Reading, Writing & Pondering

  Why I Believe by Dr. Henry Cloud is a mix of memoir and spiritual exploration, real life miracle stories, and science-meets-faith in one book. Why I Believe is divided into three parts--following the introduction where Dr. Cloud explains why he wrote this book.  The first part: I Came to Believe in God is where the author shares his early years and things that happened to him that caused him to believe in God. He also shares things that were a bit of an obstacle in life for him. Like most of us in the world, Dr. Cloud experienced some life challenges that left him wondering where God was in the midst of them. In this section, he explains how he kept his faith and how he felt he heard from God at certain times in his life and how the people around him drew him to God. The second part: How I Came to Believe in Miracles was fascinating. I am not sure I have ever really experienced some of the things like Dr, Cloud has that were miraculous. He shares ways God worked in his lif...

   Indescribable Atlas Adventures by Louie Giglio is a large book measuring  about 10 by 12 3/4 inches in size. There are 112 pages full of colorful maps and destinations in the world to dream about visiting. In the introduction, Pastor Louie Giglio shares how he used to dream about traveling to far off countries when he perused maps he borrowed from the classroom at school.  Indescribable Atlas Adventures would be a good first atlas for kids. It is aimed at children ages 5 to 10 but that can vary with reading and maturity levels. These easy to read maps offer basic information for over fifty countries. There is information on animals that live there, foods that grow there, cultural history and so much more. It is an interesting and fun book to look at and read--even for adults!  This book also contains some Bible verses and God-related information that make it a book aimed at Christians. It is a book I would recommend for Christian families whose children like ...

  Her Part to Play is a contemporary Christian debut novel by Jenny Erlingsson. This book features a couple growing to know each other on a movie set and around the town the movie is set in. Adanne has had her share of losses as both her parents have passed away in the last few years. Her nephew is also fighting cancer. Now she is struggling financially to continue to run a community center that her parents started. To help out her financial situation, she takes a job as a make up artist for a local movie production. There she meets actor John Pope. John is a new Christian who is trying to make changes in his life after living life in the fast lane for several years. Adanne actually met him before when he lived life in the fast lane but John doesn't remember her. Can these two work together now? I think Her Part to Play is a good first novel for this author. However, I had some trouble getting into it. That may all be on me as I wasn't prepared for a character to have a cancer...

  A bout  The Last Exchange Publisher: Thomas Nelson (June 18, 2024) Paperback: 384 pages “Here’s the catch–even if I make it out of here alive, I need a reason to breathe again.” When MacThomas Pockets finished his last tour as part of the Scottish Special Forces, he was hired to consult for a film director to finesse some scenes that weren’t working. In a twist he never saw coming, he ended up moving to L.A. to work as the bodyguard for movie star Maybe Joe Sue. It didn’t take long for Pockets to realize there were two Joe Sues: The Joe Sue the public saw with her perfect life and her Hollywood husband. And the private Joe Sue: the one with the traumatic youth that no amount of pills could cover up, who desperately wanted a child of her own. Even after their paths diverged, he continued to track Joe Sue’s life. Only a few would notice when the bottom fell out. But he did. And that’s when he stepped in. One man seeks to answer the question: How far would you go–re...

  Discover the satisfaction of becoming the man God created you to be in Fighting Shadows .  In a world that’s grown increasingly confused about–and hostile toward–the very notion of masculinity, authors Jefferson Bethke and Jon Tyson send a powerful call to men everywhere: it’s time to step into the light of Jesus’ vision for you as a man. There’s a shadow that’s settled over the hearts of men today. Masculinity is in crisis. Critiques about the dangers of toxic masculinity and the abuses of patriarchal systems have grown louder than ever. The very notions of masculinity and manhood are under attack. In response to cultural shifts, some have doubled down on old stereotypes in ways that just add to the conflict and confusion. The result? Many men simply feel paralyzed–worried about saying the wrong thing, unsure what to do with their ambitions or strengths, simultaneously tempted and shamed by a hypersexualized and pornified culture. Our models and mentors have f...

  Take a ride-along with Sergeant Mark Tappan and his amazing K9 partner Mattis, whose heroic actions will inspire you to live courageously, serve selflessly, and love passionately because every human (and dog) has a purpose in a Dog Named Mattis: Sergeant Mark Tappan shares a unique bond with his K9 partner Mattis, one of the most decorated police K9s of all time. Mark knew from the first time they interacted that Mattis was something special. As a man of deep faith, Mark also knew that God’s most profound teaching often comes through the most unexpected sources, and he soon realized that Mattis was going to teach him about loyalty, selfless service, and so much more. In  A Dog Named Mattis , Mark shares twelve life lessons he’s learned from working with Mattis. Through these first-hand accounts of bravery and service, you will learn profound lessons, like: being willing to ‘go all in’ and work with all your heart even when things are uncertain, how persistence ...

