Dark Glass Ponderings

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. -1 Corinthians 13:12

For the last several months I've been thinking about Heroes of the Faith.  My husband and I have been listening to Eric Ludy's sermons.  He often talks about "The Mighties."  Oh, how I want to be known for the legacy of faith I've set...oh, how woefully short I fall on that account.

But I think there is so much to be learned by reading about those who have sacrificed so much for their faith.


To that end, I would love to start a Heroes of the Faith book club.  Readings would be on a quarterly basis.

The first book I would like to read is Through Gates of Splendor by the late Elisabeth Elliot.  In future we may vote on book club picks.

I definitely felt a leading towards this particular book.  I talked to several online friends about reading about Heroes of the Faith in December.  I felt several confirmations along the way as Renee Ann talked about the Elliots on her blog, I heard radio programs about Nate Saint, and even my homeschool reading matched up.


"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose," so claimed Jim Elliot, martyred missionary to the Auca Indian tribes.  He was also Elisabeth Elliot's first husband, one of my Titus 2 women heroes.

Not only did these men give their lives for the salvation of the Auca Indians, but many of their family members returned to witness a short time later.

Nate Saint's son, Steve Saint, currently appears in interviews with Mincaye.  Mincaye is one of the men who killed his father.  As a result of Steve's witness, Mincaye is a strong man of faith today. The Elliot and Saint families' ministries have continued to bear fruit. 

Renee Ann has posted some wonderful posts about Elisabeth Elliott.  Be sure to check them out here and here.

If you're interested, please post a comment here.  We will start discussion Saturday April 30th.  In the meantime we will definitely have some discussion about the Elliots.  Through Gates of Splendor is an older book.  It should be easy to find at most libraries.

I hope many readers will join in.  I'm excited to learn more about this passionate martyr of the faith!

And if you like this idea, please spread the word!

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:


and the book:

Thomas Nelson; Original edition (February 1, 2011)
***Special thanks to Audra Jennings, Senior Media Specialist, The B&B Media Group for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Kristin Billerbeck was born in California to an Italian father and a strong Norwegian/German mother. Her mother tried to teach her to do things right, how to cook, clean, sew, and budget accordingly—all the things a proper girl should know in order to be a contributing member of society. Yet Billerbeck said she “failed miserably,” although her grandmother must still hold some hope since she gave her a cookie gun for her 40th birthday.

Billerbeck has authored more than 30 novels, including the Ashley Stockingdale series and the Spa Girls series. She is a leader in the Chick Lit movement, a Christy Award finalist, and a two-time winner of the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year Award. She has appeared on The Today Show and has been featured in the New York Times. She lives with her family in northern California.


Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

There are a billion reasons Kate should marry her current boyfriend.

Will she trade them all to be madly in love?

Katie McKenna leads a perfect life. Or so she thinks. She has a fulfilling job, a cute apartment, and a wedding to plan with her soon-to-be fiance, Dexter.

She can think of a billion reasons why she should marry Dexter…but nowhere on that list is love.

And then in walks Luc DeForges, her bold, breathtaking ex-boyfriend. Only now he's a millionaire. And he wants her to go home to New Orleans to sing for her childhood friend's wedding. As his date.

But Katie made up her mind about Luc eight years ago, when she fled their hometown after a very public breakup. Yet there's a magnetism between them she can't deny.

Katie thought her predictable relationship with Dexter would be the bedrock of a lasting, Christian marriage. But what if there's more? What if God's desire for her is a heart full of life? And what if that's what Luc has offered all along?


Product Details:

List Price: $14.99
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson; Original edition (February 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1595547916
ISBN-13: 978-1595547910

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:


A Fine Romance


Katie McKenna had dreamed of this moment at least a thousand times. Luc would walk back into her life filled with remorse. He’d be wearing jeans, a worn T-shirt, and humility. He’d be dripping with humility.


That should have been her first clue that such a scenario had no bearing on reality.


“Katie,” a voice said.


The sound sent a surge of adrenaline through her frame. She’d forgotten the power and the warmth of his baritone. A quick glance around her classroom assured her that she must be imagining things. Everything was in order: the posters of colorful curriculum, the daily schedule of activities printed on the whiteboard, and, of course, the children. All six of them were mentally disabled, most of them on the severe side of the autism spectrum, but three had added handicaps that required sturdy, head-stabilizing wheelchairs. The bulk of the chairs overwhelmed the room and blocked much of the happy yellow walls and part of the large rainbow mural the kids had helped to paint. The room, with its cluttered order, comforted her and reminded her of all she’d accomplished. There was no need to think about the past. That was a waste of time and energy.


Her eyes stopped on her aides, Carrie and Selena. The two women, so boisterous in personality, were usually animated. But at the moment they stood huddled in the corner behind Austin’s wheelchair.


Carrie, the heavyset one in the Ed Hardy T-shirt, motioned at her.


“What?” Katie pulled at her white shirt with the delicate pink flowers embroidered along the hem and surveyed the stains. “I know, I’m a mess. But did you see how wonderfully the kids did on their art projects? It was worth it. Never thought of the oil on the dough staining. Next time I’ll wear an apron.”


Selena and Carrie looked as though there was something more they wanted.


“Maddie, you’re a born artist.” Katie smiled at the little girl sitting behind a mound of colorful clay. Then to the aides: “What is the matter with you two?”



Selena, a slight Latina woman, shook her head and pointed toward the door.


Katie rotated toward the front of the classroom and caught her breath. Luc, so tall and gorgeous, completely out of place in his fine European suit and a wristwatch probably worth more than her annual salary, stood in the doorway. He wore a fedora, his trademark since college, but hardly one he needed to stand out in a crowd.


As she stared across the space between them, suddenly the classroom she took such pride in appeared shabby and soiled. When she inhaled, it reeked of sour milk and baby food. Her muddled brain searched for words.


“Luc?” She blinked several times, as if his film-star good looks might evaporate into the annals of her mind. “What are you doing here?”


“Didn’t you get my brother’s wedding invitation?” he asked coolly, as if they’d only seen each other yesterday.


“I did. I sent my regrets.”


“That’s what I’m doing here. You can’t miss Ryan’s wedding. I thought the problem might be money.”


She watched as his blue eyes came to rest on her stained shirt. Instinctively she crossed her arms in front of her.


“I came to invite you to go back with me next week, on my plane.”


“Ah.” She nodded and waited for something intelligible to come out of her mouth. “It’s not money.”


“Come home with me, Katie.” He reached out his arms, and she moved to the countertop and shuffled some papers together.


If he touches me, I don’t stand a chance. She knew Luc well enough to know if he’d made the trip to her classroom, he didn’t intend to leave without what he came for. “I’m afraid that’s not possible.” She stacked the same papers again.


