Goodreads Review \\ Louder Than Words by Jenny McCarthy

Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism by Jenny McCarthy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm going through a section at my library about autism and this was my first stop. I've heard some from Jenny McCarthy on talk shows and was inclined to believe she was anti-vaccination all the way, but her book really shows her heart on the matter.

The best part is the end, when she describes her inability to accept doctors' Band-Aid approach, always looking beyond the symptoms to find a cause. Though her thoughts on autism's cause(s) are only theories based on research, she gives readers an opportunity to see into the world of autism and learn how to confront it and even, maybe, heal it. Evan's story is amazing to read.

The two issues I have with the book are as follows:

1) The book is written by a mom, not a doctor. That said, there are benefits to reading a book about autism that is written by someone who is enduring it on a daily basis. On the other hand, though, a doctor's more qualified opinion would be nice.

2) Jenny McCarthy is a rather crude lady, and there seems to be a never endless string of f-words and the like filling the pages of Louder Than Words. I decided to look past it, but it was excessive and unnecessary.

View all my reviews

Review \\ Running for My Life by Lopez Lomong

\\ About the Book \\ Running for My Life is not a story about Africa or track and field athletics. It is about outrunning the devil and achieving the impossible faith, diligence, and the desire to give back. It is the American dream come true and a stark reminder that saving one can help to save thousands more.Lopez Lomong chronicles his inspiring ascent from a barefoot lost boy of the Sudanese Civil War to a Nike sponsored athlete on the US Olympic Team. Though most of us fall somewhere between the catastrophic lows and dizzying highs of Lomong's incredible life, every reader will find in his story the human spark to pursue dreams that might seem unthinkable, even from circumstances that might appear hopeless.

With perfect timing Thomas Nelson releases Running for My Life: One Lost Boy's Journey from the Killing Fields of Sudan to the Olympic Games, the incredible story of U.S. Olympic long distance runner Lopez Lomong. This book takes you from the lows of poverty and kidnap to the highs of qualifying for the Olympics. It seems unreal at times, but Lopez constantly reminds readers that his story is possible only because of God.

Lopez's journey to the U.S. is pretty spectacular, as is his desire to do everything he can to help his family and friends in South Sudan. 4 South Sudan is a foundation he started alongside World Vision to bring clean water, education, and healthcare to Sudan. The Olympics? Well, that's just a favorite past time.

I can't recommend this book enough.

Lopez is running in the Olympics today!! I will be cheering him on!

\\ Info \\
Title: Running for My Life: One Lost Boy's Journey from the Killing Fields of Sudan to the Olympic Games
Author: Lopez Lomong
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Publishers
Publication Date: July 17, 2012
Number of Pages: 240
ISBN: 1595555153
Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy!

Review & Giveaway \\ The Secret Life of a Fool by Andrew Palau

And the winner is . . .  Sandra Stiles!

"People seem to want guys like me—son of a preacher man—to have some scandalous reason for all my 'mistakes.' But my scandal is less of what you might expect and more like something we all deal with: our dirty selves."

\\ About the Book \\ He spent his growing-up years living for himself-recklessly rebelling against his evangelist father's faith, numb to God and to the letters his father wrote him, immersed in the dark side of life. Until one intense night in the Jamaican Blue Mountains that allowed him to see himself in the mirror of grace, changing everything. The Secret Life of a Fool is Andrew Palau's unforgettable journey of running from God-and the crushing, freeing experience of coming back to Him. It is a story of getting high, burning up cars, being stranded in Europe, surviving a near-fatal plane crash, and utter despair overcome by simple grace-and a father's love, expressed in excerpted letters throughout this book.

"This book then is a peek into my life, but more than that, it's a story-arc that tells how a life that was discarded and broken can be gathered up again and remade." 

Honest. That's the adjective I think best describes Andrew Palau's new memoir, The Secret Life of a Fool: One Man's Raw Journey From Shame to Grace. It's a thoughtful testimony about an imperfect person's encounter with a perfect God. I love it.

I love it because the author doesn't try to build himself up in any way. Andrew Palau recounts his past in often vicious terms, refusing to, as he says in one chapter, consider his past mistakes as moments of "sowing wild oats."

I love it because, while reading The Secret Life of a Fool, I felt like I had just sat down with Andrew Palau to share stories and encouragement. I didn't feel like I was being preached to, but that someone who really cares wanted me to know I was not alone in my mess-ups, breakdowns, and all-around selfishness.

I love it because, unlike some memoirs, The Secret Life of a Fool ends in hope. There is a real-life happy ending here, and it is filled with the grace and peace that only God can give.

If you are curious about the Christian life, if you're a fan of memoirs, if you just want to know that someone else struggles to, this book is for you.

\\ About the Author \\ Andrew Palau, son of international evangelist Luis Palau, is an evangelist in his own right—organizing outreach events worldwide for the Palau Association and regularly sharing the gospel with tens of thousands. Andrew can be heard on the daily radio program Reaching Your World, which is on more than 850 radio stations in 27 countries. He and the Palau team have also been featured in some of the world’s leading media outlets including the Associated Press, Forbes Online, The Washington Post, CNBC Asia and USA Today. In addition, Andrew maintains his own website, which receives 5,000 visitors a month. He and his wife have three children and live in Portland, Oregon, close to the world headquarters of the Palau ministry.

Are you interested? Worthy Publishing has most kindly offered one of my readers a free copy of The Secret Life of a Fool! Leave your email address in a comment below and on April 19, 2012 a winner will be picked! Please enter; this is a great book. And before you go, watch the book trailer below.

