Adventure Bible Storybook, Deluxe Edition

The Adventure Bible Storybook (Deluxe Edition) includes the complete hardbound Adventure Bible Storybook, as well as 2 full audio CDs within a nice hard, open case. The stories found in the book are written by Catherine DeVries, and illustrated by Jim Madsen. Directed toward an audience of 4-7 year olds, it's purpose is to introduce them in a creative, adventurous way to many of the most well known stories found in the Bible (as well as the Adventure Bible Family series). The audio CDs read word-for-word with each story, while also capturing the attention and stimulating the imagination of the children through music, sound effects and multiple male and female character voices. The first disc contains 23 stories from the Old Testament. The second disc contains 28 stories from the New Testament. When quoted, Scripture is taken from the NIrV. 

I sat next to my four year old son as I wrote this review. He exclaimed multiple times, "I like this new Bible storybook and it's music!", but even more often, he stated, "Please stay next to me on the couch, Mommy, because I need lots of help." With those two statements, my son summarized this book for me.

It is a beautifully illustrated book with vivid , detailed drawings. Although it is a wonderful book, as my son stated (and it's title confirms), it is just that... a storybook. For this reason, although I know it will be well-loved by my children, I will not replace it with the Bibles we currently use to teach our children (The Beginners Bible, 101 Favorite Stories from the Bible, and the KJV Bible). Each story is elaborated, some more than others (eg- the story, "Food from Heaven", is told from the perspective of a little boy); in addition some stories start in the middle or end of the story from the character's perspective, before recalling back to what had taken place beforehand (eg- Samson is pushing the pillars, and Daniel is already in the lions den). There are still Biblical truths within the stories and I could foresee myself using the references listed at the beginning of the story to read to my children the actual account before they listened to the narrative. At the end of each story is an "Adventure Discovery", which give a little factoid to either reiterate a theme or expound upon the story. There is also a "Words to Treasure" section that usually, but not always has a theme verse from that particular story. With the exception of a few stories (Psalms 23, Proverbs and Christ's return), those are the only quoted Scripture.

Now for my biggest gripe... as my son stated, to use the audio, a child who is not reading pretty decently will need help knowing when to turn the pages. My son loves listening to various adventures on CD (eg- Patch the Pirate), as well as read-along books rented from the library. For the read-along books, there is always a chime, or the sound of a page turning... something to cue the child to turn the page. The CDs in this edition unfortunately have no such cue. So as my son listened to all of the CDs (in two sittings!), I was nearby, constantly glancing down so that he knew when to turn the page. The only exception was when they read the Bible verse at the end of each story. He listened for them to say the word "Treasure" and would then quickly turn the page. Because of this inconvenience, I'm not sure how often he will want to sit and listen to these stories if I am not present. My only other issues (the use of NIrV and simple messages) are arguably minor, based on personal preference and understandable for the audience it is directed towards. In conclusion, I would recommend this deluxe edition, but if Zonderkidz were to make any changes before another printing, I'd highly advocate putting a cue to turn the pages!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze® book review  program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Women Living Well

I'm thankful for this book review program, because I've stumbled across a few wonderful authors that I did not even know existed until I agreed to read their book. And then when I tell my friends, there is inevitably at least one of them that knew about that particular author already-- somehow I had just once again missed the bandwagon! And the review below is a case-in-point. I mentioned to a dear friend who stayed with us this past weekend that I was reading a lovely book called Women Living Well, and she instantly smiled and said she loved the website (she doesn't even have internet in her home). "You've never heard of it before?" she asked. Well, ummmm... nope. So this review is dedicated to all those who somehow have missed the bandwagon with me. Lucky for us, I think it is more like those cider mill tractor hay rides that are so common out here this time of year- that is, if you miss one, there's bound to be another rolling up sometime soon :)

Popular blogger and creator of WomenLivingWell.org and GoodMorningGirls.org, Courtney Joseph has written a wonderful book entitled, Women Living Well, with the focus of helping women hold on to their vintage values without being run over in this busy, modern world. Broken down into four sections, Joseph highlights that the key to successfully and joyfully thriving in today's society is to walk with the King; with Him at our side, and Scripture as our guide, she then gives helpful advice to be a blessing as a wife, an influential mother and making a haven of your home. Each chapter begins with an applicable quote from mainly contemporary authors; bulleted tables to help summarize the main points, along with her own personal experiences are  also interwoven throughout the book.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Women Living Well. It was a quick and easy read; it was light-hearted, but filled with lots of simple wisdom that leads to a more godly life and healthier relationships. As mentioned earlier, I haven't perused the website yet, since I didn't know it existed before acquiring this book, and didn't want it to mess with my review-- but I am definitely interested in it now! This book was challenging at times, but very relatable for anyone who has trouble wanting to pursue a deep, rich relationship with their Lord, in a fast-paced, artificial society that focuses on quantity. I loved her analogies (eg- frequently fertilizing and habitually hydrating your marriage grass lawn to keep it green), and underlined lots of practical advice (eg- how to saturate your life with prayer and Scripture meditation) and reminders (eg- as mothers/women, we are blessed by God with the gift of being influential; will we follow God closely and use it for His glory, or lead others astray). Her personal stories enrich the book, and in the end testify to what she yearns us to learn: Her grandparents and parents diligently sought to instill the love of Truth in their childrens' lives, and with God's grace, if we do likewise clinging to the promise of Proverbs 22:6, we too may leave a legacy of leadership.

