I experienced the reality of Christ's perseverance and love in a way that really illustrated us being His body. I wanted to share that with all of you.

I met a woman who's brother was recently killed and we were able to talk. I had no idea what to say; I have never been in that specific situation, but I know that I have lost people very close to me. Where can we look for hope in those situations? God obviously, but there are so many times that we make that some kind of abstract comfort tool instead of fully relying on Him, His joy, His peace, and who He is. I recommended a book to her that really helped me see past the abstract and come to see God as the God of Hope and giving me the ability to at least begin to be still before Him and experience God in the dynamic relationship He wants to have with us.

What stuck me most of all, and what has caused me to write this blog in the first place was her response. I told her some of the stuff I have been facing and how I was able to overcome it to try to give her some sort of encouragement, and her immediate response was, "Can I pray for you." That was incredible. Of course I said yes, but that response met more to me than just the courtesy of prayer. It was the gift of someone caring enough to come before our living Lord in the midst of her pain for me! God is already doing a work in her and I pray that He would continue to walk with her in this time of loss and that God will use her in her walk.

It also helped me remember something that God taught me not long ago: How we suffer tells a lot about us. In our deepest hurt how are we walking? Are we treading a path that if someone follows will lead to life? If we are walking in Christ, abiding in Him, He will use us, even in the most inconsequential circumstances.

This is the first book that I have been able to read for this review. I couldn't have started off on a better book. This book is definitely a page turner from cover to cover. Singer grips you from the beginning courtroom scene and never stops. The plot is very gripping.

There are two issues that I have with this book, and either one of them could turn out to be deal breakers for someone:

1) The subject matter is a bit touchy. I don't want to give out too many details and spoil the plot, but there are a lot of issues that are brought up, that are very touchy for anyone, not to mention if someone is dealing with those issues themselves.

2) Singer attempts to solve some things in the courtroom that I feel can only be solved by God. Again, there is some plot spoilers that I don't want to give out, but, overall, it seems that most of the redemption happens in the courtroom and not in the prayer closet.

In light of these two issues I still think this book was very well written and can meet some people where they are at. I would definitely say that this book does its job as a fiction book to keep you reading till the very end, but it wasn't much more than a good page-turner for me.

-Greg

Labels: Book Club, Christian, Fiction, Singer, Suspense

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Labels: Christian, Fathers, Men, Tribute

Our book of the month for June is by Robert Whitlow, and it is a good one!! This was definitely a book I found myself unable to put down, and when I got to the end I was disappointed it was over. I want to find out what's next for these characters!!



The story is set in Savannah, Georgia, where a second year law student takes a summer internship with a prominent law firm. The main character is Tami Taylor, who comes from a homeschooling family with a deep faith. She finds a couple of allies with other Christians in the firm, but through that there are difficulties as well.



Tami is assigned her first case...defending Moses. Moses has been tying his boat up to docks along the river to sleep at night, and was arrested for numerous counts of trespassing. The story takes a few twists and turns, and about the time you think you have it figured out...you realize you don't!



This book is obviously written by someone with a knowledge of the legal system, and someone with an obvious faith. It was solid and attention grabbing. I was very glad to learn that there is another book in this series, and can hardly wait to find out what is next! I can whole heartedly recommend this book as an enjoyable read!



~Carleen

Labels: Book Club, Christian, Fiction, Suspense, Whitlow

Introduction

God has given us His written Word to communicate to us who He is and what He has done for us. The Scriptures also give us a hope for what's ahead in spite of the immediate circumstances. The Bible is a love letter to us from the Creator of the Universe! It is not an accident that when we are washed by the water of His Word there is a source of power there. It is living and sharper than any double-edged sword.

With this in mind we can see that Bible study is important and enjoyable. There is something unexplainable about digging in to the riches of God's Word. There is infinite depth wrapped in beautiful simplicity.

We are one of the most blessed people with the resources that we have at our disposal. Sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming. Let me give you an example of what I do when I study:

As I sit down to do a Bible study I read through the book to get an overview, writing down questions that I have and underlining keywords. Then I may want to see what some of those words mean in the Greek, so I pick up a lexicon (what is that anyway?!) and a Bible dictionary and begin to dig. After I walk away with tremendous insight I may want to grab a concordance to see where this theme and these words are found elsewhere in the pages of Scripture. After this it is very possible that I will want to look at a commentary or two to see what others have to say and glean from their knowledge as well. After this I will come away refreshed, reflecting on the text I have just read and asking myself, "How can I apply this to my life."

In this short process (which is usually a bit more involved that this) I have used a Bible, lexicon, concordance, a commentary or two, and a Bible dictionary. This can be quite a burden if you do not have access to a church library or been blessed to receive these tools. It can also be quite the financial fiasco to afford these resources. Just to get an idea lets look at the price of all these books put together. A bible is usually between $20 - $60 depending on your choice, $25 for a concordance, a lexicon cost about $30 or so, and a couple of good commentaries will run you about $30 - $100. That's $105 on the low end!


Why A Study Bible?

As you can see there is a lot there! It is hard to believe that we have been blessed with so many options. Now, with all that being said, I can now get to the point of this whole discourse. Why is it a good idea to have a Study Bible at all?

