Book Review "Angry With God"

 I received a free digital copy of the following book from New Growth Press in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions are my own.

About the Book

No one gets mad at God for something small. When we’re angry with God, it is because we’ve faced something immensely hard. Anger is an often-overlooked part of grieving, and as such, is an appropriate response to profoundly painful events. Counselor Brad Hambrick provides a guided process to being honest with God about your pain to restore and deepen your relationship with him. While we are often prone to interpret our anger about intense suffering as being at God, this book is an invitation to process these intense emotions with God as a source of comfort who is sturdy enough to support these turbulent emotions. If you are struggling with deep grief that is accompanied with anger and confusion, Angry with God will be profoundly helpful in your journey. Hambrick will patiently walk you through the process of being honest with God (and others) about your pain. You will learn how to articulate your pain, alleviate the effects of this pain, contextualize your experience in light of the gospel, and begin to hope again. God is a good shepherd who is patient and willing to move at the pace of his sheep. God can be trusted in places that merit the name “the valley of the shadow of death.” Angry with God is part of the Ask the Christian Counselor series. This series walks readers through their deepest and most profound questions. Each question is unpacked by an experienced counselor that gives readers the tools to understand their struggle and how the gospel brings hope and healing to the problem they are facing. About the Author Brad Hambrick, ThM, EdD, serves as the Pastor of Counseling at The Summit Church in Durham, NC. He also serves as Assistant Professor of Biblical Counseling at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, a council member of the Biblical Counseling Coalition, and has authored several books, including God's Attributes: Rest for Life’s Struggles, Making Sense of Forgiveness, and Angry with God, and served as general editor for the Becoming a Church that Cares Well for the Abused curriculum.

What Others Are Saying “Anger and grief are healthy responses to profoundly painful events in our lives. Those who grieve over painful experiences need patient care, not a lecture. Brad demonstrates a unique level of compassion and concern for those who are suffering. He delivers wisdom that helps us respond to and care for those who suffer in ways that are compassionate and practically informed.” ~ Justin S. Holcomb, Episcopal minister; seminary professor; author of Rid of My Disgrace: Hope and Healing for Victims of Sexual Assault “Brad Hambrick’s pastoral and prophetic approach is both comforting and incisive, providing helpful and compelling insights for all who are navigating grief and healing from painful experiences—especially hurt and injustice within the church. Filled with compassionate advice and practical tools, this book offers readers a unique invitation to evaluate anger through a different lens and understand how God comes alongside us in our suffering. With clarity and grace, Hambrick takes us on a journey of courage that will help us care for the broken parts of ourselves and be agents of healing and hope to the wounded along our path.” ~ Ruth Malhotra, Writer; advocate; ministry leader “For years I’ve wanted a resource that can help me provide better counsel for those who are hurting and struggling with anger at God. Angry with God is the book I’ve been searching for. It’s eminently biblical, pastoral, and practical. I’ll be giving this book out to everyone I encounter who struggles emotionally with the problem of evil and suffering.” ~ Joe Carter, Associate pastor, McLean Bible Church, Arlington, VA; senior writer, The Gospel Coalition “Mindful of those suffering profoundly, Brad Hambrick gifts his readers with perfectly portioned, practical wisdom. He honors a sufferer’s experiences, doubts, and pain while reminding us we have a patient and loving God who understands and tends to grief-filled anger. Angry with God: An Honest Journey through Suffering and Betrayal has already been an immeasurable blessing to my counselees.” ~ Darby Strickland, CCEF Faculty; author of Is it Abuse? “Angry with God provides a pastoral and wise approach to grief, and the insights and reflection questions throughout the book will benefit anyone who is experiencing the anger that often accompanies loss. As a trauma specialist, I am eager to utilize this resource with my counseling clients because it compassionately addresses the struggles they often face in their healing journeys.” ~ Beth M. Broom, Executive Director, Christian Trauma Healing Network; care minister, The Village Church, Denton, TX My Review and Opinion This is such wonderful book and tool to help people work through their anger and grief, whether it is due to the loss of a loved one, or someone who has hurt them irreparably.  It's a gentle guide towards healing and coping with their profound loss.  Healing takes time and patience, and sometimes others tend to try to force an individual to "move on..."  when they are not spiritually, emotionally or spiritually ready.  This guide to healing works with the person through each thought provoking chapter to ease them gently in the direction of God's great love for them and to reflect on what they have just read and how to apply the teaching tools to their own painful situation.   There is some writing involved and I would suggest a person grab a notebook to write down their thoughts and reflections.  This will help them later on.  Consider it a journal on their journey to healing, a way to help the person cope and heal at their own pace.  So much of God's love is given by example and through biblical scripture, but what is quite beautiful is that it's okay to be angry, to have grief and to be able to express it, God can handle it all and more.  In Chapter 17 there was one part that really hit home for me, "We begin to realize faith is a relationship." "We realize our choices impact the outcome"  In the scheme of things it really is up to the individual to work through their anguish but with the aid of this book, it can be done, with prayer, reflection and honesty and above all else walking and talking with God.   I do recommend this book for anyone struggling with grief, betrayal and anger. If you know of someone that is struggling, it could be a game changer for them and also in helping and building a better and more loving relationship with their heavenly Father.

