Book Club: Book Review of The Bible Recap Compact Edition

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. Please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page for more information. Thank you.

Do you use a Bible reading plan to help you stay on track when reading the Bible? Or perhaps you like a plan to learn more about what you are reading? A Bible reading plan can also help you focus your prayers while reading. The Bible Recap by Tara-Leigh Cobble can help with all those goals. Following a chronological Bible reading plan, The Bible Recap summarizes each day's reading, explains, and connects the Scriptures for you. 

The new edition of The Bible Recap is a 759-page compact edition. It has an imitation leather cover with a ribbon marker and a place to list your name in the front. The content is the same as the original edition, providing a one-year guide to help you read and understand the entire Bible. 

About the Book 

A chronological reading plan is listed as part of the contents, taking you through the entire Bible in 365 days. After an introduction from the author, there is an explanation as to how to use the Book. The Bible Recap quotes from the English Standard Version (ESV), but Cobble mentions other translations you might read. She recommends taking notes and writing questions. You should also keep an eye out for God as you read the Scripture, according to Cobble.

Each day is laid out over two pages. The summary and information are accompanied by "Today's God Shot." This is where Cobble relates how she thinks readers can see God's character. In some of the summaries, the information is simple and straight-forward such as when relating the searching of the sacks of Joseph's brothers:

"The squad opens the bags one by one, oldest to youngest, to heighten the suspense, and finds the cup in Ben's bag" (76). 

Sometimes, it is easy to see where Cobble shares her own thoughts, perspective, and ideas in the summaries. For example, when talking about Psalms 102-104, Cobble writes: 

"He segues from sharing God's sovereignty and might over all creation into asking God to use His power to wipe out the wicked. While this may sound harsh, we can probably view it less as some kind of personal vendetta and more as a desire for God's glory to be magnified" (263). 

At other times, you may need to look for context clues and be discerning to see where Cobble shares her own opinion or that of others on the Bible. Please remember every author of a book about the Bible brings their own knowledge, perspective, and ideas to their work. 

My Thoughts 

I really appreciate using a chronological Bible reading plan. My husband first introduced the idea to me, but I didn't start reading through the Bible in a year using a chronological plan until I reviewed the first edition of The Bible Recap. For me, it really helps put into perspective the events of the Bible as they took place rather than reading about the same event multiple times spread out through days, weeks, or months. 

With Cobble's focus upon looking for God on every page of the Bible, it is sometimes easier to see the common thread in the Bible. God speaks to us on every page – even those that are difficult to understand. I like to read her "God Shot" to see what her thoughts are on the day's reading. Using my own research and knowledge, I can accept what she says or look for a bigger interpretation. 

This new compact edition is quite lovely. The first one I received is very large and difficult to take with you. It is actually bigger than my Bible. So having a smaller, compact edition with a ribbon marker makes it very easy to bring The Bible Recap with me. And I love the ribbon marker. Now my bookmark won't fall out! 

The imitation leather cover makes this a nice gift option. If the inside cover had "presented to" rather than "this book belongs to," it would be even more appropriate as a gift. 

One thing I did like better about the first edition is that with the size of the book, you gained a lot more room to make notes in the margins. This compact edition does not leave much room for note-taking. And the pages are very thin so the ink shows through on the printed text. I haven't written in this book, but I would think anything I write would also bleed through or show through on the other side. 

If you enjoyed the earlier edition or accompanying materials to The Bible Recap, this will make a nice addition to your bookshelf. It would be a lovely gift for a family member, church member, or friend. 

Reviews of Other Books by Tara-Leigh Cobble 

Book Club: Book Review of The Bible Recap Discussion Guide

Book Club: Book Review of The God Shot by Tara-Leigh Cobble

Book Club: Book Review of The Bible Recap

October Authors: Books and Stories to Read During the Fall

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For many, the month of October means that they will be getting out their scary books to read but not so much for this homeschool mom anymore. At one time, I really enjoyed reading scary books like those written by popular, mainstream authors. Today, I find that I shy away from those authors and books more and more. But it is nice to be able to read a few books and stories that fit the typical theme of October. 

What Would You Consider a Classic Scary Story? 

What scares people today seems to be very different from years past. Maybe it is because of the technology we have at our fingertips. Or perhaps people are too jaded. Maybe it is the chronological snobbery where people believe that what came before them is no longer relevant. Personally, I think there is still much horror to be found in the works of Mary Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe, Oscar Wilde, H.P. Lovecraft, Gaston Leroux, Robert Louis Stevenson, and others. 

