Duplicate This!: Showing Your Friends How to Live Like Jesus by Andy Braner

Genre- JUVENILE/NONFICTION / Religion / Christianity / Christian Living

Series- Invert

Published by- Zondervan

Copyrighted- 2008

Number of pages- 272

Age Group- Older Juvenile and Young Adult

Description of book- paperback, list price $12.99, ISBN: 978-0-310-27754-5

Jesus wants us to make disciples of others.  Duplicate This! shows the reader the basics of discipleship and how to make a disciple.

There are many spiritual questions your friends may have and this book will help you be ready.  Some of the topics in the book are:

• What are the requirements for being a disciple?
• Can males and females disciple each other
• Do prayers work?
• Do we have to go to church?

Sample from the Book!

About the author- Andy Braner speaks at camps and conferences for kids all over the world and is the director of Kanakuk Colorado Kamp

My thoughts- Andy Braner did a great job of combining his stories and life with the knowledge of how to disciple to and with others.  One of the best points that he made was to basically not rant and rave Christianity at the person you are discipling to, it is better to walk the walk.

I enjoyed the chapters on prayer, finding an accountability partner, how to love others as yourself, and needing good Bible studies.  I didn’t agree with his way of giving tithes and his chapter on the Bible was too radical for me.  I think the Bible is something important to learn from and we can really use it in today’s world.

I do think this book has important ideas about discipling that everyone needs to know.  I recommend this book, because it conveys the ideas well, so check out this book and others in the Invert series.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Duplicate This! by Andy Braner 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.

The Radical Question/A Radical Idea by David Platt

Genre- Christian Living

Published by- WaterBrook Multnomah

Copyrighted- 2012

Number of pages- 126

Age Group- Adult

Description of book- hardback, list price $9.99, ISBN 978-1-60142-489-1

There are two books in one this book. 

The Radical Question  is an introduction to the challenge set forth by David Platt, “What is Jesus worth to you?”

Radical Idea is an introduction to Radical Together, which shows readers that the church is for people not performances or professionals.

Excerpt from this book.

Website for the Book

About the author- David Platt currently lives in Birmingham with his wife and their children.  He is the pastor of the Church at Brook Hills.  He is the author of Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream and Radical Together: Unleashing the People of God for the Purpose of God.

My thoughts- I have read some of David Platt’s work and I was excited to be able to read this book.  I was disappointed though, because $9.99 is an awful lot of money to pay for a snippet of Radical and Radical Together.  On the other hand, there is just enough written that I wanted to read more.  I wanted to read the whole books.

I learned a lot about how David Platt thinks about how we should minister as Jesus did and how our churches should be for the people and not the weekly performances or worship bands.

I just wish that these two books in one, had been the two whole books (including a workbook).

This book really wasn’t for me as it left me wanting the complete versions and the price is so high.  It might be the right book for you.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received The Radical Question/A Radical Idea by David Platt 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.

Call of a Coward: The God of Moses and the Middle-Class Housewife by Marcia Moston

Genre- RELIGION/Christian Life/Spiritual Growth

Published by- Thomas Nelson

Copyrighted- 2012

Number of pages- 184

Age Group- Adult

Description of Book- paperback, list price $15.99, ISBN 978-0-8499-4730-8

Marcia Moston never wanted to go on a foreign mission.  Her husband wanted to go to Guatemala.  She fought against the trip, but she knew that God was leading them and would be there for them.

They lived in a Mayan village and later they went on a mission trip to Vermont.  Marcia Moston learned that God is the same today as he was in the times of Jonah, Gideon, and David- persistent.

Call of a Coward is both humorous and thought-provoking and will show you how God is always with us and how our attitudes can change.

Author- Marcia Moston currently lives in South Carolina with her husband.  They have five grown children.  She is a winner of the 2010 Women of Faith Writing Contest.

My Thoughts- I have often thought about what life would be like if our family were missionaries.  Marcia Moston has helped me see what life as a reluctant missionary is like.  It may be difficult, but as time goes by life gets better.

I enjoyed the detail and how much God was truly involved in the Mostons’ life.  My younger sister went on a trip to Guatemala and to some of the places the Mostons went.  It was neat seeing these places through the eyes of different people.

One thing I would really would have liked to know about in this book are the years they spent in Guatemala and Vermont.

I really enjoyed reading this book.  I feel as if I have the knowledge necessary to be a missionary whether it be in another country or in the United States.  Please find a copy today.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Call of a Coward by Marcia Moston 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.

The Blue Door by Christa Kinde

Genre- Juvenile Fiction/General

Series- Threshold Series

Published by- Zondervan

Copyrighted- 2012

Number of pages- 272

Age Group- 11 and up

Description of book- hardback, list price $14.99, ISBN: 978-0-310-72419-3

Fourteen-year-old Prissie is prepared for a hot, boring summer, since her friend lives far away and her brothers are always rowdy.  She is looking forward to going to the mailbox daily, where she can visit with the mailman, her friend, Milo.

One day she sees a young boy watching her as she is on the way to the mailbox.  She doesn’t know he is an angel (she’s not supposed to be able to see him). 

By being able to see Koki, she soon learns of the other angels in town.  There is a spiritual battle beginning and she will have a part in it, only she and the angels don’t know what it is.

Excerpt from the Book!

About the author- Christa Kinde currently lives in California with her family.  She has written fifteen volumes in the Women of Faith study guide series  She has also written study guides and workbooks for authors such as Max Lucado.  Her website is www.christakinde.wordpress.com. 

My thoughts- I don’t know a lot about angels and all the different kinds there are, but this book was tastefully written.  I have read several books recently about humans and angels, and they included romance and high infatuation, so this again was tastefully written.

