Book Review: The Sky Beneath My Feet by Lisa Simon

I have to admit that it was more determination to finish what I had started than a deep interest in this book that kept me going to the end.  The plot  seemed to meander off in all direction, and even now I’m not sure of the intent of the book!  Was it to see a rather different way of handling a tough life choice?  To share the frustrations of dealing with recalcitrant teenagers?  To take us through the struggle of living by faith?  The author put a lot of effort into detailing the frustrations felt by the main protagonist, Beth, but the ending came so abruptly it left me feeling like she had lost interest in the story, and just wanted to finish it off as quickly as possible. 

I did feel challenged myself by the way Lisa Simon handled taking Beth  outside of  her own comfort zone in relationships with others; how she came to see that people outside her own immediate circle had cares, concerns, and motives for their actions that were different from hers, but still had great merit.  Beth underwent a huge attitude change in the way she thought about those around her; all of us could benefit from a similar willingness to look below the obvious outward surface of strangers.  She moves from someone who resents the presence of a “Jesus fish” on her vehicle to someone who sees that practical Christianity in action is what is required of a true follower of Jesus Christ.

The character development in the book is well done; the reader can “see” the various people described.  If you enjoy a book of vignettes, and are not troubled by lack of a start-to-finish storyline, you will likely enjoy reading it.

This book was supplied to me free of charge by the publisher through the BookSneeze program; I was not required to write a positive review.

Bible Study Review: chase, by Jennie Allen

chase is a Bible study driven by short video sessions, but the true value is in the workbook.  Jennie Allen asks us to look at what drives us, what motivates us, and see where that differs from what God intends for us.  Based on the life of David, it  leads us to begin to chase after God as David did, developing our own “heart after God’s own heart”.  We are encouraged to face our fears, to resolve our doubts; to look at the beliefs we are holding of who God is, and what He expects of us, in light of what He tells us in His Word.

The kit includes question cards which may be used to stimulate discussion, along with a leader guide for a group presentation.  Some of the questions are very personal; the author is careful to emphasize the need for confidentiality among members of the group, as well as the need to refrain from group therapy.

I found chase to be a good tool for evaluating my own heart, seeing what is hindering my own head-long pursuit of God, so I can take steps to remove those things.  In my opinion, this study would be most useful for an individual, or for a small group where there is already a degree of trust between the participants. 

I received this study free of charge from Thomas Nelson Publishers, and was not required to write a positive review.

Book Review: The Reason by William Sirls

The Reason – a story of the impossible becoming real. Inhabitants of a small Michigan town are challenged to “only believe” as they face various obstacles: a lightning strike which destroys the cross in front of a small church, a life torn apart by a painful past, the devastation of a diagnosis of leukemia in an only child. The characters face their difficulties with varying levels of faith; at each crisis they are instructed anew to “only believe”, with the clear implication that through faith the obstacle will be overcome, will disappear.


This was an interesting read, but my skepticism grew rather than my faith, as I read it! A deer tragically dying being brought back to life? A cross shattered by lightning completely restored in minutes? As a work of fiction, the book was entertaining, but it’s necessary to bear in mind that it is fiction. It has a resemblance to The Shack, and I was bothered by both of them for much the same reasons: our God is an awesome God, able to perform miracles, able to display His power among the peoples, but He does not guarantee circumstantial happiness because of faith!

Although the author brings out several times that our difficulties may not be completely resolved until we are in heaven, the book sends a different message. Everyone gets a “happy ever after” on this earth, although some have to go through times of despair first. The implication is that if we only believe, if our faith is strong enough, God will come through for us. Let me state very strongly that I do believe God is sovereign over everything in this life. I do believe He hears His children’s prayers, and I do believe that He loves us with an unfathomable, never ending love. I have seen what seemed to be miracles in this day and age: health problems suddenly disappearing, money being provided just in time to meet a desperate need, a person’s character changing completely when they come to Christ. However, I have also seen giants of faith whose prayers have received a “no” answer: disease which is not cured, a wayward child refusing the beliefs they were taught, trials which are endured, but not eliminated.

Bottom line: don’t let this book convince you that a “no” answer is because of feeble faith!
I received this book free of charge from Thomas Nelson publishers via BookSneeze, and was not required to write a positive review.

Book Review: Running for My Life

I like to run for fun, but Lopez Lomong ran for his life! The story of his transformation from Sudanese “lost boy” to USA Olympic athlete is a moving one, marked throughout by his belief that God was for him. Kidnaped at the tender age of 6, and taken to a “camp” where boys were turned into rebel soldiers, Lopez met three “angels”, who helped him survive in the desperate situation, and took him with them during a daring escape when they literally ran for their lives for days on end.

