As Silver Refined by Kay Arthur

As Silver Refined is a book that talks about many of the disappointments we all face in life and how we can view them as lessons from God and face them down in a more positive and constructive way.  In that regard this book did it's job.  I really liked the authors regular use of scripture to illustrate and support her points.  I did, however, find the book to be rather slow reading and after the first few chapters I had to force myself to finish it.  Overall I don't think this would be the first book in this genre that I would recommend to a friend.  It's not bad, I just don't think it's that good either.

To Heaven and Back by Dr. Mary C. Neal

When I agreed to review this book I was hoping for a bit more information on Dr. Neal's time spent in Heaven and a bit more about the extent of her injuries at the time of the accident. For example, Dr. Neal claims to have "died" but there is no information to support the idea that she experienced true physical, clinical death. This book is more of a short biography of Dr. Neal's life than it is specifically about her near death experience. While her brief discussions of the various times she felt God's presence in her life were interesting and somewhat inspiring, I would've liked to have seen a bit more detail in those discussions and I certainly would've like to have seen more detail in her discussion of her time spent, as she believes, in Heaven. Also, while I don't doubt that Dr. Neal has had a very powerful and life-changing experience, based on what I read in the book, I am a bit skeptical that this was more a case of misidentification than miraculous journey. When she does talk about her experience she describes being in a state of true physical shock, slipping in and out of consciousness (not being actually dead), and still experiencing very similar things to what she apparently experienced while she was trapped in the river. I can't help but feel that her case was less an actual experience of life after death and more an experience of hallucinations during extreme physical stress, shock and loss of oxygen. I do believe that many of the after-life experiences reported by those who experienced them are genuine, I just can't say the same with any amount of confidence for Dr. Neal's case. I enjoyed the openness with which she discussed the lose of her son and her family's struggle to come to terms with his death which is a story I can relate to on a personal level, although I lost my son much earlier in life than she lost her's, much of the story still resonated. However, after awhile the overall feel of the book began to become a little tedious and it was difficult to see it through to the end. All in all, I gave it three stars for effort. I feel this book, even with the doubt of the reality of her experiences, would've been a four or five star read if it was a less a biography and more about her accident, time in heaven, conversations, and then about her directives.

Has God Spoken? Proof of the Bible's Divine Inspiration by Hank Hanegraaff

Has God Spoken? Proof of the Bible's Divine Inspiration by Hank Hanegraaff is a fascinating and thought provoking book.  It tackles many of the tough criticisms raised against the Bible with honest, and fact-based answers that both affirm and challenge traditional belief systems.  For the most part it's engaging, although parts of it can become a bit dry and I personally feel that the acronyms are a bit over done but I can see where they would be a useful memorization tool for many. 

Be the People by Carol M. Swain, PhD

I began reading this book fully expecting it to really speak to me and inspire me since I myself am rather conservative politically and religiously and I figured that my sensibilities would align well with Prof. Swain's. And they did, to a large degree, with the exception that I tend to be more egalitarian in my view of the Biblical role of women and men and she tends to be more complementarian in her views.  I strongly agree with the basic premise of this book, that America is indeed heading in the wrong direction both politically and socially in many ways.  I found her chapter on abortion to be powerful and factually accurate.  I thought her interpretation of the intent of the Founding Fathers to be insightful.   But, unfortunately I found many other areas to be limited in scope and incomplete.  For example, she talks about the problem of divorce in this country (agreed) but she blames it almost entirely on the feminist movement.  I don't count myself among the Steinem Stepford feminists either but divorce in this country is a multi-faceted issue and I think that Prof. Swain's analysis fails to acknowledge that fact. Feminism may have removed some of the social stigma of divorce but it didn't really drive people to divorce.  Rabid feminists don't cause people to leave their spouses, unhappy marriages do and marriages can be unhappy for many reasons.  So even without feminism, even if divorce was still a stigma, all you would likely end up with would be men and women drudging through miserable marriages.  Another issue that Prof. Swain brings up is the idea that 9/11 was a punishment for the actions of the US and she listed a couple of reasons given by the terrorists for their attack to support this idea which basically boiled down to the exploitation of the poor and our sexual immorality.  Unfortunately, again, she didn't expand on this idea much and only presented a very limited view of the causes of the Sept. 11th attacks.  One of the major reasons that the terrorists attacked the US was due to our support of Israel, which she correctly states in several other areas of the book as being a moral benefit to the US.
It was mainly the little things like those that I listed that really prevented me from giving this book a five or even four star review.  I felt that overall, in concept and in theory, and even in much of of the detail it was spot on but in other areas it really failed to give a full and in some cases, an intellectually honest depiction. 