\\ In Case You Were Wondering \\Title: The Secret Life of a Fool: One Man's Raw Journey from Shame to GraceAuthor: Andrew PalauPublisher: Worthy PublishingPublication Date: April 3, 2012Pages: 191ISBN: 193603476XMany thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy!

Book Beginnings on Friday #6

This week I started reading The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan as part of the Reading to Know Book Club. There's sort of two beginnings in this, an author's note (entitled "The Author's Apology") and then the start of The Pilgrim's Progress. This is the beginning of the author's note.

When at the first I took my Pen in hand
Thus for to write; I did not understand
That I at all should make a little Book
In such a mode; Nay, I had undertook
To make another, which almost done,
Before I was aware I this begun.

This is most definitely Old English, which I love reading. "The Author's Apology" is only a couple of pages long and is pretty funny in places and profound in others. It's a great intro to Christian's journey.

Review \\ How to Stay Christian in College by J. Budziszewski

While college has its many benefits, like two sides of a coin, it also has its downfalls. I mean, when you have something like the list of top party schools come out every year, you know something's up. For the Christian, most aspects of college life are things to stay away from, and pressure from professors makes it difficult to stand by faith in Jesus Christ. So is college impossible for Christians? Not at all, and J. Budziszewski, professor and former atheist, has some information that can help.

How to Stay Christian in College was published back in 2004. I recently bought it for my Kindle (I think it was free then) because I was just starting college, and I was curious. The title admittedly sounds a little funny: how to stay Christian. I don't know, it seemed weird to me. But as I started reading I could see that the author had had his own difficulties with college. He knew what he was talking about, so I was willing to listen.

This paragraph towards the beginning of the book grabbed me:

Visualize a man opening up the access panels of his mind and pulling out all the components that have God's image stamped on them. The problem is that they all have God's image stamped on them, so the man can never stop. No matter how much he pulls out, there's still more to pull. I was that man. (Kindle Locations 96-98)

This is the close follow-up:

 Astonishingly, though I had abandoned Him, He had never abandoned me. (Kindle Locations 101-102)

Later,

Many of my students tell me they struggle with the same dark influences that I once felt in college. I hope that by writing this book I may encourage you to seek the light-better yet, to avoid the darkness altogether. (Kindle Locations 107-109)

Budziszewski touches on several topics, mostly campus myths: myths about the search for knowledge, myths about sex and dating, myths about politics, and the like. He also talks about friendships with non-Christians, campus activities, and dealing with professors who aren't Christians. His writing is sophisticated (he's not dumbing anything down) yet easy to read.

Another good title of this book, I think, would be How to Go to College and Not Come Out Brainwashed. Hmm... I don't know if that would have gone over so well. But the point is that Budziszewski, as he said in the above quote, wrote the book so that he could help students seek the light. Let me rephrase that: seek the light. I think he succeeded.

Interesting links:

• "Escape from Nihilism" by Dr. J. Budziszewski that is very similar to the first chapter of How to Stay Christian in College.
• My review of another college book: Thriving at College by Alex Chediak.

Review \\ No Wonder They Call Him the Savior by Max Lucado

In this compelling quest for the Messiah, best-selling author Max Lucado invites readers to meet the blue-collar Jew whose claim altered a world and whose promise has never been equaled. Readers will come to know Jesus the Christ in a brand-new way as Lucado brings them full circle to the foot of the cross and the man who sacrificed His life on it.

I've had a difficult time coming up with something to say about No Wonder They Call Him the Savior by Max Lucado. What can I say about Max Lucado's books that has not already been said?

If you are aware of Lucado's style, then this book will be no surprise to you. It contains chapters that to some seem island-like and choppy and to others seem the perfect blog-type entries that can be read individually in about five minutes. I lean a little more towards the choppy-thinking side. I didn't like that I felt I had to break between chapters since most carried separate ideas and equally deep thoughts that I needed time to ponder. But there is pleasure in the fact that I could set the book down for about a month and then return to it without difficulty.

The thing that I like most about Max Lucado is that, in each book he writes, he asks the reader to really take the time and think. Sure, one chapter is an easy two to five minute read, but the feeling and question it contains lasts long after you put the book down. No Wonder They Call Him the Savior offers the perfect opportunity to ponder and discover the character and purpose of Jesus Christ.


I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers. All opinions of this book are my own.

For Girls | Uncompromising

Ask any girl on the street what womanhood is about, and you’ll get a blank stare in return. No one knows. Young women are devoid of vision beyond popularity, material wealth, a cute boyfriend or a dream career. Even in Christian circles, significant questions are often left unanswered: What’s the point of purity? Modesty? Femininity? What’s biblical womanhood? Most of all, girls wonder at the longing in their souls for something greater.

Uncompromising: A Heart Claimed By a Radical Love cuts straight to the heart of young womanhood. Rather than setting up rules, it pulls at the desire in every woman’s heart to live a life of purpose, fully surrendered to His radical love. Written in an edgy teen voice, Uncompromising is a collection of “field notes” from the author’s own search for answers, and the story of how she stumbled upon the one Cause worth dying for.

Hannah Farver's debut book is an inspiring read filled with insight that any Christian young woman will appreciate. Divided into sections titled "Please Drill This into My Head" (about beauty and modesty), "Regarding Dudes" (about purity and guys), and "A Heart Claimed by a Radical Love" (about the greatest Cause, Jesus Christ, and the Gospel), Uncompromising is a personal, inviting book that doesn't disappoint. Consider it a conversation with the author; at twenty, a college student, and a Christian, Hannah Farver's desire to encourage young girls with the truth about her own life is truly encouraging.