The common themes in many of these works include: 

• Premature death
• Loss of loved ones
• Loss of freedom
• Loss of control
• Revenge 
• Defying natural order 
• Insignificance of man 
• Current events 

Some of these authors base their works on historical events like The Phantom of the Opera and The Pit and the Pendulum, while others – like Lovecraft – created their own pseudo-mythology named "Cthulhu Mythos" (named after Lovecraft's death). We may find in these stories traditional horror or supernatural tropes such as vampires, ghosts, and werewolves, or we read of scientists, handsome men, or orangutans. There is no right or wrong when it comes to the character at the heart of these tales. Each theme and character offers something different to scare us.

How Does Science Connect Scary Stories? 

One final thread between many of these authors and stories is that of science. It is very obvious in both Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus, and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde how scientific discoveries and events of the day inspired the authors. Other works might need to be examined more closely as they may be less familiar, but we do see science impact Poe in The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar. This work was even published in a medical journal. At the time, people were fascinated with mesmerism. Many horror or supernatural stories walk the line with science fiction. 

Making Movies 

Many are familiar with these classic books and stories because of the movies. I would argue that many of these classic stories will continue to hold their importance in pop culture – even if with lesser and lesser numbers – because many have been turned into movies. Previously, I shared a number of posts that examine the works of Edgar Allan Poe on the silver screen, including those featuring Vincent Price. But he isn't the only author who inspired Hollywood. In fact, I have three versions of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde sitting next to me as I prepare this post. (I am currently watching the 1941 one with Spencer Tracy at present.) 

But just as Poe's work was very popular, Frankenstein continues to be a popular source of inspiration for movies from the Universal 1931 classic with Boris Karloff to more recent ones with Kenneth Branagh, Sting, and the creature's appearance in Van Helsing with Hugh Jackman. Some are more accurate and stick to the original plotline of Mary Shelley's book more than others, but that goes for any movie based upon a novel or story. At the heart of all of them, though, we do see a scientist who has gone too far. 

Another tale that has inspired movies, books written years later as sequels, and a musical is The Phantom of the Opera. Whether you want to focus upon the crimes of the Phantom or see him as a sad, lost soul seeking love, the story is intriguing. A young and upcoming opera singer disappears to the depths of the Paris Opera House, and her fiancée and a mysterious man known as the Persian must find her. They must rescue her from the Phantom. Whether the role is played by Lon Chaney, Claude Rains, Charles Dance, Michael Crawford, Gerard Butler, or Ben Lewis, he loses his love – Christine – and becomes a horror figure in pop culture.

What Books or Stories to Read? 

I would challenge you to find time in October each year to read the classic scary stories. You can pick one or two novels or read a handful of short stories if that fits your schedule better. I'll list them here plus share the list as a graphic, so you can save it for future reference. Have fun reading! 

Short Stories by Edgar Allan Poe 

• The Fall of the House of Usher 
• The Murders in the Rue Morgue 
• The Masque of the Red Death 
• The Pit and the Pendulum
• The Tell-Tale Heart 
• The Black Cat 
• The Cask of Amontillado 
• Hop-Frog 

Novels and Stories 

• The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux 
• The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson 
• The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
• Dracula by Bram Stoker 
• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley 
• The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving 

Book Club: Book Review of Britfield & the Rise of the Lion

 

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.

We have been eagerly awaiting the release of Britfield & the Rise of the Lion by C.R. Stewart as we really enjoyed the first book in the series. From the concise recap in the prologue to the exciting ending, I could not put the book down. In Britfield & the Rise of the Lion, we join up with Tom and Sarah as they have washed up on the shores of France after the end of the first book. 

The Plot 

Where to begin? There are so many wonderful details in the 471-page paperback book, as well as a few key twists and turns that I hardly know where to start. Should I start with the amazing locations, the characters that come to life, or the exciting plot points? At the heart of the story are Tom and Sarah, who escaped from Weatherly Orphanage in the first book, so let's look at the characters. 

