to live for--yet her body and mind and spirit is full of the addiction that is eating at her like a parasite. The brother is Lance, he is a precocious, intelligent, and insightful boy. Barbara has been trying to "hold it together" during these years after her husbands death; she is stoic--maybe too stoic, appearing icy and unapproachable. Babara finally makes the decision to send Emily to a rehab center via an interventionist. The intervention goes as planned, Emily as was predicted is combative, but finally complies. Emily and the interventionist leave, later the interventionist is found dead and Emily is missing. Barbara and Lance, as well as the police are searching for Emily.  Detective Kent Harlan becomes apart of the story, he is calm, cool, and experienced.

I felt this was a gripping, raw, bitter, pungent, scary, suspenseful, hard to put down book.
The character Emily is displayed for the reader in all the fierceness and ugliness of what addiction does to a  person. Barbara her mother grasps at what is the right thing to do for her daughter. Barbara is a charge ahead woman, at times bull headed; but the love she has for her children is almost tangible for the reader.
I felt this is a story that has great importance, most of us know of someone that is in the grip of an addiction.
The story helps us to better be able to understand what the addict is capable of, how they are feeling, the spiral in to the addiction, and what the result will be unless rehabilitation comes.

Blissful Reading!
Annette

Photo's of Kalani

Last Saturday was Kalani's 7th birthday and we had a party for her in her hospital room. She is doing great!

Thank you for praying!

Blissful Blogging!
Annette

Answered Prayer!

Are you ready to do a little shouting and dancing???


The little girl Kalani (my granddaughters best friend) that I shared with you that had liver cancer. She had surgery almost 2 weeks ago to remove a very large tumor on her liver. Her abdomen was swollen and they left her open a few days. Later they took her back to the OR to remove the packing and she had heavy bleeding from this surgery, they were able to close her up, and since then she has continued to improve.
Today the final pathology report came back that she did have a stage 1 cancer, it was not the kind of cancer that spreads to other organs, the cancer was contained in the 1 tumor and that was removed. Kalani needs no further treatments, as soon as she is able she can go home!
Her 7th birthday is this Saturday June 26.

Remember, all of the praise and all of the glory belongs to Jesus alone!

Praise the Lord!
Annette

Stumbling Souls: Is Love Enough? by Chris Plekenpol

Amazon link for the book:
http://www.amazon.com/Stumbling-Souls-Enough-Chris-Plekenpol/dp/1934068217

B&B Media blog post on the book:
http://tbbmedia.blogspot.com/2010/05/stumbling-souls-is-love-enough.html

CB link for the book:
http://www.christianbook.com/stumbling-souls-is-love-enough/chris-plekenpol/9781934068212/pd/068212



Stumbling Souls website:
http://www.stumblingsouls.com/

I Am Second

Biblica  published 2010, 242 pages,
The B&B Media Group

This is the true and powerful story of the authors testimony of love in action. The author Chris Plekenpol a student at Dallas Theological Seminary and a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, met a man named James.
This book came from his experience in helping this man--a gay, drug addicted, HIV positive, homeless man in Dallas, Texas.
Chris invites James to attend a mens Bible study--bringing him to the meetings. He also fed him and helped him out with giving him money. He eventually brings him home to stay in his apartment. 
Chris as well as all of the men in the Bible study group pray over James, and work to try and straighten out his life, and put him on the road to a "Jesus" recovery.

The book is written with honesty and directness.
It resembles a journal type book, yet it is not constrained by precise dates and times.
The author has a relaxed and candid writing style.
Chris expresses his anxieties and prejudices in helping James. The honesty of his feelings made him very real in my mind--very relatable.
I enjoyed this book immensely, it is a different kind of book--a rarity to read a book of a persons struggles with those people we are not comfortable with. We all have a comfort zone, we only stray so far then our zone fence raises. We all see those people on the side of the road asking for money, or those walking down the street with all their belongings in a small bag. Rarely will we actually stop and take the time to bring this person food, instead a few of us roll the window down and hand them spare change we have. I've watched the actions of people sitting in their cars when they are approached by the homeless asking for money---usually they turn their head away. But, I've never heard of someone taking in to their home a homeless person. As a woman I would not do this, I would not feel safe. I can understand Chris a single guy that has life experience--combat experience, he would be better able to do this.
This book is thought provoking and has made me view the homeless in a different manner. It is always different when you have a name and a life story, instead of just a face--or a profile.
This book has encouraged me to live the love I profess in Christ and in others "in action"--not just with family (I feel I do this), but with "the least of these." see Matthew 25:45
This book was written to be a motivation for Christians to step up to the forefront in loving others--not just saying that you love them--but loving them in action.