Uncompromising also includes chapter reflections, great questions that would most appropriately be used in small group or read-aloud discussions. At the end of the book, a modesty checklist and a section entitled "How Do I Know if I'm Ready for Marriage?" asks girls to consider God's desire for their lives.

Because Hannah Farver does write honestly about her viewpoints on God's sovereignty, sanctification, and other commonly coined terms that Christians use, you may want to consider her thoughts before handing this over to a young reader. (I'm not saying that what she writes is wrong. I'm only saying that I know these are widely debated topics that many Christians can't make their minds up about.) That's one reason why I think this would be a great book to read aloud with a group or just between mom and daughter.

The beauty of this book is that it is written by a young woman who is still discovering, still learning. Her apprach isn't one of "I've figured out all of this so learn from me" but "I'm still trying to figure this stuff out so let's work on it together." It's very non-preachy and casual. Uncompromising is an enjoyable read that is sure to encourage girls of all ages.

She made a conscious choice to trust in God, to take His word as truth, to see opportunity and to wear His praises publicly on her lips . . . and she did not find Him disappointing. — Andree Seu (Farver, 10)

Read an Excerpt | Learn More About Hannah | Read Carrie's Review (I won my copy from her blog!)

Memoir | Life, In Spite of Me

She wanted to die. God had other plans.

Overwhelmed by wave after wave of emotional trauma, Kristen Anderson no longer wanted to live. One January night, determined to end her pain once and for all, the seventeen-year-old lay across train tracks not far from her home and waited to die.

Instead of peace, she found herself immersed in a whole new nightmare.

Before the engineer could bring the train to a stop, thirty-three freight cars passed over her at fifty-five miles per hour. After the train stopped and Kristen realized she was still alive, she looked around—and saw her legs ten feet away.

Surviving her suicide attempt but losing her legs launched Kristen into an even deeper battle with depression and suicidal thoughts, as well as unrelenting physical pain—all from the seat of a wheelchair. But in the midst of her darkest days, Kristen discovered the way to real life and a purpose for living.

For anyone struggling to find the strength to go on, the message of this heart-wrenching yet hope-building book is a clear and extraordinary reminder that even when we give up on life, God doesn’t give up on us. 

Life, In Spite of Me is the true story of Kristen Jane Anderson (it's written by her and Tricia Goyer). Filled with all sorts of emotions from pain to anger to peace, this book is about real life. The story is intriguing, Kristen's honesty is encouraging, and the conclusion—that God doesn't fail us when we trust in Him—is appropriate.

Starting this review, I wasn't sure how much I should say about some aspects of the book, considering this is one girl's very true life story. So, in order to remain courteous, I'm only pointing out one thing that I noticed.

In a book about suicide, the big question arises: Theoretically, would a professing Christian who committed suicide go to heaven? Kristen doesn't seek to answer this question in depth, and that's what bothers me. I can understand why: it would definitely draw a dividing line and, of course, some people might be offended. The only passing thing Kristen says is that she knows she would've gone to hell because she wasn't a Christian, not because she committed suicide. It's disappointing to me that in a book about a girl who has realized all that God is, she can't delve into the Bible to search for an answer to this. Who knows, maybe she has. Maybe she just didn't want to offend. It's a topic that's left unfinished, and I felt that gap in the rest of the book.

Life, in Spite of Me shows life at its worst; it also shows how trusting in God can change everything for the better. While I was reading it, I thought of Psalm 139:13-16:

For you [God] created my inmost being;
   you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
   when I was made in the secret place,
   when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
   all the days ordained for me were written in your book
   before one of them came to be.

Read an Excerpt | Visit Kristen's Website | Read The Parchment Girl's Review

I receive a complimentary copy of this book from Waterbrook Multnomah.

Guest Post | Every Single Woman's Battle

My older sister saw this on my list of possible review books and decided that she wanted to read it for herself. So I asked her to review it!

Remaining pure while single isn’t easy in a culture that encourages a woman to use her body to gain power, respect, and personal fulfillment. The longing for emotional and physical connection can gradually and subtly lead you into compromises you never intended to make. But you can resist the pressures—or reclaim your purity—by building a strong foundation of integrity.

This book, ideal for study with Every Woman’s Battle, is designed specifically for single women and will give you the tools you need to resist temptation and discover true fulfillment. Through practical and biblical lessons you’ll be equipped to:

· understand the unique components of female sexuality
· discern your personal areas of vulnerability
· design a defense plan to protect your heart and mind, as well as your body
· allow God to satisfy the desires He placed within you

Each weekly study section—designed both for individual and small group use in eight-week or twelve-week tracks—guides you deeper into God’s Word, then helps you personalize and apply the principles that will help you live in sexual and emotional purity.

With excerpts from Every Woman’s Battle and Every Man’s Battle, this handy workbook can be read on its own or as a follow-up for those who have already read the aforementioned books. Not only are there excerpts provided but also thought-provoking discussion questions to evoke reflection on the part of the reader.

When I was a teenager, my mom and I read together Shannon Ethridge’s book Every Young Woman’s Battle. Ethridge deals with the topic of sex and sexual compromise in an unashamed and honest way. Admittedly, some of the topics and questions dealt within the book embarrassed me. However, after reading it I realized that sexual and emotional temptations are something we all are challenged with and—the good news—there is a way to conquer temptation through the power we find in our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Every Single Woman’s Battle reinforced all of the things I learned from Every Young Woman’s Battle so many years ago. I answered the discussion questions a little differently than I would have as a teenager, but reflecting on the mistakes I’ve made and how I want to change was a positive journey to take. That's why I believe this book is helpful for the woman who is struggling with sexual and emotional compromise and also the woman who hasn’t experienced compromise of that kind. Knowing how we will be attacked and how to devise a game plan makes all the difference when it comes to fighting compromise.