Children's Book Review "God Made Babies."

I received a free digital copy of the following book from New Growth Press in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

“Where do babies come from?” This common question all too often leaves parents perplexed about what to say and when to say it. Justin and Lindsey Holcomb tackle this tough question in a common sense, biblical way. They help parents start the conversation with their children about sex by giving them the basic tools to guide them—including specific biblical content and age-appropriate ways of talking to children at different stages. The Holcombs along with illustrator Trish Mahoney have been helping parents tackle difficult but important subjects with children for many years, beginning with the award-winning God Made All of Me: A Book to Help Children Protect Their Bodies as well as God Made Me in His Image: Helping Children Appreciate Their Bodies. Now they bring their expertise to the all-important conversation about sex in God Made Babies: Helping Parents Answer the Baby Question. Instead of leaving this conversation to “experts” or to the culture, they equip parents to answer questions about sex in the right way at the right time. Drawing from the story of creation and how God made the living world to reproduce, God Made Babies helps children to understand the gift of reproduction in the light of God’s goodness and care. Rather than waiting to have this conversation with their child at the “perfect” time, the authors encourage parents to answer questions at every stage with just the right amount of information. God Made Babies is part of the God Made Me Series which equips parents to have important, impactful conversations with their children, helping them to grow in understanding of God, themselves, and others. Each book in the series contains a special section just for parents and caregivers that provides biblical guidance and offers additional information and resources for talking about the topic addressed in the story (Releases September 19, 2022)

About the Authors and Illustrator

Justin S. Holcomb, PhD, is a minister and professor of theology at Reformed Theological Seminary and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He has authored, coauthored, or edited more than twenty books on numerous topics, including abuse, biblical studies, and theology. Justin and his wife, Lindsey, coauthored the award-winning children’s book God Made All of Me and God Made Me in His Image. Lindsey A. Holcomb, MPH, works in non-profit development and is an advocate for survivors of abuse. She is a former case manager at a sexual assault crisis center and a domestic violence shelter and is the cofounder of REST (Real Escape from the Sex Trade). Lindsey is also the award-winning coauthor of God Made All of Me, God Made Me in His Image, Is It My Fault?, and Rid of My Disgrace. Lindsey and Justin, conduct a variety of training seminars on parenting topics such as child sexual abuse prevention, body image, and how to talk about sex. They also provide training on how to prevent, recognize, and respond to child, sexual, and domestic abuse. The Holcombs live in Orlando and are parents of two daughters.  ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR: Trish Mahoney is a graphic designer and illustrator in Salem, OR, where she runs The Mahoney Studio with her husband, Patrick, also a designer and illustrator. They have two children, both budding artists too. Trish is the illustrator for the God Made Me series and The Beginner's Gospel Story Bible. My Opinion and Review This is a delightful and helpful book for parents who have young children.  As we all know, little ones will eventually bring up the uncomfortable of topic that most parents dread of, "Where do babies come from?"  This book is a godsend, with biblical content, and an excellent resource on how to proceed in answering this daunting question. This is not about sex, that comes later, simply that your young child is curious on how they were created or born.  In simple terms it explains how God is the creator of everything the earth, the universe, etc. How each person born is a gift from God.  It also explains in simple terms that they were made by their parents a part of the mom and a part of the dad, but it was God that created them, I found that to be deeply profound, because it's true. There are wonderful illustrations on the stages of the baby being inside the mom's womb, and still written in terms a child can understand. This is a beautifully written book with so many illustrations the beauty of life being created by God, how flowers become flowers, birds laying eggs and of course animals that also have babies that carry their young in the womb as human moms do. I absolutely LOVED this book there is so much information but done is such a respectful and God honoring manner, with scientific information, written in the form as if a child were reading it. Simply brilliant.  I highly recommend this book for parents with young children who are becoming curious about how they came to be.