Characters of Book II 

• Tom – A "scrappy little orphan" with a "brash attitude and obnoxious behavior" (quoting Sarah) who is probably the most important figure in the Britfield series 
• Sarah – A young orphan from Scotland who helps support Tom and inspires him to keep going 
• Professor Hainsworth – While he was a key figure in the first book, we only spend a few pages with the professor as we follow his journey back to health in France. 
• Detective Gowerstone – A former member of a secret British military/police organization and Scotland Yard who has spent the last ten years looking for the lost child of the Britfields 
• UK Prime Minister – A man that was once a trusted friend to Gowerstone who is sadly involved on the wrong side.
• Detective Fontaine – A member of Interpol who was contacted by Gowerstone to look after Tom and Sarah in France 
• Detective Gustave – Fontaine's partner who continues to work at Interpol for a brief time in the novel. 
• Allistair – A key member of an organization that helps keep Tom safe in France. 
• Oliver Horningbrook – The son of the UK Prime Minister who helped Tom and Sarah in Book I and will play a key role in Book II. 
• Sir Henry Horningbrook – The uncle of Oliver and brother to the UK Prime Minister. Henry also holds an important role and position in keeping Tom safe. 
• Strauss – An imposing member of the secret organization that is trying to find and capture Tom. 

Locations of Book II 

While Book I took readers across the countryside of England to Oxford, Canterbury, and London, Book II is set in France. Once again, homeschoolers could spend time researching the locations and learning more about the places as they exist in real life. 

• Monastery at Mont-Saint-Michel 
• Notre Dame 
• Eiffel Tower 
• Louvre 
• Chateaux Chambord 
• Lyons 

Main Plot Points 

Without giving away too many of the twists and turns, I want to share a few of the main plot points with you. All of these actions within Britfield & the Rise of the Lion are well-developed and give readers the impression that you are right beside the characters. 

• Tom and Sarah getting to Paris. 
• Tom and Sarah escaping the clutches of Marcel and the others who are attempting to kidnap or eliminate them for the Committee. 
• The fight of good versus evil and how organizations across the world are involved in it.
• The rescue of the kidnapped. 
• The attempt to get to Italy and thus leave France. 

My Thoughts 

I feel like this book was published at exactly the right time. Woven into the tale of Tom and Sarah is a dark story of secret organizations that are really controlling the governments of the world. This secret Committee is behind the problems Tom - and possibly - Sarah faced from the moment they were orphaned. The Committee would do anything with their limitless resources of weapon power to remain in control and get Tom. 

We see a struggle between good and evil as Detective Gowerstone tries to protect Tom and Sarah. Sir Henry Horningbrook takes his years of research and uses it to bring light to the evil of the Committee. As a world, we need to see good triumphing over evil. Our children need well-written stories that can inspire them to follow God and do good in the world. 

What Should You Know as a Parent? 

Britfield & the Rise of the Lion is a story where your children will read about the forces of good and evil. There are chase scenes across the streets of Paris and through the levels of the Eiffel Tower. Gun battles take place in several locations across France, and there is a kidnapping as the sinister group that operates clandestinely tries to remain in control of the world. The action moves quickly in this novel, which has a lot of history sprinkled throughout. While there are accidents and deaths, none of the violence is gory or drawn out. Many preteens and teens who would enjoy this book will have already experienced similar violence in video games or popular television shows or movies. 

I would recommend parents read at least a selection of Britfield & the Rise of the Lion, if you aren't going to read the entire book before giving it to your preteen or teen. Our oldest, who does not enjoy reading, thoroughly enjoyed reading Britfield & the Lost Crown and picked up that copy several times to see when the next book was scheduled to be released. Now that I am finished reading Book II, I will be passing it along to him to read. 

I think many will enjoy this novel and I can't wait for the next book!

Book Club: Book Review of 100 Best Bible Verses to Overcome Worry & Anxiety

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.

It seems like being worried or anxious is a lot easier than being confident, grateful, or at peace. If we seek to work through our problems, we can lay them at the throne of God. In the latest book from Bethany House Publishers, readers are reminded of key Bible verses that will help them overcome worry and anxiety. 

100 Best Bible Verses to Overcome Worry & Anxiety is an easy-to-read paperback book of just over 200 pages. Each verse has about two pages devoted to it to better examine the verse and help readers apply the quote to their life. In the two pages, there is the Bible verse, its context, a meaning provided, how readers can apply the quote to our lives, and additional reading recommendations. Readers could read the book cover to cover as I did, or they could flip through and pick and choose which quotes to examine. You could even go through and read all the quotes from a particular book of the Bible or just the ones from the Old or New Testaments. 

Some of the Bible verses included are: 

"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing." Psalm 23:1 

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10 

"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13 

The quotes are all from the New International Version of the Bible unless otherwise noted in the book. 