Read an Excerpt of Every Single Woman's Battle

We were provided a complimentary review copy of this book by Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing.

Memoir | Craving Grace

Craving Grace is the true story of a faith dramatically changed: how in one woman’s life God used the sweetness of honey to break through stale religious practices and hollow goodness, revealing the stunning wonder that is God’s grace.

When Lisa Velthouse felt unsatisfied in her faith, she decided to do more of what she had always done: become better by doing more good and enforcing more discipline on herself. This became the start of the Honey Project, a six-month fast from all things sweet; it became something greater. Lisa realized deeper issues looming inside her, and over the next several months discovered the beauty of God's grace.

Craving Grace appealed to me, someone who does not often read memoirs, because of the author who wrote it. Years ago I read Saving My First Kiss, and the news about Craving Grace mostly circulated around the fact that she didn't save her first kiss as she had promised to. I wanted to know why; not because I was upset about it, but because I wanted to know what changed the girl who had passionately written about saving her first kiss. What had happened in her life to cause a need to discover grace once again?

Lisa Velthouse delves into the details of her life pre kiss book and post kiss book, discussing and dissecting her emotions and feelings and, most importantly, her perception of God. It's an interesting account filled with moments of hilarity, passion, sadness, and confusion. It's real life, and time after time I stopped mid-chapter to sigh and consider how similarly I've felt in my own walk with Christ.

For Lisa,

Fasting brought out a brand-new mirror, I found. It was embarrassing to face my reflection in it, complete with sins I was incapable of ridding myself of. . . . This, for someone who lived life thinking she was very good, was a major blow. . . . Without sweets, my flaws and my spiritual flab and all my inadequacies were bared, and I couldn't find a fig leaf anywhere that would be big enough to cover who I was. (Velthouse 142)

My only hope for a future apart from my sin is to accept the one gift I can never deserve: Christ's sacrifice. (Velthouse 186).

It is only through much heartache and turmoil that Lisa discovers what grace is really about, and what the God who gives it freely is really like. It's a touching, inspiring story, and even if you're not big into memoirs, I'd give this one a shot anyway.

Lisa Velthouse's Bio | More About the Book

Religion | Out of Mormonism

When Judy and Jim Robertson felt a spiritual void in their lives, they found "the finest people in the world" to embrace them and a beautifully packaged religion to entice them. Once drawn into Mormonism, they quickly climbed to leadership positions and became worthy temple Mormons, only to become disillusioned with the teaching and demands of the Latter-day Saint religion.

From her unique insider's viewpoint, Judy shares her life as a Mormon woman, her rediscovery of the Jesus of the Bible, and how she and Jim found freedom as they left the LDS church in the face of persecution and confrontation. (back cover)

Out of Mormonism grabbed me from the moment I laid eyes on it. Simply curious about the Mormon religion and how it compares to Christianity, I dove into Robertson's story and came out thoroughly enlightened. Having been around very few Mormons in my lifetime, I had no idea the far-reaching power of the Mormon cult.

In addition to Robertson's personal story, I found the glossary at the end of the book to be extremely helpful. It explains many details of the Mormon church, as well as the terms the religion uses that are the same as Christianity's yet mean different things (for instance, the definition of Jesus).

I wouldn't necessarily recommend this book if you are looking for some sort of guide to Mormonism or something to explicitly detail the Mormon religion. Out of Mormonism is mostly a memoir. That said, if you're curious about a Mormon woman's life, this book is for you. Robertson's story not only shows the pitfalls of Mormonism but also encourages readers to really know what they believe in. At the close of the book, Robertson shares her and her husband's start as speakers about the Mormon religion and later founders of Concerned Christians, an organization that's goal is to witness to Mormons.

Some reviewers on Amazon.com are inclined to think that Robertson has serious revenge issues, but I didn't get that at all from her story. The woman I saw was one who felt unsatisfied, became a Mormon to feel whole, felt unsatisfied again, realized that only the Jesus of the Bible could fill her, and then helped others to realize the true nature of Mormonism. It's not revenge, it's testimony. Her desire to help unsatisfied Mormons turn to the true Jesus is commendable, really.

Out of Mormonism is an interesting book, and Robertson's honest look at her choices is refreshing and encouraging. I can't see someone reading it and not being changed at least a little by her story.

Also, in case you are curious, this edition of Out of Mormonism is revised and now includes a few chapters that share other ex-Mormons's stories.

Read an Excerpt | Concerned Christians

Out of Mormonism (224 pages) is published by Bethany House Publishers.

I was kindly given a review copy of this book from the publisher.

Writing | Story Engineering by Larry Brooks

From story concept to character development to scene construction and beyond, this blueprint for dynamic storytelling makes putting together a strong novel, memoir, or screenplay easier than ever. Beginning writers in all genres – from fiction writers to nonfiction writers to screenplay writers – will learn how to wrap their heads around the big picture of storytelling at a professional level through a new approach that shows how to combine six core competencies: the four elemental competencies of concept, character, theme, and story structure (plot); and the two executional competencies of scene construction and writing voice. You'll discover how to achieve the greatest potential in your story through mastering the way these six factors combine and empower each other on the page. (Amazon's description)

Can I just tell you, right off, how much I enjoyed Story Engineering? Yes, I think I can. Story Engineering: Mastering the Six Core Competencies of Successful Writing by Larry Brooks is an enlightening book filled to the brim with advice for authors who are constantly aggravated by the questions "What do I write and where do I put it?" and "What exactly does a book/screenplay need in it to be successful?" It's easy to come up with an idea for a book or screenplay; it's a lot harder to execute it well enough to become published (or at least to feel confident in one's own work).

