Book Club: Book Review of Can Science Explain Everything?

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I received Can Science Explain Everything? as a gift after my husband and I watched John C. Lennox on Takeaways with Kirk Cameron. I mentioned that I wanted to read a book by Lennox or learn more about his ideas to my husband, and he surprised me with this introductory book.

I think I did Can Science Explain Everything? a disservice by not reading the front flap before digging into the book. I thought I would be walking away from my time reading with a firmer set of arguments to share with those who think science and God do not belong in the same sentence. I ended up disappointed as I read through the book, but that was my own fault. John C. Lennox states in the very beginning: 

"I hope you enjoy reading this introduction to the question of science and the Christian faith, and that it stimulates you to approach this question in a scientific way; that is, open to what the outcome may be and prepared to follow the evidence where it leads." 

He even addresses this idea in the preface, stating the book was written for young people and adults who asked for a more accessible book than God's Undertaker: Has Science Buried God? I can allow thinking that I was distracted by real-world problems when I failed to take into account Lennox's explanation for the book.

This book is meant to be a primer for your studies in science and Christian faith. And the author even suggests other works, including his own, where you can find out more information. He does a great job providing an introduction demonstrating that science and religion can mix.

About the Book 

Can Science Explain Everything? is a 127-page paperback book with ten chapters, a preface, an introduction, and a list of books for more reading. Each chapter moves through different arguments as to why science and religion can mix and why the common viewpoint that you can't be a scientist and believe in God is wrong. 

Lennox provides quotes and examples discussing C. S. Lewis, Galileo, Hawking, Newton, and more to examine worldviews and reconcile how scientists can believe in God. He tries to correct people's incorrect viewpoints of historical events and people. Lennox also provides real-world examples of conversations he has had with atheists and others during his lectures and travels. 

In the book, there are also definitions of faith and science and a look at how Daniel uses the scientific method in the Bible. Lennox looks at the beginning of the world and the miracles of Jesus to help his readers better understand the connection between science and the Christian faith. 

My Thoughts 

After taking a step back from my mistake, I really enjoyed this introductory book. I think it is very well-written and highly accessible. And it makes me want to read more by Lennox. I loved the points he made, such as the one refuting that the world of the early Christians was pre-scientific. 

"To suppose that Christianity was born in a pre-scientific, credulous, and ignorant world is simply false to the facts. The ancient world knew the law of nature as well as we do, that dead bodies do not get up out of graves. Christianity won its way because of the sheer weight of evidence that one man had actually risen from the dead." (79)

I think it is very sad that in today's world, people are ready to believe in psychics, haunted mansions, luck, and coincidences, but the idea that miracles happened as described in the Bible is easily dismissed. Why? "When a miracle takes place, it is the laws of nature that alert us to the fact that it is a miracle" (81). Why is the Christian faith so easy to dismiss? 

I would recommend Can Science Explain Everything? for those who wish to start exploring how science and faith actually are "good friends" and that we can "enjoy and benefit from both of them." 

Book Club: Book Review of See the Good

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page. Thank you.

One of my more considerable challenges has been moving from being overly pessimistic to being optimistic. I have spent time working on gratitude journals and found those to be helpful in seeing the good in each day. Because of this challenge, I thought reading and reviewing See the Good: Find Grace, Gratitude, and Optimism in Every Day by Zach Windahl would be useful for my own personal journey. I was looking forward to reading See the Good because I do believe "perspective changes everything," as the back of the book reads. In the end, I do not think this book was the right fit for me, though.

About See the Good 

"After almost losing his mother to cancer and wrestling with his own faith, Zach Windahl learned to take whatever life threw at him and chose to be joyful." 

This inspirational paperback book is 234 pages long with twelve chapters and an appendix of 52 gratitude journal prompts. Windahl addresses his ideas in two parts: changing the way we see and how to live it out. In the first part, he discusses changes in technology, our roles on Earth, the differences between creation stories, celebrations, and what Jesus was really like (according to the author). In the second part, he offers several concrete examples through his own anecdotes. He shares several lighthearted stories in his quest to help you make changes in your personal life. 

While See the Good offers a few specific and direct quotes from the Bible, the author often just shares stories without direct quotes. One example he gives about how we can change our perspective is from the Old Testament. In this example, he demonstrates that the worth of God's people changed as He brought them out of Egypt. 

