Desiring God

You hear “Christian Hedonism”, you’ll likely associate with the man John Piper. Well you should, he is the main force behind this theology. He sums up “Christian Hedonism” most well in this phrase: "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." In 1986, he published the original version of “Desiring God”. Now, he’s released a revised version through Multnomah Publishing. I’ve received a copy of the book for free in exchange for an honest review. Everything I say is 100% my own opinion.

“Desiring God” is the main book for Christian hedonism, a fairly new theological viewpoint (although you could argue that Jonathan Edwards supported it in his own way before it was as widely recognized.) Piper does a very good job of pointing out the Scriptural validity of the view of Christian hedonism (the view that we should enjoy God and that God enjoys God, essentially) and provides a very good argument. I personally adhere to it, and I think this is just a wonderful book if you want to know why Christian hedonism is a legitimate theological view.

I love this book, I plan on reading it again, and I give it five out of five stars.

I Am Not But I Know I Am

I love Louie Giglio. I’ve never personally been to any of the Passion Conferences, but I’ve heard that they’re amazing. I’ve listened to his sermons and Mr. Giglio just has a tonne of amazing things to say. I recently received his latest book, “I Am Not But I Know I Am” from Multnomah Publishers. I received it for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Everything I say is completely my opinion.

Anyway, I love Mr. Giglio. His book “I Am Not But I Know I Am” is wonderful. It’s short, not even reaching 200 pages, so it’s a very quick read. This book focuses on the story of God – how He’s more than enough, so we don’t have to be these perfect people. It talks about His love and how His love has been extended to us, so we can extend it to other people. This book has a lot of solid theological depth in it, but it’s broken down into bite-size pieces so the non-theologians among us can grasp them. We may be sailing in deep waters, but Giglio has given us a set of floaties to keep us going.

This book is, in a word, encouraging. If you’re questioning who God is or what He thinks of you, read this book. Then it encourages you to go and LIVE your faith instead of just talking about it. Five out of five stars.

When Bad Christians Happen to Good People

If I can be perfectly honest, I have a lot of anger inside of me. A good portion of it is directed towards my fellow Christians. If I can be blunt, the average person attending the American church can be a bit of a meathead. (I’m including myself in this demographic – I’m a rather oblivious person from time to time J) So when I saw this book, “When Bad Christians Happen to Good People” by Dave Burchett, I clicked ‘order’ nearly immediately. I was intrigued.

I tell you what, ladies and gentlemen, this book is fantastic. The author is funny and thought provoking, an unusual combination. I’d never have imagined that a single book (save the Bible) would cause me pause and consider so often. Every three pages I would be stopping and asking God to help me change.

Guys, let’s face it. We have all failed as a church. But this book could be a remedy to that. This book doesn’t bash Christians in the face. It instead holds their hand as they are convicted and shows them a way to fixing their problems.

I highly recommend this book. Five out of five stars. This book is excellent!

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

newreleasetuesday.com

So as a broke college-bound student, anytime I hear the word 'free', my ears instantly perk up.

Also, I'm kinda a music junkie.

So when I heard 'free' and 'music' in close proximity on the internets, I was excited. I had heard from one of those little side bar Google ads about NRT (newreleasetuesday.com) and how I could get free music every tuesday. So I went in and signed up, just expecting it to be something I could do weekly and not worry about it.

But once I got involved in the site, I realized there was SO MUCH MORE than just free music. There are TONNES of other stuff on there - artist interviews, concert details for ALL OVER THE COUNTRY (not that that would really help me - I don't care if there's a concert in CA while I'm in IL. But the thought is nice :) ), book reviews, devotionals, so on and so forth. There's a bunch of stuff just outside the cheap-o music scene :) Really surprised me, but it was a pleasant surprise.

Another cool thing about this site is the community. I didn't expect this to have a community outside of the 'This is a good song' and 'MOAR MUSIC!' stuff. But there are prayer forums, where we can come on and pray for each other. That's so cool; we may not know each other in real life, but we're still connected by our faith in God. There's also just-for-fun forums, where we can just chat and have fun :) Love that!

Even the bigshot NRTeam administrators get in and chat- they actually listen to what the people have to say and are really cool about everything. They're so cool! :D

And the crowning jewel: the point store! ERMERGERSH. I love free stuff. I don't think you understand how much I LURVE it. So when I looked at their point system (you can earn points for posting reviews, song lyrics, artist/author info, referring people, etc.) and saw the stuff you can earn for it, I had a legit fangirl-y minute. This isn't just chuck-e-cheese stuff you get for the points; no, you can get shirts, cds, books, and other stuff (I pretty much stopped looking after those three things!) just by interacting on the site. The only improvements I would make would be to have a better layout for the point store; it was cool and all, but kind of weird for me personally. Also to have a sizing chart for the clothes (They have sizes posted, but different brands have different measurements for clothes - while I may be a Medium in one brand, I'd be a large in another. Confusion ensues.)