“Give me one reason.”


She faced him. “I could give you a billion reasons.”


Luc’s chiseled features didn’t wear humility well. The cross-shaped scar beneath his cheekbone added to his severity. If he weren’t so dreaded handsome, he’d make a good spy in a Bond movie. His looks belied his soft Uptown New Orleans upbringing, the kind filled with celebrations and warm family events with backyard tennis and long days in the swimming pool.


He pushed through the swiveled half door that separated them and strode toward her.


“That gate is there for a reason. The classroom is for teachers and students only.”


Luc opened his hand and beckoned to her, and despite herself, she took it. Her heart pounded in her throat, and its roar was so thunderous it blocked her thoughts. He pulled her into a clutch, then pushed her away with all the grace of Astaire. “Will you dance with me?” he asked.


He began to hum a Cole Porter tune clumsily in her ear, and instinctively she followed his lead until everything around them disappeared and they were alone in their personal ballroom. For a moment she dropped her head back and giggled from her stomach; a laugh so genuine and pure, it seemed completely foreign—as if it came from a place within that was no longer a part of her. Then the dance halted suddenly, and his cheek was against hers. She took in the roughness of his face, and the thought flitted through her mind that she could die a happy woman in those arms.


The sound of applause woke her from her reverie.


“You two are amazing!” Carrie said.


The children all murmured their approval, some with screams of delight and others with loud banging.

Luc’s hand clutched her own in the small space between them, and she laughed again.


“Not me,” Luc said. “I have the grace of a bull. It’s Katie. She’s like Ginger Rogers. She makes anybody she dances with look good.” He appealed to the two aides. “Which is why I’m here. She must go to my brother’s wedding with me.”


“I didn’t even know you danced, Katie,” Selena said. “Why don’t you ever come dancing with us on Friday nights?”


“What? Katie dances like a dream. She and my brother were partners onstage in college. They were like a mist, the way they moved together. It’s like her feet don’t touch the ground.”


“That was a long time ago.” She pulled away from him and showed him her shirt. “I’m a mess. I hope I didn’t ruin your suit.”


“It would be worth it,” Luc growled.


“Katie, where’d you learn to dance like that?” Carrie asked.


“Too many old movies, I suppose.” She shrugged.


“You could be on Dancing with the Stars with moves like that.”


“Except I’m not a star or a dancer, but other than that, I guess—” She giggled again. It kept bubbling out of her, and for one blissful moment she remembered what it felt like to be the old Katie McKenna. Not the current version, staid schoolmarm and church soloist in Northern California, but the Katie people in New Orleans knew, the one who danced and sang.


Luc interrupted her thoughts. “She’s being modest. She learned those moves from Ginger and Fred themselves, just by watching them over and over again. This was before YouTube, so she was dedicated.”


Katie shrugged. “I was a weird kid. Only child, you know?” But inside she swelled with pride that Luc remembered her devotion to a craft so woefully out-of-date and useless. “Anyway, I don’t have much use for swing dancing or forties torch songs now. Luc, meet Carrie and Selena. Carrie and Selena, Luc.”


“I don’t have any ‘use’ for salsa dancing,” Selena said. “I do it because it’s part of who I am.”


“Tell her she has to come with me, ladies. My brother is having a 1940s-themed wedding in New Orleans. He’d be crushed if Katie didn’t come, and I’ll look like a hopeless clod without her to dance with.”


Katie watched the two aides. She saw the way Luc’s powerful presence intoxicated them. Were they really naive enough to believe that Luc DeForges could ever appear like a clod, in any circumstance or setting? Luc, with his skilled charm and roguish good looks, made one believe whatever he wanted one to believe. The two women were putty in his hands.


“Katie, you have to go to this wedding!” Selena stepped toward her. “I can’t believe you can dance like that and never told us. You’d let this opportunity slip by? For what?” She looked around the room and frowned. “This place?”


The cacophony of pounding and low groans rose audibly, as if in agreement.


“This may be just a classroom to you, but to me, it’s the hope and future of these kids. I used to dance. I used to sing. It paid my way through college. Now I’m a teacher.”


“You can’t be a teacher and a dancer?” Selena pressed. “It’s like walking and chewing gum. You can do both. The question is, why don’t you?”


“Maybe I should bring more music and dancing into the classroom. Look how the kids are joining in the noise of our voices, not bothered by it. I have to think about ways we could make the most of this.”


But she hadn’t succeeded in changing the subject; everyone’s attention stayed focused on her.


“You should dance for the kids, Katie. You possess all the grace of an artist’s muse. Who knows how you might encourage them?”


Katie laughed. “That’s laying it on a bit thick, Luc, even for you. I do believe if there was a snake in that basket over there, it would be rising to the charmer’s voice at this very minute.”


Luc’s very presence brought her into another time. Maybe it was the fedora or the classic cut of his suit, but it ran deeper than how he looked. He possessed a sense of virility and take-no-prisoners attitude that couldn’t be further from his blue-blood upbringing. He made her, in a word, feel safe . . . but there was nothing safe about Luc and there never had been. She straightened and walked over to her open folder to check her schedule for the day.


Tapping a pencil on the binder, she focused on getting the day back on track. The students were involved in free playtime at the moment. While they were all situated in a circle, they played individually, their own favorite tasks in front of them.


“Carrie, would you get Austin and Maddie ready for lunch?”


“I’ll do it,” Selena said. “And, Katie . . . you really should go to the wedding.”


“I can’t go to the wedding because it’s right in the middle of summer school.”


“You could get a substitute,” Carrie said. “What would you be gone for, a week at most? Jenna could probably fill in. She took the summer off this year.”


“Thanks for the suggestions, ladies,” Katie said through clenched teeth. “But I’ve already told the groom I can’t attend the wedding for professional reasons.”


The women laughed. “I’m sorry, what reasons?” Carrie asked, raising a bedpan to imply that anyone could do Katie’s job.


It was no use. The two women were thoroughly under Luc’s spell, and who could blame them?


“Maybe we should talk privately,” Luc said. He clasped her wrist and led her to the glass doors at the front of the classroom. “It’s beautiful out here. The way you’re nestled in the hills, you’d never know there’s a city nearby.”


She nodded. “That’s Crystal Springs Reservoir on the other side of the freeway. It’s protected property, the drinking water for this entire area, so it’s stayed pristine.”


“I’m not going back to New Orleans without you,” he said.


Apparently the small talk had ended.


“My mother would have a fit if I brought one of the women I’d take to a Hollywood event to a family wedding.”