My Thoughts 

I shared earlier that I feel that this book was not right for me. I went into reading and reviewing See the Good with an open mind, but after a few pages, I found myself writing down things I did not like or I did not agree with. But first, let me share what I did like about See the Good: 

• The font choice and size made it very easy to read. 
• As someone with limited time, I found the layout of the book (chapters, subheadings, etc.) made it easy to pick and read. 
• Zach Windahl shares personal stories with no hesitation. By the end of the book, even if I didn't agree with him, I felt that I knew him and could speak with him in person. 
• If you are looking for a way to think about your perspective of the world, See the Good asks a lot of questions which get you thinking. 
• There are some clear, specific ways listed to help you change your perspective. 

My problems with See the Good revolve around references to individuals, sources, and popular topics in the news and world. I do not necessarily agree with the perspective offered by the author on each subject, and I find some of the sources are not credible. These are my personal opinions, so others may not have the same issues as I did.

There was also one instance where I was amazed at a word choice. From the book: "You can quote Bible verses all day, but if you have a crap creative story, it doesn't matter" (95). While I understand that 'crap' is not the worst word ever written or spoken, I was taken aback by its use in a Christian book. As I wouldn't want my children using it, I don't want it in a Christian book I am reading, either. 

Another point of difference is in regards to the author's perspective on pranks. He shares two pranks that he and his friends did when they were teenagers. I don't think pranks are very funny. They don't really fit into my sense of humor. The pranks mentioned were not really harmful, but I still don't think that Jesus would be laughing along with them, as the author suggested. Again, this all comes down to perspective.

In the end, did I find the book interesting and useful? Yes, See the Good made some good points. I think it would be helpful for other Christians who, while they need to look for more optimism, have a different outlook than me. I do believe that Windahl really wants his readers to change their perspective. As the back of the book states: "But choosing to put our focus on the good leads to profound benefits that come from seeing life as an amazing gift from the One who loves us best." Through the whole book, he directs us back to God and Jesus, and that is very important in any Christian inspirational book.

Book Club: Book Review of Prayer Starters

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page. Thank you.

Books are a wonderful resource. They provide information, data, encouragement, wisdom, and more. In Prayer Starters: Talking with God About Hard Times by Suzanne Eller, readers find a useful resource for developing their relationship with God and working through their own battles. 

Prayer Starters is a 168-page paperback book divided into three parts containing prayer prompts, Bible quotes, short readings, coloring pages, and references for you to explore. The author, Suzanne Eller, speaks briefly of her own hard and challenging season and reminds us that all we need to do is show up because God is waiting for us. He will carry us in our difficult times. And we don't need anything special when using this book. "Prayer Starters is a creative, interactive invitation to help you pray right where you are" (12). 

What is Prayer Starters? 

After an introduction with recommendations about how to use the prayer book, readers are greeted by Part One and a quote from Elizabeth Elliot. Each part focuses on a different area: 

Part One - Trusting God in Hard Times

Part Two - Growing in Hard Places

Part Three - Freedom in Hard Places

In Part One, prayer prompts are inspired by verses from Jeremiah, Isaiah, the Psalms, Hebrews, and more. God provides hope, a place of comfort, a stronghold, and guidance. Eller reminds the reader in Part Two that Jesus knows us and our hardships. We are a part of God's plan. We ask through one prayer starter to fall on our knees and seek God's help. 

When we read through the prayer prompts in Freedom in Hard Places, we trust God, seek Him, and ask for help in realizing that God takes care of us at every moment and offers us ways to talk to Him.

What Do I Think? 

As I started reading Prayer Starters, I realized how valuable this book would have been when I was taking care of my mom during her battle with Alzheimer's. That was a very hard season, and I needed to be reminded to take it "one step at a time" often. Eller also shared "Jesus, I am tempted to lie down, to give up, and at times to throw my hands in the air and just quit" (29). This was me. My heart was aching, and I needed to be reminded that God's love was deep and wide – that God offers comfort and assistance in every hard time.

For those who seek to talk with God in and about hard times in a more structured manner, Prayer Starters is a wonderful resource. For those who don't know where to start, Eller offers prayer prompts and the space to write down our prayers and ideas. We then can read the scripture quotes and reflect upon them. 

I recommend Prayer Starters to those struggling and suffering in hard times. You are not alone. God is there to stand with you. Prayer Starters would make a good gift for those dealing with hard times. 