My favorite quote:
"If we're going to be Jesus to our culture, it's going to cost us. We must die to ourselves and give our lives away in order to see that transformation in others." page 223 

Blissful Reading!
Annette

Beguiled by Deeanne Gist and J. Mark Bertrand

Link for the book @ publisher:
http://www.bethanyhouse.com/ME2/Audiences/dirmod.asp?sid=0477683E4046471488BD7BAC8DCFB004&nm=&type=PubCom&mod=PubComProductCatalog&mid=BF1316AF9E334B7BA1C33CB61CF48A4E&tier=3&id=2677007A9C314B138DB6AC62D1680421

Deeanne Gist website:
http://www.deeannegist.com/

J. Mark Bertrand website:
http://www.jmarkbertrand.com/

Published by Bethany House 2010, 336 pages

I was sent this book for free as I am the book coordinator at my church and occasionally Bethany House sends me books. I chose to read/review Beguiled.

Rylee Monroe is a young and beautiful woman that lives in Charleston, South Carolina. Rylee is a dog walker and she has inadvertently stumbled in to an investigation of the Robin Hood burglar.
A reporter named Logan Woods is trying to uncover the case of the burglar. His boss is aggressively demanding a story on the real burglar that is targeting Charleston.
Logan and Rylee are pulled in together not only to a building relationship, but to the discovery of who the Robin Hood burglar is.

It took till the middle of the book for me to be swept away by the events in the story. The beginning of the book was working to build its case for the plot, it was heavy on romance. It seemed as if something was missing in the first 1/2 and I can't quite put my little finger on it, maybe it dragged a little, or maybe after reading several nonfiction books in a row I was not in the romantic frame of mind.
The book did pick up and I was glad that I stayed with it.
It has a good resolving of the story in the end.
I liked the twist at the end, but was not completely surprised with the real perpetrator.
There is suspense and mystery, but heavy on romance.
There are a couple of instances of the characters praying, little reference to God.
All in all I felt it was an okay book.
I have noticed that this book has received a lot of publicity.
I wonder how publishers decide what books get more publicity than others?

Blissful Reading!
Annette

The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges

I received the book The Practice of Godliness from NavPress for reading and reviewing, not knowing that The Pursuit of Holiness was book one of these two. In book one The Pursuit of Holiness Jerry Bridges writes on taking off the old self---the old nature, in The Practice of Godliness he writes on putting on the new self---godly Christian character. It just so happens that on my book shelf sat The Pursuit of Holiness patiently waiting for me to read it.

This book was bought by me for the purpose of reading/reviewing.

Publisher link:
http://www.navpress.com/ 

Link for the book at the publisher:
http://www.navpress.com/product/9781576839324/The-Pursuit-of-Holiness-Jerry-Bridge

Published paperback in 2006, 160 pages

The title of the book comes from Hebrews 12:14
"Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord."
While reading this book I took 8 pages of notes. I'm a note taker, every book no matter if it is fiction or nonfiction I take notes, but not usually 8 pages.
This book is to me a classic. You are probably asking what constitutes a classic, a short definition by me is a classic is a book that is so well written that it resonates with its readers no matter how many years after the book has been written.
To say that I must be holy scares me, because I don't feel that it is attainable, not in this lifetime.
Yet that is what I am urged to do.
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship." Romans 12:1
Jerry Bridges explains that "holiness is a process-something we never completely attain in this life...As we begin to conform to the will of God in one area of life, He reveals to us our need in another area. That is why we will always be pursuing-as opposed to attaining-holiness in this life."
This is the purpose of Christian nonfiction: for teaching, guiding, making clear, and to spur us onward in our walk with Christ Jesus.
Jerry Bridges explains in a such a way that the veil of misunderstanding or apprehension, is removed.
The word holy means "separation to God, and the conduct befitting those so separated."
I am a Christian a believer in Jesus Christ, this means I cannot live like the kosmos/world lives.
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
The word bought in the above Scripture is agorazo in Greek it is a verb meaning, "to buy, purchase, this refers to buying and acquiring possessions, as in a market place, and to setting a slave free through purchase, often to God's purchase (redemption) of sinners." Definition from The Strongest NIV Exhaustive Concordance by Zondervan. 
I loved this book, I am so thankful that I have read this book at just the right time--the ordained time that I needed to read this book. I am looking forward to finishing and then reviewing The Practice of Godliness.

Blissful Reading!
Annette

The Victor by Marlayne Giron

http://www.thevictorbook.com/

Link for the book at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Victor-Marlayne-Giron/dp/1607991845

Authors blog:
http://wishfulfillmentstories.blogspot.com/
Tate Publishing & Enterprises, 2009, 276 pages, for ages 9-12, Christian Fantasy

Cover by Kandi Evans, Interior Design by Joey Garrett, Illustrations by Cindy Jordan

This book was given to me for free from the author for the purpose of reading/reviewing, and as a donation to our future children's library at our church. Maybe you remember from an earlier post that our church burned January 19 of this year. 

