Periwinkle Peacock

David Sticker Book

2013-02-21T10:21:00.000-05:00

I'm a busy mom. Aren't we all? Seems like I've been busier than normal the last few months.

Homeschooling. Keeping house. Church involvement. Releasing my first book (Paint Chips through WhiteFire Publishing...yes, I did have to get that plug in).

How do I keep everything balanced?

Well, I'll tell you, one of my biggest helps are books.

Yes. Books.

My kids are book lovers. They love a good story. Vibrantly illustrated pages.

This sticker book about the life of David from the Bible was fun for them. It provided a few different lessons for them (depending on God, looking at the heart, God's protection). It also had several stickers that the kids could fix into place on the pictures. The book used good, solid words, adding to my kids' vocabulary.

I think this would be a great book for families (although, if you have more than one child, you'll want one for each). It could also be a fun Bible school give-away or prize.

You can order this book through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or from Parable Book Stores.

*Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.

Review: The Weight of Mercy by Deb Richardson-Moore

2012-11-30T10:44:00.000-05:00

Some books are entertaining. They allow the reader to escape the sounds and smells and stresses of life. They harken back to simpler times and places and situations. The reader is left with a calm and easy feeling after reading the last page.

This is not one of those books.

Deb Richardson-Moore's book The Weight of Mercy: A Novice Pastor on the City Streets moves the reader, making him or her uncomfortable, causing the reader to see the rugged urban streets as something more than a "bad neighborhood". She makes the reader see the least of these among us. She doesn't allow us to turn our faces away from them.

Deb wrote about drug addiction, prostitution, vandalism, violence, homelessness, crime, discrimination, poverty. She also wrote about redemption, rehabilitation, restoration, forgiveness, extreme joy, worship, education. Deb wrote a very human story. And it is all true.

She wrote skillfully, that's clear. She worked as a journalist for 27 years prior to taking the pastorate at Triune Mercy Center. However, she wrote this book outside the clear cut, detailed work of a journalist. She wrote with heart, compassion, and conviction. She didn't give easy answers. Didn't claim to know everything. Never once took credit for the work God is doing in the inner-city.

This is a book that needs to be read. From the pastor of the inner-city church to the business man living in the suburbs. The stay at home mom to the community organizer. For too long, the Church has misunderstood something vitally important. That the mission field is confined to other countries. That we can only be missionaries in the midst of another race and culture, speaking a different language. Deb's book is a light to shine on the mission fields in our own cities and towns. People living only miles from us or in the house next door need compassion and love. They need us to help them, love them, be a light in their darkness.

This is the weight of mercy.

**Note; I received a complementary copy of The Weight of Mercy for my honest review.

Review of "The Book of Books"

2012-06-26T09:42:00.000-04:00

I am always looking for great storybook Bibles for my family to enjoy. This is the storybook Bible for an older child or an adult. It takes the major stories of the Old and New Testaments and retells them in a fresh way. Trevor Dennis has combined prose, poetry, and a bit of history to simplify the main message of the Scriptures.

This is where I need to say one thing: The BIBLE is still and always will be the best source for study and devotional time. "The Book of Books" is not to be used as a replacement for Bible reading. I think it is, however, a good supplement.

Dennis uses language beautifully to write some of the stories of the Bible. The word that comes to mind is "smooth". With a few asides to explain where he is in the telling and bits of information about how the Scriptures are written, it is a good introduction to the Bible for new believers (in a non-patronizing way). The few illustrations throughout serve the eyes well. It is also broken into sections to make for ease in reading one section at a time.

I recommend this book for families with older children (pre-teen and older), a book club, Bible study, Sunday school class, or for the newer believer. I look forward to reading through it again in some of my more casual reading times.

Please Note: I received a free copy of this book from Kregal Publications for my honest review.

Book Review of Simon and the Easter Miracle

2012-04-04T21:51:00.000-04:00

Easter is such a great time of year. Especially when children learn about the joy of Christ's resurrection.

I love having books to read with my kids. And this book "Simon and the Easter Miracle" is a great one. It takes a different approach to telling the Easter story. Mary Joslin retold a traditional telling of the story. She used beautifully woven language and exciting description that kept my kids' ears attentive. Anna Luraschi illustrated this book with a great folksy style and many vibrant colors that had the eyes of my children wide and engaged.

I could keep talking about this book...but, really, it's about what my kids thought. And they loved it. My daughter, as a matter of fact, has claimed it as her own and put it with her "special" books to be read over and over again.

This book would be great as a gift at any time of the year. But especially now as Easter is fast approaching us.

RECIPE! Miss Jan's Chocolate Crispy Cookies!

2012-03-08T14:09:00.000-05:00

May it be known that I am a sucker for a good cookie. Especially when it includes chocolate chips.