Journaling Through the Bible: Do Not Worry

 

While taking care of my mom as she needed intense care during the last weeks of her battle with Alzheimer's, I turned to the Bible more and more often. There were many times I merely flipped through my Bible and read excerpts here and there until something stuck out to me. Then I would sit and read a few verses or chapters and make notes in my Bible as I felt comfort or had questions or ideas.

In addition to reading my Bible for comfort, I also read it to find what I would like to share at my mom's memorial service. Over time, I found four different pieces of scripture that I thought would be appropriate. One is from the book of Luke (chapter 12). 

Do Not Worry 

I am a worrier. So much so that I have periods of very high anxiety where I have trouble with decisions and often forget to turn to God for comfort. I think it is very fitting to want to share the verses in Luke about not worrying. Jesus told his disciples not to worry. God takes care of the birds and flowers. He will take care of us in our need. Do not worry about the treasures here as long as you trust the Father.

As I was talking about what verses I would like to share at my mom's memorial with my husband, he suggested I look at the same advice in Chapter 6 of Matthew.

"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life; what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing." Matthew 6:25 

God takes care of us at all times. I often felt very alone – even with my immediate family helping – as I took care of my mom. As my mom needed more and more care and communicated with us less and less, I worried about everything. If only I would remember to trust God.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6: 33-34

God knew exactly what steps needed to happen in order to provide me with solace and ease my worry.  As our family navigates life without my mom, I only hope we can turn to God and not worry. 

Book Club: Book Review of Farmyard Faith

Disclosure: I received this complimentary product through the Homeschool Review Crew.

I am fortunate enough to receive many homeschooling resources in my position as the Social Media Manager for the Homeschool Review Crew. I don't write many reviews of the products anymore, but I felt I had to share my experiences while reading Farmyard Faith by Kinsey M. Rockett. Of the three books the Crew is reviewing from Whatsoever Stories, I picked this one to read first as it detailed the experiences of the author over the course of ten years on their family farm.

About the Book 

Farmyard Faith is a work of Christian non-fiction that shares stories of the Rockett Family Farm. It starts with a funny but scary story about bees and takes readers on a journey through ten years of taking care of goats, geese, chickens, barn cats, and other animals. 

In Farmyard Faith, the author shares two poems, a glossary, and 101 things that most farming books don't tell you about, in addition to the stories about the animals and the farm. While their farm did not resemble the storybook farm with cows and sheep, the farm provided many valuable lessons about animals and about one's relationship with the Lord. In just over 200 pages, one will read about two potential fires, a goat with a scary but curable condition, three geese that shared a tight bond, and pigs who thought they were in control. 

To accompany these stories, Rockett shares how these experiences can further one's relationship with God. For example, in the chapter "Who's in Control?" the family tries to move several pigs into the trailer with great difficulty. They ended up calling the mobile slaughter in the end, which they could have done at the beginning of the ordeal but they decided to do it their own way first. She closes the chapter by reminding the readers in this work of Christian non-fiction that "If you will face life in God's strength rather than trying to get through it on your own, it will spare you a whole lot of trouble too" (151).

How Did I Use the Book in our Home? 

Initially, I was reading the book because I wanted to preview it before sharing it with our younger children. I thought it would be interesting to read as I had worked at a zoo and cared for the goats and sheep in the children's zoo for a while. Most often, I would read a chapter or two at the end of the day. But then, I decided to read a chapter aloud to my mom during mealtime. 

My mom moved in with us in 2019. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in January 2021. While we have been taking care of her during all this time, her daily needs intensified in February of 2022. My husband and I found it necessary to feed her meals as she could no longer feed herself. 

In addition to reading the Bible aloud to her, I decided to read Farmyard Faith aloud because she had also worked at the same zoo as me. I felt she would enjoy the stories about the animals and that the devotional parts would provide encouragement for all of us. 

I was only able to read three chapters aloud before her care intensified again and then she went to the hospital, but I really feel like those three chapters were just what I needed to read on those days. It is amazing how Christian fiction and non-fiction provide just the encouragement, inspiration, and solace we need. 

In the one chapter I read aloud to my mom, Rockett asks: "What kind of example are you setting for those who are watching you? If someone were to imitate you, what would their life look like?" (55). These questions went through my mind a lot as I was taking care of my mom. Through all the sacrifices our family was making to take care of her what were my children learning? What were they seeing? When I was too tired to play games with my children, would they understand? Was I setting a good example for them? 