What Did I Think? 

In general, I enjoyed reading 100 Best Bible Verses to Overcome Worry & Anxiety. I found myself underlining and making notes in the book as well as grabbing my Bible to mark off verses in it. I appreciated that the book did not just provide a quote but that it looked at the context and shared what the book was about. I also found this to be an easy book to read. I could pick it up, read a few pages, and then set it down to homeschool, make dinner, or complete a work assignment. When I had free time later in the day, I could easily continue reading 100 Bible Verses to Overcome Worry & Anxiety. 

My only complaints could be considered minor. At times, there appeared to be some repetitiveness as I read about the context of the books of John and Isaiah. As there were multiple verses shared from those two books, the text discussing the books was very similar. My other complaint was in regards to an outside source referenced. These two small cons, however, did not make me want to set the book aside. I would still recommend it.

I firmly believe that reading the Word of God is helpful to overcome fears, worries, and anxieties. Sometimes, it is intimidating to know where to look in the Bible. Looking at a book like 100 Best Bible Verses to Overcome Worry & Anxiety provides such a great place to start in order to find peace and hope. I think even if you do not consider yourself a worrier, this book will be helpful for you to provide wisdom and guidance for others as well as help you find more gratefulness in your everyday life. 

Book Club: Book Review of Help Your Kids Learn & Love the Bible

 

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.

A brand new wonderful resource available to help parents on the journey to teaching their children about the Bible has been published by Bethany House Publishers. Help Your Kids Learn & Love the Bible by Danika Cooley gives parents "the tools and confidence to study the Bible as a family." In three parts and only 199 pages, Cooley provides advice, experience, and personal stories that will help parents "initiate and strengthen your child's relationship with the Lord through His Word." 

About Help Your Kids Learn & Love the Bible 

Sandwiched between an introduction where readers are introduced to the idea that they are Generation Bible and a conclusion that reminds us of several real-world stories that "the whole Christian history is full of faithful parents" (184) are three parts that give you the practical advice and concrete ways in which you can help your children learn and love the Bible. 

The message at the heart of Help Your Kids Learn & Love the Bible is that as a family you can read the Bible from cover to cover, no matter if you have preschoolers or high schoolers. Reading the Bible as a family can become a natural part of our day using the plan and advice of Cooley.

Part One: You're the Leader 

Cooley helps put to bed the myth that the Bible is too difficult to read as a family. Our children can appreciate the Bible as we find a translation that works for our family, look at which parts we can skip for our younger children (for now), and find ways to go to God and His Word every day. And yes, there will be times when we need to adjust our plans, but that is okay. 

Part Two: Faithful Reading 

To help parents understand the Bible, Cooley looks at the authors of the Bible, all the "i" words - inspired, inerrant, and infallible, how the Bible is organized, and the primary themes of the Bible. I truly appreciated Cooley's reminder to look for the main themes and read the Scripture in context. 

Part Three: A Daily Walk 

In this final section, Danika Cooley shares how to actually help your kids learn and love the Bible. From round-robin Bible reading to concrete hands-on activities, there are so many wonderful ways shared to help parents. Songs, puppet shows, memorizing scripture, praying the Bible, and other ideas will help you make your Bible reading time come to life. 

My Thoughts 

I loved Help Your Kids Learn & Love the Bible. The practical advice and suggestions for teaching your children, like creating a 'bookcase' of the genres of the Bible, to the personal stories the author shared were wonderful. One of the things I liked the most about Cooley's book is the fact that she speaks of her homeschooling experience. As a homeschooling family ourselves, it was nice to read about how one mom incorporated the Bible into her family's homeschooling day.

While reading Help Your Kids Learn & Love the Bible, I had my pen ready because there were so many parts that I wanted to notate and revisit. Even though we use several different homeschooling curriculum pieces that allow us to bring the Bible into our daily lessons, I found many new ideas from Cooley's book. I want our family to work on Scripture memorization more and create more crafts with our younger children. I also want to go through the list of works consulted to find more information to help our family grow in the Word of God. 

I recommend Help Your Kids Learn & Love the Bible to parents whether their children are homeschooled or attend public or private school. There is so much useful information and advice to help us set up a routine of Bible reading. Churches would also find the book helpful so they can minister to their families and help them bring their children to the Bible. I feel this book will help our children fill their hearts full of Scripture. 