And I love it when a cookie is soft and crispy.

What? Soft AND crispy?

Yes. That's what I said.

My daughter's pre-school teacher Jan Taylor gave me this recipe...and the cookies. I'd like to share the super deliousness with you!

Here's how you make these cookies!

Miss Jan's Chocolate Crispy Cookies

Preheat oven to 350 F, grease cookie sheets

2 1/2 cups of flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup butter

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

4 cups crisp rice cereal (or any kind of crispy, crunchy cereal)

12 oz package of chocolate chips (I bet you could use any kind of baking chips...YUM!)

Stir together flour, soda and salt, set aside.

Beat margarine or butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla.

Mix in flour mixture.

Stir in cereal and chocolate chips.

Drop by level measuring tablespoon onto greased baking sheet.

Bake at 350 about 12 minutes or until lightly browned.

Remove from baking sheets.

Makes about 7 dozen

Do you have a favorite cookie recipe?

Review of 1&2 Corinthians: Straight to the Heart

2012-02-19T11:24:00.000-05:00

1 and 2 Corinthians are huge chunks of Scripture, packed with enough theology and debate and discussion to keep a Bible college open for years. I've had friends who, after first becoming Christians, read these books of the Bible only to feel overwhelmed and entrenched in history they do not understand. Not to mention the culture! And Paul. Oh, yes, Paul can be hard to swallow at times.

And a commentary? Right. That only makes it more difficult!

Well, until you look at "Straight to the Heart" by Phil Moore. Moore wrote this easily read, easily understood commentary in "60 Bite-Sized Insights". Exactly what it should be. It is understandable, accessible and written in such a way that it is relevant to our culture. That being said, Moore doesn't push aside the important business that Paul addresses in this part of Scripture. He is clearly an excellent and gifted teacher.

This book would be fantastic for the Christian of any Biblical knowledge. It would be a good book for a Bible study or an adult Sunday school class/small group. It would also be great for the individual looking for an in-depth personal study.

I loved my Corinthians class that I took in college. What would have made it better would have been this book. It is excellent.

Review of I Peter: Finding Encouragement in Troubling Times. Week Six

2012-02-19T11:11:00.000-05:00

I am a singer. I've been in choirs and other musical groups for most of my life. I've even been in a few bands. Yeah. I'm a rocker chick.

One thing that I've learned is that in order for music to work correctly, there must be harmony. Balance. Blending. Give and take.

And it is so true in other aspects of life. Especially within the Church.

Peter addresses Christians who are starting, brand new, with the whole Body of Christ thing. And we are still in desperate need of that teaching now, 2000 years later!

In this week's study there was a case study. It was about a family getting together for Christmas. There was some tension between the grandmother and her daughters. One daughter took some time away at a bad time. She was inconsiderate...which happens in families and churches, right? Well, that and a few other things made the family late for an event. The next day, the mother/grandmother reminded the daughter that she needed to be on time for that day's events (3 times...that's bordering on nagging). That daughter ended up leaving early.

It's so sad. This family had their Christmas disrupted because of a misunderstanding and "putting oneself first". How often do we see this in the Church? Instead of doing life together, we put our needs first. And then we let ourselves become riled when it doesn't go our way. This is anything but unified. It is anything but a body working together. It is more of a family that is working against each other.

Peter (who was the "rock" on which Jesus would build the Church) encouraged the early Christians to be one. To not fight one another. This is a lesson we would do well to learn now.

We have plenty of others coming at us. The Church should be where we can come together in one purpose. To further the Kingdom of God.

Review of I Peter: Finding Encouragement in Troubling Times. Week Five

2012-02-10T14:09:00.000-05:00

Beauty. Ah. Yes. You know, I am on Pinterest. Here's what I learn about beauty from the assorted pins I come across:

Beauty is...

~A flat stomach

~A perfect figure in a bikini

~The right hair cut

~Perfectly applied make up

~Big eyes, pouty lips, pert nose.

And on and on and on.

We are an image obsessed culture. And, quite frankly, I'm tired of it. I'm sick of feeling guilty for my weight. Keeping up with the latest clothes is beyond my budget. And I don't have time to be bothered with make up. And I will not wear a bikini.

But I feel pressure. To be skinny (I do think we need to be healthy and mindful about our food and exercise). To look a certain way (I do want to be pretty for my husband). Pressure, guilt, embarrassment, shame, stress.

But here's the thing: All the muscle tone and make up and expensive clothes in the world does not "beauty" make. Peter (good old Peter...I love that guy) says that true beauty is found in a woman who lives in purity and reverence.

Yes! Yes! That's it!

A woman who follows Jesus. Who strives to be holy, consecrated to the Lord! Her heart is beautiful ("Golden Hearted" as we teach our daughter to call it). And her light radiates, reflecting the Love of Jesus.