There are 2 book trailers:



A Riveting and Romantic Tale! The Victor by Marlayne Giron

Marlayne | MySpace Video
The Victor is the story of 2 men both fighting for control of the kingdom of Ellioth. Lucius is evil and he provokes and entices the people away from their rightful and just king Eloth. A battle ensues between Lucius and Eloth's son Joshua. Joshua is a man of valor and he fights for Ellioth because of his love and dedication to his people, and because of his abiding and immovable love for the woman that he loves.
I loved this book! I felt it was a beautiful romantic allegory. Yet, it is deeper than a human romantic story, it is the the story of Christ's love for us.
The story is set during medieval time, with knights and swords, kings and kingdoms.
The story is written for children ages 9-12, but I felt that a person of any age would be enthralled by it.
It is a story of good and evil, the plot takes you through to the end showing valorous and perseverance, and above all hope.
I did feel it would have helped to have a list of characters in the front of the book, I'm a stickler for a list of characters in a story that has many. The characters have names that maybe hard to pronounce for a child of 9-12 and this list would help as well as a pronunciation of them, for example the name Llyonesse--I think it is pronounced Lioneese.
I think the cover of the book is lovely and dreamy. There are illustrations dispersed throughout the book that are in pen and ink, they bring a sharper image to the readers mind.

Blissful Reading!
Annette

I Forgot

I forgot to mention that 13 days ago was my 3 year anniversary on this blog. I started blogging on Wordpress in early 2007 not knowing what I was doing....at all. I persevered, read other blogs, read, read some more, allowed the Holy Spirit to take over, then read some more. The product that you see now is not the finished product, it is an ever evolving and changing mission. I do feel that this is my mission, I have no idea where the Lord will take me on this adventure, but it has been a marvelous journey!

Blissful Blogging!
Annette

Roundabout

Roundabout is a post I try and do 1-2 times per month. I visit all of the blog's that I follow and then post on this Roundabout those I found that were noteworthy. I now follow 92 blog's....whew!

http://toddpruitt.blogspot.com/
Todd had 2 posts that I found great:
http://toddpruitt.blogspot.com/2010/06/what-is-gospel.html
and
http://toddpruitt.blogspot.com/2010/06/piper-on-genesis-1-2.html

http://fewmorepages.blogspot.com/
An interesting meme to participate in: 
http://fewmorepages.blogspot.com/2010/06/book-beginnings-on-friday-fahrenheit.html

http://apatchworkofbooks.blogspot.com/A review that caught my eye:
http://apatchworkofbooks.blogspot.com/2010/06/red-thread-review.html

http://pjcockrell.wordpress.com/
2 posts on J. I. Packer
http://pjcockrell.wordpress.com/2010/06/06/packer-the-priority-for-every-human-being/
and
http://pjcockrell.wordpress.com/2010/06/05/ji-packer-interview/

http://blbooks.blogspot.com/
A post on writing negative book reviews
http://blbooks.blogspot.com/2010/06/on-writing-negative-reviews.html

Several blogger's took part in a Bloggieista

 The blog that led the Bloggiesta was:
http://blog.mawbooks.com/

A new nonfiction book (I will be posting on this book in the coming week) from--
http://tbbmedia.blogspot.com/
http://tbbmedia.blogspot.com/2010/06/stumbling-souls-is-love-enough.html

Another post on writing a negative book review:
http://darkglassponderings.blogspot.com/2010/05/writing-negative-review.html

Great book review on a book I may have to read:
http://diaryofaneccentric.blogspot.com/2010/06/review-last-leaf-by-stuart-lutz.html

Five Tips To Tame The Social Network Monster---(wise advice):
http://fictionmatters.blogspot.com/2010/05/5-tips-to-tame-social-network-monster.html

Book review on Jane Austen's unfinished books:
http://janitesonthejames.blogspot.com/2010/06/sanditon-by-jane-austen-review.html

A difficult post subject:
http://joyfullyliving.blogspot.com/2010/06/everyone-deserves-lifetime.html

An uplifting post:
http://kathieasywritermacias.blogspot.com/2010/06/do-you-need-suddenly-in-your-life.html

Fire and brimstone preaching (I remember that)
http://thoughtsofasojourner.blogspot.com/2010/06/hellfire-and-brimstone-preachers-good.html

Blissful Blogging!
Annette

Questions From All In A Day's Thought

Wendy is the author of the blog All In A Day's Thought and she loves to ask enriching questions that stir our creativity.
Her original post:
http://thoughtsthatmove.blogspot.com/2010/06/questions-i-ask-myself.html
Her questions today are:
"What personal touches do you enjoy?"
and
"Do You spy with your little eye?"

