Help for single ladies

Lessons Learned as a Bridesmaid is a fun yet spiritually deep book, aimed at single women.  This book, according to the author, "is dedicated to all the ladies who may not feel as overjoyed to hear of yet another friend's recent engagement. This is for the young ladies who, as happy as they may feel to see a friend marry the person of their dreams, have that little ache in their hearts that says, “God, when will it be my turn?” My story is all about how to wait with contentment for your husband that God has chosen just for you." This book feels almost like sitting down with your girlfriends over a cup of coffee or tea and talking openly and honestly about how it feels to be single and what we can do to help those feelings.  
Lessons Learned as a Bridesmaid is a shockingly honest look at the author's life and relationships, with her friends, her family and her former boyfriends.  She chronicles several times she's been a bridesmaid, but she's not made it to the altar herself, to the shock of her Haitian family.  Through speaking about the end of one of her romantic relationships, she outlines the way she sought the Lord through and in her pain and how He healed her heart.  She says, and I agree, that one main problem we as God's children have is how impatient we can get while waiting for His perfect timing, especially where romance is concerned.  
This is a great book for singles of all ages, from late adolescence on.  It includes discussion/study questions at the end of each chapter, which would be ideal for a Sunday School class or small group.  It also shows two Biblical examples of waiting on God's timing, Sarah and Hannah.  
I found much encouragement in this book, being a single, never-married person in my early thirties.  This book reminds me that God is in control and He is working all things for my good.  There are several important Biblically-based lessons to be learned through this book for all women of God.
*I received this book for free in exchange for my unbiased review through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze Program.

Curiosities of the Civil War

I found this book to be extremely interesting.  I have long been a student of history, and the American Civil War has always been interesting to me, even as a child.  In this book are many anecdotes, about every aspect of life during the war.  This book includes information about subjects that are not touched on in a lot of histories of the war, such as friendly fire.  Also interesting was the anecdotes about people who were unknown before and during the war, but would go on to make a great contribution to it later on.  Such people as Walt Whitman and Elias Howe were mentioned.  It is fascinating to me to see these great historical figures playing their part, however big or small, in this great and terrible conflict.
I found of particular interest the anecdotes mentioning the area in which I live, Northeast Georgia.  This one mentions Athens and UGA, about twenty-five miles from where I went to college.   "Experimenting with ways to increase the power of large guns, Pvt. John Gilleland of Georgia's Mitchell Thunderbolts developed a double-barreled cannon.  Balls linked by a chain were designed to 'mow down Yankees as a scythe cuts rye.'  When put to use, however, it was found that precise coordination of firing was impossible.  In a few test rounds, linked cannon balls 'whizzed around in erratic fashion' and killed two or three Thunderbolts.
This experimental weapon is commemorated by a historical marker on the campus of the University of Georgia at Athens." (p.163)
I think this is a great book, and would be a welcome addition to any history buff's library, especially as we commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Max on Life by Max Lucado

     I have been a long-time fan of Max Lucado's work, and this book lives up to the expectations I have of his works.  In Max On Life, Max answers many questions he has received on topics such as marriage, prayer, etc. whether by email, letter, or face-to-face, from a Biblically grounded perspective.  What results is a book that probably everyone could find something that is helpful to them in.  It is peppered with humor, as are all his works, but it overall conveys both the author's and God's love, compassion and concern for all.
    I found this book very interesting, entertaining and enjoyable.  I also found it very applicable to my life in several areas.  This book is both fun to read and very practical.  I think I will return to this book often because of the pearls of wisdom Max includes in it, about many topics I struggle with on a regular basis, such as prayer, temptation, and irritation.  On irritation Max writes, "Every pearl is simply a victory over irritations."  I know that I will think of this often, when I wear any of my pearl jewelry!
    I think this book is wonderful, and would be a great gift for people in all stations of life.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Resurrection in May

In Resurrection in May, Lisa Samson once again weaves a tale about someone undergoing profound physical and emotional transformation.  At the center of this story is May Seymour, a young woman who is probably typical for women her age-she is a socialite, dating frequently, clubbing.  In the throws of a hangover she encounters a kindly old man, Claudius, who helps her through her hangover.  She tells him she is leaving soon as a missionary to Rwanda.  What happens to her there, on that trip, changes her life and scars her permanently.  She is unfortunate enough to be a witness to the Rwandan genocide of 1994, and is the sole survivor of the village where she was ministering.  
May returns to the States, to the care of her parents, greatly scarred, both inside and out.  When her father sees she is not recovering well, he contacts Claudius, and May goes to live with him on his farm and recover.  She remains there, on that property, for years, developing a case of agoraphobia. Even after Claudius' death she cannot make herself leave, because of fear.  Finally through the help of her faith and loving friends, she experiences a rebirth and makes her life much better because of it.
I truly enjoyed this book.  The transformation that takes place in May is a wonderful thing, as are the relationships portrayed between Claudius and May, and with some of her other friends, most notably Ruth, her neighbor, and Eli, an old college classmate.  This book is a wonderful read for anyone, but maybe especially someone who has been through a very traumatic experience and lived to tell about it.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Mystically Wired