With humor and an easy-going attitude, Larry Brooks efficiently details the six core competencies of successful writing. By the end of the book, the reader should have a very good sense of how to proceed in his or her own writing. Brooks also offers advice for "organic" or "seat of the pants" writers – those who prefer to skip story planning. For me, that was an extremely helpful section, as I've never enjoyed planning what I write before I write it.

Also, Brooks defies the common standard of drafting that is popular among writers; this goes hand in hand with refusing to plan, really. I especially enjoyed this section because, as I have read about how to go about writing a full-length novel, most authors recommend the style of drafting, where the writer writes several drafts in order to eventually come out with a good, crisp novel. I've never been one to enjoy drafting. And, as Brooks points out, drafting is a huge downer on a writer's soul because it involves constant rewriting of a three hundred plus page manuscript. Not fun. With Brooks's method of understanding the structure of a story and utilizing a beat sheet (which outlines scenes), a writer will eventually come out with a first draft that is only a few minor tweaks away from completion. That sounds a whole lot better to me!

Even if you've sunk yourself deep into the concept of drafting and "organic" writing, give Story Engineering a shot. It's an entertaining book to read, first of all, but, second, I think any writer can gain useful information from it. This is definitely a book to break out the highlighters, sticky-notes, and paper clips with, as I can guarantee you will read something that you'll want to make sure to remember later.

I also want to note that Story Engineering does contain a few expletives here and there, but it didn't bother me enough to put the book down.



 Larry Brooks's Website and Blog | Read an Excerpt

Story Engineering (288 pages) is published by Writers Digest Books, and they kindly provided me with a review copy of this book.

Non-Fiction | Gray Matter by David Levy, MD

A perfect blend of medical drama and spiritual insight, Gray Matter is a fascinating account of Dr. David Levy’s decision to begin asking his patients if he could pray for them before surgery. Some are thrilled. Some are skeptical. Some are hostile, and some are quite literally transformed by the request. (Tyndale House Publishers)

When I found this book free online for Kindle, I knew I had to read it. (Sorry, it isn't on the free list anymore!) First because I find the medical profession quite fascinating, and second because of the topic at hand—prayer in such a scientific and secular field.

Neurosurgeon Dr. Levy, with the help of Joel Kilpatrick, brings together years worth of detailed cases to present readers with an interesting look inside his career and how he incorporates prayer into his practice.

It certainly wasn't an easy step to begin praying with patients and colleagues over health issues and surgeries, and Dr. Levy shares both the positive and negative responses he received for his efforts. But by the end of Gray Matter, readers can see that, though some patients refused help in spiritual matters, many reached out to the hand Dr. Levy offered and accepted a hope that far surpassed medical ability.

Though Gray Matter started a bit slow, I was hooked before long and became quite emotional when reading about some of the more serious cases. But more than discussing prayer and neurosurgery, Gray Matter encourages readers to really look at how God works in ordinary lives and ordinary moments. I can see it as a call to be bolder and braver when it comes to my own faith, to trust in God more fully, and to reconsider prayer's powerful benefits. Gray Matter is an enjoyable, informative read for anyone who is willing to look at the greatness of God and the power of prayer.

Read an Excerpt | Author's Bio

Gray Matter is 288 pages (Softcover), available in eBook format, and is published by Tyndale House Publishers.

Non-Fiction | Thriving at College

Book trailer:

watch on tyndale.com

In Thriving at College, author and professor Alex Chediak provides insightful tips and tools for students just beginning their college journeys, or for those who are already in college and could use some extra advice. Divided into four parts (with two helpful appendices related to choosing a college and owning your Christian faith while in college), Chediak explores the common mistakes most college students make and also offers advice for how to avoid them. Subjects like "Living for Grades" and "Chucking Your Faith" are sure to help the Christian student who wants his or her college experience to be one of the best experiences of his or her life.

I've never been drawn to a book because of its foreword, but when it came to Thriving at College, I immediately took notice because Alex and Brett Harris, founders of The Rebelution and co-authors of Do Hard Things, wrote the foreword. So, I knew it would be good. I was definitely curious to see what a college professor at a Christian university had to say to those of us who are just stepping into college, and I was extremely curious to know if it would mainly focus on socializing with a heavy emphasis on the importance of attending a Christian university. It did not.

Actually, Chediak discusses the social side of college in a relaxed way, advising readers to stick with their personalities. If you're an extrovert, that's great. Hang out with others, but be careful not to let social time take away all of your study time. If you're an introvert, don't worry. Try to step outside your comfort zone and become more of a people-person, but don't worry yourself over not having a list of friends an arm long. This is not an approach I hear very often. (I'm an introvert, by the way.) I also enjoyed Chediak's approach to picking a university, and his well-balanced pros and cons for secular and Christian colleges. (And these are just two topics out of the many that I really enjoyed. There's so much more, like tips for good relationships with parents and professors, advice on extra-curricular activities like sports and student government, and money-managing help.)

When picking up this book, you might be surprised that it is larger than most non-fiction, equalling 320 pages including the appendices. But really, it's an enjoyable read and well worth the time it takes to read it. I can easily see myself going back to specific sections in the next four years to rethink my approach to different aspects of college. I highly recommend this book to any Christian who will be starting college in the fall, and to anyone who is in his or her first or second year of college. Thriving at College encourages students to consider wisely, trust God fully, and enjoy the years spent earning a college degree.