But I'm SO not complaining. I'm so glad to have found this site, and it's my new best friend. (Because I'm a forever-alone type of person)

(loljk:P)

(kinda)

Anyway, whoever has happened to stumble upon it, check it out here: http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/nrteam_register_invite.php?uname=livekerusso

No. Seriously. Visit http://www.newreleasetuesday.com NOW.

Do Hard Things by Alex & Brett Harris

Hey guys. So yall know normally when I have a new book in from a publisher, it’s through the Thomas Nelson booksneeze programme. But not this time! Nope, this time it’s from the Multnomah  Press, and this time I got an amazing, life - shaping, game - changing book, called “Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations.” by Alex and Brett Harris. This is an AMAZING book. It focuses mostly on simply NOT settling for mediocrity in your everyday life. For pushing the borders, expanding horizons, and reaching past what you’re ‘supposed’ to do and into what you SHOULD be doing.

I actually read it for the first time about two years ago, but I had since nearly forgotten everything. But when I read this again, I was personally really convicted about the way I act. As a Christian, I could always be doing more- that’s okay. I’ll never have it right. But this book made it especially clear to KEEP GOING. Don’t let anyone tell you what you can and cannot do. This book I loved enormously and I give it five out of five stars. I definitely recommend it.

And if you are so inclined, feel free to visit my ‘real’ blog (i.e., no book reviews) at : www.livingasakerusso.blogspot.com or find me on twitter! @livekerusso

Talk to you guys later! :)

To Be Perfectly Honest by Phil Callaway

Most of my books come from Thomas Nelson through the booksneeze program. Most of the ones that don’t come from Thomas Nelson come from Bethany House through their blogger review programme. Of the few that aren’t from Thomas Nelson or Bethany House, they come from Multnomah Publishers. This book that I just got, “To Be Perfectly Honest” by Phil Callaway, is one such book. In the book, Phil attempts to go an entire year without lying. At all. Not even ‘No, that dress doesn’t make you look fat,’ or ‘That green mush you served for dinner was DELICIOUS,’ lies. None of that. Nope, this man wants to go an entire year without any lies. Whatsoever. Not even to God.

This book was an extremely easy read- I devoured the whole thing in about three hours. As a humourist, Phil Callaway has a fantastic writing style and I literally laughed out loud at many, many points during the novel. He has enough fluff to keep you giggly and enough meat to keep you thinking.

Plus, he’s from Canada. So his awesomeness level went up by about a thousand points with that right there.

Overall, I loved this book, I would recommend it to near everyone (and I have!), and I give it five out of five stars.

Oh! And for all you people out there who read whatever I write, I'd love it if yall could go check out my new blog about life, God, and trying to muddle through it all. Check me out at www.livingasakerusso.blogspot.com

Yeah, I couldn't think of a better name...

And check me out on twitter: @livekerusso

I'd love to hear from you! :D

New Blog!

Hey! So, I'm moving more of my posts onto a new blog- it's essentially the same as this. Even the name is the same. This one I will be using more as a book reviewing blog, while the other will be my basic observations on the world around me, as well as some shameless self-promotion for new books and whatnot :) I've even reposted some of my posts from here onto the other one, so yall should recognize it! Anyway, here's the website: livingasakerusso.blogspot.com

I hope you come in and see me! Oh! And find me on twitter: @livekerusso
I would love you so much if you did!
Have a fantastic day peoples!
And be expecting more book reviews coming soon! :)
Talk to you later!!

Some thoughts

Every 10 seconds, a child abuse report is made. More than 5 children die each day of child abuse. Four of these children were under the age of four.

One out of every three teenagers will have at least one pregnancy before they turn 20.

Every minute, 29 children die of starvation. That means that every nearly every 3 seconds, someone dies.

Every 15 minutes, 29 people will attempt suicide. One will succeed.

Every minute, 80 unborn babies are aborted.

Every minute, 140 children are sold for labour and sexual purposes.

Thousands upon thousands of people are currently homeless.

There are untold amounts of hate, pain, and abuse in the world.

We live in a place of chaos and anarchy. If we are followers of God, of the living Messiah, how dare we sit here and turn the other cheek? How dare we ask God why He allows it, when we could in fact be making a difference in this?

How dare we act so apathetic?

Apathy is a luxury we can no longer afford.

Softly and Tenderly by Sara Evans

I'll confess, I dislike country music. Not so much as to say that I'd rather shower with a bear than listen to it, but still. I dislike country music. If I had known that this book was written by a country music artist, I probably wouldn't have ordered it. But, I didn't know, so I did order it. I'm thankful, I guess, but it felt like reading a country song in novel form. It flowed easily, and everything, but it sounded so... dramatic. Like every single thing was the end of the world. It was good if there was nothing else to read, but over all, I think I give it about four out of five stars. I just really don't like the whole "glurge" effect that this book had. But it was decent.

