Monday, November 28, 2011

Adrift by Steven Callahan

Great book. I love sailing and being on the water and identified with his love. The difference is he set out to sail always! I felt like I was set adrift with Steven Callahan! Find out how Callahan survives, his fears, and if he ever returns to sailing. For those that like inventions, Callahan gives detailed descriptions of how he makes items that help him survive. But they are set in the story in such a way that, if you are only reading for the adventure, the details are easy to skip. Although you may not want to and learn something in the process... never know when you'll need to survive!

Son of Hamas

Son of Hamas is a gripping account of terror, betrayal, political intrigue, and unthinkable choices. Anyone who is interested in or studying Islam or the Middle East and it's conflicts should read Mosab Hassan Yousef's real-life account.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Dug Down Deep

I thought this book was great. It describes doctrine in an understandable way. In fact, you wouldn't even know you were reading about all the different doctrines except he tells you. The examples he gives are down to earth and make sense. There's humor as well as humility in the writing. I like that in the end he gives statements of I am wrong but its through faith in Jesus I can be made right before God. I appreciate the message he's getting out in this book. We need to know what it is God wants from us and how else can we do that except to study His word. We need to build a solid foundation and this book helps to understand that. I recommend this book highly.
I received this book free from blogging for books in exchange for my review.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Z for Zachariah

Supposedly ‘middle school’ fiction, the librarian highly recommends this for anyone.  Ann Burden survives for a year alone after a nuclear war destroys the world … until a stranger comes along.  Face the challenges and decisions Ann makes as this new person enters her small world.  Danger, intrigue, suspense!  And then there's the question always present ... what would you have done in Ann's situation?

Thursday, November 3, 2011

When Helping Hurts


Review by Brynna Hughes:

I have recently read the book “When Helping Hurts” by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert.  “When Helping Hurts” is all about how to alleviate poverty without hurting yourself or others.  Simply giving food to homeless people or giving the poor money will not alleviate poverty, often times the people will end up worse than how they began.  Most Americans believe that by giving material things to those in poverty they can solve their problems, but Steve and Brian disagree.  They believe that by giving the people things, we can do more harm than good.  They suggest lack of food, money, and shelter is only the surface of the real problem.  The real problem lies behind all of that in how the community is run, and their relationship with others.  The real way to alleviate poverty is to help the people rather than give them everything, work alongside them and establish a relationship with them; do the work with them rather than for them. This book truly challenged me to contemplate how I do ministry and to take a step back and see the big picture of poverty.  The love that Steve and Brian have for those in poverty became very apparent as I read this book.  He uses lots of good examples that certainly help to establish his point and make it easier to understand. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has a heart for ministry and missions.  I guarantee this book will change your view on poverty as you read it, it sure did mine.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Invasion by Jon S. Lewis

Invasion is the first book in a science fiction trilogy. Colt is taken on a wild ride finding out things he never believed actually existed. He is a big fan of comic books and never in his wildest dreams did he think that those comic books were based on real events. Not only that, but his own Grandpa is the hero depicted in these comics. Colt and his friends, Danielle and Oz, must fight the evil aliens that are trying to invade Earth and take it over for themselves. I thought this book was full of well done action and I enjoyed the creativity of the science fiction technology and aliens. This is good YA fiction and I look forward to continuing on in the trilogy.
I received this book free from booksneeze.com in exchange for my review.