Thursday, September 20, 2012

Unstoppable:Preview

I just got the book Unstoppable by Nick Vujicic and I am super excited to read it! My review will come soon, but I wanted to show you where to read chapter one for free and a short clip about the book.

You might be discouraged right now, but this man gives me hope.

Review coming soon. Book will be out October 2, 2012!

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Summer Chick Lit

I don't know what it is, but occasionally, I cannot get enough of reading! It has been like that for the past few weeks. Even though I have mountains of unread books at home, I can't help browsing the libraries around town in hopes of a good read. In one such adventure, I came across Kate Klise's In the Bag


A story of two single parents and their teenagers traveling in Europe and their interactions with each other. Interesting enough story line, I guess. Very simple chick lit, but I liked the setting of the book and she wrote it from four different perspectives, switching people each chapter. 

Heart of the Matter was not as good as Giffin's other books, but I have to say I like her style of writing. She writes in first person and like Klise, switches perspectives with every new chapter. I like that Giffin is not afraid to write about real life: the good, the bad, and the ugly. She has approached subjects, such as not wanting to have kids in today's culture and how we view such couples, martial affairs, adoption, single parenthood. Given that, her books do have sexual content and language (one reason I prefer young adult fiction to adult fiction). But I really do like her books for the most part. Her earlier books were better, possibly because her style was so refreshing. These two books by Giffin I recently read felt a little long. 


I really like that in both of these books, Giffin makes connections from her previous books. Some of the major characters from previous works are secondary characters in these books. It was fun to recognize them! 

Where We Belong just came out at the end of July. I finished it last night. One of my favorite characters was the main character's dad, Jim. Maybe it was something about the way she wrote about Marian and Jim's interactions that remind me of my own dad. He is just a very likable man. Anyway, yea for summer chick lit. 

Saturday, September 1, 2012

When Bad Christians Happen to Good People


I really appreciated Dave Burchett's authenticity throughout the book. I could relate to him on so many levels as being the one wounded by other Christians as well as inflicting pain. He was honest and shared personal examples from his own life.

My favorite chapter was Chapter 15: Blindsided by God -- Never Saw it Comin'.

Burchett divided the book into three parts:
 1. Silencing the Lambs: The Indefensible Things We Do to One Another
 2. Why Won't Those Heathens Listen? Thoughts on How We Lost Our Audience
 3. Reality-Based Faith for Survivors: Being Real in an Artificial World

Having had a few conversations with friends lately, I have realized what a huge problem other Christians can present in blocking others to God's grace. It saddens me to see once-strong Christians bitter about the Church.

"Relationships exclusively outside the faith might not be the best for your spiritual health. But believe me, relationships exclusively within the faith will put you in violation of the Great Commission (Matthew 28.18-20)" (56).

"I have never... caught a fish without going to the water where the fish were located.... [Y]ou cannot fish for people without going to where they are located. But understand that sometimes they will be in polluted water" (125).

"If you are tired enough, discouraged enough, and wounded enough, maybe you are not ready to scream, 'I can't do this anymore!' And if you are, then I have good news: you are ready for grace" (211).

I could keep adding my favorite quotes, but I'll just let you read the book... and I highly recommend that you do.