Throughout the following 10 years in a Kenyan refugee camp, the selection process to go to America, and the huge changes that came with his adoption by an American family, Lopez’ faith in God’s provision never wavered. Time and again he testifies to God’s action in his life, giving God the glory for the choices he made at each step, from where to attend school, to the timing of his decision to turn “pro”. After becoming a US citizen in 2007, Lopez was eligible to run for the USA at the 2008 Olympics, and was elected as flagbearer by his peers. He continues to work hard to better conditions in his native Sudan, and those efforts are also detailed in the book.
This book challenged me: faced with the same dire circumstances Lopez encountered, would my faith be as simple or as strong? Even when his situation seemed to get worse instead of better, he continued to trust, and that trust was shown to be valid by his faithful God. We should aspire to that same level of belief in the God Who will meet all our needs.

I received this book free of charge from Thomas Nelson Publishers, and was not required to write a positive review.

Book Review: REDEMPTION by Bryan Clay with Joel Kilpatrick

Do you believe God is sovereign? Bryan Clay does, and his life is a testimony to that fact. In Redemption, Bryan tells of his journey from a rebellious kid who was almost always in some kind of trouble to a world-class athlete, with Olympic medals – gold and silver - in the decathlon. This was not an easy path: there were ups and downs, unexpected victories, and devastating defeats. His mother never doubted that God had an amazing plan for her son’s life; her prayers for him, and confidence that the plan would be fulfilled, were at times an irritant, and at other times a tremendous encouragement. We learn about “stones of remembrance”: remarkable events that worked together to put and keep Bryan Clay on a path he would not have chosen, and to bring him to his own personal faith in God. Included is the story of the key experience that revolutionized his life, changing him from a man with an intermittent awareness of God to whole-hearted commitment to a life lived for Him.
Redemption provides well-drawn parallels between the benefits of physical discipline, and the even greater benefits of spiritual discipline. It should inspire each and every reader to put consistent effort into using the gifts and abilities which God has given us to bring Him glory; to do what He calls and equips us to do … and leave the results to him.
I greatly enjoyed this book, and would highly recommend it – particularly to those who enjoy physical activity, and testing personal limits.
I received this book free of charge from Thomas Nelson publishers, and was not required to write a positive review.

Book Review: The Truth About Grace

The Truth About Grace is a small book, but packed with insight about the grace of God, the foundation of our very belief system. John MacArthur opens our eyes to “the free and benevolent influence of a holy God operating sovereignly in the lives of undeserving sinners”, as he uses hundreds of verses to thrill us with the richness of that grace. The author also explains how human misunderstanding or twisting of that grace has led to some of the greatest errors in theology and church conflicts.
The depth of knowledge packed into a few short pages is tremendous; the reader is reminded of his/her own sinfulness, but the goal is victory, not defeat. It is as we come to the reality that God gives grace in each and every situation, we are encouraged to submit to His authority, and claim that grace to face each and every circumstance in our lives – to cooperate with the transforming work of the God who has begun, and will complete, His work in our lives.
The Truth About Grace is not an “easy” read, but the truths it reveals are more than worth the time and effort. Take your time, take it in, live it out!


I received this book free of charge from Thomas Nelson Publishers via the Book Sneeze program, and was not required to write a positive review.

Book Review: Simply Grilling by Jennifer Chandler

If you limit your backyard cooking to burgers and steaks, Simply Grilling by chef Jennifer Chandler will give you plenty of new ideas! Included are a number of recipes for chicken, pork, beef and fish on the grill, but that is only the beginning. Appetizers, veggies, salads, sandwiches, even desserts are also prepared on the barbeque, with a variety of flavours to suit any taste. The author also includes a number of basic information to help the amateur become confident, from tool selection to heat selection, grilling times and “dressing up” with marinades and rubs.

I can’t claim to have tried every recipe in the book, and some are too exotic for my family's taste, but those I have prepared are delicious. A number of dishes require a special grocery list, but it was interesting to read about the origins and uses of some of the rarer ingredients. There are quite a few dishes prepared using only staples which are on hand in many kitchens: much easier for the last minute decision on what to have for dinner. The instructions are clear and easy to follow; the cooking tips provided extra information on how to avoid common problems when cooking on a barbeque, as well as suggestions for substitutions for some of the ingredients. I greatly appreciated the tips on what can be “done ahead” to make final preparation a cinch. Grab simply grilling, fire up your grill, and prepare a hot and tasty meal without turning on the oven.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson publishers through the Book Sneeze program, and was not required to write a positive review.