Book Review: The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady

 I received a free copy of the following book from Kregel Publications in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A knitting group’s change of scenery changes lives in unexpected ways
 
Margaret, Rose, Jane, and Fran had a good thing going: meet every week in the quiet of their peaceful chapel and knit prayer shawls. No muss, just ministry. That is, until their pastor boots them out of the church in his last-ditch effort to revive the dwindling congregation.
 
Uptight Margaret isn’t having it. Knitting prayer shawls where people can watch is the most ridiculous idea she’s ever heard of, and she’s heard plenty. Prayer belongs in the church, not out among the heathen masses. How are they supposed to knit holiness into these shawls if they’re constantly distracted by the public? But with no choice, the others embrace the challenge. They pack their knitting bags and drag Margaret—grumbling the whole way—to the mall with them. She can’t wait to prove them all wrong when it fails miserably, and show the pastor that she always knows best.
 
Without the familiar mold the group has been stuck in, their own losses, pain, and struggles rise to the surface. And the people and situations they encounter every time they try to sit quietly and knit are taking them a lot further out of their comfort zone than they ever imagined. Can they find the courage to tackle the increasing number of knotty issues they learn about in the community--or will the tangle be too much to unravel?
 
Sharon J. Mondragon’s debut is warm and delightful, full of real laughter, grief, and personality. It beautifully illustrates the power of women across generations to reach people for Christ.
 
To read an excerpt of The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady click here.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sharon J. Mondragón writes about the place where kindness and courage meet. Her debut novel, The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady (originally titled The Heavenly Hugs Prayer Shawl Ministry) was the 2017 winner of the American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis award in the Short Novel Category, and she has also been recognized by The Saturday Evening Post where her short story, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” was an Honorable Mention Awardee in the 2014 their Great American Fiction Contest.
 
Mondragón has been active in prayer shawl ministry since 2008 and currently serves as facilitator for the prayer shawl ministry at her church, St. Paul Episcopal in Waxahachie, TX. She also knits with the Circle of Healing at Red Oak United Methodist Church. She is a Level 2 Certified Knitting Instructor through the Craft Yarn Council and teaches beginning knitting at a local yarn store.
 
Mondragón is the mother of five grown children and has four grandchildren. After 26 years as an Army wife, she has settled in Midlothian, TX with her hero/husband, her laptop, and her yarn stash.
 
Visit Sharon Mondragón’s website and blog at www.sharonjmondragon.com and follow her on Facebook (Sherry Mondragón) and Twitter (@SJ_Mondragón).

My Review and Opinion

 This is a fun read. I thoroughly enjoyed it very much. Very well-balanced with delicate social issues being addressed as well as keeping the humor upbeat and light.  The four main characters are dedicated ladies praying for others as well as being a support system for each other, and what I enjoyed most was the difference in their personalities, very distinctive and well-rounded.  I had my favorite character but eventually, even Margaret grew on me, after the reader is taken on a painful and heartbreaking journey into her past.  

The main emphasis is on prayer, and how it can impact a person's life regardless of what their social background may be.  Even though there was a bit of a kerfuffle in the beginning of their journey they overcame the obstacle and were given a place where they could make the most impact on the public.  Their ministry took off and the women were amazed on how much they affected the people around them.  Lasting friendships were made, lives were being mended within and outside of the group.

I cannot express how much I loved this book, it's not preachy and doesn't make the reader feel intimidated by God, but more of a kind and benevolent Father that envelops His children. The prayer shawls were an outward extension of that love, covering, hovering and comforting the person who was gifted such intricate beauty.

A crash course on face masks

Well worth watching to make an informed decision.  People should NEVER be forced, coerced into wearing one out of their fear, and not yours. 