Max on Life: Answers and Insights to Your Most Important Questions by Max Lucado



Max Lucado has been a tremendous inspiration to me since Christianity found me again and held onto my soul for dear life only a few years ago. When I had finally decided to set foot in a church for the first time in over a decade they handed me a "gift package".  It had chocolates, a welcome note from the church, and a small pamphlet.  I went home, gave the chocolate to my kids, read over the welcome note from the church before putting it in the trash and stuffed the pamphlet into my nightstand drawer without even bothering to open it. The next night while searching for something to read to slow my racing thoughts so I could sleep I reached into my nightstand drawer and found the pamphlet.  That pamphlet sent me down a path that changed my life forever.  It described Christianity in a way that I could relate to at the time despite my deep rooted skepticism and cynicism. I looked on the back of the pamphlet and found that the other was Max Lucado, a man I had never heard of in my entire life but I liked his style.

Since then I've read several of his books including this one and Outlive Your Life. While this book didn't quite inspire me the way that Outlive Your Life had done it is still a worthwhile read. In this book, Pastor Lucado answers some of the many questions he has received throughout his ministry in various different categories that include topics like God, suffering, sex and marriage, heaven and hell, finances and the purpose of church.  Some of the answers made a great deal of sense to me, some left me with still more questions, and there were even a small number that I didn't completely agree with but all of them were insightful, well thought out and handled in a compassionate and understanding manner. This will most likely be a book I keep returning to time and time again for a guidance and insight.

Dragons of the Valley by Danita K Paul

Dragon's of the Valley is the first truly Christian fantasy fiction novel that I've read and I can honestly say I enjoyed it. It's central theme based around the usual "good guy vs. bad guy" model with the peaceful and enlightened town of Chiril suffering an unprovoked attack by the brutish, violent, and somewhat dimwitted kingdom to the South. 

The character The Grawl provides an interesting side plot portraying a skilled hunter/assassin with a tragic history that makes you feel a little sorry for him despite the fact that he is a cold-blooded killer.  His apathy and arrogance really add depth to his character and in the end he personifies the idea that sometimes evil isn't always black and white.

Along with the drama of love and death, fear and excitment there is also plenty of comic relief provided by the perpetually confused but always affable Lady Peg. Her barely coherent ramblings never failed to provide a smile and sometimes even a chuckle or two.

Adult readers, however, may prefer something with a bit more depth and the Wulder references seemed to me to be a bit forced at times doing slight damage to the overall flow of the story but all in all I think it is a great book for older kids and teenagers.  It's clean, engaging enough, not too violent, no real objectionable material and therefore I think it is definately a book most parents could feel comfortable giving to their children.

Eat Your Peas Daughter by Cheryl and Mom Karpen

This is such a cute little book.  I read it with my 7 year old daugther and she absolutely loved it. It's easy enough for a 7 year old to understand and deep enough for a teen or adult to appreciate. It is a wonderful gift that any daughter can treasure for a lifetime.

The Jesus Inquest: The Case for and Against the Resurrection of the Christ

The Jesus Inquest: The Case for and Against the Resurrection of the Christ attempts to provide an even-handed examination of the arguments on both sides of the Resurrection debate.  Charles Foster, a barrister (criminal-lawyer) and writer uses his legal experience to present the arguments both against the Resurrection (as portrayed by witness X) and for it (as portrayed by witness Y) ultimately leading the reader to form their own opinions based on the evidence, although it is not too difficult to see which direction Foster himself is leaning.

The information is well researched, well thought out and eloquently argued.  Foster exhausts every avenue from eyewitness accounts, post mortem theft, the Jesus family tomb and pretty much everything in between in this comprehensive compilation. It will likely challenge the faith and convictions of some believers and reaffirm the belief and conviction of other believers. Non-believers would also find it to be a useful resource.

The only real problem I had with the book was in regards to the layout.   I found that presenting several different arguments from X on a given category and then responding with several different rebuttals from Y all grouped together was a bit too choppy for my tastes. I would have preferred to read an argument from X and then read it's specific rebuttal from Y right after.  To give credit, however, the cross references placed throughout the book helped to ease this problem somewhat as it provided a quick reference to which argument went with which rebuttal.  Part of me, also, would have liked to see a more clear and open stance in the epilogue regarding exactly what opinions Foster had developed during the course of his research since he did make the start of a story with it in the prologue. Not knowing whether his faith had been strengthened, lessened, or changed left me feeling like I had read an intriguing mystery novel that was missing the final chapter. I understand about wanting people to form their own opinions, but perhaps it would've been better then if he had left out the more personal aspects altogether.

Unto the Hills by Billy Graham

I had never really read a daily devotional before so the opportunity to review a devotional written by one of the most influential Christians of my life time was pretty exciting.   This was everything I had hoped it would be.  It's simple yet powerful with the classic Billy Graham insight that has inspired millions of Christians throughout the last several decades.  For each day of the year, the Reverend Graham quotes a Bible passage then reflects on that days message with a couple of richly written paragraphs then he ends each devotion with a short prayer.  This was well worth the read and was an excellent starting point into the vast world of devotionals.

Start! The Bible for New Believers by Greg Laurie

Start! The Bible for New Beginners is a New King James version Bible edited by Greg Laurie.  From the perpsective of a relatively new believer, Start! has many things going for it.   To start with, the New King James version is easier to understand and follow along with than a standard KJV Bible.   Start! is well referenced so little is "lost in translation".  The magnified text that helps to highlight important passages and the "blurbs" that help put certain passages in context or help define confusing terms are wonderful, although I do wish there were more of them, especially for the Old Testament.   The Old Testament can be confusing to new believers and new converts could easily benefit from a bit more direction and explanation in that area.  