Alex Chediak's Website

Thriving at College is 320 pages long and is published by Tyndale House Publishers.

Giveaway | Unplanned, the Documentary

Unplanned, the Documentary

And the winner is: Kate {The Parchment Girl}

Abby Johnson made a courageous decision when she walked away from her job as the director of a key Planned Parenthood clinic in Texas and walked into the office of the Coalition for Life down the street. Yet that turning point was preceded by years of searching -- and a moment of pure awakening.

In Unplanned, the sixty-minute documentary based on the book of the same title, Abby Johnson shares her story, from a child raised in church to a director of one of the largest abortion clinics in America. The story is riveting, marked by moments of loss, struggle, hope, and redemption.


I quickly accepted the challenge to review the documentary version of Unplanned, especially after I had heard about the book. Though I haven't yet read the book, the documentary gives a well-rounded picture of Abby Johnson's journey. I was rather shocked learning about Abby's turn from a child who grew up in a Christian home to a damaged young woman who made the decision to have an abortion. If anything, her story is a reminder that anyone can stumble, and, in the same way, that anyone can be picked up again.

Abby Johnson

Besides the details of Abby's life, the documentary Unplanned also shares information about what abortion really is and what some, like the Coalition for Life, are doing to fight against it and what others, like Abby when she first started volunteering for Planned Parenthood, are doing to fight for it.

The documentary, released by various Christian companies including Focus on the Family and Tyndale Entertainment, seems to be mainly directed towards pro-life viewers, since much more time is spent on abortion than pro-life options. That fact limits the film a bit, since it isn't as likely to be a witnessing tool. But that isn't necessarily a negative; I'm inclined to think that it is better to be just as it is, a film for those who already claim to be pro-life, but perhaps are doing nothing to back that claim. I felt that to be true especially when Abby Johnson's mother aptly reminded viewers that there is no cause to judge a woman entering a Planned Parenthood clinic when we have never been in the same position. I nearly stood from the couch and cheered.

I can only think that a person would have to be completely unfeeling not to be affected by Unplanned. It is a truly amazing story, and I can see this DVD being an informative tool to reach churches and small groups who need to grow their passion for supporting the unborn. As Abby Johnson says in the documentary, how can we, while so many tiny lives are being lost each day, do nothing?

On May 17 at 8:00 p.m. (in all time zones), Abby Johnson will be featured on the Unite for Life webcast at http://www.uniteforlifewebcast.org/. Visit the website to sign up for free to participate. Unplanned the book and documentary will be available for purchase as a package deal, and 33% of each purchase will go to support crisis pregnancy centers like CareNet, the National Institute of Family & Life Advocates, and Heartbeat International.

Now, for the very first Blogful of Books giveaway!

I'm happy to say that Tyndale House Publishers has made available, along with my own review copy, a free copy of Unplanned, the documentary, for one of my readers! A big thank you to Tyndale! This free copy comes to you in the form of an award certificate that you can take to a Christian book store near you or mail to Tyndale House Publishers to receive the free DVD.

Enter to win by

• Leaving a comment on this blog post with your email address.

For one extra entry

• Tell others about this giveaway through Facebook, Twitter, or your blog. (This only counts as one extra entry, so you only need to do one of the above suggestions.) Leave a separate comment letting me know that you did one of these.

This giveaway is open until May 16, 2011. The following day a randomly selected winner will be notified by email and announced in this post.

Youth | Praying for Your Future Husband

Praying for Your Future Husband by Robin Jones Gunn, author of the popular Christy Miller series, and Tricia Goyer, author of several fiction and non-fiction books, hits store bookshelves next week, a welcome addition to the multitude of relationship books for young women. However, unlike most relationship books for teens, Praying for Your Future Husband asks teen girls to look towards the fulfillment of a future relationship instead of focusing on the immediate satisfaction of a present one.

Both Robin Jones Gunn and Tricia Goyer, now married women with children, share their own experiences of praying for their future husbands and subsequent love stories through chapters that are each designed to focus on a specific character quality to pray for, like patience, protection, and contentment. The book is not a lengthy one, but it is packed with encouragement and advice for young women who don't want to be caught up in the what-relationship-can-I-have-now? wave but want to look to the future and wait with expectancy and hope. In the process, Gunn and Goyer encourage young women to pray the same things for themselves, so that while praying for future husbands, God can simultaneously grow and shape them.

I love that Robin Jones Gunn and Tricia Goyer don't try to preach to girls about how (or how not) to date or have relationships. Instead, they encourage girls to pray for their future husbands, and that in itself solves the rest. In my own experience, it is much easier to ignore the wants I have for a relationship now when I'm habitually praying for a future relationship that will most likely appear when I least expect it. I've added this book to the top of my list of books to give to young women I know.

Before I end, I have to mention the two extra bonuses that come with this book. The first is that each chapter includes discussion questions for use on a girl's own or with a small group. I think this would be an amazing 13-week (there are thirteen chapters in the book) study for a teen girls' group. The discussion questions the authors have put together are really thought-provoking. Another thing is that at the end of the book, Robin Jones Gunn and Tricia Goyer have compiled 52 verses (one for each week of the year) to pray for the readers' future husbands. It's a great list, one that they encourage girls to add to. To me, both of those are like little bonuses from the authors.

"When your heart connects through prayer to the One [God]

who is the source of true love,

you'll find that praying for your future husband

will wondrously result in your heart being changed.

And when your heart is changed,

your life is transformed."