I was complaining to my husband about how men age so much better than women.

He said, "Well, maybe that's why it's so important for a woman to really shine the love of Jesus. You know, to show how truly beautiful she is."

I think that's exactly what Peter was talking about.

Book Review of "The Mysterious Epigenome: What Lies Beyond DNA"

2012-02-09T17:59:00.000-05:00

Thomas E. Woodward, PhD, and James P. Gills, MD attempt to do a few very interesting things in this book. First, they attempt to make the science of the epigenome accessible and understanding to the "lay-person". This goal is achieved well. They define many terms and theories that otherwise would have my head spinning. With conversational writing and actual dialogue (WHAT? Dialogue in a science book? Yes.) this book was actually pleasant to read.

"Well done" and pats on the back, gentlemen. (I never got fantastic grades in the sciences...however, this book was easily understandable).

Doctors Woodward and Gills also attempted to marry Spirituality (and specifically Christianity) with the study of cellular science. This is a controversial bridge to create. Both sides are typically in opposition. I appreciate the attempts of these authors to make sense of logic behind the intricacies of cells and the masterful design of the Creator.

This book not only has great chapters, but it also has discussion questions at the end of each section, making it great for a discussion group or Bible study. It also includes colorful pictures. And at the end it features "Frequently Asked Questions". It is clear that these doctors worked diligently on this book. And yet, with such a HUGE subject, the book is only 160 pages. It is definitely readable at that length.

I recommend this book to anyone who is reaching out to learn more about the science of creation. Also for those who want to analyze the creation claims of Scripture. It's good for the seeker who wants to learn more about why we have faith in the Creator.

Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Review of I Peter: Finding Encouragement in Troubling Times. Week Four

2012-02-04T11:20:00.000-05:00

This week, while contemplating on this study, I've been thinking about the struggles of our Christian life. Modern Christians in the United States have it relatively easy. The very worst we encounter is that someone on Facebook might call us "weak-minded" or "stupid" and challenge our knowledge or engage us in a debate.

The believers in the first Century, however, had such struggles, such hardship, such persecution. As compared to them, I have no idea what it means to suffer for my faith.

But there are plenty of others in this world who do face all kinds of pain and struggle because of Jesus. Persecution of Christians is prominent in many cultures. Many are beaten, imprisoned, murdered for their faith. Others suffer through poverty because they refuse to steal or cheat others because of their Christian standards.

So, it's easy to be a Christian in the United States, yes? There are no challenges in a land wherein a church is built on every corner, right?

Well. No.

I have friends who are missionaries. Actually, several of them. A few of them live in or have experienced the challenges of being a Christian in a physically hostile environment where witchcraft and religious oppression are common. They all say that it is more difficult to be a Christian in the U.S.

What? But we have all our needs covered. If someone hurts us for our faith we have a legal system to protect us. We have rights!

Well, that's kind of the thing. We don't HAVE to rely on God. It's easy to think that we are protected by the government, that we provide our own needs, that we are safe. Thank you very much, we are Americans and we can pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps.

And all the while we forget who it is that sustains us. Ours is a struggle of complacency, being to comfortable, too lazy in our faith.

While we fight a different kind of oppression, we are still under the persecution of the accuser who would have us renounce our faith and give in to him.

Please Note: I received a free copy of this Bible study in exchange for a review.

Review of Married Mom, Solo Parent by Carla Anne Coroy

2012-02-01T09:43:00.000-05:00

I have a few friends who are married to men who are gone nearly all the time. They have children together and that's about all that they have in common anymore. It's so sad. It takes a toll on the children. They feel a tension between the "world" and the "church". The world tells them to file for divorce. The church tells them to tough it out, be the gentle guidance that their husband needs. A few of my friends don't feel freedom to discuss this problem. This topic, within many Christian circles, is taboo.

Carla Anne Coroy tackled the issue in her book "Married Mom, Solo Parent". I am impressed with her openness in this book. She discusses with honesty her emotions, her thoughts, her struggles. For a mother (or even a father) going through this struggle, this would be an invaluable resource of encouragement and edification.

With chapters that lean to the practical side (ie, keeping the house clean, keeping mealtime a great experience for the kids, attending events and special occasions alone), Carla is lending a hand, teaching her coping skills. She is saying, in these chapters, that it is possible to physically survive this time of life.

Carla also writes about the emotions, the grief, of being in this Married Mom, Solo Parent position. She writes about honoring the husband who is absent, the need for a break, the price that the kids pay in this situation. I can't imagine that these were easy chapters for her to write. However, they are sure to help another woman to know that she isn't alone in these painful emotions.