A Brief Journey through the Quotes of Shakespeare's Hamlet

During high school, we read at least one play by William Shakespeare every year (in my own freshman year, we read two: Romeo & Juliet and Merchant of Venice). In our teen's sophomore year, we read Julius Caesar with him using Shakespeare's Tragedies from Hewitt Homeschooling Resources to facilitate our lessons. Last year, we did not read any Shakespeare, sadly, but this year, he read Macbeth using the British Literature course from SchoolhouseTeachers.com. I also hope to include Hamlet if we have time before he graduates. 

Hamlet has been a favorite of mine for a number of years. Even though I am unsure if we will get to read it, I do hope to be able to share at least one theatrical version of the play with our son. As I was looking through my books (so I can share my copy of Macbeth with him), I stumbled upon my well-worn copy of Hamlet and found some favorite quotes to share. 

"To thine own self be true." 

Act I, Scene III 

"That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain." 

Act I, Scene IV 

"More matter, with less art." 

Act II, Scene II 

"Suit the action to the word, the word to the action." 

Act III, Scene II 

"A man may fish with the worm that hath eat of a king, and eat of the fish that hath fed of that worm." 

Act IV, Scene III 

Interested in more Shakespeare quotes? Check out these other posts from A Mom's Quest to Teach. 

A Brief Journey through the Quotes of Shakespeare's Macbeth

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During our oldest son's sophomore year of homeschooled high school, he read William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. We had the chance to review Shakespeare's Tragedies from Hewitt Homeschooling Resources. This resource examines four tragedies of Shakespeare and several sonnets: 

• Julius Caesar
• Hamlet
• Macbeth
• King Lear 
• and several sonnets (5, 6, 18, 29, 30, 65, 73, and 97)

We read Julius Caesar using this paperback book as our resource for questions and lessons. Originally, I had planned on asking our son to read Hamlet during his junior year, but we spent the year reading works by Tolkien using a wonderful course at SchoolhouseTeachers.com. I do hope to read Hamlet with him this year, but he has already read Macbeth as part of his British Literature course. 

A good place to start prior to reading Shakespeare is with the famous quotes from the plays and references in other works of entertainment. From the witches trying to bring about confusion to order finally being restored at the end of the play when English customs are introduced with the crowning of Malcolm, there are many famous quotes and memorable lines from Shakespeare's Macbeth.   

"Fair is foul, and foul is fair.

Hover through the fog and filthy air." 

All the witches from Act I Scene I 

"This supernatural soliciting, 

Cannot be ill, cannot be good" 

Macbeth from Act I Scene III

"If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well

It were done quickly." 

Macbeth from Act I Scene VII

"What's done is done." 

Lady Macbeth from Act III Scene II 

"Out, damned spot! Out, I say!" 

Lady Macbeth from Act V Scene I 

"Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player

That struts and frets his hour upon the stage

And then is heard no more. It is a tale

Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, 

Signifying nothing." 

Macbeth from Act V Scene V 

Do you have a favorite Shakespeare play? 

Book Club: Book Review of Jesus Freaks

 

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.

My husband handed me the original publication a few years ago when I was asking for help researching men and women who were missionaries and served the Lord. When I saw that there was a revised and updated edition of Jesus Freaks available to review from Bethany House Publishers, I was very excited. This was the perfect opportunity to revisit the book for myself and share its meaningful stories with others. Jesus Freaks, written by dc Talk and The Voice of the Martyrs, tells the stories of those who stood for Jesus – the ultimate Jesus Freaks.  

In the 414-page paperback book, readers are welcomed by messages from Michael Tait, Toby McKeehan, Kevin Max, and The Voice of the Martyrs. Don't worry if you are not familiar with dc Talk – I wasn't beyond the fact that my husband and stepson listen to their music and are fans – this book will still be very meaningful for you. The book asks several questions in the beginning: 

• Is Jesus worth it? 
• Why do you follow Jesus? 
• Did they have to die? 
• What about the persecutors? 

These stories are answered in the stories of individuals who found themselves in prison, tortured, or executed for their faith in Jesus. Stories are shared from the Apostles to people living in the recent past of 2018. In fact, there is a chronological listing in the back of Jesus Freaks, so you can see when each story took place in relation to the others. Scattered throughout Jesus Freaks are numerous quotes from the individuals whose tales are shared as well as from the Bible. 

Who Are The Voice of the Martyrs? 