I think I was answered in a later chapter about heavy rains and the potential for damage to their barn. Neighbors came to the Rockett family's aid. Rockett reminds us that "Jesus set the ultimate example, and He calls each of us to follow Him in serving others" (73). In those moments when I questioned whether I was doing the right thing by sacrificing our family time, space, and experiences, I was following the example set by Jesus. I was loving the Lord and my neighbor. I was loving my mom. 

What Do I Think? 

If you can't tell, I really enjoyed Farmyard Faith. I feel blessed that the author chose to have her books reviewed by the Homeschool Review Crew. I can't wait to read the other two books, which are Christian fiction.

I will be adding Farmyard Faith to our children's list of books to read. I believe both our son and daughter will enjoy reading about the animals, especially the goats and the cats. I think they may also find some of the same encouragement that I did while reading Farmyard Faith. 

I finished reading Farmyard Faith after my mom died, and I found the closing chapters to be of great solace. Our journey was very long and difficult, and like Rockett speaks of in "Cancel That Prayer," it was "painful and unrewarding" at times, but Jesus never promised that it would be easy. Taking care of my mom was not easy but it was worth it. I am thankful for the reminders in Farmyard Faith of that. 

I would recommend Farmyard Faith for homesteading families, homeschooling families, and families who enjoy funny and uplifting stories. I think it would make a lovely gift for the animal lover, mother, father, or young teen who wants Christian non-fiction to read. 

Do You Want to Learn More? 

Please visit the Crew Website to learn about the other two books and see what the rest of the Crew shared in their reviews. You can also read more about all three books by Kinsey M. Rockett by visiting here: Products.

Changing Our Homeschool Path

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Our homeschooling journey took a weird turn when my mom moved in with us in May of 2019. In the beginning, I requested her assistance in homeschooling our younger children as she loved spending time with her grandchildren. Unfortunately, these plans – of having her help one of our children while I worked with the other – never came to fruition. Shortly after she moved in with us, we began noticing there were changes in her memory and personality.

My mom did a really good job of hiding all the problems that she was having with her memory and physical health. It wasn’t until I began writing things down – her getting lost on the way back to our house, arguing with us about items that she thought were hers but were in fact our property, etc. – that we were able to convince her to visit the general care practitioner. In October 2020, the doctor saw her and recommended she have additional tests and see a neurologist. With the events of the world, it was difficult to get the necessary appointments. So, the next step wouldn’t take place until January 2021. When we returned to the neurologist after additional tests, the doctor confirmed our fears – my mom was suffering from Alzheimer’s.

My mom 

During the entire time she was living with us, our daily lives changed progressively. During late 2019, things remained mostly the same with the exception of a few details. I had extra housework as we had added an additional person to our home. We worried about another person as my mom would often be out past the time we expected her home, and she would not call us or message us. And we lost space as we tried to accommodate her and the items she was slowly moving from her home – my childhood home – to our house.

Little by little, things changed even more for us after the diagnosis. My mom got angry and suspicious. She would often accuse us of taking things, which did not happen. I hardly went into her bedroom, even though it provided access to our attic space and housed our children’s clothing dressers. I wanted to give her privacy.

I found, sadly, that giving her privacy meant that we didn’t see all the problems she was having until it was too late in a lot of ways. She destroyed many family photographs, pictures she colored (as well as those she colored with our daughter), and books. She took to cutting them up, writing all over them, and doing other things that caused them to be damaged or destroyed. I didn’t discover this until the last year of her life.

How did this impact our homeschooling? 

My husband and I needed to step in to directly take care of my mom in more and more ways. She stopped remembering to eat, so we needed to feed her. I had to help her with her daily hygiene needs and eventually, I needed my husband to help me do these tasks, too. With these additional tasks, our time was consumed with taking care of my mom. So in between these tasks, I set out what our children could do on their own or with the help of their older brother. And we homeschooled after dinner on many evenings. We had to be flexible in how and when we homeschooled.

My mom died on April 14, 2022. While we are struggling with our grief, we are slowly moving back into a normal homeschool routine. During the past difficult year of taking care of my mom, we continued to study math, language arts, science, and history. Some weeks, we were able to fit in foreign languages (such as our son’s studying of Latin and spelling. Now, I can see us moving back into an even more regular routine. I look forward to finishing some of our curriculum – we are almost done studying Mammals with Memoria Press – and adding back into some of the materials our son and daughter have been missing.

What Did I Learn from Our Journey?