No Wonder They Call Him the Saviour by Max Lucado

Good evening, everyone! I just received a wonderful new book, “No Wonder They Call Him the Saviour” by Max Lucado. But before I get started though, I have to say for legal reasons that I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I am under no obligation to give this book a positive review and anything I say is completely my own opinion. Anyway, so, I got this book from Max Lucado. It’s very good. I tell you what, Mr. Max just has a way to craft words together the way an artist mixes his oils. It’s not a challenging book, per se, at least not for me. It was more of an encouragement. Jesus loves you more than you can imagine, and He proved it by not only living so that we may know God on earth, but died so that we may know God when we are no longer on earth. In most of His books, it seems to me that Max Lucado zeroes in on this central, ever- important point. I will definitely pass this book on to someone who I know will enjoy it- I can’t wait to give my mom a new addition to her Max Lucado collection! I give this book a definite four out of five stars.

There You'll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones

I received this book for free from the booksneeze program through the Thomas Nelson publishing company. I am under no legal obligation to give this book a good review. It’s not very often booksneeze comes out with a young adult book. But that’s exactly what “There You’ll Find Me” by Jenny B. Jones is. However, that being said, it is utterly unlike most teen novels that are out today. Despite the fact that it has a ringer for Robert Pattinson as a main character, this book is anything but Twilight. “There You’ll Find Me” is set in Ireland, one of my favorite countries because of the amazing history that is encompassed in that proud land. When Finley flies out there, however, it is not to gain history, but perhaps some closure. After her brother was killed in a terrorist attack, Finley has had struggle after struggle, so she decides to travel to where her brother was most comfortable. When she gets there, though, she comes up against more than she can handle. As she slips into an eating disorder, she begins seeking God. Funny, huh? It seems that when we are at our lowest, God still reaches down and picks us right back up to Him. This book deals with heavier issues such as grief, depression, and eating disorders, but I’d definitely give this book a five out of five.

Indelible by Kristen Heitzmann

Hello, there! I've recently gotten a book from the wonderful people at Waterbrook Publishing (note: I recieved this book for free and I am under no legal obligation to give this book a good review) The book, "Indelible" by Kristen Heitzmann was a riveting book. The book begins with a dangerous mission of a park ranger out to rescue a toddler from a mountain lion. When he succeeds, it begins a long chain of events that include the meeting of a Natalie Reeve. They work together throughout the novel. This book was quite entertaining and I'd give it a good four out of five stars.

"Ascent from Darkness" by Michael Leehan

Hi! I got the book “Ascent from Darkness” by Michael Leehan today from booksneeze, and I literally have not put it down since I began reading the book. Before I get started, though, I need to let you all know that I received this book for free from booksneeze and I am under no obligation to give the book a good review. Everything I say is my own opinion and how I truly feel about said book. Now, on with the show! Anyway, “Ascent from Darkness” by Michael Leehan is a truly phenomenal book about a man’s descent into satanism and how Jesus Christ saved him from that destructive lifestyle. Living in a fairly rural part of central Illinois, where everyone is Baptist, Catholic, Mormon, or a Jehovah’s Witness, I’ve never fully faced one-on-one with a person thoroughly involved in the occult. I’ve had friends who’ve dabbled, but I’ve never met the stereotypical big, scary-looking, meaty guy with pentagrams etched into his arms. Reading this first-hand account was entirely eye-opening, and I think anyone who doesn’t quite understand what a satanist believes should read this book. This book was very good and I would definitely give it a solid four out of five stars.

Hey there:)

Goodness... it's been a very long time since I've been here. I was on a month-long mission trip to Bulgaria during July, and ever since then, my life has been in near complete chaos- both good and bad (mostly good:) ) It's so strange being back (even though I've been back for a month and a half!)- but in a good way. Because I know what it's like to be with God full on, one on one, 24/7. It's an amazing experience. I've learned, though, that to be with God, full on, one on one, 24/7, you don't need to be in another country, halfway across the world. You can be full on, one on one with God right where you are physically if you are where you need to be spiritually. I've learned that. Since I've been home, it's been so amazing the opportunities that God's given me to keep me as close now as I was in Bulgaria. And I've since learned that mission fields are all over- across the world, across the nation, across my community, even across my backyard. God isn't some foreign deity that you must travel all over to access. He's right there, waiting for you, within arms' reach. He loves you. Don't refuse to reach out to Him. He want to love you, and if you take one step, He'll take care of the rest.

The Sweetest Thing by Elizabeth Musser

I got a book for free from the Bethany House reviewers company, but I’ve been gone, so I’m only getting around to writing the review until now. So, anyway, “The Sweetest Thing” by Elizabeth Musser was a really good book. I love historical fiction- I love history in general J This book takes place in the 1930’s. Anne Perri Singleton is a socialite (or at least it seemed it to meJ) But as the Great Depression comes and her life crashes as hard as the stock market, Perri makes a new friend. Will their new relationship stand the test of jealousy, betrayal, and family secrets? I won’t say, but I will say that this book is definitely an enjoyable read. I give it a solid four out of five starsJ