The very last chapter of this book was written by her husband. Now, let's just say, that takes some humility. I found his ideas for talking to an absent husband to be very enlightening. And, in writing that chapter, he truly showed his willingness to be the supportive, present father he needs to be.

This book would be fantastic for a woman who is living in this kind of marriage, for family ministries at a church, for counseling situations, for friends hoping to understand the struggles of a friend.

I highly recommend this book.

Please note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Review of I Peter: Finding Encouragement in Troubling Times. Week Three

2012-01-27T10:54:00.000-05:00

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light."

~I Peter 2:9 (NIV)

In college my sister started calling me "Puppy". Just out of the blue. Apparently she saw it on "My Best Friend's Wedding" and she thought it was such a cute nickname that she wanted to use it on me. And it stuck. Truth? I hated it at first. But after a short time, I loved it. Why? Because that name came at just the right time. I was going through some personal struggles and dealing with the death of both my grandmothers. "Puppy" was just a way for my sister to acknowledge that our relationship is special.

Nearly 15 years later, she still calls me "Puppy".

God has called us "a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession."

But isn't He the Creator of all things? Yes. And He has chosen me? Yes. And He has called me to a holy priesthood, a consecrated ministry? Yes. He calls me a part of a holy nation? Yes. And I am special? Yes.

I have to tell you, being called a "special possession" of God sinks deeply within me. It acknowledges the intimate relationship that God desires to have with me. Not a controlling, abusive relationship. Not a special, lovingly jealous one. We are His portion. We are the Bride that He desires to lift up and make holy.

Now that, THAT, is a great nickname.

*Note: I received a free copy of this Bible study in exchange for an honest review

Review of I Peter: Finding Encouragement in Troubling Times. Week Two.

2012-01-20T10:50:00.000-05:00

"Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God."

1 Peter 1:22 and 23

During this week's study, I was contemplating love. Love that is defined in the above verses. It made me think of something that happened almost 2 years ago.

I was reading a book that detailed human evil. I read a particular story that disturbed me so greatly that I slapped the book closed and hid it under several other books. I couldn't even look at the book anymore. Anger, that I hope was righteous, and sorrow overtook me.

Days later I was driving. A song about God's love played on the radio.

"Thank You, God, for loving me," I prayed.

"I love them, too," I felt Him say. I knew He meant the people in that book that did all of those terrible, evil things.

"That isn't fair," I thought. "It isn't right and it isn't fair."

"But I do love them," I felt His words again. "And you need to, as well."

That was it. Well, until I heard that song again. And I realized that the evil, the pain that those people inflicted on others hurt the heart of God. Because of the victim and because of the perpetrator.

As much as I didn't want to, I prayed that God would help me to love them. Not accept their deeds. No. Never that. But to love them. Sometimes being purified by obeying the truth is painful, laborious and all together unpleasant.

But as I tried to obey, I realized something that broke my heart. I'd never worked that hard to love in all my life. Not even my brothers and sisters in Christ. There were some Christians that I just did not love deeply. Parts of the imperishable seed, the image of God made me angry or hurt me. And I didn't fight to maintain my love for them.

This realization made me fall flat. I repented. Then God asked me to reconcile with specific people. It was terrifying. It made me physically ill from the anxiety of it. But the obedience was purifying. Some of the relationships were not restored. Forgiveness was reached. Then other relationships were saved. Renewed. Better than ever before.

And that's the purifying. Sincere love brings us to a tiny bit better understanding of the incomprehensible love of our Heavenly Father.

Review of I Peter: Finding Encouragement in Troubling Times. Week One.

2012-01-13T09:59:00.000-05:00

Each Friday I'll be reviewing a Bible study lesson from this Sue Edward study of I Peter.

When a Bible study starts with "Do you ever wonder if you would deny Christ if faced with prison, poverty or pain?" (page 10), well, you know that you're in for a deep study.

A Bible study that will delve into your heart and bring about great introspection.

This is my kind of Bible study.

In the introduction, she brings up the possibility of persecution. She encourages us to be ready, because we never know if it will happen to us, our children or our grand children. And she reminds us that persecution is happening in nations around the world.

This made me reflect. Have I ever been persecuted for my faith?

No. I haven't.

I've been called ignorant. Stupid. Weak. Naive.

But never persecuted.

Nothing like the early Church faced in the arenas of Rome. Nothing like a woman who is honor killed by her family member in modern nations.

I guess the word that really applies to what I've experienced is opposition. People who want to debate their views against mine. I've lost friends because of my faith. It hurts. Sure. It's awful.

So many times I've seen Christians react in two ways to this kind of opposition. Some hold firm and get angry and argue and scream. Others fun from their beliefs, back peddling to avoid a fight. Both are problematic for obvious reasons. And I've been guilty for both responses.