The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to serving persecuted Christians worldwide. I first became familiar with them after purchasing from an online Christian site when I was able to receive free access to some of their literature. VOM was founded by Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, whose story is shared within Jesus Freaks, in 1967. The mission continues to this day by providing practical and spiritual support to Christian families who are or have been persecuted. Jesus Freaks provides a wonderful look into some of the individual lives of people who have been helped or whose families have been helped after their loved one was martyred. 

In the back of Jesus Freaks, readers will find the names of countries where Christianity is being persecuted to this day. There is helpful information, including a general overview of the nation, the major religion in the nation, which groups or organizations are responsible for the persecutions, what it means to be a follower of Jesus in that nation, as well as whether or not the Christians there have access to Bibles. Part of the ongoing work of VOM is to provide access to Bibles in these nations.

My Thoughts 

I really enjoyed being able to read and review Jesus Freaks. While the stories are often sad, they are uplifting because the people are truly demonstrating what it means to follow Jesus. They are able to learn important lessons about loving everyone – even those torturing them. I know I read many stories where the individuals did not think they would have the strength to maintain their belief in Jesus but they did. God gave them the courage and power to remain faithful. And in many cases, their faithfulness, their preaching even in prison, led others to Jesus, too. What a wonderful message to read!

I would recommend Jesus Freaks. I found it to be very inspiring and I made many notes of Bible passages I wish to reread as well as some stories that I want to revisit, too. I only have two criticisms. In the book, it mentions the snake that bit Paul as being poisonous. Snakes are not poisonous, they are venomous. This is a small point. The other problem I had was with the actual design of the book. The pages are not uniform which makes it difficult to flip through the book. I understand the idea behind the design – the original version of the book is like that, too – but I would have preferred a normal paperback-style book. However, these two small things do not change the fact that I will reread the book and share its message with others.

Book Club: Book Review of The Pursuit of God: The Definitive Classic by A.W. Tozer

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.

This is a beautiful hardcover edition of A.W. Tozer's The Pursuit of God. The Definitive Edition is edited by James L. Snyder and has an insightful introduction by Snyder and includes a short biography of Tozer. It would make a wonderful gift as it is a high-quality hardcover book.

One of the key points I took from reading The Pursuit of God was that – even if we have accepted Jesus – we still should seek God. The loving personality of God is evident in the Bible – we only have to look for it. The voice of God is free and all around us – even though we can seek him in the Bible, he is not limited to the Bible. Tozer states that part of the problem is that "we insist upon trying to modify Him and to bring Him nearer to our own image" (103). We need to accept God as He is. God needs to be at the center of it all.

"He spoke in a Book and lives in His spoken words, constantly speaking His words and causing the power of them to persist across the years" (81). 

As you read each of the ten chapters, you will find a prayer at the end of them. There are great reminders in the prayers, such as to seek forgiveness for thinking of ourselves and seek to trust God completely. We should not want to compete with others. We should be like children in seeking God.

Even though The Pursuit of God was originally published more than seventy years ago, Tozer's words are still inspirational and helpful to Christians today. We should seek God because He is seeking us. "Wherever we are, God is here. There is no place, there can be no place, where He is not" (68). Tozer asks us to think about our faith in this short book.

Book Club: Book Review of Line by Line

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.

How courageous do we need to be to overcome preconceived notions? What about when those opinions and thoughts are our own that need to be challenged? The characters in Line by Line by Jennifer Delamere find themselves facing down their own futures and realizing that they may not be what they want after all.

In a book set in the 1880s, Jennifer Delamere introduces us to several characters including Alice McNeil who has no dreams of getting married. In fact, Alice has her plans set out to work as a telegrapher and live her own life. She was highly influenced by the proprietor of her school who encouraged her to follow her talents and dreams.

I enjoyed the inclusion of a real-world historical figure – Andrew Carnegie – into Line by Line. Creating the connection between the male lead character, Douglas Shaw, and Carnegie was very interesting. It also intrigued me that Carnegie was the individual who helped teach Douglas a valuable lesson about what is really important in the world. Becoming rich and building a successful business is commendable and to be appreciated but if one does not give back to their community—if they do not follow in the footsteps of Jesus—then what good is all the riches in the world?

In Line by Line, there are moments of hilarity as Alice attempts to put into action the points and tips she read in the book, The Spinster's Guide to Love and Romance. Then we also see how those actions cause problems for Alice and those around her. The lesson to be learned, at least in the case with her friend Lucy and her brother, Fred, is that sincerity is very important. One should not pretend and flirt if there is nothing really behind the smile.