The first question I am struggling with, you see my husband works in another town during the work week and is only here on the weekends, my best personal touches are from him. My first thoughts in answering this question is a physical touch and I know of know better physical touch than from my husband.
In digging a little deeper in to this word personal, the definition means one's own; individual; private, or close; intimate. (Oxford Pocket American Dictionary)
The most intimate or closeness I have is with Jesus. Jesus' Spirit abides in me and He is my ever present friend, counselor, master, Lord. I cannot imagine and do not want to--what it would be like to not have Him abiding in me. I would be lost, lost eternally and lost in this earthly world.


The second question is "Do you spy with your little eye?" I laughed when I read that question. It reminds me of what my mother told me when I was a little girl; mother would say, "she had eyes in the back of her head."
For a while I believed her, and it did---freak me out a little. Mother told me this so I would be on my best behavior and believe she was aware of what I was doing at all times.
Yes, I spy with my little eye. My "little eye" is my intuition and acute awareness of what is going on at all times with my elderly father that I care for. In years past this "little eye" was for my children, now for my dad.
When my grandchildren are with my my "little eye" is watching them.
To say it is a huge responsibility to care for children or elderly just does not seem to be an adequate enough description. It is a selfless act, and a sacrifice. Their welfare comes first.

Blissful Blogging!
Annette

Do You Read The Bible?

Becky at Operation Actually Read Bible has written a wonderful post entitled "Why I Read Nonfiction".
I encourage you to read this!!!
http://operationreadbible.blogspot.com/2010/06/why-i-read-nonfiction.html


I had written an earlier post Fiction Versus Nonfiction and I've had several great comments, thanks.
Thank you to Becky for writing her own post on this subject.

More questions for discussion!

Do you read the Bible?
How often do you read the Bible?
Do you memorize Scripture?

These questions are not meant to judge you or be critical, but to stir discussion.

Until I was nearly 30 I read my Bible rarely. I had attended Church and Sunday school all of my life, but rarely read the Bible on my own. Because, I'd been in Church all of my life, I did know several Bible verses having heard them often. In the early years of Sunday school we had Bible drills and Scripture memorization contests; I loved winning those little gold stars! I continued to be a babe in Christ for far too long.
In a Bible I received in December of 1982, which was 1 week after my husband and I married, and I was just 2 months shy of being 19, my pastor wrote on the first inside blank page----
"Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good." 1 Peter 2:2-3 NIV
This Scripture would not come to fruition until December 1993, 11 years later.
I know you are wondering what happened at age 30?
I had a gigantic crisis in my life. Specifically major marriage problems. I did not have a rug ripped out from underneath my feet, I had the ground. I had no where else to fall except in to the arms of Jesus.
I know that He allowed this to happen in my life in order for me to learn a few things.
1. My solid ground is in Jesus alone, not another person.
2. I need--must have, His Word in my mouth and in my mind everyday. I need this daily bread from Him. His Word feeds/sustains me.
3. This experience was a training ground for future hardships that I would endure, but I would learn that He is enough.
4. That I depend on Him alone and look to Him alone for guidance/direction/joy/peace.
5. For me to have a testimony in order that today I can share with you what He has done in my life.
Yes, my husband and I are still married---over 27 years. We are together only because Jesus was gracious to us. When I look back on that season (my husband feels the same) it is not as if that were 2 different people that went through that, but our own corrupted and tarnished characters that went through a fire and came through on the other side refined.
An author Susan Lawrence asked on Facebook today, "If we could ask one question of God what would it be?" My answer is I would not ask any question, I would fall at His precious feet and kiss them. I have been blessed immeasurably by Jesus in this life and I am humbled by His great love and grace.
I will say to Him, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty who was, and is, and is to come."

Blissful Blogging!
Annette

Fiction Versus Non-Fiction

Just curious, why are there more blog's that have Christian fiction reviews than Christian non-fiction?

Don't be shy! Comment.

Poem From C. S. Lewis

"From all my lame defeats and oh! much more
From all the victories that I seemed to score;
From cleverness shot forth on Thy behalf
At which, while angels weep, the audience laugh;
From all my proofs of Thy divinity,
Thou, who wouldst give no sign, deliver me.

Thoughts are but coins. Let me not trust, instead
of Thee, their thin-worn image of Thy head.
From all my thoughts, even from my thoughts of Thee,
O thou fair Silence, fall and set me free.
Lord of the narrow gate and the needle's eye,
Take from me all my trumpery lest I die."

On Guard, Defending Your Faith with Reason and Precision by William Lane Craig

Link for the book @ the publisher David C. Cook:
http://www.davidccook.com/catalog/Detail.cfm?sn=106508&source=search

Link for the book @ CBD:
http://www.christianbook.com/guard-defending-faith-with-reason-precision/william-craig/9781434764881/pd/764881?item_code=WW&netp_id=645361&event=ESRCN&view=details

Published by David C. Cook  B&B Media Group in 2010, 288 pages

How do you feel when you are questioned about your belief in Jesus?
Have you ever been in a discussion with an atheist about why you believe in Jesus, the creation, the Bible?
Scripture tells us in 1 Peter 3:15-16
"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."