It is very important to offer yourself grace. There were many days when I thought we weren’t getting any homeschooling done, but my children were still learning. They were learning how to cooperate and help each other. They were learning how to take care of those we love, even when it is difficult. They were getting more time to read and re-read books that they loved. They invented many games together – working out rules, scoring, and more. They learned the importance of love.

Book Club: Book Review of Make Their Day

 

I received a FREE copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page. Thank you.

Who doesn't want to make someone's day? Sometimes it can be difficult to come up with ideas to brighten the days of our family, friends, and strangers, so why not seek help from a best-selling author? In Make Their Day: 101 Simple, Powerful Ways to Love Others Well, Karen Ehman shares ideas across eight parts to help make someone's day a little better. From writing simple notes that you can include in your children's lunchboxes to become the church snack lady, there are 101 ways shared in this small paperback book to help you get started.

"We need to be lighting candles." 

Instead of letting the weariness of the news and social media get us down, we can be spreading the light – lighting candles – and sharing the goodness and glory of God in simple acts one by one. Karen Ehman shares her 101 ideas in eight parts: 

• In Your Circle of Friends 
• Within Your Own Family 
• Throughout Your Day and around Town 
• Across the Miles or Through the Screen 
• For Those Who Hurt or Need Help 
• Among the Household of Faith 
• On Holidays, Holy Days, or Just Because 
• By Opening Your Home 

The 142-page paperback book from Bethany House is designed in such a way that you can easily flip to which part you need at that moment and find one or more ideas you can enact to make someone's day in your immediate family, in your town, or in your church. There are some printables at the back that you can photocopy to help you get started making Scripture tags or sharing recipes of the authors with others. 

The ideas shared to Make Their Day are often accompanied by personal reminisces of the author in when she used the principle in her own life. For example, she shared how they made the day of their postal worker by having a day to honor him. Simple ideas to notice the necessary people at non-traditional times will help us show and share our appreciation of their hard work. 

Thoughtful Habits Abound 

I truly think as one reads through the book, they will find numerous ways that they can develop daily habits of being thoughtful and showing gratitude to those in one's life. On the back of the book, it also says that it will help you "reconnect with friends and family," "make the encouragement of others a priority," and "sprinkle kindness in a culture of cruel." What wonderful things to develop and foster! 

As I was reading Make Their Day, I found myself jotting down many page numbers for ideas of things that our family could do to encourage others, even in these uncertain times when families and churches are not able to get together in the same way they were previously. I particularly liked the idea of "time-travel to shop for a nostalgic pick-me-up." I know many people who would appreciate a trinket or reminder of something from their childhood – including me! I also loved the idea of creating handmade gifts for individuals and praying over that individual while creating the gift. What a wonderful way to brighten their day and lift their spirit to the Lord!

I would recommend Make Their Day to those who are seeking to find ways to give back to those around them and spiritually lift them up. Lighting a candle in the darkness does not have to be expensive or difficult. Among the 101 ways shared, there are many simple tasks that someone can do to make someone else's day.

Book Club: Book Review of Healing Family Relationships

I received a Complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page. Thank you.

I truly feel blessed with being able to read and review books. Like most families, my own has struggles. So, I was looking forward to reviewing Healing Family Relationships: A Guide to Peace & Reconciliation by Rob Rienow. This 190-page paperback book did not disappoint. I found myself making many notations in the book as well as taking notes.

Rob Rienow presents steps that we can take to find peace and heal problems in our family by sharing many personal experiences as well as Bible references through thirteen chapters. And even though there are no "pat answers or quick fixes...you will find encouragement, hope, and principles from the Bible that will give you practical steps toward healing broken relationships in your family (13-14).

What Will You Find in the Book? 

The thirteen chapters are each set up in a similar manner. There are quotes from the Bible referenced and presented, subsections in each chapter to further help you find just what you need to read, important quotes from the author presented in bigger font and text, and finally questions for reflection and discussion.

The topics reviewed include:

• The power of forgiveness
• Healing through prayer, repentance, listening, acceptance, spiritual warfare, boundaries, compassion, patience, mediators, mercy, and the generations 
• A family miracle – in which the author shares his own personal story with his father

There are great reminders of the love of God and that Jesus will always call us His brother or sister. When we feel we need help in our family relationships, we can ask God over and over for help. "He welcomes the needy, repetitive, constant prayers of His children" (36). What a wonderful reminder!

Rienow also reminds us that our families are under constant spiritual warfare. It has become more obvious to me that so much conflict is also impacted by the unseen world. We often see the problems we have just in relation to our immediate family members but in Healing Family Relationships we read: "Because God so loves and has a divine plan for your family, Satan and the demons hate it" (79). We need to pray, put on the armor of God, and read and read the Bible. 