Can you tell yet that I loved this book and highly recommend it?! It has become one of my favorites and will definitely be pulled off the bookshelf and read again.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze® book review  program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Overextended... and loving most of it!

It actually took me two days to write a review for Lisa Harper's latest book, Overextended... and loving most of it! I'm not sure if it was my exhausted mind or my disappointment, but I was appalled at my negativity in my initial reaction to the book. I decided that before posting, I needed to reflect on why I felt that way for a day or two, and I'm glad I made that decision. 

First of all, I had read the back of the book for a synopsis of what I'd be reading but I wish I would've read the "about the author" section before choosing this book to review. Although I've never heard her speak, I believe Harper would be a gifted speaker and one I might enjoy hearing live. I was slightly irritated by the many pop-culture references Harper used (In my perspective, it makes for an engaging talk, but an annoying read). In addition, I personally feel the necessity for an unspoken respect towards Scripture, and did not care for her modern day translations of Biblical accounts (e.g- calling Moses "Moe" and talking about Joshua texting the Israelites); I don't mind when it is found in a Veggie Tales cartoon, but find it a bit offensive in the adult Christian living genre. She mentions in her book having a 40,000 word deadline to complete in two weeks, and at times I felt that she was just trying to fill up pages (especially when she added multiple Facebook message status updates and a 17-page letter to her father). The book was a bit too long-winded, even for me, to where I felt like I was flipping back and forth, or glancing once again at the chapter's title in order to figure out her take home point. 

Although I was frustrated with the aforementioned points, I did appreciate the few gems she had tucked within the pages. Harper uses events from her life to illustrate that it is possible to love others and glorify God while living a chaotically busy life. I love hearing accounts of God working in human lives in an incredibly visible way and she had many, ranging from an exuberant octogenarian heading overseas for her 52nd missions trip, to a Taco Bell employee just looking for confirmation of God's omnipresent love on her birthday. I also appreciated the acronym BLAST she created to help us not only survive, but thrive in our "Ca.Ray.Zee. seasons" of life. Finally, I think she had a very good apologetic of the Christian faith against the secular humanistic worldview of today, and loved that she included quotes, ranging from Pascal and Schaeffer to Chesterton and Lewis. 

In the end though, I did not feel like it was enough for me. I was looking for more. The back of the book says that she "shows us" how to find rest and glorify God, and Harper does that using her own life as an example, but I was looking for a bit more substance and instruction for the size of the book and didn't feel filled in that end. At first I thought she didn't even support her thesis, but after much reflection, I feel like I was looking at it from a different angle. People are always telling my husband and I that we need to create margin in our lives, as we are consistently busy. I was reading this book, with that in mind, seeing overextended as being stretched thin with a busy schedule, and desiring to know how I could glorify God more brightly through it. And to that end, I was disappointed. But what I did learn though is that in the times of my life where I am overextended, pulled, not by my calendar, but by God stretching me, I can still exhibit love, gratitude, and joy while focusing on running into the arms of Jesus daily. And I'm thankful for that reminder.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze® book review  program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Encouragement for Today

A group of women from Proverbs 31 Ministries teamed up together to write Encouragement for Today which offers 100 devotions for women in all different walks of life. Most of the devotions are comprised by Renee Swope, Lysa TerKeurst, and Samantha Evilsizer (who together wrote about 40 of the devotions), although 15 other women also contributed to this devotional. Each two-page devotion is titled and has a theme verse. Most of the devotions are personal anecdotes, though some are based off of Biblical accounts. Often there are Bible verses embedded within this portion. Next, there is a short, but pertinent prayer followed by a three-part section: Remember, Reflect and Respond. Each devotion ends with a couple of "Power Verse" references.