Life Everlasting by Robert Whitlow

Hi guys! I just got a new book from booksneeze- “Life Everlasting” by Robert Whitlow. But before I get started, I have to tell you all that I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson through the booksneeze program, and I am under no legal obligation to give this book a positive review. So whatever I say is how I legitimately feel about the book J Now, anyway, the book I was talking about. “Life Everlasting” by Robert Whitlow was a good read. I enjoyed it. One man sleeps in between life and death- suspended in a coma. His wife and brother want him dead. The rest of his family wants him alive, as well as a man named Ted Morgan, who happens to be a pianist. (I am too, so I loved that! J) But as the man’s wife’s attorney begins making their case, she has no idea that she is playing in a game that is far more serious than a trivial legal case. As the man begins gaining strength, his life is even more jeopardized. What will happen? You need to read the book to find out J I really liked this book. I give it four out of five stars J

The Final Hour by Andrew Klaven

Hey guys (again)- I got ANOTHER new book from booksneeze (don't worry, I didn't cheat the system. This was one of those "special" book things that I got extra:)) So, anyway, I got a new book called "The Final Hour" by Andrew Klaven. It's the fourth in the series, but even if you haven't read the series, it's still a fantastic read (Although, secretly, for me it made more sense if you read the preceding books first and then get to this one. But that's just me, probably.) But, anyway, before I REALLY get started, I should say that I got this book for free from the booksneeze program, and whatever I say about this book is my honest opinion. Anywho, so, "The Final Hour" is a pretty exciting book (if you couldn't already tell from the title). The book is about this boy who goes to bed a normal kid and wakes up a wanted criminal. He's being chased by terrorists and keeps having vision/ memory things that tell him a new terrorist attack is gonna happen before too long. He needs to help prevent this, but he's stuck. Will he be able to save the people from the evil terrorist attack? I'm not going to say. You'll just have to read the book:P

A Reluctant Queen by Joan Wolf

I’ve gotten a new book from booksneeze, and it’s a good one. J Before I get started, however,  I need to say that because of some law thing, I’m under no obligation to give this book a good review and that I received this book for free from the booksneeze program offered by thomas nelson. Okay, now that that’s done, let me tell you about this book. “A Reluctant Queen: The Love Story of Esther” by Joan Wolf is a- you guessed it- retelling of the biblical account of Esther. I’ve always loved the story of Esther in the Bible- parts made me sad, satisfied, and at points I felt slightly guilty for giggling at the circumstances (Like Haman hanging on his own gallows. Now who can say ironic?) But at its core, I believe Esther is a story of one young girl’s obedience to God and in turn causing a great chain of events to occur that would forever shape a nation, a people, and an empire. Now this book, in my own opinoin, focused more on the romantic part. Or maybe, quite honestly, it was just me. But all in all, I would say that this was a good book. Four out of five starsJ

The Promise of an Angel by Ruth Reid

Hey there again! I just got a new book from booksneeze, “The Promise of an Angel” by Ruth Reid. Before I get started though, you simply must know that I received this book for free from the Thomas Nelson Booksneeze program and I am under no obligation to give this book a good or positive review. Okay, so, I got this book, “The Promise of an Angel” by Ruth Reid. This book is… unusual for Amish Fiction. It is centered around Judith Fishcer. All she wants is to get married. But when her younger brother gets in an accident, she sees a man helping him who she believes to be an angel. As she shares this revelation with her family and friends, no one believes her. Soon after, she is visited by this angel. None in her community will stand up for her, except for one- the bishop’s son Andrew. With a show of faith that goes against her conservative upbringing, will Judith hold strong to God? I shan’t answer, but I will tell you that you will be satisfied with the endingJ I give this book a good, strong, four out of five stars. I hope that you enjoy it!

Nick of Time by Tim Downs

Hi there again! I’ve gotten a new book from Booksneeze- “Nick of Time” by Tim Downs. Before I get started, I need to let you know that due to some legal thing, I don’t have to give this book a good review. Okay? Okay. I did enjoy this book, but it is the sixth book in the Bug Man series. While this is a good book on its own, I’m sure that if  you had read the previous five, it would not only make a little bit more sense, you would get more out of this novel. This book revolves around Nick Polchak, a forensic entomologist who specializes in… well… bugs. If you watch the TV show “Bones”, think Dr. Jack HodginsJ Well, Nick here is getting married. If his fiancee can find him. Caught up in a murder case involving an old friend, Nick here disappears, and no one knows where he is. I love me a good mystery, and this was exactly that. I love forensic science (I could never be a part of it- too much icky stuff like blood and bugs and body parts. Yuck:P) This really was a phenomenal book however, and I give it an honest four out of five starsJ

The Whole Bible Story by Dr. WIlliam H. Marty

I recently got a book from Bethany House Publishers titled “The Whole Bible Story” by Dr. William H. Marty. Before I get started, I need to tell you that I don’t have to give this book a good review, because of some law thing. Anyway, the whole premise of this book is to tell the Bible story in “plain English”. This is not a new concept, considering this is how most of the more contemporary Bible versions (like NLT, NIV, the Message, etc.) got started. This is a good book, very easy to read, and is wonderful for someone who is either not a Christian or a new Christian. This book is set up almost like a play, with each chapter opening with main characters and the setting. Then it goes to tell the Bible story, nearly verse by verse without the little superscripts that mark the verses, breaking each chapter up into different “acts”. At the end of each chapter there is a chapter summary, summarizing the chapter, obviouslyJ The Bible itself has a lot of repetion between different books (i.e, I and II Samuel, I and II Kings and I and II Chronicles, the Gospels, etc.) This book eliminates this, because it reads as a chronological book. This book does, however, leave out books such as Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, and all of the letters. By no means does the book replace a Bible, but it is a good explanatory guide as well as a good chronological guide.