Outlive Your Life by Max Lucado

After having some technical difficulties I'm finally able to put up a review. 

 I'm going to be honest and say that this was definately one of my favorite books.   Max Lucado uses the Book of Acts as a challenge to Christians everywhere to make the most out of our lives but making a positive difference in the lives of others.   The great thing about this book is that it is not just a call to do what's right, it's an instruction manual in how to do what's right.   It provides ideas and resources and even a study guide to make sure you, as the reader, get the most out of the message.   This book serves as a reminder that all of us, young and old, ordinary or powerful, rich and poor are all called to be servants in Christ and we can all make the most out of our lives.  

The Butterfly Effect by Andy Andrews

Let me start of by saying this is a very short book.   It took me approximately 10 minutes to read the whole thing.   But sometimes good things come in small packages.  

The book starts out telling the story of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, a college professor and colonel in the Union Army during the Civil War. At the battle of Gettysburg, he was told that he had to hold the end of a long troop line that spread along many miles. Chamberlain's platoon managed to successfully stop several Confederate attacks but time and limited supplies took it's toll on Chamberlain's command. The Confederates reformed and prepared for the final attack on Chamberlain's brigade.  Chamberlain was now out of ammunition and had just found out that his commanding officers had all been killed.  If he failed to hold his position the Union army would either have to surrender or would face enormous casualities.   Chamberlian made the decision to make one last go at the Confederate army.  He ordered his soldiers to fasten bayonettes at the ends of their rifles and had them charge the Confederate army as it prepared to attack.  It was enough to fool the Confederates who assumed that the Union army must have galvanized support and ammunition and they decided to retreat, eventually surrendering to Chamberlain.  

The basic premise of the book is that everyone plays an important role in the world.   Even small, seemingly insignificant actions, can have a ripple effect that can make a huge difference in the world.   Such as one University Professor guiding a ragtag band of soldiers with the simple instruction of "holding the line" turning out to be the difference between a Union or Confederate victory.  

This book carries a powerful punch.  I enjoyed the history lesson and the overall moral of the story.   It's succinct nature can be viewed as both a positive and a negative.   For some, like my husband, who really don't love to read, it provides a wonderful message in a less intimidating form than a thousand pag epic.   But for those who like in depth discussions and multiple literary examples, this book will probably leave you a little less than satisified.   Overall though, I would definately recommend it.

The Jesus You Can't Ignore by John MacArthur

The Jesus You Can't Ignore is a refreshing new look at Jesus and how he dealt with those who were working against God.   Jesus has, in modern times, been portrayed as "politically correct", meak, passive, and as someone who was about avoiding conflict instead of engaging in it.   This book, however, takes a much different approach and points to a Jesus who was not only a peaceful, gentle savior but also a fierce defender of the faith.  MacArthur wonderfully intertwines gospel and insight to reveal a Jesus that was not afraid to fight for truth.  

Reviewed as part of the Thomas Nelson book review program.

The Portable Patriot

Description: The American soul was forged in the smithy of the spoken word and printed page. Our reliance on the word goes back to the Pilgrims and the Mayflower Compact. It continues through the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights. It emerges in the political struggles of the Revolution and the ratification arguments of our national charter. Americans needn't turn to biased media to find our national identity. It's already written richly into our history. The Portable Patriot makes the choicest and most valuable selections accessible again.

Review:  The Portable Patriot offers a look at American history through some of the most influential documents of the time period.   It's an insightful collection that takes readers through the founding of this country in chronological order and from the words of the founding members.   The documents are kept true to form without a lot of added narrative to detract from the original written words.   The only complaint that I have is that I wish there had been a bit more attention paid to the actual founding documents.   Still, this is a rich and insightful historical collection and wonderful historical resource. 

Captivating (Revised and Expanded) by John and Stasi Eldredge

"Life is harsh on the heart of a girl. And a woman. Remember your fairy tales-the villian always goes after the Beauty.  The story of your life is the story of the long and sustained assault on your heart by the one who knows who you could be-and fears you. But every store also has a Hero.  The story of your life is also the story of the long and passionate pursuit of your heart by the God who comes both to ransom and restore you as a captivating woman." -John and Stasi Eldredge

Captivating is a book that sets out to liberate the inner desires of a woman's heart through the affirmation of scripture and faith.  It offers an affirming take on the lives and hearts of women and shows that we, as women, are exactly what God wanted us to be.  

Like many others, I found this book to be uplifting.   It's one of those books that, if you open yourself up to it, hits a chord somewhere deep inside of your soul.   It allows you to realize that there is no set mold for who and what you need to be as a woman.   That mold is cast by society, not by God.   God made women beautiful and all those societal standards of what you should or should not do as a woman are surface deep at best.   This is a book that I will definately be sharing with my daughter when she's old enough to fully engage in it.