And I think that neither of those reactions are full of hope. "Hope for the heaven bound", as Sue Edwards says at the end of the introduction. Hope doesn't get angry and spout off arguments. Hope doesn't deny what it knows to be true. Hope is faithful. Hope is gentle. Hope is loving. And those reactions, when faced with opposition or even persecution, are full of the Fruit of the Spirit. And God will equip us to display these Fruits when faced with hard times. Or even horrible times.

This study is packed. It is a big beef steak of wisdom and instruction. And I am so excited that I get to go through this faith building study.

Check back next week for my review of Lesson 2.

Note: I received a copy of this study in exchange of an honest review.

Review of Dance of the Dandelion

2011-12-14T10:15:00.000-05:00

Dance of the Dandelion by Dina Sleiman is an unusual book. It's set in the Medieval times. The character, Dandelion, makes major mistakes. She gets herself into scrapes and dangerous situations...and then, guess what? There's redemption. I don't want to tell you about the redemption. I want you to be surprised. But I can tell you this, it wasn't what I expected.

So, why is this unusual? Well, let me tell you!

Very few Medieval books are being published in the modern market. Why not? I don't know. But I am very glad that White-Fire Publishing did take on this book. It is beautifully written and the setting is perfect. Dina did her research and truly understood the time period.

Dandelion gets herself into lots of trouble. Man trouble. Several times. She falters. Falls into temptation. And because of her sins, she experiences major destruction in her life. The Christian market is sometimes wary of these topics. But Dina certainly charted some territory that is often hedged. The great thing? She doesn't glorify any of it. In fact, the consequences occur quickly after Dandelion falls.

Dandelion's redemption is nothing short of moving. She learns the deep, strong, never-ending love of God. Her redemption isn't found in a man (like all too many novels). Instead, it is because of the work that God had been doing in her all along. Absolutely uplifting.

Christian fiction is all about a story that uplifts, convicts and directs us to the abundant life to be found in Christ (which usually has nothing to do with money). I was delighted by Dance of the Dandelion. From the cover to the story to the author herself, this is a beautiful novel. I highly recommend this.

To learn more about Dina Sleiman, visit her website here. To order this book, check out Amazon (this book is available as an ebook and a paperback).

** Please note: I received nothing in exchange for this review. I just loved the book and wanted to share it with you!

Review of Baby's Little Bible

2011-12-05T13:09:00.000-05:00

One of my very favorite things is to read the Bible with my kids. This is something we've done ever since they were tiny. I wish that we would have had Baby's Little Bible when our kids were babies!

This storybook Bible comes in either pink or blue (we received the pink...which my daughter loved). I suppose my only thought about the color is that a neutral one would have been nice as well. The cover is smooth and has a little bit of padding to it. Nice for a baby. The pictures are colorful and beautiful. One issue I've had with other children's Bible illustrations is that they are often culturally inaccurate (making the characters look Anglo-Saxon). I appreciate how this illustrator gave Jesus darker skin and hair.

The storytelling is well done. Even though this book is intended for babies, my kids (5 and 3) still enjoyed having it read to them. This isn't only a great baby Bible, it's a great Family Bible Time read!

I think this book would be great for a baby shower gift, as a Christmas present for a young baby or even used as an "easy reader" book for older children who are learning to read.

Book Review of "The Three Trees"

2011-11-10T10:43:00.000-05:00

We are a family that reads together daily (often several times a day). So, when given the opportunity to share this book with my kids, I was very excited.

The art work is beautiful. I'm a fan of folk art. All of the colors and details...there's just a lot to catch the eye! My younger kids (the ones who can't read yet), enjoyed flipping through the pages, letting their eyes move across the page to take in all the art and color and beauty. They could identify what the book communicated through the stories that the pictures told.

The story is told in that familiar folk story voice. It uses easily understood language. Yet it wasn't at such a low level that my kids were bored. They were moved by the reading of the story. I let my husband read it aloud so that I could watch the faces of my kids. They were caught within the telling and pinched their little eyebrows together in concentration.

The Three Trees is a traditional folktale. I've heard it before. However, coupled with the beautiful artwork, this story had more power than just through the spoken word.

This book is a great gift. Christmas is just around the corner, and this would be a great one to give as a gift to children, art-lovers, your Church library. It would also be a great baby shower gift (books were some of my favorite from when I had my babies).

Note: Kregal Publications provided this book in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review of Melanie Dobson's "Refuge on Crescent Hill"

2011-10-27T10:11:00.001-04:00

As a fiction writer, I was delighted that I would have the opportunity to review another novel for the Kregal Publications blog tour. I felt that I would be stretched a little to read a suspense novel...and I'm glad that I did.