Lillies in Moonlight by Allison Pittman

Hi! I just got a book from Multnomah’s Blogging for Books program- “Lillies in Moonlight” by Allison Pittman. Before I get started, I have to say that I received this book for free from the publisher. Anywho, now, this is a really good book- it’s set in (I think) about the 1920’s- the age of the flapper:) Actually, the story is focused on a young flapper girl, Lilly Margolis, and war veteran, Cullen Burnside. After a night of craziness, Lilly twists her ankle and finds herself in the backyard of a wealthy family, the Burnsides. As she gets to know the family, she finds that she is attracted to Cullen. But each have a painful past- and when Cullen insists that she return home to her past hurt, their budding romance seems to die. They go, but what will each find at the end of the trail? This book is very good- I think it’s part of a series, because there were parts that seemed to reference past characters that I didn’t quite get, but this fact didn’t diminish this book. The 1920’s is not a period that is written about a lot in historical fiction, and I find that I am falling in love with that decade. I would definitely recommend this to the person who loves history, romance, and a good dose of fun:) I give this book five out of five stars:)

The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World by Susan Veness

Hi- I just got a new book from booksneeze- “The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World” by Susan Veness. Before I start talking though, I need to say that I got this book for free from the Booksneeze program. Okay? Okay. Now, let me tell you that I am a complete and utter Disney-o-phile. I was raised going to Walt Disney World in Florida and I have Mickey pumping through my veins. Figuratively speaking. Anywho, when I saw this book for “sale” (i.e, for free on Booksneeze), I had a bit of a spaz attack. I got it and began reading, and reading, and reading. The idea for this book is a very good one, but poorly executed. A lot of the “secrets” are outdated, commonly known, or just plain untrue. This is not a Christian book either- while it has no outright “Anti-Christian” message, it contained trace amounts of secularity- it mentions evolution a few times (such as when talking about dinosaurs in the Animal Kingdom park) and emphasizes the “prayer flags” that dot the Asia part of Animal Kingdom- flags that the Buddhist faith uses to get prayers to the heavens. Also, in different country pavilions in EPCOT, there are numerous references to other religions (such as Islam in Morocco, Buddhism in Japan, etc.) that the author glorifies. Yet any reference to Christianity the author almost demeans. Also, the author seemed EXTREMELY fond of the phrase “symbolically”- the word appeared on nearly every other page. It seriously started getting on my nerves. I would not suggest this book to anyone who does not know Disney very well- if you knew Disney things well, you might be able to work around the incorrect facets to find the few-and-far-between gems that might be true (such as backstories to rides and whatnot- the backstories for the different rides are one of the few things that the author got right.) Anywho, I am glad that I got this book, because it got me excited for future Disney trips and whatnot. But overall, I’d give this book only a two out of five stars.

Thank You, God, for Mommy by Amy Parker and Frank Endersby

Hi there again- I’ve just gotten the CUTEST book from booksneeze. But before I tell you about it, I need to let you know that due to some long legal thing, I don’t need to give this book a good review. So whatever kind of review I give it, it’s how I really honestly feel. Okay, Thomas Nelson is pretty good about having visually pleasing books, but this book, “Thank You God, for Mommy” by Amy Parker and Illustrated by Frank Endersby is really just ADORABLE! When I first read it, I was kind of worried about how I would write a 200 word review for a book that hardly even had 200 words in it. But as I looked at the illustrations, I was blown away by the quality. The pictures are sweet scenes of a young panda and his mommy doing everyday things- playing, cleaning, getting ready for bed, each accompanied by a short poem listing Mother Bear’s virtues. This padded book is wonderful for any toddler to read with a parent- the kind verses and the sweet pictures will surely be a hit with any kid under the age of 3. I give this book a nice five out of five stars:)