And children should NEVER, EVER have to wear them. Be smart, stay informed and make up your own mind and not that of the media or government.

Thanks for the free book, @AmbassadorIntl!  I am an @AmbassadorIntl #bookreviewer and #partner!  

All opinions expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

One is an opportunity. Two is a threat. Three is an invasion.”

For hundreds of years, strange things have been washing up on the shores of Darcentaria. But when a young foreign woman named El is found unconscious on the beach amidst the burning wreckage of a strange metal craft, the villagers of Odessa are immediately suspicious—is she an agent of the Dalriadan Empire, their cruel oppressors for as long as they can remember? Or does she come from the Outside, the vast and legendary lands beyond their borders from which no man or woman alive has ever returned?

Torsten Eiselher, a talented young swordsman, has spent the last nine years of his life wrongfully imprisoned by his uncle, the Empire’s ruler. Betrayed and deceived at every turn, Torsten has survived by keeping a firm grip on his sword—and by staying well away from anything to do with the Outside. But when his young sister is murdered, Torsten finds himself irrevocably drawn to El despite her Outsider heritage—and he begins to question everything he has been told about her world.

Intrigued by the existence of a powerful and dangerously advanced world within his reach, the Empire’s ruler, Jurien Arminius, launches a hunt for El and the two Outsiders that arrived with her—the ones who could help him win his war against Torsten and the rebellion that threatens to topple his Empire.

Suddenly, Torsten is forced to choose between defeating his long-term enemy or saving the woman he has come to love . . .

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jasmine (J. J. Fischer) is living proof that it is possible to be addicted to tea and coffee simultaneously. Both made it possible for her to complete her Bachelor degree in English Literature and Creative Writing in 2012. Also a qualified psychologist with undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in clinical psychology, Jasmine has been delving inside the minds of her beloved fictitious characters since they first presented themselves in a dream at age fourteen.

Jasmine is married to David, and together they are the proud owner-parents of five warring pet chickens who tolerate each others' existence most days. When tempted away from the keyboard, she enjoys reading, thinking about lasagna almost as often as Garfield the cat, and working towards her black belt in karate. She vows to one day write the perfect fight scene.

Jasmine makes her home near Sydney, Australia, where most animals want to kill you and drop bears enforce a daily reign of terror. If you're reading this, please send help. 

MY OPINION AND REVIEW

This book was not disappointing.  It had everything I had anticipated when I was first asked to review it. A lot of action, sadness, brutality, cruelty and even some romance, all nicely packaged in the story.  

Wonderfully creative and very well-written. It's about two realms that exist simultaneously, and it is only by sheer luck, accidental or by chance that you find yourself in a land so foreign from your own. 

The characters are very well-written and believable.  We share their thoughts of hope, despair, and at times, great courage when faced with some of their darkest moments of adversity, you can feel them struggling at times, wrestling with their conscience of what is evil and what is good, which just adds more depth into their character.  A paradigm if you well.

I must admit, though, I would have liked to have read that some of the characters were a bit flawed in their appearance, it seemed like everyone mentioned or encountered were extremely beautiful and/or handsome.   But it is a fantasy book, so I can let that go.  

The fight scenes were extremely descriptive and written in great detail, some quite brutal, but in the era of the sword, it is a brutal reality.  For those that love bloodshed, and torture, you won't be disappointed. 

I truly enjoyed the story, and most enjoyable was that the author omitted profanity, derogatory terms and no overt sexual encounters, which you usually find in most fantasy books.  God is mentioned but in an off-handed way, but not really delved into.  A great read and I'm looking forward to reading the next book.

Please leave a comment below and I promise to respond. God bless.

Whooo Knew? The Truth About Owls Book Blog

 I received a free digital copy of the following book from the author, Annette Whippole, in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

How do owls see in the dark? Can owls spin their heads all the way around? Why do owls puke? These and other questions are answered by an owl expert, along with some extra information provided by the owls themselves!

It's a question-and-answer picture book. Reycraft Books shines in the design. 

Each page spread focuses on one Q&A. In addition to the main text and lots of stunning photographs, each page spread includes a visit from an illustrated owl whooo shares from his perspective--often with a bit of sass.