William Lane Craig has written "a must read book by every Christian"!
We must train ourselves to not hide from answering the question "why do you believe in Jesus?"
Scripture has told us to not be timid!
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7
and
"That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day." 2 Timothy 1:12

What does the word apologetics mean?
The author William Lane Craig answers, "Apologetics is the study of the defense of our faith and Scriptures."

He takes us on a thoroughly complete tour of how to answer an atheist. He gives diagrams as a means for us to follow. He gives many examples from his own conversations with atheists, most of these were on a stage and before a large audience. He is unafraid, calm, confident of what he believes. He teaches us to not become provoked, but to answer in gentleness and respect. Many people in the world have false assumptions about Christians and they are already guarded. Arguing is unnecessary, he writes "we can present a clear case of our belief, without becoming confrontational and argumentative". This is a book that you do not read through in order to finish, it is a book that you read and ponder and study. There are ten chapters beginning with chapter one "what is apologetics?" The next several chapters are points that most atheists give such as, "what about suffering?" and "is Jesus the only way to God?"
My favorite quote from page 35,
"In a world without God, who's to say whose values are right and whose are wrong? There can be no objective right and wrong, only our culturally and personally relative...For in a universe without God, good and evil do not exist-there is only the bare, valueless fact of existence, and there is not one to say you are right and I am wrong."
There was only one area in the book that I all of a sudden felt like a kindergärtner on the first day of school, and that was in chapters three, four and five when the writer talked about scientific theories on the universe. I read each of these chapters, but felt foolish. I considered it a challenge though and marched through!

The author has a website @
http://www.reasonablefaith.org/site/PageServer


This book was provided for free to me from David C. Cook for the purpose of reading/reviewing.
Blissful Reading!
Annette

Book Blogger Hop!

It's Friday and Book Blogger Hop!
This is a great way to meet new blogger friends and cruise in blogger land!

Today I met:
Dark Glass Ponderings and Catching Up With The Conner's

Blissful Blogging!
Annette

Thankful Thursday!

On this Thursday I am thankful:
1. My granddaughter's best friend Kalani had surgery today and the surgery was successful. The tumor was very large that was removed from her abdomen area.
2. That I can freely go before the throne of grace in prayer.
3. That my prayers are always heard.
4. That even when the Lord is quiet I know He is with me.
5. Kleenix tissues that are extra soft.

Blissful Blogging!
Annette

The Meeting of the Waters, 7 Global Currents That Will Propel the Future Church by Fritz Kling

www.tbbmedia.com

www.davidccook.com

www.TheMeetingoftheWaters.com

Published 2010, 233 pages

This copy was provided for free to me by David C. Cook for the purpose of reading/reviewing.

Fritz Kling called it a "listening tour." He traveled to nineteen countries "listening" to others talk-- about their mission work, or talking to the people who's country he was visiting, he even listened to those of other religions-- including those he felt reluctant to interview. He then made some dramatic discoveries in what missionaries are now faced with in the 21st Century. He finds seven prevalent trends from this "listening tour". These seven trends are described in depth in his book The Meeting of the Waters. The books title is from the two rivers in Brazil that then merge in to the Amazon river. These two rivers, the Rio Negro (a black water river) and Rio Solimoes (a caramel color river) flow together distinct and seperate for 10 miles until they finally blend. After reading this book I feel that I have a keener knowledge of the mission world of 2010. The author traveled to nineteen countries and I too traveled there with him in the pages of his book. This book is eye-opening, inspiring, encouraging, and energizing. I have a large interest in missions, I wonder sometimes if the Lord has plans for me in the future as far as missions are concerned, but for now my mission work is caring for my elderly father. One of my favorite parts of the book is in how to dialogue with Muslims. Muslims have pre-conceived ideas and fears of evangelicals that I was not aware of. This was eye-opening to me and hopefully I will get my chance someday to have a conversation with a Muslim. At the end of each chapter the author gives representative organizations that are involved in the subjects he had talked about in that chapter.
I am passing my copy on to a friend and his family that are leaving for Poland to be missionaries later this year!

Blissful Reading!
Annette

Thankful Thursday!

On this Thursday I am thankful:
1. That I am feeling much better. I was sick all of last week with a respiratory virus.
2. That we have finally had a good rain shower, a little over an inch since yesterday. We had only 0.89" of rain in May.
3. Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches.
4. Fresh vegetables from my container garden.
5. A quiet house.

Blissful Blogging!
Annette

Wonder Full World Women's Ministry Retreat Kit

A trip around the world in one weekend

Wonder Full World Women’s Ministry Retreat Kit, the newest retreat kit for women from Group Publishing, Inc., offers an affordable, fun-filled, interactive experience for churches of any size and budget. The retreat kit equips churches to create an experience for the women of their congregations using the talent of their own members rather than having a speaker come in for the weekend. Wonder Full World is more than just a weekend getaway. It’s an imaginative journey around the world and an exploration of the “I wonders” in a woman’s heart through in-depth Bible study, an unforgettable worship experience, and an open invitation for girlfriends to draw closer together and experience the vastness of God’s love.