Katie felt a twinge of jealousy, then a stab of anger for her own weakness. Of course he dated beautiful women. He was a billionaire. A billionaire who looked like Luc DeForges! Granted, he was actually a multimillionaire, but it had been a long-standing joke between the two of them. Did it matter, once you made your first ten million, how much came after that? He may as well be called a gazillionaire. His finances were too foreign for her to contemplate.


“And who you date is my problem, how?”


“If my date tries to swing dance and kicks one of my mother’s friends in the teeth, I’ll be disinherited.”


“So what, would that make you the fifth richest man in the United States, instead of the fourth?”


“Katie, how many times do I have to explain to you I’m nowhere near those kinds of numbers?” He grinned. “Yet.” He touched his finger to her nose lightly. “My fate is much worse than losing status if you don’t come. My mother might set me up to ensure I have a proper date. A chorus line of Southern belles. And I guarantee you at least one will have the proverbial glass slipper and think her idea is so utterly unique, I’ll succumb to the fantasy.”


“Wow! What a terrible life you must lead.” She pulled a Keds slide from her foot and emptied sand out of her shoe. A few grains landed on Luc’s shiny black loafer. “To think, with courtship skills like that, that any woman wouldn’t be swept off her feet—it’s unfathomable.” She patted his arm. “I wish you luck, Luc. I’m sure your mother will have some very nice choices for you, so go enjoy yourself. Perk up, there’re billions

more to be made when you get back.”


“Sarcasm doesn’t suit you, Katie.”


e was right, but she didn’t trust herself around him. She’d taken leave of her senses too many times in that weakened state. Since moving to California, she’d made it her goal to live life logically and for the Lord. She hadn’t fallen victim to her emotions since leaving New Orleans, and she’d invested too much to give into them now.


“I’m sorry,” she said. “I only meant that I’m sure there are other nice girls willing to go home and pretend for your mother. I’ve already done that, only you forgot to tell me we were pretending. Remember?”


He flinched. “Below the belt.”


A pencil fell from behind her ear, and she stooped to pick it up, careful not to meet his glance as she rose. “I’m sorry, but I’m busy here. Maybe we could catch up another time? I’d like that and won’t be so sidetracked.” She looked across the room toward Austin, an angelic but severely autistic child in a wheelchair. He pounded against his tray. “The kids are getting hungry. It’s lunchtime.” She pointed to the schedule.


Luc scooped a hand under her chin and forced her to look at him. “Where else am I going to find a gorgeous redhead who knows who Glenn Miller is?”


“Don’t, Luc. Don’t charm me. It’s beneath you. Buy one of your bubble-headed blondes a box of dye and send her to iTunes to do research. Problem solved.”


He didn’t let go. “Ryan wants you to sing at the wedding, Katie. He sent me personally to make sure you’d be there and sing ‘Someone to Watch Over Me.’ I’m not a man who quits because something’s difficult.”


“Anyone worth her salt on Bourbon Street can sing that. Excuse me—”


“Katie-bug.”


“Luc, I asked you kindly. Don’t. I’m not one of your sophisticated girls who knows how to play games. I’m not going to the wedding. That part of my life is over.”


“That part of your life? What about that part of you? Where is she?”


She ignored his question. “I cannot be the only woman you know capable of being your date. You’re not familiar with anyone else who isn’t an actress-slash-waitress?” She cupped his hand in her own and allowed herself to experience the surge of energy. “I have to go.” She dropped his hands and pushed back through the half door. “I’m sure you have a meeting to get to. Am I right?”


“It’s true,” he admitted. “I had business in San Francisco today, a merger. We bought a small chain of health food stores to expand the brand. But I was planning the trip to see you anyway and ask you personally.”


“Uh-huh.”


“We’ll be doing specialty outlets in smaller locations where real estate prices are too high for a full grocery outlet. Having the natural concept already in these locations makes my job that much easier.”



“To take over the free world with organics, you mean?”


That made him smile, and she warmed at the sparkle in his eye. When Luc was in his element, there was nothing like it. His excitement was contagious and spread like a classroom virus, infecting those around him with a false sense of security. She inhaled deeply and reminded herself that the man sold inspiration by the pound. His power over her was universal. It did not make her special.


“Name your price,” he said. “I’m here to end this rift between us, whatever it is, and I’ll do the time. Tell me what it is you want.”


“There is no price, Luc. I don’t want anything from you. I’m not going to Ryan’s wedding. My life is here.”


“Day and night . . . night and day,” he crooned and then his voice was beside her ear. “One last swing dance at my brother’s wedding. One last song and I’ll leave you alone. I promise.”


She crossed the room to the sink against the far wall, but she felt him follow. She hated how he could make every nerve in her body come to life, while he seemingly felt nothing in return. She closed her eyes and searched for inner strength. He didn’t want me. Not in a way that mattered. He wanted her when it suited him to have her at his side.


“Even if I were able to get the time off work, Luc, it wouldn’t be right to go to your brother’s wedding as your date. I’m about to get engaged.”


“Engaged?” He stepped away.


She squeezed hand sanitizer onto her hands and rubbed thoroughly.


“I’ll give a call to your fiancé and let him know the benefits.” He pulled a small leather pad of paper from his coat pocket. “I’ll arrange everything. You get a free trip home, I get a Christian date my mother is proud to know, and then your life goes back to normal. Everyone’s happy.” He took off his fedora as though to plead his case in true gentlemanly fashion. “My mother is still very proud to have led you from

your . . .” He choked back a word. “From your previous life and to Jesus.”


The announcement of her engagement seemed to have had little effect on Luc, and Katie felt as if her heart shattered all over again. “My previous life was you. She was proud to lead me away from her son’s life.” She leaned on the countertop, trying to remember why she’d come to the kitchen area.


“You know what I meant.”


“I wasn’t exactly a streetwalker, Luc. I was a late-night bar singer in the Central District, and the only one who ever led my reputation into question was you. So I’m failing to see the mutual benefit here. Your mother. Your date. And I get a free trip to a place I worked my tail off to get out of.”


She struggled with a giant jar of applesauce, which Luc took from her and opened easily. He passed the jar back to her and let his fingers brush hers.


“My mother would be out of her head to see you. And the entire town could see what they lost when they let their prettiest belle go. Come help me remind them. Don’t you want to show them that you’re thriving? That you didn’t curl up and die after that awful night?”


“I really don’t need to prove anything, Luc.” She pulled her apron, with its child-size handprints in primary colors, over her head. “I’m not your fallback, and I really don’t care if people continue to see me that way. They don’t know me.”


“Which you? The one who lives a colorless existence and calls it holy? Or the one who danced on air and inspired an entire theater troupe to rediscover swing and raise money for a new stage?” Luc bent down, took her out at the knees, and hoisted her up over his shoulder.