A Heart Most Worthy by Siri Mitchell

I’ve been doing the booksneeze program, which works through the Thomas Nelson publishing group, for a while now, and I’ve enjoyed it so much. Honestly, I don’t have the money to go buy new books for me- especially since I eat through them like they’re Turkish Delights:) When I learned that Bethany House Publishers had a comparable program, I was über excited. I love Tracie Peterson and authors like her. When I got the e-mail that listed a Siri Mitchell novel, “A Heart Most Worthy” among the latest new books, I was thrilled. Siri Mitchell is one of my favorite novelists- along with Ted Dekker:) What a pair, huh? I received the books and it really is a fantastic book. “A Heart Most Worthy” takes place in 1918 Boston- in the midst of the Great Italian Emigration. Quite a few of the characters are Italian or of Italian descent. There are Italian words sprinkled in- almost like how Amish words are sprinkled in an Amish fiction novel. The novel revolves around three seamstresses that work in Madame Fortier’s opulent dress shop. Julietta, in my own opinion, is a bit of a flirt; Annamaria is really shy (pretty different from Julietta), but she falls in love with the wrong guy. And Luciana is secretive with a mysterious past. With plenty more original characters and a wonderful plot, “A Heart Most Worthy” earns 5 out of 5 stars and would be recommended to any romantic or historic reader:)

Oh, by the way, because of the law thing (the one that applies to the booksneeze books as well), I didn’t have to give this book a good review. I received this book for free from the publishers. So there’s no conflict of interest. I just really really like Siri Mitchell. The whole “free” thing was like the cherry on top:)

Good Evening:)

Hi again:) I feel like it's been so long since I've posted something NOT related to books. Well, actually, I haven't posted anything besides book-related things since October/Novemberish. It's kind of funny, though, because when I first started, I imagined putting a new, cool post/story thing on here every week. That didn't work out very well, however:) Sometimes we get off track, we lose our plan, and fall off the wagon (I know I do A LOT!) With a lot of people, that's where it stops. If we've failed, we've failed completely. There's no use going on. But that isn't true- that's definately not what God wants for us. If David had just stopped living life after his affair with Bathsheba and the killing of Uzziah, he would not be called a man after God's heart. What set David apart was that he realized that he messed up, and pleaded with God to forgive him. And once he knew that God had forgiven him, he did what was right by Bathsheba and their children. And after, he didn't continue to beat himself over the head for what he had done wrong. When the Bible says
"As far as the east is from the west,
   so far has he removed our transgressions from us", that's what the Bible means. God has let it go, and it is gone. Don't get me wrong, God is NOT okay with our sin, but He loves us enough to give a way to forgiveness. That's why God sent Jesus to die- so that when our messes happen- big or small- we'd have a way back home to Him. No need for guilt, just grace. No need for shame, just salvation. No need for judgment. Just Jesus.

The Story of the Bible by Larry Stone

Hi! I just got a great book from booksneeze- “The Story of the Bible” by Larry Stone. Before I tell you how cool it is, let me tell you that due to some long law thing, I don’t have to give this book a good review, so everything I say is completely how I feel about it. “The Story of the Bible” really is a fantastic read- it gives a nice history of the Bible, from the beginning- when it was first put on paper (or papyrus?)- up to modern day efforts to get the Bible out to unreached peoples by translating it, giving them out, and sending missionaries to the far flung places to teach the people there God’s word. Something else that makes this a truly extraordinary Bible history book is that is has pockets placed in intervals throughout the book with printed pages (not the originals, they’re copies) from Bible transcripts through the years- there’s a page from Isaiah that was part of the Dead Sea Scrolls, a portion of 1 Samuel (and pictures!) from the Morgan Crusader’s Bible, circa 1240, and chapter of Mark from the Bible that was given to the Waodani Tribe of South America. I love history, so this book really was a fantastic thing for me. Be warned- when I ordered this, I thought it was just a small paperback book. In reality, it’s really a big book- it barely fits into my bookshelf. But the content more than makes up for the sizeJ

A Conversation with God for Women

Hello again! I got another new book from booksneeze today- “A Conversation with God for Women” by Marcia Ford. Due to some long legal thing, I’m under no obligation to give this book a good review, so whatever I’m about to say is how I genuinely feel about it. Okay, now, this was a really really good book- it was very thoughtful and it was very personal. I honestly enjoyed it. This book tries to answer some of Christianity’s hardest questions, such as “Good and evil, how can they coexist?”, “Why was a virgin birth necessary?”, so on and so forth. This was a good book, but there were points where it seemed very charismatic to me. But that might just be me. This was a good little book that was very simple and that was easy to understand. I enjoyed it, and I think that I’m going to pass it on to someone I know will enjoy it. “A Conversation with God for Women” is a very nice read, and for someone who is really struggling with some big questions, this would definitely be a good read. I would recommend it to anyone in a heart beat. Hope that you enjoy it as much as I did!J

Fasting by Scot McKnight

Hello there! I just got another new book from booksneeze- “Fasting” by Scot McKnight. Before we get started, I’m going to tell you that, due to some long law thing, I’m under no legal obligation to give this a positive review, so whatever I say is my true, unbiased opinion. Okay, now that that’s settled, let get on with this. This new book, “Fasting” is quite obviously on fasting. Fasting nowadays is a rather obscure, vague thing that only really really super spiritual people do, if anyone does that at all. This book explains exactly what fasting is, why it is important in a Christian’s walk with Jesus, and gives some history on fasting- when it was most common, who did it, that sort of thing. Now, just to be clear, usually I order fiction books from Booksneeze, but this one caught my attention because some people in my family have fasted before, and they have said it was a wonderful experience. So I ordered this, thinking to learn more about it. Fasting is something that you don’t decide to do, you have to be called by God to do it- otherwise you won’t be very successfulJ This book can be a bit dry at times, but it is a very educational read, and I liked it because it shared some good history along with ways to apply the rules of fasting to today’s life style. I enjoyed itJ