Click here to buy the book. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Annette Whipple celebrates curiosity and inspires a sense of wonder in young readers while exciting them about science and history. In 2020, The Laura Ingalls Wilder Companion: A Chapter-by-Chapter Guide (Chicago Review Press) and Whooo Knew? Discover Owls (Reycraft Books) will be published. 

When she's not reading or writing, you might find Annette snacking on warm chocolate chip cookies with her family in Pennsylvania. She explores the world of Laura Ingalls Wilder at www.WilderCompanion.com. 

Learn more about Annette's books and presentations at www.AnnetteWhipple.com.

MY REVIEW

I absolutely love owls they are such fascinating and amazing beautiful creatures.  I thoroughly enjoyed learning about them in this book.  The illustration is top-notch photography, the details on each page are stunning, and it made me appreciate the beauty of the owl even more.

There is so much detail about how owls see, hunt and their exceptional hearing which makes them expert hunters in catching their prey.  How they nest and raise their young.  

What surprised me is about how most young owls don't survive in their first year of life, and that's heartbreaking.  The book explains why this happens, due to larger predators, people, cars, etc.  But there is a part on where you can help owls thrive and survive.

This is a great read for children of all ages.  I would even recommend it for adults who love and appreciate owls as well as wildlife in general.  Each illustration depicted has a brief but detailed description about a particular part of the owl. 

This book is very well written and an easy read for it's readers to follow.   I highly recommend this book for teachers, pre-school, and homeschooling.   

Welcome to the Book Review Blink...an end times story

I am an @AmbassadorIntl #bookreviewer and #partner!

I received a free copy of the following book on Kindle from Ambassador International Books in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Is their world on the brink of obliteration?

Jason has it all—a great family and an exciting, successful career. But in a blink, it's all gone, and he struggles to find out why.

Mona Foster, the President of the United States, wrestles with Christian theology while trying to lead the country. When people around the world suddenly go missing, she finds herself wondering if what she believes is real or if science has an answer.

Prime Minister Ben-Zion looks for reality in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles. When multitudes suddenly disappear, Ben-Zion starts wondering if the truths he reads in the Bible are true.

Marcus Junius is an ambitious, brilliant politician who uses chaos to seize power as millions scramble for answers in the face of tragedy, fear, and inexplicable loss of control.

Could this truly be the rapture foretold in the Bible?

 Using Bible Scripture and creative and vivid story telling, S.A. Jewell has woven an amazing story of fantastic proportions.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sara Jewell has been a marketing professional for over 20 years and has published numerous magazine articles, news letters, news releases, and advertising copy. Her first self-published children's book was Count of Worm. Her second book, published by CrossBooks is A Christmas Dinosaur with Yellow Eyes. Her third book, is Visit from A Shepherd Boy continues with the same characters from A Christmas Dinosaur only with new adventures pre-teens and teens will enjoy.

Sara's on-line ministry, www.TeamofGod.org encourages all ages to read and study the Bible as well as help those in need. Her programs have included projects in Africa and the United States. Sara holds a BFA degree and a MA degree in Bible Studies. You can contact her at teamofGod@earthlink.net

MY OPINION AND REVIEW

I Just finished reading this, absolutely, FANTASTIC book about the rapture of the church and the end times. If you've read the Left Behind series, then this book is right up your alley.  Once I started reading it, I couldn't stop until I finished it. And so I spent a few hours camped on my couch and absorbed the wonderful message that was unfolding as I swiped through page by page. 

I would like to say one thing, in between some of the powerful messages within the book, I had to stop, sit and reflect how wonderful our God is, and at one point, I just felt compelled to kneel and pray, and I felt such a great refreshing in my spirit.  A wonderful peace and joy that I hadn't felt in a while.  This wonderful book truly moved and touched my heart.

It is a powerful message of understanding the second coming of Christ and of the rapture of the church.  It depicts a beautiful picture of what a wonderful God we have.  Her characters are lifelike and believable, very relatable.  The whole premise of the book is how they must face their intense fear as they struggle and face the upcoming disasters and horrors that continue to unfold around them.  It's a fight for survival in a world of intense hatred of those who believe in Jesus Christ.  The world is in utter chaos and despair and a looming insurmountable evil growing in the embodiment of the Antichrist.  It depicts a frightening reality of what is to come, for those who do not believe.  A masterpiece beautifully written to encourage hope and joy.