“What are you doing? Do you think you’re Tarzan? Put me down.” She pounded on his back, and she could hear the chaos he’d created in the classroom. “These kids need structure. What do you think you’re doing? I demand you put me down!”

My Review:

I must admit to being a bit disappointed by this book.  On the plus side, I liked the character of Katie.  She was spunky, feisty and fun.  I loved the background of New Orleans which became a character in itself.  And there were definitely some spots that made me laugh.

I couldn't agree with all the decisions the main character made.  Although he is her ex-boyfriend and she has another boyfriend now, Katie travels back to her hometown with Luc.  I didn't think that was a smart move boundary-wise.  Apparently, neither did Katie's best friend. 

The faith aspect of this book played less of a role in the story than I would have preferred.  I didn't see much spiritual growth in the main characters. 

**Special thanks to Thomas Nelson's Book Sneeze for providing a copy of this book to review.**

I was interested in reading Slave: The Hidden Truth About Your Identity in Christ for several reasons.  I have heard John MacArthur on the radio, but have never read his books.  Secondly, the topic interested me.

According to MacArthur, almost every English Bible version going back to the Geneva Bible and the King James Version have mistranslated the word "slave" as "servant."  MacArthur doesn't seem to be writing this to advocate nor to disparage any particular Bible version. 

When's the last time you heard the word "slave" in church? 

MacArthur makes a good case for the mistranslation.  Mentally readers would asssociate the word slavery with the English and American form of slavery known for their abuses.  The Hebrew form of slavery was quite different, as MacArthur shows in this book. 

MacArthur's book is well-referenced with verses.  I also enjoyed reading accounts from church  history, especially those of John Newton. 

Thinking of oneself as a slave is convicting to say the least.  What does it mean to be the slave of Christ in absolutely everything?  It definitely changes the way we live moment-by-moment. 

I don't fully agree with MacArthur on doctrine.  I felt he was pushing Calvinist doctrine a bit too strongly for my liking in this book.  But this is an area where there are differences in the body of Christ. 

On the whole I found this book both spiritually convicting and intellectually fascinating.  I will definitely be reading more of John MacArthur in the future.

I have long appreciated Family Life's ministry, but only recently became aware of a new site connected with their ministry, Mom Life Today.  You can read columns and articles from Barbara Rainey, Tricia Goyer, and a whole bunch of other moms.  I encourage you to check it out if you're a mom.  I wasn't asked to say that, but I think its a link other moms would benefit from.



**Thanks to LitFuse Publicity Group and Family Life Ministries for providing review copy.  The opinions expressed are my own.**
 To follow the rest of this tour, be sure to go to Life Ready Tour Schedule.
Balance.  Multi-tasking.  Priorities.   Roles.
According to Shaunti and Robert understanding our roles can bring  peace and calm to our overloaded lives.
As a busy homeschool mom, I’ve been guilty lately of allowing stress to get the best of me.  Following God’s plan for our lives leads to peace and not stress.  Following his callings for you according to Scripture and then his calling for you personally will bring a sense of balance.
I had read Shaunti Feldhahn’s For Women Only, a must-read in my opinion if you want to understand the thought processes of the average American male.  There were so many parts to this book that I approached my husband with “is that really what you’re thinking when you…?” and was surprised by the answers at times.  So I was very eager to read this book!
I really enjoyed this book, although I found some parts of it more helpful than others.  The first part of the book presents God’s design for us as women: leave and cleave, be fruitful and multiply, and subdue and rule.  I agreed with most of the concepts the author presented, however, having read several good books on biblical womanhood I didn’t find any “new” information or even information presented in a “new” way.
My favorite part of the book was the second half where the authors talk about God’s general and specific plan for our lives.  This plan changes dependent on the stage of life we are in.  I found this part of the book helpful and I daresay freeing.  We need to recognize that we are not necessarily intended to do every task during every stage of our life. 
For instance I love to write, however I fall into the stage “married with preschoolers/gradeschoolers.”  In addition I am a homeschool mom.  Writing is a gift of mine and I should seek to use it.  But the ways I use it right now will differ from the ways I use it as my children get older.
“Using Wisdom with a Man” was a helpful chapter that provides insight from both a male and female perspective.  Throughout the book, it was a gift to be able to hear both Shaunti and Robert’s perspective. 
Whatever stage of life you are in, I believe you will find wisdom to glean from The Life Ready Woman.
Giveaway:

LitFuse has generously offered an extra copy of this book to give away. 

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In honor of Valentine's Day we've had a 2 week theme of love stories at  The Writer's Alley.   It may come as no surprise that I've chosen to post about the witty, inimitable Miss Austen.

Check it out here and be sure to check out some other favorites.  Yesterday Angie had a great post about Liz Curtis Higgs and she's definitely going to be joining my reading list.

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:


and the book:

Siloam (February 1, 2011)
***Special thanks to Anna Coelho Silva

Publicity Coordinator, Book Group
Strang Communications for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:





Douglas Weiss, PhD, is the executive director of Heart to Heart Counseling Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The author of Intimacy, The Seven Love Agreements, and Sex, Men, and God, he is a regular guest on national television (both secular and Christian) as well as radio.



Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Based on principles from his best-selling book Intimacy, Dr. Doug Weiss offers thirty daily teachings for married Christian couples that will help them discover what true intimacy looks like, learn how to overcome the five main roadblocks to intimacy, and help them fall in love all over again.


Product Details:

List Price: $14.99
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Siloam (February 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 161638140X
ISBN-13: 978-1616381400

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:


I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask

for, it will be done for you by my "ather in heaven. "or where

two or three come together in my name, there am ! with them.

—Matthew 18:19–20


Throughout my years of counseling, I have discovered that many marriages lack structures to encourage intimacy. We grow up believing that one day we will get married and live happily ever after. We enter marriage ill equipped for intimacy and are disappointed when our husband or wife doesn’t possess the secret code to intimacy either.


At first marriage is fun as you begin to learn about your spouse, go to work or school, get your first apartment, pick out furniture, go to church, and are physically intimate together without guilt. The sheer complexities of your new life together, along with the many new decisions you must make, can keep you talking and sharing regularly. Slowly and subtly it happens. No one really knows when or where it happens, but something changes within the relationship. You don’t seem to talk as much.