Q & A with Amy Nappa, Executive Editor of

Wonder Full World Women’s Ministry Retreat Kit

Q: Let’s talk about the way churches usually do a women’s retreat. What makes Group’s retreat-in-a-box such a great alternative to the usual retreat setup?

A: The traditional approach to a women’s retreat has been to look outside of the church for content and leadership, usually by hiring a speaker for the weekend. This tends to result in a lecture environment where women do a lot of sitting and listening. With a Group retreat, churches have access to all the resources they need to lead a meaningful, life-changing retreat, including the opportunity to encourage the women in their own congregation to fulfill the leadership roles. A Group retreat is about interaction. We give women ample opportunity to discuss, to share their hearts, and to make new friends.

Q: What kind of woman will be touched by a Wonder Full World retreat?

A: We really want to engage women of all ages and from a variety of experiences. This retreat was written to engage both married and single women, mothers and those with no children. In Group’s 2009 State of the Church Report, we discovered that 94 percent of women’s ministry leaders we polled felt that reaching younger women was a great area of need for them, so that is one of our greatest target groups. There is also a special woman that we are thinking of as we plan the sessions—the woman who does not know Jesus. We include a gospel message in every retreat, shared simply, and we tell the leader of that session to be prepared to share her own salvation story. We have also included all the Scriptures in the participant journals so that women who don’t know much about the Bible won’t have to search for them.

Q: As you develop new ministry materials, what steps does your team at Group take to ensure that those materials will really connect with women?

A: One of the most important aspects of the creative process at Group is the research. We do focus groups with women all over the place, with both the women who love retreats and those who hate retreats. We are intentional in creating a retreat to meet the needs of many women, and what those women tell us is that they want to be able to talk and make friends, not just sit and listen. We have incorporated lots of discussion time, allowing women to share their own stories of how God has worked in their lives and what they hope He will do in their lives. Once we have completed the actual content, we lead every retreat ourselves with a group of real women before we market it to churches. We invite teens as young as 14, and we don’t put them at the kids’ table because we see these retreats as great opportunities to initiate relationships that will become mentoring relationships.

Q: As a woman equipping churches to minister to women, what do you see as the biggest challenge women’s ministries face today?

A: I think the biggest challenge is to come up with new and creative ideas for engaging women. Most people know they need to do something different, but nobody wants to change. They wish they could reach more women, but they are bound to tradition. We don’t wear the same clothes now that we wore ten years ago, so obviously we are willing to change some things in our lives to stay relevant in the culture. But for some reason, nobody wants to give up on the Christmas Tea, for example, because it was once the highlight of the women’s ministry year…15 years ago! No wonder so many women perceive women’s ministry as something for their moms. For some ministries, reaching more women could be as simple as offering a women’s Bible study in the evenings as well as in the mornings so that working women can attend. But none of this will happen until someone decides to change.

Q: Tell us more about Wonder Full World. What was the inspiration for the “around the world” theme?

A: That was based on research. We do focus groups and research to determine the next theme. We were tossing around the question: where do we want to go? Then we realized that we had a seven-session retreat…and there are seven continents, seven wonders of the world. But women don’t care so much about the “wonders of the world.” They wonder about their faith, their families, their purpose, and their God. As women began to tell us what they really wonder about, seven clear themes emerged. We have called them the Seven Wonders of a Woman’s Heart. They are things like: “I wonder if anyone cares about me…I wonder if I matter to God…I wonder where God is when life is hard…I wonder if I can make a difference, etc.”

Q: What is included in the Wonder Full World Women’s Ministry Retreat Kit?

A: The contents of the kit (retail: $99.99) include:

· Director’s guide with supply list, suggested schedules, and decorating ideas

· Worship leader’s guide with sheet music for the songs

· Custom CD with eight songs

· Seven leader’s guides—one for each session

· Training and promotional DVD including three commercials

· CD with reproducible graphics, forms, and other goodies

· Travel themed audio tracks for each session

· Samples of all of the per-woman essentials and gifts (journal, charm, music CD, and tote bag)

· Sample swatch from the service project blanket

The cost for materials is $13.50 per participant, which includes these essentials:

· Journal with all the discussion questions, song lyrics, and Scriptures which is used throughout the retreat

· Globe charm which is presented as a constant reminder of the retreat and God’s everlasting love

· Service project (materials for fleece blanket – one blanket for every two participants)

For an additional cost, churches may also purchase a Wonder Full World tote bag and CD for each woman at the retreat. When the essentials and extras are purchased as a value pack, along with one blanket for every two women, the total cost is only $21 per attendee.