 

I was not sure quite what to expect when I chose to review Encouragement for Today. I had only heard of the P31 ministry in passing conversation and I didn't know if I needed yet another devotional taking up space in my home. But I'm so thankful that the Lord led me to this book. He has already spoken to me through so many of the devotions and I know He will continue to use them to encourage or admonish me in His perfect time. I first fell in love with the cover-- it looks like a cover you would see on a Real Simple magazine; it's simple, yet peaceful photograph drew me away from my current, chaotic life with young children. But the real beauty comes from within the pages. I love how this devotional causes the reader to focus back upon the take home point (the "Remember" section), while offering a homework lesson of sorts for life application (the "Respond" section), thus fulfilling the call to not be hearers only, but doers of the Word of God as well (James 1:22). In addition, I loved the power verses, as it forced me to have my Bible close at hand, thus directing me back to the source of Truth itself. Finally, I loved, Loved, LOVED the "names of God" section that are included in an appendix. I've read His different names before, but it is so handy having them listed out as a reference. My only frustration, though minor, was the use of multiple versions of the Bible (nine that I counted); I understand that it helped to illustrate their point in their devotions, but it irritated me, because it almost seems like they are fishing for perfectly applicable words. I would still definitely recommend this devotional to my friends and have already signed up for their daily email.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze® book review  program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

KJV Homeschool Mom's Bible

Well-known Christian publisher, Zondervan, partnered with Alpha Omega Publications (a leading homeschooling curriculum publisher) to produce a Bible for a specific audience, the homeschooling mother. Intrigued by this concept, and since we are beginning to enter the realm of homeschooling ourselves, I chose to review their published KJV Homeschool Mom's Bible (they also have an NIV version for sale). It is a hardcover book with a cutesy digital scrapbooking cover/jacket. Within its pages the reader will find a simple, black and white (Christ's words are not in red), two column layout, with subject headings interspersed within the chapters. Also tucked within the Scripture are 365 daily devotions, offering encouragement for the homeschooling mom. Each of these devotions has been written by Janet Tatman, copywriter for AOP.

Each devotion is dated with a title. It begins with a verse, followed by a personal anecdote, a Biblical story, etc to meditate upon; Scripture verses can be found interlaced throughout this portion. The devotion ends with a short, applicable prayer. These devotions are clearly distinguishable from the actual Bible by a grey floral border. At the end of the Bible can be found a topical index, directing the reader to the various devotions. 

I read a number of the devotions, and although not all were applicable to where we currently are in our homeschooling adventure, simple nuggets of wisdom could still be extracted from each devotion. I know that the Lord will use them to bless and teach me throughout the year. I appreciated that each daily devotion ends with the directional page number for the following day's devotion, as each devotion is separated by about 3-5 pages. I was a bit disappointed that the devotions didn't correspond with where they were laid within the Scripture (e.g- August 19th's  "Young Love" devotion of Proverbs 18:22 is found near Isaiah 36). In addition, I was disappointed that the topical index doesn't cover more than just the devotions themselves; perhaps I've been spoiled with my other personal Bibles, but I missed having a concordance, cross-reference, topical index, study note section, etc in this edition. For this reason, this probably would not be my go-to Bible at my nightstand; although I found value within the devotions themselves, I think it would have been better off as a separate devotional book that I could keep next to my more exhaustive reference Bible, and thus would recommend it only with reservations.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze® book review  program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

All In

In his newest work, All In, bestselling author Mark Batterson calls on the reader to stop being a nominal believer and to become radical in their passion for their faith, surrendering their life to Christ completely. Divided into five sections, Batterson calls upon Christians to be "all in" and "all out" for our "all-in-all", Jesus Christ. He correctly argues that many believers have mistakenly (or perhaps selfishly) chosen to live a "me-centric" life versus a Christ-centered life; he coins this term, "The Inverted Gospel".

I've never read any of the other books that call for passionate living that are currently popular in Christian circles today, so I can't compare them directly, but based off of what others have told me, I would say that Batterson is striving for the same outcome in his book, All In. I felt like he was trying to preach a sermon through his book, make us squirm uncomfortably in our seats, and his ardent zeal was easily seen in every page. This book was filled with anecdotes, ranging from Biblical on down through history to Batterson's own personal experiences. Unfortunately, although I'm a nerd for rhetorical devices and clichés that will help me memorize take-home points, it seemed as though this book had quite a few, overwhelming the reader with a bit too many anaphoras from my perspective, and thus almost cheapening their value. In addition, there were times where I felt he was marketing his previous works too often. 

I was excited to read this book, but it took a while for me to get into it once I started, and although it's a fairly quick read, there were quite a few times that it wasn't my first choice for a pleasure read off of the nightstand (though this could be circumstantial, as most of the quiet moments I have to read right now, usually come with nursing an infant, so I probably have a bit too much prolactin floating around in my system to be absorbed into a fiery sermon!). Although I think his message is one that applies to every believer, I felt that the audience is more suitable for the younger college generation; personally, I felt this to be a simplified message of Bonhoeffer's, Cost of Discipleship in terms of calling a believer out of their comfort zone. That being said, one of the chapters I appreciated most was titled 'SDG'. After retelling a story about Johann Bach's faith being displayed through his cantatas, Batterson points the reader to nature, scientifically informing the reader that all of creation sings in its own individual way; he then admonishes the reader that we each have the responsibility to worship God in our mundane tasks each day, as Paul instructed the Corinthians (I Corinthians 10:31). It was a helpful reminder for when I'm overwhelmed or weary with raising three little ones to continue to give God the glory in every little thing I do, giving my all for my All in All. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze® book review  program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255