I’m glad I started this book early in the day, because it was hard to put down.  And towards the end of the book I wanted to keep reading to learn why Prissie can see the angels and what purpose she will serve.

The only part about this book I didn’t like was the infatuation Prissie had with Milo.  I don’t think middle-grade readers need to read about characters who have feelings for older men.

I enjoyed this book and I’m sure young women will as well.  I’m looking forward to the next book in the series. 

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received The Blue Door by Christa Kinde for free from DJC Communications.  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.

Perfectly Unique: Praising God from Head to Foot By Annie F. Downs

Genre- Juvenile Fiction/Religious/Christian/General

Published by- Zondervan

Copyrighted- 2012

Number of pages- 240

Age Group- 13 to 18

Description of book- paperback, list price $9.99, ISBN: 978-0-310-7234-6

 

 

Are you confident with your body or are you, as many of us are, struggling with the way God made you? 

Annie F. Downs has written this book using many personal anecdotes and the experiences of friends and family.  She has taken important parts of our bodies, like eyes, ears, and knees and puts them each in their own chapter.  After a thorough discussion each chapter ends with questions, Bible verses to read, and ideas and activities to make the discussion concrete in your mind.

Excerpt from the Book!

About the author- Annie F. Downs currently lives in Tennessee and is a blogger, speaker, teacher, and writer.  She enjoys writing books for young women in high school and college.  She is on Facebook and www.AnnieBlogs.com.

 

 

 

 

My thoughts- I took a lot of notes while reading this book, because there was a lot of information which I wanted to remember.

I thought Annie F. Downs had a good idea when she described different ways to make a unique me from my head all the way down to my feet.  I never would have given much thought to thinking of what my shoulders and knees can do for God.  I also enjoyed all the personal stories.  They are written so well that young women, 13 to 18, will relate to them and understand how to be happy with what God has given them.

I loved the recipes and extras in the appendix.  The “truth and lie” cards will help all to know the truth.  This is a book I would have liked to read when I was a young woman and I will pass it on to my daughter when she is 13.  Please pick up one today.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Perfectly Unique by Annie F. Downs for free from DJC Communications. 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.

Whatever: A 90-day Devotional for Livin’ the True, Noble, and Totally Excellent Life! By Allia Zobel Nolan

Genre- Juvenile Nonfiction/Religious/Christian/Devotional & Prayer

Series- FaithGirlz!

Published by- Zondervan

Copyrighted- 2012

Number of pages- 304

Age Group- 9 and up

Description of book- paperback, list price $6.99, ISBN: 978-0-310-72534-3

Do you use the word, “whatever,” a lot in a negative way?  This devotional and Philippians 4:8-13 will help change the way you think of “whatever.”  These ninety devotionals will help you grow in truth, nobleness, righteousness, purity, loveliness, and what is admirable with God.

You will learn how to deal with avoiding gossip, changing your thoughts, use of alcohol, having a humble heart, and making the best friends.

About the author- Allia Zobel Nolan currently lives with her husband in Connecticut.  She is an author of over 130 children’s books and nine adult books.  She is the recipient of the 2005 Mom’s Choice Award for the Most Outstanding Children’s Book for Preschoolers.  Her website is www.alliawrites.com.

 

 

My thoughts- This book is an addition to the FaithGirlz! collection of books.  Philippians 4:8-13 is a great group of verses to use to develop a 90-day devotional for tweens.  Tweens are at an impressionable age and this devotional can help guide them on the right course as they grow.  As an older reader I even took a lot of good nuggets of information to help me with my growth with God.  My tween children enjoyed the devotions I read to them. 

There were just a couple of things that I think would help improve the book- get rid of the slang and add an introduction.  I don’t like the use of slang, because the words change throughout the years and it talks down to the reader’s intelligence.  I think an introduction would help tie the book together and could explain each of the sections.

I would recommend this book if you are looking for a good devotional for the tween girl in your life.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Whatever by Allia Zobel Nolan for free from DJC Communications. 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.

Dead Man’s Hand by Eddie Jones

Genre- Juvenile Fiction/Action & Adventure/General

Series- The Caden Chronicles (Book 2)

Published by- Zondervan

Copyrighted- 2012

Number of pages- 224

Age Group- 9 and up

Description of book- paperback, list price $7.99, ISBN: 978-0-310-72344-8

Fourteen-year-old Nick Caden and his family are on a vacation at the Deadwood Canyon Ghost Town.  This town is more than empty buildings, it is also where actors put on a daily show, and a murder has occurred.  Nick saw the body, but nobody believes him.

Nick is a part of an organization that uses a computer program based on TV programs to solve real-life crimes.  He pursues his suspects with the help of the computer program and a young lady named Annie.

Will they be able to solve the murder or was there no murder?

Excerpt from the Book!

About the author- Eddie Jones lives in Raleigh, North Carolina.  He has written nine book and 100 articles.  His novel, The Curse of Captain LaFoote, won the 2011 Selah Award in young adult fiction.

My thoughts- It is difficult to find good quality books for young men to read and this book was great.  Nick Caden is a typical teen and I think he will appeal to many teens and tweens.

I couldn’t put this book down.  I’m glad I started after everyone had gone to bed.  I wanted to know if there really was a murder or if it was just the theatrics of the Deadwood Canyon Ghost Town.

I thought that the reaction Nick’s Mom had to the Bible was interesting.  She had such a strong opinion about how the Bible causes people not to be able to think for themselves or that it can be proven.  Nick wanted to be able to believe the verses he read, but I don’t know what he thought after his mom gives her opinion.

As this book is part of a series I look forward to learning more about their views on religion and solving more mysteries.  I think you will like this book and series as I have.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Dead Man’s Hand by Eddie Jones for free from DJC Communications. 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.