The Scroll by Grant R. Jeffrey and Alton L. Gansky

Genre- Fiction/Suspense

Published by- WaterBrook Multnomah

Copyrighted- 2011

Number of pages- 342

Age Group- Adult

Description of book- paperback, list price $16.99, ISBN 978-0-307-72926-2

Here is a link to an excerpt.

Dr. David Chambers no longer wants to be a biblical archeologist, so he becomes a professor.

Abram Ben-Judah, an old mentor, asks him to come back to Israel to help him find the treasures written about in the Copper Scroll.  David feels he has no choice but to go.

Will this help renew his desire to be a biblical archeologist, his faith in God, and his former fiancée?

About the authors-

Grant R. Jeffrey lives in Toronto with his wife, Kaye.  He has written more than two dozen books and is a respected teacher of biblical archeology and prophecy/eschatology.

Alton L. Gansky lives in California with his wife.  He has been involved in more than 30 novels with nine nonfiction. 

My thoughts- I like reading suspense and Christian based books.  This book didn’t live up to either of those for me.  There was suspense here and there, but there wasn’t as much as I thought there was going to be based on the cover of the book.  Most of the high suspense didn’t happen until the last quarter of the book.

I know Dr. Chambers used to believe more in God, so I thought there would be more from the other characters to lead him back to God.  I was glad to see that by the end of the book that he does come back to God and become a better man.

I had a hard time putting this book down, so I recommend The Scroll.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received The Scroll by Grant R. Jeffrey and Alton L. Gansky for free from the WaterBrook Multnomah “Blogging For Books” 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.

Why Church Matters by Joshua Harris

Genre- Christian Living/Spiritual Growth

Why Church Matters: Discovering Your Place in the Family of God by Joshua Harris

Published by- WaterBrook Multnomah

Copyrighted- 2004, 2011

Number of pages- 140

Age Group- Adult

Description of book- paperback, list price $13.99, ISBN 978-1-60142-384-9

Church is an important place for Christians, to help us grow and use our gifts.  In this book Joshua Harris shows us how to find the right church and how to worship when we are in church.

This book includes:

• How to get the most from the our day of worship
• Ten questions to ask when choosing a church
• Why we need a local church

About the author-  Joshua Harris has written books on dating, marriage and other topics.  He is a senior pastor in Maryland at Covenant Life where he lives with his wife and children.

My thoughts- I have read several of Joshua Harris’s books before and enjoyed them, so I was eager to read this one as well.

This is such a short book that it doesn’t take very long to read.  I enjoyed reading Chapter Five, “Choosing Your Church.”  We shouldn’t be going from church to church each week and this chapter lists and explains ten questions we can ask to help us choose the best church for us.

The problem I had was in Chapter Six, “Rescuing Sunday.”  Right away in this chapter Joshua Harris mentions that he thinks Christians need not keep the Old Testament Laws about the Sabbath.  I thought we were supposed to keep all ten commandments.  Does this mean that we shouldn’t follow the other nine commandments?  I sincerely hope not.  Our world would not be the same.

I would recommend this book as a guide for picking a church, but beyond that I would keep what you know about the Bible and believe in mind as you read this book.   

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Why Church Matters by Joshua Harris for free from the WaterBrook Multnomah “Blogging For Books” 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.

The Voice New Testament: Step into the Story of Scripture

Genre- Bible/Other Translation/Study

The Voice New Testament by Ecclesia Bible Society

Published by- Thomas Nelson

Copyrighted- 2011

Number of pages- 413

Age Group- For those who can read

Description of Book- paperback, list price $6.99, ISBN 978-1-4185-5076-9

The Voice is a result of 27 Bible scholars, 51 writers and 36 other contributors getting together to bring us a work of literature.  This version has song, poetry, truth and wisdom to bring you to God with your whole being.

Included is:

• Four different reading plans for Advent, Lent and Ester, in 24 weeks, and daily readings for personal growth
• Notes with a topical index
• Screenplay format to identify speaker and dialogue

and more.