Decisions are not met with the same excitement as when you were first married; instead, they are delegated, then discussed. Purchases become fewer, and sex and life take on a routine. You don’t feel as close but seem just to be living together. What happened? Where did the passion for one another go? Americans believe that people are either passionate or they are not. But this kind of thinking is incorrect. Passion is a dividend of consistent investments made into a relationship. Let’s reflect back a minute to when you were dating. You were selling your spouse on the idea that being married to you was a great idea. Remember the passion you had for your future spouse? Of course you remember the passion, but what you may have forgotten is the foundation of that passion, the priority of the relationship. Do you remember how you “made” time to be together? You planned your days and weeks around each other’s work schedule, including your days off. Those of you who were attending school in another city away from your future spouse, as I was, had the phone bills to prove your passion and priority. In my case, those phone bills took a giant bite out of the little income I made just so I could tell her about my day. If you were a Christian at the time, do you remember how spiritual you were? You prayed together as often as you could and perhaps even read the Bible together. You desired to know God’s will, and you wanted God to help you stay pure and still express your love to one another. Do you remember the gratitude you had for the smallest things your spouse did for you? ,is was especially true for me when Lisa cooked for me. I was so grateful! I 5lled her life with a constant stream of praise. Do you remember when you thought she was so smart and attractive and had so much potential? You believed in her and regularly encouraged her.


Understand that passion is a result of setting priorities. Too many people attempt to get back the passion instead of getting back their priorities. Once you get the priorities back, the passion follows and grows

naturally. What priorities? I will discuss priorities shortly, but before I do, I want to share an analogy I often use in counseling sessions. Many couples come in for help with sprains or fractures in their relationships. I liken the repair of a marital relationship to 5xing a broken bone. When your bone is broken, you can continue to function in a limited way, but you look and act unusual. When you go to the doctor or emergency room. The first thing the doctor does is order an X-ray of the bone. Sure enough, he looks at the structure. Regardless of how it happened, the X-ray shows a damaged structure (your bone is broken). The doctor and nurse apply a structural treatment to your structural problem in the form of a cast. The cast is a structural treatment that allows the bone to heal. The cast itself is just plastic or plaster, and it has no healing properties. But when it is applied to a broken bone to hold the bone in place, surprise! Healing can and does happen. The same thing happens when you place the priorities back into your

marriage. No matter how sprained or broken a marriage is, healing can and does take place. I have seen genuine miracles of restoration in marriages when priorities were put back into the relationship. One of

the structures I apply is what I call “the three dailies.” I want to add a personal note of testimony. As I have stated before, I would never ask you to do something that Lisa and I have not done or are not doing presently in our relationship. Lisa and I have done two of the three dailies every day for years, with only a few exceptions. When I developed the third exercise, we actively applied it to our marriage routine also.


These three exercises help Lisa and I maintain our relationship priorities. They are part of our bedtime routine. Neither of us expects to go to sleep without our relational ritual of the three dailies. They are a major highlight of my day. I get to hear about my wife’s day, hear her heart, and she gets to hear about my day and heart as well. ,is relational structure has richly developed our skill for intimacy to such a level that it can weather the day-to-day challenges of children, writing, and media demands, together with all of our other commitments. When your marriage priorities are restored, your passion will be restored. Everyone who knows me is well aware of my passion for Lisa.


I love her and really like her as well. This passion is the fruit of disciplinethat is born out of a heart of love.


THE THREE DAILIES

1. Prayer

Prayer is an absolute necessity in your marriage. I am constantly amazed when couples tell me that the last time they really prayed together, not including praying over food or a good night prayer with children, was years ago. Sometimes they say, “We both pray, just not together.” Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” The Lord must be part of building your house. Prayer is an active way to include the Lord as part of the building plan of your marriage.


Matthew 18:19 says, “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.” As we’ve previously noted, this verse discusses the importance

of two or more agreeing in God’s name. It doesn’t say when one agrees—it says when two agree. Since Christ’s resurrection, He intercedes with and for His bride, which is the church. The Lord sees prayer as being extremely important. God’s pleasure is for us to commune with Him not just as individuals,

but as a couple as well. Prayer is one of the priorities that must be set in place by a couple desiring more intimacy. Remember, intimacy is three dimensional, involving spirit, soul, and body. As we grow together spiritually, our intimacy in the other two areas will grow as well. Prayer is just talking aloud to God with your spouse, similar to talking with a friend. Prayer doesn’t have to take long hours in any particular

position. It is the principle of connecting with God that is essential. As a couple, within your governing style in your marriage, process the decision of daily prayer. As a result of your decision as a couple, place a

check by which of the following statements you agree with.


* We have agreed to pray daily together to improve and maintain our intimacy for the next thirty days.


* We have agreed not to pray together daily for the next thirty days, knowing that it will negatively affect our intimacy. The structure of prayer taking place within your marriage is one essential part of the three daily exercises. This structure will also be a part of your thirty-day log at the end of each day. Hopefully you have agreed to daily prayer. I know better than most that each couple has many variables. Some of these differences include sleep preferences, work schedules, children’s school and extracurricular activities, church, and fellowshiping with family and friends.


Look at your schedules. When can you pray together? In the morning? At lunch? In the evening? Take the time to discuss this with your spouse, and see if you can agree on a time to pray together. In the space below, write your first and second options to pray together.


Option one is ________ a.m./p.m.

Option two is ________ a.m./p.m.


In your thirty-day log, it’s important to track your progress regarding this exercise to maintain the consistency that ignites the passion and intimacy you both desire. Those who travel often ask how to maintain the thirty-day program while out of town. In this day of modern technology, it is a non issue for the creative person. You can use your calling card or mobile phone to pray with your spouse over the phone. This really demonstrates a commitment to maintaining your spiritual intimacy. Even if you’re in Hong Kong, you can e-mail a prayer to your wife and chat with her. Remember that the structure first brings healing, then passion. As you walk together spiritually, your intimacy over the next thirty days can

nourish.


I love walking in the garden of my life with Lisa and coming with her into the presence of our loving Father. I really believe this has been instrumental in developing the strength and intimacy of our marriage. couples come in for help with sprains or fractures in their relationships. I liken the repair of a marital relationship to fixing a broken bone. When your bone is broken, you can continue to function in a limited way, but you look and act unusual. Then you go to the doctor or emergency room.


The first thing the doctor does is order an X-ray of the bone. Sure enough, he looks at the structure. Regardless of how it happened, the X-ray shows a damaged structure (your bone is broken). The doctor and nurse apply a structural treatment to your structural problem in the form of a cast.


The cast is a structural treatment that allows the bone to heal. The cast itself is just plastic or plaster, and it has no healing properties. But when it is applied to a broken bone to hold the bone in place, surprise! Healing can and does happen.


The same thing happens when you place the priorities back into your marriage. No matter how sprained or broken a marriage is, healing can and does take place. I have seen genuine miracles of restoration in marriages when priorities were put back into the relationship. One of the structures I apply is what I call “the three dailies.”