Cross Shadow by Andrew Huff Book Tour and Giveaway

I received a free copy of the following book from Kregel Publications in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions are my own.

About the book:

All journalist Christine Lewis wants is the truth. All pastor John Cross wants is to avoid it.

Former CIA agent turned evangelical pastor John Cross is busy caring for the small community of believers he ministers to in Virginia. Journalist Christine Lewis is busy with the demand for her talents from top news agencies in New York City. Neither has any time left for their relationship, which began eight months before when they paired up to prevent the detonation of a chemical bomb in the nation's capital.

But when Christine hears that her stepbrother has been arrested for murder in Texas, they team up again to discover the truth about the crime. Untangling a web of conspiracy, the couple finds themselves in the center of another dangerous situation-and in trouble far deeper than they expected.

With an assassin on the loose, a trusted colleague acting as a double agent, and unreliable artificial intelligence connected to mercenaries who have Cross on their hit list, these two may not get out of the Lone Star State alive.

About the author:

Huff spent ten years in local church ministry as a youth pastor and creative arts pastor before pursuing God’s calling into creative storytelling and media production as the product director at Igniter Media, a church media company (ignitermedia.com).

He is a two-time finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Genesis Contest for unpublished authors (2014, 2017) and also won the best screenplay award at the 2015 48 Hour Film Festival in Richmond, VA. A Cross to Kill and Cross Shadow in the Shepherd Suspense series are his first releases.

Huff holds a bachelor of science in religion degree from Liberty University and a master of arts in Christian education from Dallas Theological Seminary. He resides in Plano, TX, with his beautiful wife, Jae, and their two boys.

Learn more Andrew Huff and the Shepherd Suspense novels at www.andrewhuffbooks.com. He can also be found on Facebook (@huffwrites), Twitter (@andrewjohnhuff) and Instagram (@andyhuff).

MY REVIEW

The second installment of Cross Book series, did not disappoint, there is a lot of adrenaline, heart pounding action and intense fight scenes, it is very fast-paced, but the plot of the story is not lost, John Cross and Christine Lewis are swept into a situation where evil seems to be prevalent and thriving, while investigating  her step-brother's imprisonment.  The characters are very well developed and written, Andrew Huff has a way of writing that makes each character come to life and you feel their inner turmoils, doubt and sometimes pain.  I'd like to point out that this book can be read by all, it's good clean fun, while maintaining a Christian perspective.

This series has the feel of an action movie, you won't be disappointed and I'm looking forward to the next John Cross installment.

Click on the link below to win a copy of Cross Shadow

BOOK GIVEWAY

HONEST ANSWERS: EXPLORING GOD QUESTIONS WITH YOUR TWEEN BOOK REVIEW

I received a free copy of the following book from New Growth Press in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Somewhere between "Jesus Loves Me" and high school cynicism, the childlike acceptance of pat answers about faith is lost--often forever. But while many parents find this transitional period daunting, they don't want their kids to leave the Christian faith just because they didn't get good answers to how prayer works or whether dinosaurs were on Noah's ark.

Honest Answers is a discussion book to help parents tackle the God questions that make them sweat. This isn't the place to come for pat answers that will make their kids nod, smile, and disconnect. Janelle Alberts and Ingrid Faro know that when tweens start asking questions, they're already old enough to understand the answers. They're determined to equip parents with the language, theology, permission, and confidence to join in the discussion--and to learn how to offer deeply doctrinal answers in 140 characters or less.