My Thoughts- I was very excited to receive this book.  It is important to me to try different versions of the Bible, so I can find the version that helps me learn and understand the most.  And I believe I have found a version that I am proud to have on my bookshelf and to share with others when they ask me for a good version of the Bible.

What makes this version so good is the use of today’s language, identification of who is speaking, and extra information which gives the reader more.  This Bible is one that I can sit down with and read without becoming disinterested.

Sometimes I feel this version reads too much like a novel, but then as I read on I am awed and inspired and I want to continue reading.

I highly recommend this Bible for everyone.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received The Voice New Testament by Ecclesia Bible Society for free from the publisher through the BookSneeze 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.

Diviner by Bryan Davis

Genre- Christian Fantasy

Diviner by Brian Davis

Series- Dragons of Starlight, Book 3

Published by- Zondervan

Copyrighted- 2011

Number of pages- 427

Age Group- Young Adult, 13-16

Description of book- softcover, list price $9.99, ISBN: 978-0-310-7183-3

The suspense is growing as Koren, the latest Starlighter, decides to decides to use the Exodus star to help her people and become free from the dragon king, Taushin.  Will Koren become free from Taushin and help her people or will she jeopardize all the humans on Starlight?

Jason and Elyssa are learning more about Taushin’s plans and how the humans might need to have an alliance with the other dragons to be saved.  Elyssa learns that her diviner powers are linked with the Exodus star.  Will they be able join with the dragons to save the humans or will the dragons stick together?     

Please go here to see my review of Starlight, the first book in the series.

Please go here to see my review of Starlighter, the second book in the series.

About the author- Bryan Davis lives in western Tennessee where he lives with his wife and seven children.  He has written the series, Dragons in Our Midst, Oracles of Fire, and Echoes from the Edge.

 

My thoughts- This has been by far the best book in the series.  The only negative which I can find (which is a really big one), is that a day after I finished the book I couldn’t remember what I had read and I don’t have much of a desire to read it again.  It is really too bad, because I really did enjoy reading and learning about how Koren, Elyssa, Jason and the dragons worked together to work against the dragon, King Taushin, and other dragons.

 

I do wonder if there is going to be another book, this one ended with loose ends.  I want to learn what happens between Koren and King Taushin, Elyssa and Jason, and the dragons in the humans world.

 

I recommend this book, because it is the next one in the series and it is good as it is being read.

 

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Diviner by Bryan Davis for free from Zondervan.  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.  All links were current when posted.

Culture Shift by R. Albert Mohler JR.

Genre- Christian Living/Practical Life/Contemporary Issues

Culture Shift: The Battle for the Moral Heart of America by R. Albert Mohler JR

Published by- WaterBrook Multnomah

Copyrighted- 2008, 2011

Number of pages- 185

Age Group- Adult

Description of book- paperback, list price $12.99, ISBN 978-1-60142-381-8

In this revised and expanded edition Dr. Mohler shows us how our world is changing culturally. 

He talks about:

• politics
• terrorism
• education
• dishonesty
• abortion
• technology
• atheism

and more with clarity and passion by using the Bible and other sources.

This book will help the reader understand how our culture is transforming into faithlessness, increased immorality, and rejection of the absolute truth.  

About the author- Dr. R Albert Mohler JR. writes regularly on AlbertMohler.com and is the president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.  He has been quoted in many newspapers and has been on different news shows.  He lives in Kentucky with his wife and children.

My thoughts- Once I got passed the first five chapters on politics (not something I’m into), this book was very interesting.

Chapter ten was the best chapter.  Being called, “Are We Raising a Nation of Wimps?” this chapter was all about how parents are over protecting their children.  As a parent, I can see how easy it would be to constantly protect children, but I know that I need to trust my children to God and let their lives progress with me looking on.