Seek Me with All Your Heart

Hello there, again! I’ve just gotten another book booksneeze- “Seek Me with All Your Heart” by Beth Wiseman. But before I get started, let me let you know that, once again, due to some long law thing, I’m under no legal obligation to say this is a good book, so whatever I say really is how I feel about it. Okay? Okay, good. Now, “Seek Me with All Your Heart” is a book about a small group of Amish families that move to Colorado for different reasons- some for the cheap land, others to rid themselves of unkind church leaders. This story focuses on a young Emily Detweiler, whose family moved due to an unsettling tragedy, and a Mr. David Stoltzfus, whose family came… well, he doesn’t quite know why they came to Colorado. These two people meet and neither one understands the feelings that arise out of this. This really is quite a normal Amish novel, following in the ways of Wanda Brunstetter and the like. Usually I find Amish novels almost syrupy sweet, but this was a very good read. I honestly quite enjoyed it- it was a very “honest” novel- it didn’t string me along with endless twists and turns. It was a nice read and I quite enjoyed it- despite the rather predictable endingJ This is a good read for the romantic at heart. Plus it has a rather delicious chocolate pie recipe included! That makes this whole deal a win-win situation!

Curiosities of the Civil War by Webb Garrison

Hey, guys! Got another new book from Book Sneeze, and I tell you what, I’m really excited about this one! Before we get started, though, let me just tell you guys that, due to some long, legal law thing, I don’t have to give the books that I receive a positive review. So, anyway, let me tell you about this book. It’s called “Curiosities of the Civil War” by Webb Garrison. Both my dad and I are big history buffs. I enjoy the more cultural side of things, while he enjoys the battles and generals and all the “manly” stuffJ. When I saw this book, I admit that I got it more for my dad than anyone else. I’m glad that I got it, though- I learned a few things about the Civil War that I didn’t know, which is always a fun thing for me. I was honestly kind of worried that it would be one of those “conspiracy theory” books, and a few parts were kinda sketchy, but it was a really cool book all together. Besides, now that I have this book, I won’t have to worry about my dad’s birthday presentJ! Anyway, I hope that you all have a good week! Bye!:)

The Inheritance of Beauty by Nicole Seitz

Hey guys, another new book from Book Sneeze! I know that book reviews have been the only thing I’ve been putting up for a few months, but it’s because I’ve just been SUPER DUPER busy with stuff. I’m sorry,  but everything should cool down in a few months, so it’s all okay J Anywho, before we get started, just a reminder that due to some law thingy, I don’t have to give this book a positive review, so whatever I say is how I really and truly feel, okay? Okay, now, down to business. I got the book, “The Inheritance of Beauty” and quickly devoured it. I LOVE history, the individual side of history, so this story won me over in a heartbeat. The book starts out almost immediately with a bit of a mysterious edge, with danger and intrigue that continues to escalate throughout the book. I loved the ending (which I shall not give away. I’m not going to ruin it for you! J) As a little side note, the book goes briefly into the author’s family history as well, which was pretty interesting for me. This book was absolutely fantastic and would recommend “The Inheritance of Beauty” by Nicole Seitz to any history loving reader out thereJ. Have a good rest of the week!

The Promises She Keeps by Erin Healy

Hi there again! Just recently, I’ve received another new book from BookSneeze- “The Promises She Keeps”. (Just as a reminder- due to some long law thing, I’m under no obligation to give this a positive review, so whatever I saw is whatever I really feel about the book, okay? OkayJ Now let’s move on, shall we?) Now, I’m not going to spoil too much of the plot lines or anything, but I’m just going to tell you that it’s a really good book. From the first page, the wonderful imagery and mysterious prose draws you in. Precise discriptions give us a glimpse into the minds of the characters almost immediately, and this is extremely cool. A mystery is set up for us to figure out from the first page, and to draw spiritual parallels into this is truly amazing- at list in my own humble opinion. I’ve always loved Erin Healy’s works, and this is no exception. She truly has a way with words that just about blows my mind every time. In no uncertain terms, I give this a solid 5 out of 5 stars, and I would most definitely recommend this book to anyone who would ask me. I hope that you all have a great rest of the day! Good bye! J