  A Dinosaur's Day: Stegosaurus Makes its Way Home by Marie Bollmann and Elizabeth Gilbert Bedia is part of a series on dinosaurs aimed at children ages 3 to 5--but I would say up to 7 or 8 years old. The book is roughly 9.75 inches square and comes with a dust jacket. It is also 32 pages long. A Dinosaur's Day both tells the story of a certain kind of dinosaur, Stegosaurus, and through the story explains to children how it spends its day. It also includes dinosaur facts about this type of dinosaur. The book is beautifully illustrated. The story is nice and not too wordy. I think the vocabulary is good. children can learn new words within the story. There are a couple of pages at the back of the book that explain what a Stegosaurus was, its size, and how to pronounce the word--as well as other dinosaur words that are used in the story. It is educational in a fun way and not overly laden with facts. A Dinosaur's Day: Stegosaurus Makes its Way Home could be a fun book to us...

God, You Are: 20 Promises from the Psalms for Kids by William R. Osborne is written by a pastor as a devotional. There are 20 short "You are" devotionals written to help children understand the character of God. Each reading starts with a Bible verse, then there is a short devotional reading, followed by a prayer. God You are Holy, My Deliverer, a Shepherd, My Shield, and Everywhere. These are just a few of the 20 topics addressed in discussing God's character in this book. There are beautiful illustrations by Brad Woodard for all of the devotions. I think this a a nice devotional that could be used for family devotions, home-school devotions, Sunday School devotions or for another similar group of children. The book is 48 pages long and is about 7.2 by 8 inches in size. It is hardcover but does not have a dust jacket. God You Are is aimed at children ages four to eight but I think it would be good for the whole family if you use it in a family setting. I received a copy...

  The Road Before Us by Janine Rosche is a tale with an interesting, diverse cast of characters on a trip down memory lane for more than one of them as they hit the road on Route 66. Jade was working as a financial advisor when she realizes her fiance and co-worker stole millions of dollars from their clients. After he goes to jail, and Jade is without a job, she agrees to go on a journey along Route 66 with her friends and former clients, Benny and Bridger as Bridger films a documentary. As they go on the trip, Benny reminisces about her first trip on her way to Hollywood with Paul, her husband who has passed away. Jade also remembers being a child on the route with her dad who kidnapped her away from her mom. All of them must face their past as they travel down the road--and also meet new people on the trip. This story grabbed me soon after I started The Road Before Us . I loved the banter and the jokes between Bridger and Jade. I enjoyed getting to know most of the characters i...

  Ivy's mother is in cancer treatment and has requested Ivy go to Alaska to find a rare copy of a Jack London manuscript that has never been published. Ivy's mother runs a bookstore that carries rare books. However when she arrives in Alaska, Ivy finds out the manuscript is gone and the granddaughter of the manuscript owner is missing along with it. Ivy is determined to find both. Soon Ivy joins forces with Alaska State Trooper Nolan Long, who she met and spent time with when she was in Alaska previously. Together Nolan and Ivy search to find the manuscript and the granddaughter--along with battling the dangerous Alaska winter. Hidden in the Night by Elizabeth Goddard is the third book in the Missing in Alaska series. In this case, I have not read the other two books in the series but it didn't stop me from enjoying this one. This book kept me guessing almost until the very end. I liked the history about Jack London included as well as a the idea that he had a hidden manus...

  You'll Always Have a Friend: What to Do When the Lonelies Come by Emily Ley is a lovely book about friendship aimed at children ages four to eight. This book measures about 9 by 13 1/2 inches and is 32 pages long. It is a good size to read aloud as a family and for kids to read alone. You'll Always Have a Frien d has good rhythm and the rhyming verse is encouraging and uplifting to children--and the adults listening. I think the illustrations by Romina Galotta are lovely and compliment the text nicely. I especially love how they are inclusive and show people of all colors and of varying abilities. I also like how this book encourages children to like themselves and to be themselves so people like them for who they are. Oh, that we would all have that encouragement and inspiration.  I have enjoyed this author's adult books in the past. This is the first children's book that I have read by her and I think it clearly reflects her lovely heart and spirit. I would love to...

Meet Me at the Starlight by Rachel Hauck is a split-time novel set in the late 1980s and the 1930s/40s. It was especially fun for me to read the 1980s story-line as that is when I was growing up. However, the whole book kept me turning pages. Harlow Hayes came to Sea Blue Beach, Florida, to heal after a bad break-up with her fiance. She has spent much of her life as a fashion model and also starred in a movie. While she is in Florida, she runs into a former co-star, Matt, who also has some healing to do after making their own mistakes. Harlow becomes involved with the star's grandmother, Tuesday, who runs the local skating rink, The Starlight, which may soon be demolished.  Part of the book focuses on Tuesday's early relationship with her husband and her sons as she ran the Starlight through the 1930s and 40s. I admired Tuesday for all she went through and how she kept the skating rink open. I also loved how she helped folks out during the Depression who needed help. She was a...