The chapter on dishonesty was eye opening.  It has become so easy for us as a society to lie outright or stretch the truth.  It reminds me of the father in the Swiss Family Robinson who talked about telling the truth even when joking.  I am making sure we use that philosophy in our lives.

All in all I would recommend this book.  It has a little bit of everything for everyone from politics to education to technologies.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Culture Shift by R. Albert Mohler JR for free from the WaterBrook Multnomah “Blogging For Books” 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.

Warrior by Bryan Davis

Genre- Christian Fantasy

Warrior by  Brian Davis

Series- Dragons of Starlight, Book 2

Published by- Zondervan

Copyrighted- 2011

Number of pages- 432

Age Group- Young Adult, 13-16

Description of book- softcover, list price $9.99, ISBN: 978-0-310-71837-6

The new dragon prince, Taushin, has hatched and he is busy trying to get Koren away from Jason, because Taushin needs her starlighter abilities.  Jason and Koren are on their way to the Northlands to try to find the one who can help them to free the slaves.  Elyssa and Wallace are trying to get to Jason to help him. 

Is Taushin going to succeed in taking Koren away from Jason?  Are Elyssa and Wallace ever going to find Jason and Koren?  Are the human slaves ever going to be free from the dragons?  Read on to find out.

Please go here to see my review of Starlight, the first book in the series.

About the author- Bryan Davis lives in western Tennessee where he lives with his wife and seven children. He has written the series, Dragons in Our Midst, Oracles of Fire, and Echoes from the Edge.

My thoughts- This book was a bit hard to get into as I didn’t remember the first book very well.  So, I recommend to read the first book shortly before you read this one. 

 

In this book Jason and Elyssa’s characters were developed and I was excited to see how strong and dedicated they were to helping the humans in the dragon’s world.  I enjoyed learning more about the dragons.  Arxad was a very kind dragon, which I was not expecting for a world where the dragons have slaves.

 

I would recommend this book.  And I can’t wait to read the next book, Diviner.  I want to know what happens to the humans; Jason, Koren, Elyssa and the dragons; Arxad, Taushin, and Magnar.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received Warrior by Bryan Davis for free from Zondervan. 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. All links were current when posted.

Sherman: The Ruthless Victor by Agostino Von Hassell and Ed Breslin

Genre- History/Military/General

Sherman: The Ruthless Victor by Agostino Von Hassell and Ed Breslin

Published by- Thomas Nelson

Copyrighted- 2011

Number of pages- 169

Age Group- Adult and upper high school

Description of Book- hardback, list price $19.99, ISBN 978-1-5955-5133-7

Are you interested in learning about William Tecumseh Sherman, but you aren’t a big Civil War history buff?  Then you should read this book. 

This book is easy reading and is filled with details of his life from his birth to around the end of the Civil War. 

You will learn:

• How much General Grant stuck up for him.
• How his wife didn’t want to move around the country.
• How Sherman was always focused on the mission at hand.
• How he was always destined for military work and not civilian work.

About the Authors-

Agostino Von Hassell has lived in the United States going to Columbia University and Columbia Journalism School.  He is currently the president of The Repton Group LLC.  He is an expert in national security, terrorism issues and problems in global trade.

Ed Breslin lives in New York and is a writer.

My Thoughts- What I have learned previously about Sherman came from textbooks when I was in primary and secondary school.  I was pleased with everything I learned from Sherman’s youth as a foster child through his “March to the Sea.”  After the separation of his family after his father’s death, I was unsure how he was going to fare, but he had a great foster family and was well educated.

Sherman wasn’t a religious person, which didn’t work well for his wife.  She was still able to go to church, but in this she was never able to get him to become a Catholic, as she was.  He did go to an Episcopal church for a while.

My favorite parts of this book were the pictures and the maps.  I always enjoy seeing the subject and the paths they take.

I highly recommend this book.  It would be great for homeschooling families.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Sherman: The Ruthless Victor by Agostino Von Hassell and Ed Breslin for free from the publisher through the BookSneeze 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.