Blissful Blogging!

Annette

More on South Africa

Table Mountain--Cape Town
West coast, Weskus Nasionale Park
Pretoria, South Africa

Photo's courtesy of Wikipedia.

The June 2010 issue of National Geographic has an excellent story and photo's entitled "Mandela's Children".

Link for article:
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/06/south-africa/fuller-text

Blissful Blogging!
Annette

An Interview With Kathi Macias

Kathi Macias is an award winning author and has written more than 20 books. She is a wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She and her husband Al live in California.

www.kathimacias.com

http://kathieasywritermacias.blogspot.com

I've asked only a few questions of Kathi and she was kind enough to email her answers today.

1. What is your favorite Bible verse?
"Hard to choose only one favorite verse, but I suppose it would be Deuteronomy 8:1.
'Every commandment which I command you today you must be faithful to observe, that you may live and multiply and go in and possess the land.' God's requirement is faithfulness to His commands (which we know are summed up in loving God and others), but only for today. How easily we get caught up in regret over yesterday's failures or worry over tomorrow's challenges. Love God today, and let Him love others through you. That's all that's required of us in order to 'live and multiply and go in and possess the land.' "

2. Tell me three things about your life that you would like to share?
"First, I'm not only a wife and mother and grandmother, but a great grandmother too (one three-year-old grandson named Isaiah). Second, my husband and I spend our spare time riding his Harley, which is how I got my road name of 'Easy Writer.' Third, I've had the honor of ministering in prisons around this country, even spending one day on Death Row in San Quentin. What an awesome experience! I absolutely love prison/jail ministry."

3. When you write a book do you write it being fully led by the Holy Spirit?
"I believe God gives me the idea/vision/dream for the story and guides me along the way, but I also believe He expects me to hone my gift and to do it well so that I may honor Him. I've met many talented and gifted writers who are unwilling to learn the craft because they feel all they need to do is let God write through them. It doesn't work that way. Those who wrote the bible surely experienced that, but now we are called to 'write the vision...and make it plain' (Hab. 2:2). It's a two-part process. God gives us the vision, and then He expects us to be good stewards and learn to write in such a way that those who read it can clearly understand the message."

4. Have you been involved in mission work? Maybe you feel that your writing is mission work?
"I've never been to a foreign mission field, though I've ministered in the prison system for many years. Yes, at least at this season of my life, I consider writing my mission. It's my way of 'going into all the world,' and helping others to do the same."

Thank you Kathi for sharing with my readers!

Blissful Blogging!
Annette

No Greater Love by Kathi Macias

Link for crafts made by artisans in countries that need financial support:
http://www.worldcraftsvillage.com/

Extreme Devotion Series
Book 1 No Greater Love. CBD link:
http://www.christianbook.com/no-greater-love-kathi-macias/9781596692770/pd/692772?item_code=WW&netp_id=758687&event=ESRCN&view=details

Book 2 More Than Conquerors this book is available now at bookstores. CBD link:
http://www.christianbook.com/more-than-conquerors-kathi-macias/9781596692831/pd/692831?item_code=WW&netp_id=758688&event=ESRCN&view=details

Book 3 will be available in August 2010 (according to CBD site)--Red Ink--The country where this story is based is China.

Book 4 is People of the Book--The country where this story is based is Saudi Arabia.

New Hope Publishers, 2010, 320 pages
Link for more information about book at New Hope Publishers is:
http://www.newhopepubl.com/fullStory.asp?ID=36

Author website is:
www.kathimacias.com

I am so excited to bring this book to your attention through review!
I can not say enough kind words, and I am proud of the author for writing a book that to my knowledge the subject has not been written before in any other Christian fiction book.
The subject is dicey and thorny to many people. The country where this story is written is South Africa the time period starts during the late 1980's when apartheid was in force.

According to Britannica--apartheid means--"policy that governed relations betweeen South Africa's white minority and non white majority and sanctioned racial segregation and political and economic discrimination against non white. The implementation of apartheid, often called "separate development" since the 1960's was made possible through the Population Registration Act of 1950 which classified all South African's as either Bantu (all black African's), Coloured (those of mixed race), or white. A fourth category Asian (Indian and Pakistan) was later added."

Now for the review!
The Vorster family consists of Pieter and Anana and their son Andrew. They have a working farm near Pretoria South Africa. Andrew is a handsome young man. We are introduced early in the story to Chioma and Masozi, a sister and brother that work on the Vorster farm. Andrew and Chioma are attracted to one another knowing that this is forbidden by law. When a horrific assault happens Chioma is afraid, bitter, and indignant. She tries to compose and dismiss her feelings for Andrew. Tragedy engulfs them all again and Chioma leaves and joins a rebel band.
Chioma in the book is faced with torturous decisions, she has lived through much torment and suffering. What will be the ultimate act in this story?