Melanie Dobson's novel "Refuge on Crescent Hill" has a good pace from the first page to the last. The dialogue is natural and easy to follow, moving the story-line forward, not bogging it down with insignificance. Her characters are believable. Her narrative voice is straightforward, unpretentious, and causes pictures to fill the reader's mind.

Here's a little bit about this novel...

Moving home after a recent job loss was supposed to reassure Camden Bristow but what she finds is an empty mansion 150 years old. What happened to the house she played in as a child, the bedtime stories that told of secret passageways and runaway slaves, and all those family memories?

When antiques start disappearing and footsteps are heard, Camden wonders what really happened here . . . at Crescent Hill? Who still has access to the house? And for what purpose? As she works to uncover the past and present mysteries harbored in her home, Camden also uncovers secrets about her family that could change the town--and her life--forever. (from the Kregal website)

I have to say, the idea of family mystery is intriguing. And getting to read a book that unfolded the mystery little by little was exciting. The concept that all secrets affect the lives of those around us was so well developed in this novel. Dobson did a great job keeping my mind moving while I read. Not only that, she kept my focus on Camden's search for the truth.

I recommend this novel. It would be great for book clubs and the reader who wants me mystery and edge-of-your-seat literature.

Review of The Story of Noah's Ark (storybook and wall clings)

2011-10-06T00:57:00.000-04:00

I love children's books. Especially when they contain brilliantly colored illustrations. But, do you want to know who loves that stuff more than I do?

Yup. That's right. My kids.

I received this book in the mail from Kregal Publications (in exchange for a blog review). When I opened the cardboard package, I watched my kids' eyes light up. They instantly knew that this was a Noah book. (I actually had to hide it from them for a short amount of time so that I could preview it).

This book is beyond fun. It uses easily understood words (my kids, ages 5 and 3, had no difficulty understanding it), but it isn't a baby book either. I like this for a preschool aged book. It tells the story with Biblical accuracy.

And, can I tell you what I really like most about it? It has wall clings. So the kids can "play" Noah's ark. I tested these clings. They are sticky enough to go on the wall. But not so sticky that they peel away any paint. They are easily removed. And they can be put back into the book for future use.

I think this would be a great book for Christian preschool Bible classes, Sunday School and for family use. It's a great way to tell the story and reinforce with activity on the child's part.

I highly recommend this book!

Review of The World Tilting Gospel by Dan Phillips

2011-10-05T14:09:00.000-04:00

This is not the cover of a typical Theology book. But, then again, this isn't your every day Biblical Worldview book.

In this book "The World Tilting Gospel" Dan Phillips confronts sin, weak theology, wrong Biblical teaching, our identities as children of God, and on and on. All to teach us about tilting the world.

His premise is this; the early Church turned the world upside down. It was radical. Unapologetic. Heroic. And all in the Name of Jesus Christ. People were coming to the knowledge and salvation of Jesus by droves. Whole towns were either transformed or ticked off by these radical Followers of the Way. They were a group of revolutionaries. They lived drastically different lives than those outside of Christianity. They were willing to be tortured and killed brutally for their faith.

They did it all without Twitter, Facebook, Blogs, political campaigns. They didn't even have huge budgets. They did it through the power of the Holy Spirit.

One of the cool things about having the Scriptures is that we can learn from others. We can follow in the footsteps of the "Great Cloud of Witnesses". And this book gives us examples, encouraging us to faithful living and to seek the Word of God in our lives.

Dan Phillips knows his Bible. He's a smart guy. But, here's the really great thing; he doesn't talk over anyone's heads. This book was easy to read. He took some hefty concepts and transformed them into bite sized pieces for his readers.

This would be a great book for a Theology class, Bible Study, Sunday school resource. And yet, it's a great one for anyone hoping to build their knowledge and understanding of what the Scriptures say about faithful living.

This is a very great book. I hope you'll give it a read. You'll learn a lot about the early Church and how the modern Church can improve in Jesus' Name!

Review of The Liberating Truth: How Jesus Empowers Women By, Danielle Strickland

2011-09-30T14:36:00.000-04:00

When I read the title to this book, I have to admit, I was curious. So, upon the offer to read and review this book for Kregal Publications, I was intrigued. How, indeed, does Jesus empower women? I mean, yeah, He surrounded Himself with women and offered them equal compassion and mercy in a world that, otherwise, objectified or ignored them.

But, this is the 21st Century. Aren't women liberated enough? Well, Danielle Strickland would contend that, no, we aren't. In regard to the Church, we still have a long way to go, baby.

She confronts the mentality of girls being princesses, desiring to grow up, get married and have children. You have to check out this quote...

"The popular Christian concept of a 'good woman' is someone extremely feminine, sensitive, good-looking, and submissive to a handsome husband who keeps his promises. Lovely -- if you live in Disneyland." (pg. 20)

And that's in the first chapter.