I recommend Healing Family Relationships: A Guide to Peace & Reconciliation to anyone who is looking to improve relations with their family members. You don't need to have a drastic problem or falling out in order to find words of wisdom in this enlightening book. I think the book would be valuable to large and small families, pastors, ministers, or other church leaders. Since reading the book, I have picked it up more than once to review points made by Rienow and intend to continue to reflect upon the way to heal relationships within my family.

Book Club: Book Review of My Heart, Ever His: Prayers for Women

Disclaimer: I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page. Thank you.

I was blessed with having the opportunity to review a new book from Bethany House Publishers – My Heart, Ever His: Prayers for Women by Barbara Rainey. It is a gorgeous hardcover book of 176 pages and includes a ribbon to mark your place within the book.  There are forty prayers written by Barbara Rainey that you will probably want to read and then reread (I know I have read some of them several times because I didn't want to miss one ounce of the beauty of the prayer).

What Will You Find in My Heart, Ever His?

"In My Heart, Ever His, Barbara Rainey shares 40 prayers that invite women to bravely and authentically talk to God in the same ways the psalmists did thousands of years ago." Among the 40 prayers, the following are a few of the topics touched upon: resting, husbands and marriage, comparing oneself to others, and children. Some of the prayers are short - only two pages - while others are longer - about four pages. And a few of the prayers are accompanied by explanations and reflections by Rainey.

Just like King David reflected upon difficult topics in the Psalms, Rainey does not shy away from topics that we may wish to ignore ourselves. For example, one of her prayers is entitled "Why Me?' And while we all ask this question at times, we may not ask it in terms of why does God want me.

"There is a Prince
One who sees
beauty in me
a beast, a rebel,
a Cinderella."

In this prayer, Rainey brings in several Bible references: Romans 3:10-12; Psalm 75:1; 1 Corinthians 3:3; Psalm 86:11; 73:26. In this prayer and others, when Rainey references the Bible the text is in a blue-green color with some words italicized.

What Did I Think?

I really enjoyed reading My Heart, Ever His: Prayers for Women. As I was reviewing the book, I read through the book over the course of a week rather than spending forty days or forty weeks to reflect upon each prayer one at a time. I really appreciate the chance to reflect upon so many topics that will bring me closer to God.

I recommend My Heart, Ever His: Prayers for Women to women who are seeking words of wisdom written by a woman. These prayers will be sure to touch the heart of women at different times in their life. I think the book will also make a beautiful gift for a friend, family member, or fellow church member. I could easily see My Heart, Ever His being gifted for your mother, aunt, or your grown daughter.

 

Book Club: Book Review of Venturing with God in Congo

Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

On a few occasions, I pick a book to read and review based upon a cover. This was the case with my desire to review Venturing with God in Congo by Darrell Champlin published by Conjurske Publications. It is a beautiful hardcover book with an intriguing cover that makes one feel like they are in the jungle with the missionaries as they share the Word of God. And when you flip through the book, you will find illustrations of various African animals on the pages at the end of the chapters.

What is the Story About?

Venturing with God in Congo is the story of missionaries bringing the word of God to those living in the jungles along the rivers of Kasai and Lukenie in Congo. The stories told mostly occur from 1954 to 1964 and, in general, the chapters can be read almost independently of each other. Darrell Champlin introduces us to his family, their journey to their mission at Nkole Nkema, and their experiences while ministering to the natives of Congo.

As the story is set in Africa, there are a lot of tales involving animals and the necessity to killing those animals to survive. A few of the photographs are even of animals that Champlin killed such as the rogue elephant, a python, and a cape buffalo. The stories regarding elephants, pythons, and other hunting expeditions are detailed in various chapters. Through the chapters we also learn how they traveled either by bicycle or truck on the uneven roads and stayed in the rest houses of the small villages. In some villages they were quite welcome, while in others, like Ongo, the Gospel was rejected (at first). 

As I said, you can read most of the chapters independent of each other but—if there is a connection—notation is made either with a small explanation at the beginning of the chapter or with a footnote referring to the corresponding chapter where you can learn more about the story. For example, in the chapter, "Independence: Congo Style," readers are referred to the chapter, "Bima! Bima! Irene Ferrel," to read more about the history of Congo and the independence from Belgium.

What Did I Think? 