The tween years present an incredible opportunity to build trust with kids and to keep them coming back to their parents for answers rather than finding other sources. With the tools and conversational tips here, mom and dad can engage in a hopeful conversation and help their children build a Christian faith to hold them steady their whole lives.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Janelle Alberts spent her early career in PR departments for Microsoft and UPS, boiling down logical, clear corporate messaging. She now attempts the same for parents who love Scripture, often featuring bits we’ve never heard but wish we had. Alberts wrote her first faith column for the Akron Beacon Journal in 2010 and has since been a regular contributor to various online sites including Christianity Today’s Gifted for Leadership, RELEVANT magazine, and others. Honest Answers is her first book. Alberts and her family make their home in Ohio. Visit her on Facebook (@AuthorJanelleAlberts).   Ingrid Faro is dean of academic affairs and associate professor of Old Testament at Northern Seminary. She is also associate professor of Old Testament at the Scandinavian School of Theology in Sweden. She has an MDiv and PhD from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Faro is an international speaker at conferences and churches and writes on topics that include navigating evil and suffering, abuse and power dynamics, women in the Bible, forgiveness, the goodness of God, identity in Christ, discipleship, and leadership. Her motivation is to encourage people, help them navigate the pain and sufferings of this world, and grow in thriving relationship with God and others. She is the coauthor of Honest Answers. Faro has two married children and three grandchildren. She lives in Illinois. MY REVIEW For most parents, it's an easy task sharing their faith and love of Christ with their young small children, you take them to church, you read them bible stories, and pray with them at night and all the while you are praying that they will accept the Lord as their Savior when they are old enough to make that decision for themselves.  However, cue the teen years, for some teenagers, it's like they are morphing into an individual that you hardly recognize, for most parents it's a real struggle watching their precious child changing and developing into an entirely new person. It can be daunting. And they begin to question everything you've taught them about God and life. And that's a good thing, but it's a time when a parent may need a little help with some of the tough questions about God's existence, prayer, evolution, atheism, just to name a few, and there are questions accompanied by multiple choice answers, and then the answer is explained in terms a teenager can grasp and comprehend. This book is fantastic teaching aid to help parents on really delving into the Word of God and the world that they exist in, which is pretty scary right now due to COVID-19. This book came at the perfect time.  During these dark and dismal times, this is the perfect opportunity for parents to sit with their teenagers and work side by side with learning and embracing God, and the world He created.

Welcome to the Book Blog of A Small Book For The Hurting HEART

I received a free copy of the following book from New Growth Press in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Grief may threaten to overtake us or destroy our joy. In this powerful devotional book, men and women will see Jesus, the Man of Sorrows, who is well-acquainted with grief and sadness.

Author and pastor Paul Tautges offers our comforting High Priest, sharing how the Holy Spirit ministers to our hurting heart through the healing balm of God’s Word graciously applied to life’s wounds.

By biblically and transparently addressing the heart and faith struggles in the midst of this grief, A Small Book for the Hurting Heart delves deeply, but gently, into the issues of the heart—presenting encouragement and comfort in the character of God revealed in his Word.

This small but transformative devotional cultivates anchors of hope, redirecting men and women to the trustworthiness of God who is always for us in Christ. Because all of God’s promises are Yes in Christ, Tautges walks with readers through their grief to see the one who nourishes our faith and heals our soul.

In fifty brief readings, your hurting heart will find spiritual help, encouragement, and healing as you experience the comfort of God.

About the Author

Paul Tautges serves as one of the pastors of Cornerstone Community Church in Mayfield Heights, Ohio (east of Cleveland). Prior to accepting the Lord’s call to Cornerstone, he pastored in Wisconsin for 22 years. Paul has been married to Karen since 1986. Together they enjoy their ten children and their spouses, and their growing tribe of grandchildren. He is also an adjunct professor, certified biblical counselor and teaching fellow for the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors, and a council board member of the Biblical Counseling Coalition. Paul has written or edited over 50 books and mini-books.

He blogs at https://counselingoneanother.com/.

MY REVIEW

At some point in every person's life we all have experienced the loss of someone close to us, which is probably one of the hardest losses to endure, sometimes the pain is just too much to bear and we don't know where to get comfort and are grasping for some semblance of peace and comfort.  Other losses could be through divorce, a broken relationship, financial loss, the list goes on.  But the point of the matter is, we have all experienced tremendous loss in our lives.

This beautiful little book is a treasure in itself.  Every day for 50 days is a scripture of hope, comfort and  words of wisdom to lift up the spirit and heart of the hurting person that is  reading it.  To be honest, I'm a strictly KJV girl and so, I would read the bible verse given and then look it up on my KJV app on my phone.  I loved this little book, a couple of years back we lost a family member that we loved dearly to pancreatic cancer and I clinged to my bible, but honestly, I wasn't sure how to cope with the loss and I just dug into the Book of Pslams and prayed and cried.  This precious little book would have been a godsend in such time of sorrow.  It's a light shining through the darkness of pain and grief.  I HIGHLY recommend this book to any person that is dealing with loss and grief. God bless Pastor Paul Tuatges for allowing the Holy Spirit to help write this wonderful book of love, and scripture.