In Mystically Wired, author Ken Wilson explores the inner workings of the most mysterious of all organs: the human brain.  This book explains how we can calm down the busyness that defines most of our lives and thought processes and experience more peace and stillness before God, which results in more of Him and in His presence.  
Mystically Wired is divided into two sections.  In the first, the author presents relevant scientific findings that spiritual practices, such as prayer, can have a true calming effect on the brain's activities.  The second delves into practices people can integrate into their daily lives and routines to calm their minds so that they can be more fulfilled and peaceful in prayer.
In the first section, Wilson introduces the premise that our brains "are adapted or designed to reach beyond the limits of the ingrown self to connect with the wonder of life beyond the self, including the life of God" (p.3)  He also goes over the fact that many of us have trouble connecting, like when we call someone but the line is full of static.  Also many of us like to control our prayers, i.e., to do what we think our family or church family would find acceptable, not what we feel the Lord or Spirit nudging us to do.
The second half goes over simple ways to connect more fully to the wonder of life beyond the self.  There are several of these.  Among them are holding those we love in our memory before God, the source of love.  Another is, during moments of excessive worry or stress selecting a word, phrase, text or image as our focal point-a name for God or a visual or other sensory image from a psalm.  Another is praying at fixed intervals of the day, perhaps using liturgies from the Catholic or Episcopalian traditions, and celebrating seasonal holidays such as Pentecost and Christmas as well.  Wilson also suggests getting out of our urban environment and going to nature to pray.  
There is much to be found and applied in this book, but the main thought really is: We can learn how to pray, and Jesus can teach us.  That is truly what this book is all about, and it encourages us to take a small step of some sort into that direction as we follow the Lord.  

The Map: The Way of All Great Men

The Map: The Way of All Great Men

The Map, by David Murrow, is a great book for men everywhere.  It reveals a long-ignored life pattern found in the Gospel of Matthew.  The first half of the book is a fictional journey in which the author spins a tale of intrigue concerning how he first discovered the map, that is the pattern of life.  

    The map consists of three journeys, which occur in life, and also as seen in the life of Christ in the Gospel of Matthew.  The first journey is the journey of submission, as displayed in Christ's life in Matthew 1-7.  The second journey is that of strength, as demonstrated in Matthew 8-25.  The final journey is that of sacrifice, as displayed in Matthew 26-28.  The author uses a diagram of a mountain to illustrate this:  on the left side of the mountain is femininity, and on the right is masculinity.  

     In the first journey of submission, which usually occurs in a man's life as he goes through childhood and young adulthood, he is moving toward the feminine side of the mountain.  As he moves into the second journey, he moves back toward the masculine side of the mountain.  Finally, in the journey of sacrifice, he moves up the mountain and more towards a balance between the masculine and feminine.  While the journeys are never truly completed, i.e, one can begin before another ends, unlike a physical journey.

     Morrow also points out that this pattern of the three journeys can be seen in other Biblical characters, such as Moses, King David, and the Apostle Paul.  They can also be seen in secular culture, such as in movies, television and literature.  

    In this book Morrow also points out a weakness in many churches: they are more geared toward women and more feminine that masculine, so many men get bored in attending church.  The Map was a response to this partly, and partly an attempt to help men on their spiritual journey, no matter what stage of their journey they are on.  There is much to be found in this book, for both men and women.

The Search for God and Guinness

The Search for God and Guinness, by Stephen Mansfield, is a very interesting, however brief history of the Guinness beer company and its founding family. It highlights the magnanimity of the founding fathers of Guinness, especially in the ways that they cared for their employees in an era and place where such things were unheard of. It shows how some people with money choose to use it to help their fellow man. It also shows the various things that have sprung from the Guinness brand, including the Guinness book of world records, which was created at first to give pubs and bars as a promotional item. I found especially interesting the history not just of Guinness, but of beer itself, which dates at least to the Sumerians.
The Guinness family has also produced several great ministers, who were as well-known as Charles Spurgeon and others. In several generations the eldest son and heir chose instead to devote himself to the work of God, leaving the family business in the hands of their siblings. This is testament to the piety and devotion of the founder of the company, Arthur Guinness, who created the beer in part to relieve Ireland from the scourge of alcoholism caused by whiskey. It did, and it also elevated the lives of all who worked there; they were given medical care by an on-staff doctor, and also opportunities for education and recreation. Dublin, which was once one of the filthiest cities in Europe, was transformed.
This book reminded me once again of what is truly important in life. That which the Guinness family achieved with their fortune should be an inspiration and example to us all, as should their forward thinking attitude and their striving to always produce the best product possible.In the end, though their beer and factory is large, productive and successful, what is remembered by many about them is their devotion to their faith, their generosity with the wealth they had been given, and how they always strived to better the lives of their employees and their families. This is an interesting book which would be enjoyed by history buffs and also those who love Guinness stout.
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Fearless

I really enjoyed Fearless, though this was no surprise to me. I have been an avid reader of all of Max Lucado's works for many years. Fearless really spoke to me in the place I am in my life. This book encourages us as believers to truly rely wholly on God, and look to Him instead of looking at our fears and worries. Lucado addresses about a dozen fears that are common to most people, and counters them with the truth of God's Words on the subjects. As always, he does this through the use of Scriptural verses, historical anecdotes and quotations, personal anecdotes, and well-crafted prose. Overall it makes for a memorable reading experience.
Fearless, like all of Max Lucado's work, is like a shot of encouragement in the arm of the average believer. This book encourages us to keep our focus on Jesus, not our fears, reminding us that as we do so, our fears fall away until all we have is a reverent fear for Jesus. "As awe of Jesus expands, fears of life diminish. A big God translates into big courage. A small view of God generates no courage. A limp, puny, fireless Jesus has no power over cancer cells, corruption, identity theft, stock-market crashes, or global calamity. A packageable, portable Jesus might fit well in a purse or on a shelf, but he does nothing for your fears." (p. 169)
Like all Lucado's work, Fearless is filled with lovely prose, wonderful quotations from great writers, and something that would appeal to readers of all ages. It reminds us of how great our God is, how truly temporary all we fear is, and of the courage we have available to us as believers. I would recommend this book to anyone, but especially those in the midst of struggle.