I want to add a personal note of testimony. As I have stated before, I would never ask you to do something that Lisa and I have not done or are not doing presently in our relationship. Lisa and I have done two of

the three dailies every day for years, with only a few exceptions. When I developed the third exercise, we actively applied it to our marriage routine also.


These three exercises help Lisa and I maintain our relationship priorities. They are part of our bedtime routine. Neither of us expects to go to sleep without our relational ritual of the three dailies.


They are a major highlight of my day. I get to hear about my wife’s day, hear her heart, and she gets to hear about my day and heart as well. ,is relational structure has richly developed our skill for intimacy to such a

level that it can weather the day-to-day challenges of children, writing, and media demands, together with all of our other commitments.


When your marriage priorities are restored, your passion will be restored. Everyone who knows me is well aware of my passion for Lisa.


I love her and really like her as well. ,is passion is the fruit of discipline that is born out of a heart of love.


THE THREE DAILIES


1. Prayer

Prayer is an absolute necessity in your marriage. I am constantly amazed when couples tell me that the last time they really prayed together, not including praying over food or a good night prayer with children, was years ago. Sometimes they say, “We both pray, just not together.”


Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” The Lord must be part of building your house. Prayer is an active way to include the Lord as part of the building plan of your

marriage.


Matthew 18:19 says, “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.” As we’ve previously noted, this verse discusses the importance

of two or more agreeing in God’s name. It doesn’t say when one agrees— it says when two agree.


Since Christ’s resurrection, He intercedes with and for His bride, which is the church. The Lord sees prayer as being extremely important. God’s pleasure is for us to commune with Him not just as individuals,

but as a couple as well.


Prayer is one of the priorities that must be set in place by a couple desiring more intimacy. Remember, intimacy is three dimensional, involving spirit, soul, and body. As we grow together spiritually, our

intimacy in the other two areas will grow as well.


Prayer is just talking aloud to God with your spouse, similar to talking with a friend. Prayer doesn’t have to take long hours in any particular position. It is the principle of connecting with God that is essential.


As a couple, within your governing style in your marriage, process the decision of daily prayer. As a result of your decision as a couple, place a check by which of the following statements you agree with.


We have agreed to pray daily together to improve and maintain our intimacy for the next thirty days.


We have agreed not to pray together daily for the next thirty days, knowing that it will negatively affect our intimacy.


The structure of prayer taking place within your marriage is one essential part of the three daily exercises. This structure will also be a part of your thirty-day log at the end of each day.


Hopefully you have agreed to daily prayer. I know better than most that each couple has many variables. Some of these differences include sleep preferences, work schedules, children’s school and extracurricular

activities, church, and fellowshiping with family and friends.


Look at your schedules. When can you pray together? In the morning? At lunch? In the evening? Take the time to discuss this with your spouse, and see if you can agree on a time to pray together. In the space below, write your first and second options to pray together.


Option one is ________ a.m./p.m.


Option two is ________ a.m./p.m.


In your thirty-day log, it’s important to track your progress regarding this exercise to maintain the consistency that ignites the passion and intimacy you both desire.


Those who travel often ask how to maintain the thirty-day program while out of town. In this day of modern technology, it is a non issue for the creative person. You can use your calling card or mobile phone to pray with your spouse over the phone. This really demonstrates a commitment to maintaining your spiritual intimacy. Even if you’re in Hong Kong, you can e-mail a prayer to your wife and chat with her.

Remember that the structure first brings healing, then passion. As you walk together spiritually, your intimacy over the next thirty days can nourish.


I love walking in the garden of my life with Lisa and coming with her into the presence of our loving Father. I really believe this has been instrumental in developing the strength and intimacy of our marriage.




My Review:

I look at the concept of a book like this and am somewhat amused. I expect to find a few good suggestions. And to be sure I’ve benefited from several marriage books.



Marriage is work. Fun work most of the time, but the real change in marriage comes in the Spirit working in and through us . Dying to selfishness is the primary “work” of marriage in all realms. Through our obedience to the Holy Spirit he transforms every part of marriage.


Weiss tries to guide the reader through such problems as sexual abuse, anger, addictions, and forgiveness. I think his approach to these issues is simplistic at best. I think these issues are beyond the scope of this book. This book would instead be appropriate for someone who has a good marriage and is fine-tuning rather than dealing with one of these major issues in their marriage.


All in all, I do appreciate Weiss’ main point concerning creating daily habits that will connect you and your spouse spiritually, emotionally, sexually, and financially and did gain a few helpful tips I did not find this book to be strongly focused on the Scriptures.



WINNERS from the SEASONS OF LOVE BLOG PARTY: Click on Amber's blog to catch any posts you may have missed in this series! 

The winner of The Preacher's Bride is....LEANNE

and for the box of chocolates...JOY

I'll be contacting both of you for your mailing addresses!!

I'm thrilled to be part of Amber's Seasons of Love Blog Party and I'm thrilled to share a fun interview with Jody Hedlund, author of one of my favorite books of 2010, The Preacher's Bride.  You can read that review here.  Jody's next release will be The Doctor's Lady this Fall. 

 How did you choose Elizabeth Bunyan as the model for your main character?



I like to read biographies (yes, I’m a history geek!). When I was reading about John Bunyan, I ran across the story about how his second wife, Elizabeth, bravely defended him in front of a court of judges after he’d been accused of unlicensed preaching.


I loved her courage and determination, and I decided I wanted to tell her story to the world. So much is known about some of the great heroes of the faith, but so little is told of the incredible women who stood by their sides and helped shape them into the men they became.



Can you share an interesting fact about the Bunyans or their romance that you learned in your research?


At the end of his life, John Bunyan wrote this in a deed, “The natural affection and love which I have and bear into my well-beloved wife, Elizabeth.” I thought his words were so romantic, especially after years of marriage. It just showed how much they’d grown to love and appreciate each other over the years.


Do you have any Valentine's Day traditions in your family?


On Valentine’s morning, I place a big pretty bag in the middle of the kitchen table with a little gift to each family member inside. Then I attach a piece of string to the gift and run it out to each individual’s spot and tape it to a special heart-shaped box of chocolates. One-by-one, my husband and children take turns pulling on their string and receiving their gifts.



Describe your perfect romantic dinner. What would you eat? Are you cooking or going out? What music would you play at dinner?


At this stage in my life, with five very busy children, ANY dinner I eat alone with my husband is romantic! Every Wednesday night after the kids are in bed, my husband gets Qdoba burritos for just the two of us. And occasionally, we’ll get take-out after the kids are in bed and have a quiet dinner alone. We love those times!



If you were planning a party, which three historical figures would you like to invite and why?


Of course, I would have to invite John and Elizabeth Bunyan, and Mary their blind daughter, simply because I would love to hear what they have to say about my retelling of their lives in The Preacher’s Bride. And I’d have dozens of questions for them about all of the details I didn’t learn during my research.