The "study" Bible has been a useful tool for the student and teacher alike. A study Bible is set apart for its various notes, maps, word studies, and other helps to inform the user. A study Bible usually comes with a book introduction and commentary notes throughout scripture.

There are many types, styles, and translations when it comes to choosing a study bible. Some are geared toward a specific audience, like men or wives, while still others are general - giving background and observation throughout the Bible.

So, why would you want to buy something with so much information that feels like an anvil is being carried around in your bag? Furthermore, it can come with a price tag upwards to $80 for a bonded leather binding?

First of all, I wouldn't recommend purchasing a study Bible if you are looking for something to carry around with you. A study bible is designed to help you do just that, study the Bible. It is best suited when you are sitting at your desk or kitchen table.

The primary reason to purchase a study bible is for the content. A study bible, in one volume, give you a lot of information at your fingertips. A good study bible gives you the opportunity to see where Paul walked, give the meaning of some of the Greek words he penned and give you some background information on what Paul was going through when he wrote the letter. All of this was done without picking up another reference book!

For all that information and ease of use $80 doesn't seem like too much after all. Add to all of that an extensive concordance, cross references, and some of the articles located in a study Bible and you get not only a bible, but an investment in study helps.


My Personal Favorite

With several options out there I though that I might tell you specifically about a Bible that has everything that I have talked about and more. It is fairly new on the market, but it is quickly proving its usefulness to all audiences.

The ESV Study Bible is the most comprehensive study Bible I have ever seen. Each introduction has an amazing amount of information on the book, giving a great overview, as well as a full-color map to give an idea of where everything is taking place. There are also full 3D architectural drawing of some of the cities, the tabernacle, and the temple. There is also a great concordance as well as articles on things such as the history of salvation in the Old Testament, how prophecies are fulfilled by Jesus, and so much more! Furthermore, the study notes are almost literally verse-by-verse, giving the insight of some 60 scholars, on the text you are reading.

As for the ESV translation, it is a literal word for word translation, having its origins from the RSV. Hands down the ESV is one of the best translations to date. Its accuracy is some of the best. A leader at a WYWAM base in Lakeside said, "We are going to switch to a different translation when we teach students how to look at Bible translation because the ESV is so accurate. It makes it too easy."

I have enjoyed using the ESV and the notes and resources in it have proven invaluable.

-Greg

Labels: Bible, Christian, Non-Fiction, Study Bible

I'm sorry it has taken me awhile to get to this post! I wanted to write a fair review, and at the same time I need to be honest about my thoughts on this book.

Surrender Bay is written as an allegory (which means it is like a parable or is meant as a symbolic narrative). I tried to read it from that viewpoint, but it fell short for me. I did not get the correlation between the relationship of the main characters to my relationship with God. I can stretch and see where the author was going for that, but for me, the story didn't "take me there".

There is one scene in the book where the female character (Samantha) gets upset and runs out of the house. She ends up in the local bar, where she flirts with the bartender and he proceeds to make sure she has way too much to drink. The bartender then offers to take her home, and they end up at his house. The male lead (Landon) learns of her leaving the bar with this guy and rushes to "save" her from herself.

Now I can stretch that the author may have been showing how we, even in our worst situations, are not beyond the reach of our God. But we have to ask Him to save us...it is our choice. Samantha did no asking...she just proceeded to transfer her drunk affections to Landon. I can't help but wonder if there wasn't a better way to write this scene?

Without that particular episode, this book is a fairly good story, but it could have been so much more. I was disappointed that there was no message of redemption...no mention of God. I wouldn't say "you should NOT read this book", but on the other hand, I also can't recommend it.

I have talked to several others that have read the book and came to the same conclusions. I hope they will jump on here and share their thoughts as well!! However, if you read it and liked it...please share with us the reasons why.

We have discontinued Surrender Bay as our Book Of The Month because we can't recommend it as a Biblically sound story. Sometimes, these are some of the hardest decisions we face in this industry. We are not here to "censor" your reading material, but we do feel a "gatekeeper" responsibility that we take very seriously. What are your thoughts??

~Carleen

Labels: Book Club, Christian, Fiction

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, but committed to read it this past weekend so I could record my thoughts here for you. Let me tell you...I could not put it down!

Blink Of An Eye has a little of everything in it, and isn't as "dark" as some of the other Dekker books have been to me. There is suspense, action, romance and current events. Something for everyone!

Since this is a fiction book, I'm not sure how true the depiction of Saudia Arabia and their culture is. I found myself drawn into the scenes that related how Muslim women are treated, and was left with the desire to dig in to some more study on their culture and customs. I think that is the mark of a good book...it leaves you thinking about it after you read the last page.

The main characters in the story, Seth and Miriam, are highly likeable. I found myself cheering for Seth and wanting him to be the hero and save the "damsel in distress". The premise of the story is that life can change in the blink of an eye. Seth has found that he has been given the ability to see possible futures based on choices he makes. This, of course, leads him into and out of some interesting situations!

This book was originally titled Blink, but has been rewritten and is being made into a major motion picture. My understanding is that they have "watered down" the message in the new book in order to prepare it for release to the secular market. I am digging up a copy of the original book for comparison for my own information, but don't expect that to change my thoughts much.

Blink Of An Eye was an entertaining read, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, quick read...an enjoyable way to spend the weekend!

~Carleen

Labels: Book Club, Christian, Dekker, Fiction, Suspense