I really enjoyed reading Venturing with God in Congo. I found it to be an informational, uplifting, and a wonderful account of the lives of missionaries, specifically those in Africa. I would recommend it to those who seek to know more about the lives of individuals who are bringing the message of God around the world. It is very well-written and easy to understand. I could see it working quite well as a read aloud for families with slightly older children than we have (four-year-old and six-year-old). I will be asking our teenage son to read it when he is done his current religious studies course because I think it is very eye opening. 

There are many specific things I appreciated about the book's messages. I love the point that was being made when discussing how the people of Africa are different from those who live in America. There are many who feel that missionaries should not be going into different worlds and trying to change those people. After all, those individuals have their own religions. Champlain's response is: "They also have their own medical systems...so why do you champion better health care for them?" I love this point. If people object to missionaries changing tribal peoples, then where do we draw the line? Just with religion? I feel that after reading the chapter called "The Little People in the Phonograph," I think I am better equipped to justify missionaries now.

In addition to being better equipped to explain the importance of missionaries, I also came to the realization that it is a lifestyle I do not think I could lead. Besides facing Congo natives who were not friendly, Champlin and his family also lived with a great variety of insects (including ants that could eat a person's home to nothing), ate a poor diet (which was supplemented with Champlin's hunting of native animals), lacked easy access to medical care (reading the birth tales was scary), and faced many more difficulties.

I appreciate the fact that many of the chapters begin and end with a quotation or reference from the Bible. On more than one occasion, the inclusion of the Bible quote led me to putting down Venturing with God in Congo and picking up my own Bible. Books that encourage thinking behind the book are great. One specific example occurred at the end of the chapter about Mark's illness. Champlain quoted Jeremiah 33:3. The family called upon God and He answered.

My only problem with the book came with the consistent calling of venomous snakes as poisonous snakes. Champlin writes of killing "poisonous snakes" in their home. He even devotes a chapter to his wife's fear of them ("Killing a Poisonous Snake A Missionary Wife's Way"). There is no such thing as a poisonous snake as they are not dangerous to eat. They are classified as venomous as they inject their venom into victims through biting. This does not distract from the book at all. It is a personal pet peeve of mine but one that may annoy others who are into animals and zoology. 

I would recommend Venturing with God in Congo for those who enjoy reading Christian non-fiction, stories about missionaries, and those seeking to open their eyes and the eyes of their families to the world around them. 

Who is Conjurske Publications? 

With the high quality of Venturing with God in Congo, you might be interested in learning more about the publisher. Conjurske Publications has a simple mission: "to reprint the greatest Christian literature from the past several centuries and present it to Christians across the globe today." One of the keys to their mission is providing quality books that will "satisfy the desire in each of us to hold, read, and possess beautiful books" and I feel they completely fulfilled that goal with Venturing with God in Congo. Personally, I will be looking at their books to see what else they offer to add to our bookshelves.

Do You Want to Learn More? 

Website – Facebook 

And don't forget I wasn't the only one reading Venturing with God in Congo. The Homeschool Review Crew had the opportunity to read and share the book in their homeschool. 

Book Club: Book Review of The Christian Entrepreneur

Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page. Thank you.

When looking at available books to review from Bethany House Publishers, I thought that Brock Shinen's new book, The Christian Entrepreneur: Dream, Plan, Execute, Grow, would be an interesting book to read and review. I also was hopeful that I would be able to pass it along to our teenage son who is hoping to start his own photography business. I found Shinen's book to be well organized and easy to read.

A Successful Business

Brock Shinen uses his experience as a lawyer and strategy consultant to present an "easy-to-use guide" that will help budding Christian entrepreneurs in starting their own business. Throughout the book, Shinen presents real world examples from his work as a legal expert and business coach to help bring his points to life for the reader. For example, in the paragraph on disputes, he shares his experience with a client who wanted a contract written and then explains disputes and how they can impact one's business.

The Christian Entrepreneur is a hardcover book of 219 pages that is divided into four parts (called steps) and includes a prologue, epilogue, and appendices with a sample business plan and sample budget worksheet. If an entrepreneur wanted to, they could skip around the book to read the parts that would directly apply to their business at the moment but I think reading it from start to finish would be a better way to fully garner all of Shinen's wisdom.

What Does The Christian Entrepreneur Cover?

There are four parts to the book: Dream, Plan, Execute, and Grow which address the different things to think about when building your new business as well as useful self-assessment tools. Each part contains stories and questions that help the reader really connect and think about their own ideas.