Seeds of Turmoil by Bryant Wright

I recently read another book from BookSneeze (as a disclaimer, according to some law thing, I’m under no obligation to give a positive review. So when I’m talking about these books, I’m talking how I legitly feel about them, okay? Okay. J) It was called “Seeds of Turmoil”. Seeds of Turmoil is a book that, on paper, is a good idea. But in writing, it is very hard to get into. The feeling through the book is a very charismatic feeling, very showy and flashy. It’s a good book, however, in that it delves into history and gives good discriptions. It attempts to explain the conflict in the Middle East using a Biblical perspective, which is both admirable and interesting. I honestly did enjoy the book once I got into it. But that’s where the issues lie- it took me a long, long time to actually get into the book. Bryant Wright opens with, “As a pastor, I’m always asked, ‘Bryant, why can’t these people get along?’” I’m paraphrasing, but it was like that- and it felt kind of, I don’t know. I didn’t enjoy the opening and if based only on that one sentence, I wouldn’t recommend it. But if you add up all the parts of the whole, it is an intriguing book and if you are someone who enjoys history and stuff like that, you will enjoy this book. I think that I will give it 3 out of 5 stars. Anyway, I gotta go! Thanks! Bye! J

Start! Bible for New Believers

I’ve recently signed up for this thing called Booksneeze, where the Thomas Nelson publisher sends you free books so you can review them. My first book that I got was the Start Bible for new believers. I gotta say, I really like it. The Start! Bible for new believers NKJV version is a very easy, comfortable Bible to read, and it doesn’t really throw around long, obscure theological names or phrases- thank goodness! I’m no Bible scholar myself and usually I hard time trying to figure out what things like ‘The Doctrine of Pantheomilliminiusts’ is (I don’t think that’s an actual thing, but you get the idea J) So it’s just really easy to understand, and even though I’ve been a Christian for about two and a half years so far, I’m finding this Bible very relevant and it answers important questions in a good, understandable way. Another plus is that it’s a New King James Version, so it’s almost like you get the beauty and eloquency of the King James Version, but you don’t have to work all around all the ‘thees’ and ‘thous’ and whatnot. I just simply LOVE it- I’m gonna use it pretty much all the time, I think. So, pretty much, giving this about a four and a half out of five. Well, I got to go now- busy day today- with all the 'kerusso' and whatnot x3. Anyway, thanks for reading!! Bye :D Have a fantastic day!

Hmmm... :)

Okay, just as a heads up, right now I'm going to be talking about one of the most controversial topics in America today. One that thousands, if not millions of people have found themselves involved in. One that help rewrite today's society and culture. Twilight. No, not the time of day when the sun sinks below the horizon. The "Twilight" that I'm talking about is the book series that got author Stephanie Meyer instant fame, the one that helped launch this new era of vampire fascination, as well as, to some extent, interest in werewolves and other creatures. The books, which have been on bestseller lists everywhere, is one of the big things for this generation, like facebook and texting. I myself am not a huge fan of the Twilight books. I don't care for vampires at all, much less sparkly ones. But I can understand why they're such a hit. They provide dozens upon dozens of people, girls and women primarily, with a certain fulfillment. They wish for someone to love them as fully and completely as Edward allegedly does. But Edward is but a man- a very very old sparkly blood-thirsty "man"-fantastical supernatural being- but a man just the same. And man messes up.
Man disappoints.
Man fails.
Man is not perfect.
So why do people insist on putting hopes and trust in men, fictional or not? I think it might be because it's what we're used to. We're used to depending on the tangible, the hands on stuff. But sometimes we forget, if we can hold it, it can break. The only thing that we can truly rely on is that which we can not physically touch. If you can't hold it, you can't break it. God, Jesus, He's the only One who can truly love you, truly fulfill you, truly sustain you. He can fill every void you have in your life, I promise. It's time to make sure that everyone knows it. There's too much pain to let them keep hurting. To many broken hearts for them to keep getting disappointed. Jesus is the only one who can heal the hurting and mend the broken for good. Let them know. :)

Well, hey there :)

Okay, I guess that since I made this about 10 minutes ago, no one will know about this, what I'm about to write. So I might as well go ahead. I got my name for this- kerusso- from a t-shirt company. I sincerely hope they don't mind, but seeing as it's really a Greek word, I don't think that there will be any copyright infringement or anything silly like that. :) I know that this sounds crazy, but I think that kerusso is my new favorite word. I mean, it's really fun to say for starters. Go ahead. Say it. Keh-roo-soh. And it makes me feel exotic. No one I know knows what 'kerusso' is. But I think it's my favorite word because of what it means. It's a Greek word, a verb, that means "To cry or proclaim as a herald", "announcement", as well as "preaching; to preach." (The New Testament in the Bible actually uses a different word, kerygma for preaching, but kerusso sounds cooler.(: ) That's pretty much our job as Christians. To tell people about the good news, the love that Jesus offers them. When Jesus was reading from the book of Isaiah (look up Luke 4), He read from Isaiah 61:1-2a:

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor."

He then told everyone that He was the one that was annointed, the one to preach, the one to bind the broken, to free the captives, and release the prisoners. He did. Now, it's our turn to tell everyone about Him, how they can be healed, freed, released. We need to "cry, proclaim as a herald". We need to brings an "announcement." We need "to preach". We need to, well, kerusso.