What is your favorite flower?


The lilac. I absolutely adore the sweet scent. But I’m also very fond of any type of flower my husband brings home for me. Even though we’ve been married for almost twenty years, he’s still very sweet about bringing me bouquets from time to time.



Do you have a favorite couple from the Bible? Why?


I’m quite fascinated by the story of Ruth and Boaz. It’s such a beautiful tale of a poor woman who sacrifices everything, and a rich man who falls in love with her and rescues her from deprivation. It’s just like a rags-to-riches fairy-tale.



How did you decide to write historical romance?


I’ve always loved reading historical romances and losing myself in the past. And I’m also a big history buff. So I was naturally drawn to writing about the things I love most.



Can you share an instance in your life when you clearly understood Christ's love for you personally?



Oh, I’ve had lots of those moments in my life. And now that I have children, I get glimpses of Christ’s love especially when I’m parenting. When I have to discipline or set boundaries for my children, I realize that I’m doing it because I love them and want them to grow into godly young adults some day. It’s a daily reminder that out of his love for me, Christ disciplines me too.



Do you have a favorite dessert? Will you share the recipe please?



Here’s one of my favorites, because it’s not only super-delicious but also very easy!



Gooey-Chocolate Cake



1 Box German Chocolate cake mix

(water, vegetable oil, and eggs called for in the cake mix directions)

1 (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk

1 jar (16 oz.) caramel, butterscotch or hot fudge topping

1 container whipped fluffy white frosting or 1 (8 oz.) frozen whipped topping, thawed

1 cup toffee chips or bits



1. Heat oven to 350°F. Make cake as directed for 13x9 inch pan; cool 15 minutes.

2. Poke top of warm cake every ½ inch with handle of wooden spoon. Drizzle sweetened condensed milk evenly over top of cake; let stand until milk has been absorbed. Drizzle with caramel topping. Cover and refrigerate about 2 hours.

3. Spread frosting over top of cake. Sprinkle with toffee chips. Store covered in refrigerator.

 
Giveaway: Want some yummy Godiva chocolate?  What's your favorite dessert?


Also to one winner, Jody has offered a copy of her book, The Preacher's Bride.  Please enter in the comments whether you are interested in one or both.
 
Please include your email in this format:
name (at) where (dot) com
 
Winner will be announced Monday!!








This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Promises to Keep
Bethany House (February 1, 2011)
by
Ann Tatlock







ABOUT THE AUTHOR:




Ann Tatlock is the author of the Christy Award-winning novel All the Way Home. She has also won the Midwest Independent Publishers Association "Book of the Year" in fiction for both All the Way Home and I'll Watch the Moon. Her novel Things We Once Held Dear received a starred review from Library Journal and Publishers Weekly calls her "one of Christian fiction's better wordsmiths, and her lovely prose reminds readers why it is a joy to savor her stories." Ann lives with her husband and daughter in Asheville, North Carolina.




ABOUT THE BOOK




Eleven-year-old Roz (Rosalind) Anthony and her family have just moved to Mills River, Illinois, to escape an abusive situation. Only days after settling into their new home, they are surprised to find the previous owner, Tillie Monroe, on their front porch reading the newspaper.




Though her sons have sold the house and sent her to a facility for the aged, she is determined to die in the place she lived her life, and somehow manages to find her way "home" day after day. Feeling sympathy for the elderly woman, Roz's mother allows Tillie to move back in.



Mara Nightingale becomes Roz's first friend in Mills River. In spite of their many differences, the girls discover they have something in common that binds them together--both are hiding secrets. So they make a promise--"cross my heart and hope to die"--never to tell anyone else. When danger stalks the Anthonys, Tillie exhibits unimaginable courage and selfless love in her determination to protect the family she has adopted as her own.



If you would like to read the first chapter of Promises to Keep, go HERE.



Watch the book trailer:






Julia's Take:

It can be difficult to pull off an adult level book with a child as a main character, but Ann Tatlock really pulls it off here. 

I have to mention I love the simplicity of this cover.  I used to wear my hair in two braids when I was a little girl and somehow looking at the cover I was "pulled" into Roz's world.

Tatlock's characters all come alive.  I will often avoid a book about abuse, especially involving children.  Tatlock pulls off a difficult topic sensitively, yet realistically.  My heart broke for Roz as her innocence was shattered about life, and her father. 

Yet, ultimately this is a book about love, human and divine and its power to break barriers.  Tillie brings heartwarming humor to the story and shows Roz the power of a father's love.

Mara and Roz's friendship brings in the topic of race at a time when the South is desegregated in name only.  Ultimately this entire book has a beautiful thread of what it means to desire the love of a human father.  In the end its real message about the love of a heavenly Father that can fill the void. 

Today, I'm over at Joy's blog sharing what I love about being married.  I felt led to share something a bit different than the how we met or how we got engaged stories.  Since I met Joy a few months ago, I can't wait to hear her story.

I loved reading the other bloggers stories, especially Tammy (Bluerose of Bluerose's Heart) who has an absolutely dreamy looking blog.

Don't forget to stay tuned tomorrow here for Jody Hedlund's interview with chocolate recipes and a chocolate giveaway.  Plus, I will be including my brother's recipes for a romantic menu.

I just had to add this (and I am in no way sponsored by this company).  If you're married, check out Union 28.  My husband and I both have great looking tee-shirts from this company, as do our children.  Its a great way to brag on your spouse and promote marriage.





This week, the
 
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
 
is introducing
 
Another Dawn
 
Bethany House (February 1, 2011)
 
by
 
Kathryn Cushman
 


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Kathryn Cushman is a graduate of Samford University with a degree in pharmacy. After practicing as a pharmacist, she left her career to marry and begin a family and has since pursued her dream of writing.


Other books by Kathryn, A Promise to Remember was a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers Book-of-the-Year in the Women’s Fiction category, and Waiting for Daybreak was a finalist in Women’s Fiction for the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award.

Leaving Yesterday, her third novel, was a finalist for the ACFW Carol Award.

Now her fifth book, Another Dawn, has arrived in stores, and I’m very excited about it!

On the homefront, Kathryn has been married to Lee for over twenty years now, and their two daughters are currently braving the worlds of junior high and high school. They’ve lived in Santa Barbara for the last nineteen years. It’s a beautiful place and Kathryn feels blessed to be there (although a seventy degree Christmas still leaves her dreaming of a white one—or at least a colder one!)

ABOUT THE BOOK  


Grace Graham is back in Tennessee with her four-year-old son on a short unpaid leave from work, helping her father recover from surgery and spending time with her sister.