I think Alice and Douglas learned some very valuable lessons in Line by Line that the readers can take with them. We must show compassion and never be afraid to change. Change is possible within ourselves as well as within others. Personally, I really like how Douglas sees the change in his mother and father when he visits them in Scotland. I pray for similar changes of this nature in my own family.

I recommend Line by Line by Jennifer Delamere to those individuals who are interested in Christian romances, historical fiction, and tales of change. It presents an interesting look at telegraphs – I now want to read more about this technological achievement – and the business world in which they played an integral part. I am interested in reading what happens in the next book in the Love Along the Wires series.

 

Homeschooling Resources: Language Arts

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Reading comes naturally to some individuals. Some parents struggle with getting their kids to go to sleep because their children are too busy reading books late into the night. Other children might struggle with learning but eventually grow to enjoy it. And don't forget those children who don't seem to like reading no matter what the subject material.

Our three children represent the spectrum of readers. Our younger son loves to read and was reading the letters and words printed on our clothing at early age while our (even younger) daughter took a while to learn to read but now quite happily sits down with a book. Our oldest was a fan of books when he was much younger but really does not enjoy to read as much as my husband and I do.

So how can you help your children become better readers? How do you help them master different language arts skills? There are so many options from online sites that provide fun games like Reading Eggs to offline unit studies that focus on one specific author like William Shakespeare. And don't forget to provide your children with good literature like the Boxcar Children series, Britfield & The Lost Crown, The Chronicles of Narnia, and J.R.R. Tolkien's works.

Reading Curriculum and Language Arts Courses 

One of the resources we were able to review was StoryTime Treasures and More StoryTime Treasures from Memoria Press. Memoria Press follows a classical approach to education. The children's books used with StoryTime Treasures are children's classics. While reading the stories, children will use workbooks that provide vocabulary exercises and an introduction to grammar and punctuation and will also practice critically thinking about stories. We were able to read a number of fun and interesting children's storybooks while teaching key concepts in the language arts.

Another fantastic source that we have used with our teen son is the wide selection of language arts courses at SchoolhouseTeachers.com. He has taken American Literature in Historical Context and Christian Values in J.R.R. Tolkien. In the first course, he read a variety of work written by Americans and studied it in relation to events in American history. For example, he read:

• Poems by Anne Bradstreet 
• Writings from George Whitefield 
• The Scarlet Letter
• Little Women
• And more! 

While studying J.R.R. Tolkien, he read through The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings series, and The Silmarillion. In addition to answering questions that required him to reflect upon the stories, he also wrote several papers for the course. 

Unit Studies and More

If you prefer to use unit studies in your homeschool, there are also many great options. You can find several unit studies at SchoolhouseTeachers.com that allow you to read entire works, read selections that include poetry, or focus upon reading comprehension and writing skills.

Another great resource for language arts unit studies is Progeny Press. They offer unit studies on a numerous selection of books that could suit the needs of kindergarten through twelfth grade. In the past, we have reviewed several of the study guides including:

• Perelandra by C.S. Lewis 
• The Long Way to a New Land by Joan Sandin 
• A New Coat of Anna by Harriet Ziefert 

All of the study guides from Progeny Press incorporate vocabulary activities, critical thinking, and additional activities where children can be creative. For example, one could bake a cake, create a bookmark, or draw a scene from the book. One other aspect of these language arts studies guides that I like is that they ask children to reflect upon various Bible quotes and relate them to the book they are reading. 

Reading Good Books 

As someone who loves to read, I can't finish this post without mentioning some of the books that our children have enjoyed reading while homeschooling. If you have been reading A Mom's Quest to Teach for any length of time, you have probably seen at least a few book reviews that I have shared so you might know what types of books I enjoy. But what about our children?

Even our teen, who is not a huge reader, really enjoyed Britfield & The Lost Crown. In fact, just a few weeks ago he picked up the book so he could see when the next one in the series is supposed to be released. This is a tremendous compliment from him.

Both our younger children enjoy the Who Was Series of books which we were first introduced to on a trip to the library. They also have a huge collection of Minecraft themed books and Joke books that they seem to read on a daily basis. This is in addition to the large collection of children's picture books that we often read together. Personally, I love books by Leo Lionni and Jan Brett.

What are your favorite books for children or teens?