Chapter after chapter discusses the issues of the objectification of women, inequality in the world and the Church, how women are uniquely made, how the Scriptures speak of us and that Jesus is our Liberator. One chapter is titled "Jesus the Feminist"...no getting huffy. It's a great chapter about how Jesus included women in His ministry on earth (it's a fact) and the beautiful reality that women, too, are made in the image of God.

I found that Strickland dealt with this potentially volatile discussion with intelligence (this woman knows her Bible...and even discusses word studies to explain the translation), grace (she never once bashes men...not once) and joy (she's all about celebrating the liberation that this truth can bring).

On a personal level, she forced me to ask questions of my past. Have I ever felt "less than" in the Church because of my gender? Regrettably, yes, I have. Many times. As a former "Children's Director" (I couldn't be a pastor because I am female), I have encountered much discrimination. From being called "honey" to being left out of important meetings and decisions to having my physical appearance "called out" (issues of size)...all of it made me feel that my ministry had less importance because of my gender. This isn't of God.

I look forward to reading this book again. It is so packed full of ideas and thing to contemplate that one reading didn't quite "do it" for me.

I highly recommend this book. It's great to Bible college students who are heading into the ministry (of all kinds). Wonderful for church staffs that are interested in including women in ministry (and, for that matter, church staffs that are NOT interested in including women in ministry). Important for women who are called to serving the Lord...it is encouraging that there is a place for us to serve other than the kitchen or nursery (not to say those are unimportant ministries).

Look for this book. It's a good one.

Interview With Jody Hedlund, Author of "The Doctor's Lady"

2011-09-12T08:30:00.001-04:00

First of all, I have to admit something...I'm not typically a fan of Historical Fiction. However, from the very first paragraph of Jody Hedlund's "The Doctor's Lady", I was pulled in. She writes at a good pace and her style is smooth and inviting.

I have a passion for missions. And this book reflected the history of a woman, so consumed with the love for the missionary life, that she made sacrifices and surrendered her will to God's. Now, that is something we could all learn from, right?

I've had the pleasure of exchanging some emails with Jody. She is kind and someone who I would LOVE to befriend. So, I thought that you would enjoy getting to know her a little better through an interview!

Susie: As a fellow fiction writer, I'm always interested in learning what inspires a work of fiction. What inspired you?

Jody: This book was inspired by the true life story of Narcissa Whitman, the first white woman to brave the dangers of overland trail and travel west. In 1836 she married Dr. Whitman, and then the next day left her childhood home and would never return for the purpose of starting a mission among the Nez Perce natives.

It was my hope in this story to bring Narcissa Whitman to life. This heroic woman has often been ignored and, at times, even disparaged. In reality, she exuded incredible courage to attempt a trip many proclaimed foolishly dangerous. It was called an "unheard-of-journey for females". Because of their willingness to brave the unknown, she led the way for the many woman who would follow in her footsteps in what later would be known as the Oregon Trail.

Susie: That's inspiring. I can see why you wanted to honor the glory this woman brought to God! I like that your story is not only for entertainment and education, but that it also has a purpose. Speaking of, what message would you like the reader to glean from this book?

Jody: I hope readers are inspired to try new things and brave dangerous prospects in the pursuit of their dreams. When we go after the things that matter, we have to take risks and we'll experience setbacks and obstacles. But if we persevere, we can reach our destination and do great things along the way.

Susie: Sometimes when I'm writing, I picture certain famous actors playing the parts of my characters. Who would you envision playing the parts of your characters?

Jody: Dr. Eli Ernest needs to be played by Kevin Costner whose rugged, scruffy look in Dances with Wolves is exactly the way I envision for Dr. Ernest. Eli is a man full of passion and unafraid of danger, and yet willing to learn and grow through the challenges he faces.

Priscilla White needs to be played by Gwyneth Paltrow. Priscilla is a beautiful and elegant lady with Gwyneth's looks in Emma. She's not physically strong and she's a bit naive, and yet she's determined and courageous.

Susie: Do you have any advice for writers who are just starting out?

Jody: Write a couple of books first and unleash your creativity. Then start reading books that explain how to write. Study techniques, practice them and keep writing. When you begin reaching a level in your writing where you think you're ready to start querying, get a critique partner to read your work, vamp up your online presence and immerse yourself in the writing industry.

Susie: Great advice. Thank you. Now I'd like to know something about you. What would I be surprised to find out about you?

Jody: I have most of the songs of Sound of Music memorized (due to watching it every year as a child). Now whenever I watch the movie, I belt out the songs at the top of my lungs, much to the listening pleasure of my children. *Grin*

Susie: One more thing that I HAVE to know...when you were a little girl, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Jody: Of course I wanted to be a princess and live in a big castle and have a name like Rose. And I wanted to marry a dashing prince charming and ride off together in the sunset.