Shoal Creek seems more backward than ever after her years in California, and it's hard to find organic food anywhere. When the unthinkable happens and her son is diagnosed with measles, Grace's fears over modern medicine take a dangerous turn.

Worse, the town has fallen into quarantine and its residents focus their anger and blame on Grace. She is alone and scared, until one brave woman chooses to reach out a hand of forgiveness and mercy. But when the outbreak takes a life-threatening turn, will Grace be able to forgive herself?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Another Dawn, go HERE.



My Thoughts:


Kathryn Cushman has just joined my must-read list!  


First of all I love reading a book about a topic that hasn't been touched on very often.  Although vaccination is a "hot button" topic, this was the first fiction I've read on the subject.  


Cushman takes a controversial subject and handles it with sensitivity leaving questions that she deftly refuses to give us easy answers for.  Another Dawn is a book that will leaving you thinking about forgiveness...about the "ripple" effect of our decisions on others.  


I was immediately swept into the emotional world of Grace and the whole town of Shoal Creek.  Cushman's book continues beyond the last page in my heart and mind.

Amber at Seasons of Humility is running a Valentine's party and it started yesterday with a wonderful interview with Mary Lu Tyndall, author of swashbuckling tales of highseas romance.

Today, Renee Ann is sharing a beautiful love story, Elisabeth Elliot.  Renee Ann and I have apparently been on the same page which is something I'll share soon.  I highly encourage you to read Renee's blog, enter her contests, and read anything by Elisabeth Elliot you can get your hands on.

Check here for a day-by-day listing of giveaways and interviews you won't want to miss!

Saturday Jody Hedlund will be visiting Dark Glass Ponderings with a chocolate recipe and my brother Andy will be sharing some recipes with your sweetheart.

And this is my Tuesday at The Writer's Alley where I'm sharing how the visual arts can inspire your fiction (inspired by my 9-12 year old class of Creative Writers).

In addition to my first Creative Writing class last week, I've been enjoying polishing up my entry for my first contest, The Frasier.

Do you enjoy board games?  If so here's a great site to learn about more games.  Its called Board Game Geek.  Chris and I have found a group of local homeschoolers who also like board games and find that dinner and a game can make for a romantic date night!  In fact, this is how we will be celebrating Valentine's Day.

As posted at Title Trakk.   Stop at Title Trakk for great interviews with Karen Kingsbury, Jerry Jenkins, contests, and reviews.

"Suspense fans will find much to enjoy and ponder in Mike Duran’s first novel."


Attention Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker fans: make room on your keeper shelf for Mike Duran’s The Resurrection. Duran is a promising speculative author and I’m already counting down the months until his next release.

The novel begins with a spark that kindles into a quick-spreading spiritual wildfire.


Reverend Ian Clark is a minister recently hired in a small, spiritually-dead town. Bitter about the path his life has taken, Clark wrestles with doubts that only increase when he renews a decades-old friendship with a seminary classmate turned apostate. But how can he explain the mysterious presence of an entity known as Mr. Cellophane who visits his office regularly?


Ruby Case is an ordinary middle-aged woman with a limp who begins to see visions involving an immense dead tree. As she touches the corpse of her friend’s son at his funeral, he suddenly springs to life. Ruby finds herself thrust in the midst of a decades old battle of good versus evil.


The Resurrection is a suspenseful novel that kept me turning the pages late into the night. Duran delivers one surprise blow after another leaving the reader’s heart pounding in a constant sense of anticipation.


The ensemble cast of characters are memorable long after the reader puts the book down. Since seminary Clark has been unable to reconcile the events of his life with the existence of a loving and powerful God. Through Clark, Duran provides a realistic assessment of the struggles of many non-believers. He demonstrates the sad reality of many sitting in the pews, yet spiritually lifeless. Duran demonstrates the dangers of New Age pantheism and the realities of spiritual warfare in a fallen world. The Resurrection contains a message that is woven tightly through with spiritual truths that are never force-fed to the reader.


Ruby and Vinyette are the prayer warriors of Canyon Springs Community church. They meet to pray weekly for the congregation and for Reverend Clark. Ruby shows how the Lord can take the seemingly ordinary and use it for His glory. Ruby sees herself as weak, yet she has a yielding heart to her heavenly Father. She is a living demonstration of God using the weak and foolish things of the world to bring Him glory.


Duran does not provide a neat and tidy ending. Instead he provides one that keeps the reader thinking. Long after I put down this novel I found myself pondering its contents. Suspense fans will find much to enjoy and ponder in Mike Duran’s first novel.

If you have been blessed by the heart and words of writer Cathy Bryant, please stop over at her website and leave her your encouragement...and let her know you're praying.  

http://wordvessel.blogspot.com/2011/02/hanging-up-my-hat.html

Cathy has a heart for ministry in all that she does and I know the Lord will use her wherever she goes.


Title: Holy Ambition: Turning God-shaped dreams into reality



Author: Chip Ingram


Publication Date: 2010



**Special thanks to Moody Publishing company for providing a review copy. The opinions expressed are my own.**



I have listened to several of Chip Ingram’s podcasts on iTunes, so when I saw this book come up for review from Moody I snatched the chance to read it. Last year my women’s Bible study was learning about the book of Nehemiah and Ingram also uses Nehemiah throughout the book as an example of leadership.

For some reason I didn’t realize this book was about leadership, otherwise I may not have chosen it for review. Whereas I think all of us are called to do the Lord’s service I don’t particularly think of myself as a leader. I’m one of those people that prefers to be working hard behind the scenes. Although I’m realizing that as a Sunday school teacher, homeschool co-op teacher, and even as a homeschool mom I may be called to more of a leadership role than I realize.

I did feel that many of the examples Ingram uses throughout the book were geared towards those in church leadership, a role I certainly don’t intend to fill.

According to Ingram, Nehemiah shows a pattern for the steps those in leadership should follow:

Develop a dislocated heart

Experience a broken spirit

Practicing a radical faith

Creating a strategic plan

Exercising personal commitment

Growing a courageous soul



My favorite section was on developing a dislocated heart and experiencing a broken spirit. I feel so many books skip around the topic of repentance. I was so glad that Ingram shared how a broken spirit is one God can use. This is a principle I’ve definitely seen in my own life. And I’ve definitely noticed that the strongest leaders do have a sense of humility.

Although this book wasn’t always as applicable to my personal life as I would have hoped, I did definitely glean some wisdom from it. I would recommend this book for those in Christian leadership.


Julia M. Reffner

About Me

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Christ-loving bookworm & homeschool mom of 2 stealing the rare quiet moments to pursue that all elusive writing dream. I also write book reviews for Title Trakk and The Historical Novel Society.

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