(Gunn and Goyer, 7)

Read an Excerpt | Tricia Goyer's Bio | Robin Jones Gunn's Bio

Praying for Your Future Husband is 207 pages long and is published by WaterBrook Multnomah. I received my copy of this book from the publisher.

History | The Band That Played On

April 14, 1912. "It was 11:45 at night according to ship's time when the Titanic grazed along the iceberg that would send it to the ocean bed" (p. 135). Only days later, after too little were saved and too many were released to watery graves, journalists and reporters picked up one of the few heartwarming incidents of the disaster: the band had played on. Even as the ship sank, as passengers and crew members ran in frantic craze, the musicians continued to play, ending with the comforting hymn, "Nearer, My God, to Thee." All eight musicians lost their lives as the Titanic sank, but their legacy continues even now, nearly one hundred years later.

Steve Turner, author of many other music related books like The Man Called Cash and Amazing Grace, explores the little information known about the eight musicians in his book The Band That Played On: The Extraordinary Story of the 8 Musicians Who Went Down with the Titanic. Accompanying each man's story are the interwoven details of the Titanic, forming a lovely biographical and historical tale that is sure to touch the hearts of readers.

I have always been fascinated by the story of the Titanic, reading books like Voyage on the Titanic: The Diary of Margaret Ann Brady (one of the Dear America series, which I was pretty much hooked on as a tween) and watching movies like the 1953 and 1997 Titanic. Sadly I've never actually looked for any non-fictional source for my information, so I jumped at the opportunity to review The Band That Played On.

Author Steve Turner does a wonderful job of chronologically organizing events in the lives of the musicians - Wallace Hartley, John Wesley Woodward, Percy Cornelius Taylor, Georges Krins, Roger Bricoux, Fred Clark, William Brailey and John Law Hume - while adding necessary and interesting details about the time in which they lived. I especially enjoyed the black and white photos, included in each chapter, of newspaper headlines, musicians's head shots, and buildings that added to the reality of the story.

Turner also gives readers interesting information about the aftermath of the sinking, like how the families were affected and what steps were taken to officially honor the musicians. I especially enjoyed the last chapter, "'I Should Cling to My Old Violin,'" which takes a look at the mystery behind Wallace Hartley's violin, which was said to be recovered along with his body but never mentioned again in the public scene or in any family records . . . until a few years ago. It seems a perfect ending to a book that unveils so much of the  mystery of the musicians's lives. The mystery of the Titanic lives on.

Because this is a historical non-fiction book, it is easy at times to feel bogged down in the immense details, but the overall story is well worth it. Of course I'm not likely to remember the date that so-and-so had his first real musician's gig, but I will remember the overwhelming assurance that even the lowly, the ordinary, and the unknown can impact an entire ship and even an entire world. And that is why I love this book so much. If ever there were a book that spoke so much of the ability of ordinary people to do something extraordinary, The Band That Played On is it. May the eight musicians who played on the Titanic never be forgotten.

"They kept it up to the very end. Only the engulfing ocean had power to drown them into silence. The band was playing 'Nearer, My God, to Thee.' I could hear it distinctly. The end was very close."

- Charlotte Collyer, Titanic survivor

Number of pages: 221 (excluding lengthy appendix and index)

Links: Steve Turner, book information and book trailer

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Source: review copy from BookSneeze

The Truth... by Chad Eastham

The Truth About Dating, Love, and Just Being Friends is Chad Eastham's latest attempt to advise teenagers on matters of the heart. From Christian book publisher Thomas Nelson, The Truth... covers a multitude of teenagers' worries and concerns about dating and love. Chad approaches these topics with his usual humor (he's also the author of The Truth About Guys and Guys Like Girls Who...) while throwing in a few Christian references.

I read part of Guys Like Girls Who... several months ago just because I heard Chad Eastham was a funny, common sense type of guy. It was all right, but, like I said, I only read part of it. The Truth... looked interesting because of the long subtitle. (It is true that a book cover alone can sell a book.) I was mainly just curious to see what else Chad had to say.

Honestly, I was not impressed with The Truth.... I found it to be a book with good intentions but poor execution. Up front, Chad remarks that he sees no reason why anyone under sixteen needs to date. (I agree.) However, the whole tone of the book seems to be marketed to the under-sixteen crowd. The language used seems young and immature, and the overall content seems to be part of a here and now philosophy instead of a mindset headed towards the future -- which I feel misses a lot of what older teenagers (like myself) feel and face.

Besides that, I could barely handle Chad's back and forth speech as he zigged and zagged between common psychologist-speech and Christian thought. The overuse of terms such as "healthy" and "balanced," along with the continual references to teenagers' underdeveloped brains (we know already; stop making us feel stupid or lower because of it), made me feel as though I was being examined by a psychologist or brain surgeon. The Christian themes in the book are not bad; I agree with all of them. However, I could tell that Chad Eastham obviously wants Christian and non-Christian teens to read the book, so it seems that he tried to keep the Christian side of things at a minimum so as not to offend. I must admit . . . that really bothers me. Either stick with your beliefs or throw them aside, but don't give me a mixed message; but that's a topic for another post.

The Christian/secular-psychologist mixed message wasn't the only one. I couldn't believe it when I read several sentences throughout the book that said dating wasn't the smartest thing to do in high school, and that teens who don't date are actually happier. Uh, isn't this a book about dating? I wondered. This was the biggest bump in the road. Chad writes in the beginning of the book that dating is a natural part of the growing up experience and that it can help teenagers to grow in their understanding of all relationships, not just romantic ones. But then, every once in a while, Chad throws a stink bomb with sentences that lead readers to believe that dating isn't the best thing to do in high school. But this is a book for teenagers about dating!! Needless to say, the whole concept made my head hurt.