The book is so many things: it is a big story giving a panoramic view of South Africa, it is a page turner... you just cannot put the book down, it educates the reader to life under apartheid, it places the reader in the book....you are there, it is moving and gut wrenching, and yet it is full of hope and inspiration.
After having read this book I understand so much more of South Africa, the various groups that live there--their cultures and history.
The book shows in story that people can be lost in a mind set that is unforgiving and intolerant of those they believe are beneath them.
It also gives great inspiration and hope for those willing to take a step of faith in another direction.
Only one thing I found in the book and that is a misspelled word on page 122--Anana is spelled Anna.

This book was won by me and I chose to read and review it.

Blissful Reading!
Annette

Veiled Freedom by Jeanette Windle

Link for the book:
http://www.tyndale.com/x_products/details.php?isbn=978-1-4143-1475-4

www.tyndalefiction.com

Author's website:
http://www.jeanettewindle.com/

432 pages, published in 2009

This book was bought by me for the purpose of reading/reviewing.

The book begins in November 2001-- Kabul, Afghanistan. The American military is looking for al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Afghanistan is a country that has been under the Taliban rule, and now has American military working to eradicate these groups that are a threat to the American nation. The story then moves to the present day, a young woman named Amy has just arrived to be in charge with starting a center for women and children. Amy is an educated women, a world traveler, she has done field work in other foreign countries, but she has never been in a Muslim country or a war. She is naive in believing that she can continue to adapt her culture to this culture. She learns quickly that safety and compliance is necessary. A Special Forces veteran named Steve returns to Afghanistan to work security contract work. A third character in the book, Jamil is a native of this country, but he has returned recently and is trying to find work.
The three characters will have a dramatic confluence.
I was amazed at the accuracy of the book, and the education that I received in reading this book. The book tells the story of how a woman in a Muslim country and under the Taliban rule live. There are strict rules of how they should act, where they can go and with whom they go with, how they dress and the parts of their bodies that are to be covered. Women are possessions and with no rights. The book tells of the acrid poverty and the victims that have no voice.
Amy is a picture of selfless and sacrificial love. When I was first introduced to her in this story I flinched in worrying about her lack of protocol that was for her safety. She wised up quickly and was dedicated and committed to her assignment.
Steve in his hard shell covering his emotions is typical of a combat veteran. He is professional, stoic, wise, and intuitive. He has experience in a country that is in the turmoil of war and has been for a long time.
Jamil was a confusion for me, his culture is so polar from mine. I wondered where the story would end with him.
Each of these characters add energy and depth to the book. They are real, raw, and painful at times to read.
The plot and scope of the story is in some ways not hard to figure out, we are all aware of the bombings and killings in Afghanistan. We are aware of the frailty of life in this country. Yet it is so far away from American life, the culture so far removed from us. What was unpredictable was the choice that would be ultimately made in the end.
I loved this book because it got my head out of the American-style-history-type book. Most of all I learned in this story Amy's mission of selfless love.


Blissful Reading!
Annette

An Award Won!

I won The Versatile Blogger award yesterday, thank you to Patiently Waiting .
The rules for this award is that when you receive this award, you must share seven things about yourself and then pass it on to fifteen blog's you've recently discovered that you enjoy!

Seven Things About Myself:
1. I'm a bird watcher. I feed the birds and squirrels in my back yard, noting what kind of birds I am attracting. My husband has joined in with me in this hobby. We especially love to bird watch when we are on vacation at the cabin in Colorado, we see such a different variety of birds we don't see in Texas. As for my favorite bird--the owl, I'm crazy about owls, followed by cardinals, and little birds like finches and chickadees.
2. My favorite television channels are the history and military channels on Dish Network. I read everyday, but on occasion I will watch television. I don't watch any prime time shows. I also like Turner Classic Movies.
3. I could eat grilled salmon almost everyday, I do eat an apple every night before bed.
4. I like quiet and solitude, and I can go all day in this atmosphere.
5. I love to bake--anything.
6. I love to do the laundry and dislike anyone else doing my laundry.
7. I prefer no makeup and t-shirt and jeans.

Fifteen blog's that I've found recently and I nominate for this award!

http://thoughtsofasojourner.blogspot.com/

http://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/

http://psalm516.blogspot.com/

http://accordingtothebook.blogspot.com/

http://bookenddiaries.blogspot.com/

http://bookaddict4life.blogspot.com/

http://fewmorepages.blogspot.com/

http://thebookbuff.blogspot.com/

http://tjknowlton.blogspot.com/

http://homeschoolingonjuniperhill.blogspot.com/

http://heartofabookworm.blogspot.com/

http://building-his-body.blogspot.com

http://mycozybooknook.blogspot.com/

http://westbob.blogspot.com/

http://anovelsource.blogspot.com/

Blissful Blogging!
Annette