Burge02

The title of this book was intriguing to say the least. I had not heard of the authors previously, but it was endorsed by Focus on the Family, so I thought I would request a copy. It was written by a couple who have over 40 years of experience as sex therapists and educators, good information, not groundbreaking though. The authors recently released two books targeting married couples, this one is primarily for women and it's counterpart is called The Married Guy's Guide to Great Sex. In the book, they lay the foundation for great sex- women need to figure out why we may not be enjoying ourselves in the bedroom. They encouraged me as a woman to listen to my body in certain ways: hormones, brain, body, sexual triggers and potential. They believe that intimacy takes time and intentionality, what they recommend is a formula for intimacy available at  passionatecommitment.com Two things that were thought provoking for me were assessing my current beliefs and attitude toward

In order to understand the author's point of view and idea for the main character, Chooser, you will want to read the Note to Parents. The Chooser is our will, also known as our ability to choose right from wrong and commit to something. The book addresses the personal nature of each person's individual "Chooser." It is a creative personification of our will that utilizes child-friendly illustrations and tries to bring kid-friendly concepts to life, like avoiding conflict, letting others make the decision, etc. The Chooser as depicted on the cover is depicted by a colorful orb and apparently God owns one too-a perfect one; this in particular struck me as slightly bizarre.  I read it several times to myself and my four young children, but I'll be honest it is not a favorite. The physical book and illustrations are great,  I'm still not convinced that his choice of personification works. To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commissio

A creative story with a great storyline about friendship. The author/illustrator had many spreads that made me laugh out loud. It turns out Flash, the main character, is based on a real life donkey and the author has written another book for adults, definitely piqued my interest. This book was delightfully illustrated and had a Biblical moral about friendship and good deeds. Definitely a lesson my family is learning. My four school aged kids loved listening and it provided plenty of conversation starters. I would buy additional children's books by this author if available. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers in return for this review.

If you are familiar with the book Dinner with a Perfect Stranger by David Gregory, then this is along the similar lines. After relationship troubles and the feeling that she had "settled" on a number of fronts, Emma wonders, "Does God have time for me?" and asks "Where is his love when something happened that really mattered?" She starts to have doubts and decided Jesus wasn't enough and that the Bible didn't provide her with the answers she needed. Her real question was this- Does God exist? Emma finds herself on a very personal adventure with Jesus that starts with her in a boat in the middle of the Sea of Galilee in a horrible, gale-like storm. Jesus allows her to be an onlooker to many biblical events in order to prove that not only does God exist, but that He is in fact a very personal God that cares deeply for her. This book was an easy read with short chapters, but challenging none the less. I envision leaving it in my guest room for t

This journal contains more than 50 entries that include a prayer, a verse, and lined space for reflection. Peppered throughout are blank pages that include a verse and brief instruction to encourage meditation. It has many beautiful pages, I personally prefer the colored ones. A majority of the journal entries has an entire page dedicated to a quote or a Bible verse; which if you really liked, you could remove and frame.  As far as the actual physical journal, I'm not a fan. It is hardcover, but has an added cardboard layer, that feels uncomfortable when I am holding it and writing. And at $14.99, it seems pretty steep for a simple journal.   Personally, I'm not a fan of adult coloring books as a means of relaxation and de-stressing, but that is for you to decide. And I'm  not sure how I feel about the Mandala-like look to the journal's coloring pages. Overall, I give it a 3 out of 5 rating.  I received a complimentary copy of the book for review purposes from T

This book by Lance Ford and Brad Brisco is all about empowering you to transform your neighborhood for the glory of God. The book can be summarized in this quote, "...we are seeking to give vision to what can happen when heavenly minded people determine to do earthly good in the places they live, work, and play" p 61. This book provides motivation and Biblical reasoning on the why's and how to's of hospitality. It was convicting  for me, especially since we have recently moved into a new neighborhood. Perhaps our family can just start off on the right foot.  The authors, friends and ministry leaders, Ford and Brisco address some of the reasons or excuses we choose not be the aroma of Christ. One of them is that American culture has undergone some dramatic shifts in terms of isolation and detachment. We tend to live as nomads and fail to establish "roots." They also believe that most Americans have resigned to pursing the "American Dream" at the e