I won't say that everything in The Truth About Dating, Love, and Just Being Friends negatively affected me. I learned a few things in sections where he explained (as well as he could) the mental processes of guys and how girls should respond to them. That was at least helpful. But, overall, I was left saddened by a book that claims to be Christian while shoving secular philosophies down my throat. It is two-sided, and that's difficult to swallow.

I'm sure some teenagers will benefit from this book, especially the teens who reluctantly go to church with their parents and have a shallow view of Christianity. Otherwise, I'm not sure The Truth About Dating, Love, & Just Being Friends really lives up to its name.

I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishing.
I was asked to give an honest review of this book.
All opinions of this book are my own.

Interested in some Christ-centered books about dating and love? Check out I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris, Emotional Purity by Heather Arnel Paulsen, Passion and Purity by Elisabeth Elliot, and Sacred Singleness by Leslie Ludy. I've found these books to encourage Christian teens to form Christ-centered relationships with the opposite sex.

Bio Spotlight: What Difference Do It Make?



I decided to make this a dual book review because What Difference Do It Make? by Ron Hall, Denver Moore, and Lynn Vincent is actually a sequel to Same Kind of Different As Me. I borrowed Same Kind of Different As Me from a friend several months ago and loved it; just last week I borrowed What Difference Do It Make? from my library and my feelings were no different. In short, these two books made me think. They are not only enjoyable reading material but also stir a mix of such feelings as uncomfortableness, inspiration, and encouragment.

In 1998 Ron Hall, an upscale, millionaire art dealer was dragged to the Union Gospel Mission in Fort Worth, Texas by his wife, Deborah. Deborah was out to change the world with the love of Christ, but Ron just wanted to hurry up and go home before he caught a deadly disease. In an unlikely set of events, Ron Hall and the illiterate, homeless Denver Moore became friends for life. In Same Kind of Different As Me, they share their stories of love, forgiveness, and hope. What Difference Do It Make? is a follow-up, sharing the continuing journeys of both men as well as short segments on the lives of those who have been touched by Same Kind of Different As Me.

These books cover a lot of topics in their pages, like homelessness, alcoholism, forgiveness, cancer, and faith. However, each issue is dealt with carefully and realistically. Each chapter switches from Ron's voice to Denver's, which I love. It helped the story to flow between the characters, and it was interesting to see each man's journey alongside the other. Both men are Christians, and their writing shows that clearly. However, these books are for any person who wants to read a good story and take away a good message.

I have come away from both books with a better understanding of homelessness and a better understanding of my fears and worries about helping the homeless. Ron Hall outlines a few plans in What Difference Do It Make? to help readers overcome their fears and begin to reach out and help. As I mentioned, these books are written from a Christian perspective. Yet Ron Hall and Denver Moore do not take lightly the fact that most churches and Christians do nothing to help the hurting around them. Both really put me in my place for not doing more.

Same Kind of Different As Me and What Difference Do It Make? are two books worth reading. They will make you think and, most likely, inspire you to change. Enter with caution. Enjoy.

"Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’


"Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

"The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’"

-- Matthew 25:34-40

Radical by David Platt

"Soon I realized I was on a collision course with an American church culture where success is defined by bigger crowds, bigger budgets, and bigger buildings. I was now confronted with a startling reality: Jesus actually spurned the things that my church culture said were most important. So what was I to do?"

-- David Platt, from page 2 --



What do you do after you have been hailed as the "youngest megachurch pastor in history"? How do you go about revealing your newfound beliefs, that all of these megachurches, billion dollar constructions, and contemporary "worship" services are straying far from Jesus' plan?

This is the scenario David Platt faced, and he chose to make a radical decision. His book, aptly titled Radical, explores his discoveries, including steps that the American church can take to radically follow God's global plan.

Radical brings readers nine chapters that delve into the details of Platt's thought process. I found him to be a very persuasive and logical writer, taking me from one thought easily to the next. And I have to admit that what he had to say intrigued me. As a long time doubter of the ways of the American church, I was open to his ideas. If there was a church near me that functioned as his does...I would be there!

Simply and thoughtfully, David Platt shares the words of Jesus to point out an often-forgotten truth: every Christian is called to go out and preach to all nations. Every Christian has a role in evangelism and mission work. Every Christian is needed. Platts chapters on the fears many have of going to all nations were profound and encouraging. I can only thing that the Christians who turn from this book and exclaim it to be nonsense are very hard-hearted people who only read the parts of the Bible that "pertain" to their immediate lives.

I'm not necessarily sure about Platt's opinion that every Christian should be involved in some overseas ministry; he sort of made it sound like a hard and fast rule that a Christian isn't doing well if he or she doesn't support other countries' ministries. But I can't say that I completely disagree, because American Christians often neglect the most needy (who are often in other countries) to focus on self.

Overall, I really liked Radical. It's inspiring. It's a call to take Jesus' words seriously now, to take back your faith from the American dream. If you are feeling fed-up with the American church, if you are having a difficult time focusing on Scripture, this is a great read.

Sadly, I noticed a similarity between Radical and the also-popular Crazy Love by Francis Chan. Most of what both men said the Bible said first. I wish more people would reach for the Bible before reaching for one of these books. It isn't that Radical is not helpful or inspiring, but the real Truth is even better.

If you'd like to read an excerpt of Radical or if you'd like to buy it go here. You can also visit radicalthebook.com for more information.

I received a complimentary copy of this book
from Waterbrook Multnomah.
I was not required to give a positive review of this book,
and I was not paid to review it.
All opinions are my own.