Ishmael Covenant Book Tour and Giveaway

I received a free copy of the following book in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions are my own. ABOUT THE BOOK

His marriage in tatters and his career ruined by lies, Diplomatic Security Service agent Brian Mullaney is at the end of his rope. Banished to Israel as punishment by his agency, he's assigned to guard a US ambassador and an insignificant box. Little does he know that this new job will propel him straight into a crisis of global proportions.

Inside the box is a messianic prophecy about the fate of the world. And a dark enemy known as The Turk and the forces of evil at his command are determined to destroy the box, the prophecy, and the Middle East as we know it. When Ambassador Cleveland gets in the way, his life and his daughter's life are threatened--and Mullaney must act fast.

Now agents of three ancient empires have launched covert operations to secure nuclear weapons, in direct defiance of the startling peace treaty Israel and its Arab neighbors have signed. And a traitor in the US State Department is leaking critical information to a foreign power. It's up to Mullaney--still struggling with his own broken future--to protect the embassy staff, thwart the clandestine conspiracies, and unmask a traitor--before the desert is turned into a radioactive wasteland.

Fans of Joel C. Rosenberg, Steven James, and Ted Dekker will relish the deadly whirlpool of international intrigue and end-times prophecy in Ishmael Covenant--and will eagerly await the rest of this new trilogy.


Read an excerpt from Kregel by clicking here!

About the author

Terry Brennan is the award-winning author of The Sacred Cipher, The Brotherhood Conspiracy, and The Aleppo Code, the three books in The Jerusalem Prophecies series. His latest release, Ishmael Covenant is the first in his new series, Empires of Armageddon.

A Pulitzer Prize is one of the many awards Brennan accumulated during his 22-year newspaper career. The Pottstown (PA) Mercury won the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing for a two-year series published while he led the team as the newspaper’s Editor.

Starting out as a sportswriter in Philadelphia, Brennan became an editor and publisher for newspapers in Pennsylvania, Illinois, and New York and later moved to the corporate staff of Ingersoll Publications (400 newspapers in the U.S., Ireland and England) as Executive Editor of all U.S. newspaper titles.

In 1996, Brennan transitioned into the nonprofit sector, spending 12 years as VP Operations for The Bowery Mission and six years as Chief Administrative Officer for Care for the Homeless, both in New York City.

Terry and his wife, Andrea, now live in Danbury, CT.

More on Brennan can be found at www.terrybrennanauthor.com. He is also on Facebook (Terry Brennan) and Twitter (@terrbrennan1).


My Opinion: I must admit that I was a bit overwhelmed with the many characters that were introduced in the first few chapters as well as their locations or countries, it was confusing to be truthful. I found myself going back and forth trying to figure out who was who.  It has a slow beginning, because the author is gently guiding you to understand who the characters are and what each individual's duty will be depicted along the story line.  However, the pace does pick and it stays pretty much action-pact.   

It is an interesting and fun and captivating story with a lot of heart-pounding action, political intrigue, mystery, and a lot of suspenseful moments, etc.  I was also very impressed on how well-versed the author was in using military lingo, it made the story come alive.

There is a lot biblical prophecy which is essential as the story unfolds, it all revolves around this mysterious box that contains a message or rather a prophecy from God, it has been kept safe from enemy hands and has been passed down from generation to generation, but there are evil powers at work that will stop at nothing to obtain this box. Unbeknownst to any person that wishes to obtain this box and it's precious contents must be blessed to handle this mysterious box, otherwise they will die a most excruciating and brutal death.

What the reader will also find within the contents of this high-impact action book is the faith and strength of the characters who are tested time and time again, with prayer and accepting God's great guidance and wisdom, they are able to overcome their fears, and gather the strength they will need as each crisis and obstacle arises.

The book ends in a cliff hanger and it leaves the reader wanting more, with so many unanswered questions and what the future holds for both protagonist and antagonist.  And of course, the box...stay tuned. 

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