In the first part, Dream, readers are asked to reflect upon their ideas as well as think about whether or not their idea is a good one. There are several flow charts and questions to ask oneself to help with this process. There are also nine elements that are examined to help readers build a business with a strong foundation.

In the next part, Shinen discusses the five main parts of an effective business plan, the money needing during the life of the business, how and why one would build a team, and finally how to decide between building a for-profit or nonprofit business. He brings in personal experiences as well as wisdom from the Bible and a Christian standpoint.

"Unless God clearly instructs us to do something different, logic, experience, and wisdom should be the standard for financial decisions."

The chapters that are part of Step Three: Execute include discussion on customer service and engagement, an overview of the legal landscape that might impact your business, how to handle disputes, and finally a series of negotiation skills to work on. The Christian Entrepreneur offers advice based upon the Bible in regard to disputes. First Corinthians 6 states that we should not sue each other but even if entrepreneurs do everything in their power to avoid lawsuits, there are times when they are unavoidable and Shinen offers a few tips on how to keep eyes open.

What are the values of a Christian Entrepreneur? Ones' Christian value system should permeate "every professional decision" one makes. But while honesty is important, Proverbs reminds us that "A fool uttereth all his mind" (158). Shinen explains in this section that we do not need to have less success, less income, or less recognition just because we are Christian. The final part also explores if and when to grow ones' business. Do we need the fanciest phone or equipment? And finally how does one work in a secular world?

What Did I Think?

Even though I am not starting my own business, I found reading The Christian Entrepreneur to be a very interesting read. It was very easy to read and understand. I liked how the book was broken up into its four parts and then further subdivided into easy-to-manage chapters. I would highly recommend The Christian Entrepreneur to those who are seeking to start their own business or those who are looking to improve upon their own personal business. I think it would be a valuable book.

Book Club: Book Review of Fight Your Fears

Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page. Thank you.

Sometimes when I review books, I find works that are different than I expected. Fight Your Fears: Trusting God's Character and Promises When You Are Afraid by Kristen Wetherell was one of the books where I read something different from my expectations. Fight Your Fears is a beautiful hardcover book published in the Christian Living category by Bethany House. There are full-page quotes from the Bible as well as scripture memory cards of quotes that are the ten key verses of Fight Your Fears. There is even space at the end for your own notes. 

Before I choose a book to read, I usually read the description provided (which is often from the book jacket) and sometimes I look up more about the author online. In this case, I was intrigued by this from the back cover:

"We all have fears, and many of us struggle with very real anxiety caused by our fears. Fears about the future; fears about health, job, and family; fears about inadequacy and failure; fears about how much fear itself seems to affect our decisions, plans, and growth in this life. In his Word God commands us not to be afraid, but how is this possible?"

To be honest, if I was reading this book strictly for myself I don't know if I would have finished it. I feel that the description of the book and the introduction don't match up to the text quite like I expected. For example, in the opening paragraphs Wetherell states, "What if I told you that your problem with fear isn't that you are too afraid but that you aren't afraid enough?" (15). Huh? She continues that we need to come to "know and love and fear the One who empowers us in the fight" (16). As someone suffering from anxiety and looking to the book to unpack "ten of God's great and precious promises" to overcome fear, I was not expecting to be told that the author's goal was to make me more afraid. 

Even though I was taken back by the first chapter that outlined that we should fear the Lord, I kept reading. I feel I found some new ways to look at fears and problems and there were some good reminders that we should seek to obey God rather than men and that "our God-given limitations exist for a purpose" (158). One of my favorite parts was where Wetherell lists the blessings that God has graciously given us (strength, power, hope, etc.) and her discussion of how man is wrapped up in appearances. So even though there were a few parts that were helpful, I feel that Fight Your Fears was not for me. 

Is Fight Your Fears the Book for You? 

Depending upon your expectations, Fight Your Fears may be useful for you. The book explores "where does fear come from? Is all fear bad? What is the key to becoming less fearful?" (18). And then it looks at the six promises of God that address our greatest fears. Each chapter closes with the same format: a verse to memorize, a reminder of what to review from the chapter, how to prepare for the future, and a prayer. There is a variety of quotes from the Bible and Christian authors that Wetherell uses to further explain her points. 

Fight Your Fears is one review book I have had to go through several times after finishing it to see if I could make more sense of the points the author was trying to make. I think some readers will find the work helpful but it did not meet my expectations.