But alas, I soon came to understand that I wouldn't be able to grow up to be a princess, that I'd need to pick something slightly more practical. So I decided to write romantic stories about princesses instead! Of course I haven't published any fairy tales, but I have seen my dream of publication come true! (And wouldn't you know, I ended up marrying a prince charming!)

Susie: Thank you, Jody!

Hey, readers! Jody has very generously offered to award one of you with a FREE copy of "The Doctor's Lady"! Just comment on this post for a chance to win!

And, to entice you, here is the book trailer!

Review of Across the Wide River by Stephanie Reed

2011-08-16T10:29:00.000-04:00

I don't usually read historical fiction. And I tend to not choose books written to a teenage audience. However, when given the opportunity to review Stephanie Reed's Across the Wide River I was happy to break those two habits.

If you know me, then you know how involved I am in the modern day Abolitionist movement. I'm a firm believer that if we're to end slavery now, we need to look back at how the first Abolitionists did it.

And that is why I wanted to read this book.

The Rankin family (who were true, real life Abolitionists in Kentucky and Ohio) are the first house on the Underground Railroad many years before the Civil War. Son, Lowry leads the fugitive slaves to the next stop toward freedom in Canada.

What impressed me the most, and what I believe Reed wanted to convey, was the dedication that those along the Railroad had for the freedom of others. They continued, many nights of the year, to harbor and transport slaves as they kept up their farms and jobs and education. This was no small task. Yet their devotion to freedom was so strong that they made sacrifices for others.

While I would have loved to learn more about the slaves and their lives, I found that this book taught me much about those helping them escape. This would be a fantastic book for a teenager who would like to learn more about the Abolitionist movement of the 1800's. It would also be great for reading lists in high school history classes and for homeschooling families.

I hope that you'll check out the book trailer for Ms. Reed's sequel The Light Across the River.

If you're interested in learning more about Stephanie Reed and her books, please visit her website

http://www.stephanielreed.com/

Kregal Publications provided me with a free copy of the above book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for reading!

Book Review of Lisa Samson's "Embrace Me"

2011-07-23T08:47:00.000-04:00

About 2 years ago I'd given up on Christian fiction. It seemed that every time I went to the Christian bookstore and perused the fiction section I found the same book. Over and over. Different covers, different titles, different authors. But the same book. I believed there was a formula that all Christian fiction books were required to follow. And it didn't appeal to me.

Well, apparently, I wasn't looking closely enough.

One day I decided to give the fiction section another look. What I found that day intrigued me.

The cover of "Embrace Me" is gorgeous. Yes, I did judge this book by its cover...and it worked out for me. A circus tent and just a curve of a woman wearing a green dress.

"This doesn't fit the formula," I thought.

I read the back.

"Biting and gentle, hard-edged and hopeful . . . a beautiful fable of love and power, hiding and seeking, woundedness and redemption.When a "lizard woman," a self-mutilating preacher, a tattoed monk, and a sleazy lobbyist find themselves in the same North Carolina town one winter, their lives are edging precariously close to disaster . . . and improbably close to grace."

I bought the book. It was the kind of novel that you read slowly, knowing that far too soon it will be finished. I felt an instant connection to the characters. Lisa Samson writes vivid people into her stories. The kind that feel like friends.

Lisa also wrote in a couple of twists. It isn't easy to really surprise some readers (especially readers who are also writers). However, I was surprised twice while reading. It was fantastic. And, nope, no spoiler here. You'll have to read the book for yourself.

"Embrace Me" has a magical feel to it. I just recently re-read it, still feeling that surreal, fable-like nature of the novel. And yet, it's also so raw, real and relevant. That's a balance that Lisa Samson does so well.

I love this book. My first copy of the book was borrowed by a friend. She passed it around to others. I have no idea where that book is. So, I bought a second copy. I fully intend to share that one as well.

I highly recommended "Embrace Me". It will surprise you, convict you, make you think. But most of all, it will help you to understand the love and redemption of Jesus a little more.

Periwinkle Peacock is Still Flying!

2011-07-06T21:16:00.000-04:00

Hey there!

I've been giving blogging a serious bit of thought. I love my fiction/short story blog at www.susiefinkbeiner.wordpress.com , in fact, things are going really well over there. But I missed blogging here, too.

What to do. What to do.

Oh! I know. This blog is going to be for reviews. Books. Movies. Food. You know, things that I experience. Then I'll tell you what I thought of them.

Sound like fun? I think so.

First review will be next week. The book will be "Embrace Me" by Lisa Samson.

Oh...and, by the way, I'm not going to be one of those reviewers that retells the WHOLE story. Blah. Does anyone really enjoy reading reviews like that?