What is your window?

5 STARS

REVIEW: Discover Your Windows: Lining Up With God's Vision by Kent R. Hunter

I read this book as part of a clergy group, and loved it! 

Kent is bold in his proclamation! He spoke the hard truth about churches needing to look at themselves through the right windows: Biblical windows (not world windows).

He explores the themes of:

1. Purpose
2. Comfort
3. Image
4. Priorities
5. Stewardship
6. Financing
7. Change
8. Leadership
9. Teamwork
10. Attitude

Highly recommend!

Bold strategies, although not clear

3 STARS

REVIEW: RISE: Bold strategies is to transform your church by Cally Parkinson

Through studies, data, and consultations with 2,000 diverse churches over the years, this book seeks to provide a framework that clarifies and identifies eight unique church cultures and patterns. The author believes that each church fits into one of the eight categories.

The book’s study findings are impressive, have been well documented, and the author put the information together in the comprehensible and readable way. The “paths” at the end of the book detailing how to move one’s church toward a healthy and vibrant church were appreciated. However, the book did not make it clear how to determine which of the eight archetypes one's church currently fits. The book would have been more helpful and usable if it contained a short questionnaire/quiz for churches to complete in order to figure out in which archetype they fit. For this reason, I found the book not as beneficial as it could have been.

*Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of these books for my unbiased review.

Wanted to love, but …

2 STARS

REVIEW: FLASH: The Homeless Donkey Who Taught me About Life, Faith, and Second Chances by Rachel Anne Ridge

I fell in love with the cover of the book. Flash. He is adorable. And as an animal lover, I wanted to love the book…but unfortunately found the writing didn’t hold my interest. In each chapter, I felt as if I kept waiting for the author to get to the point. The stories just seemed too drawn out for me. Maybe that just means I need more patience like the author had for her adopted donkey!

The book is based on a real-life story, which is sweet and endearing in itself. The donkey has taught the author much about life and faith, but unfortunately I wanted to hear about those profound lessons in an easier way. Guess I am stubborn, maybe a little like Flash the donkey himself.

But, even though the book wasn’t for me, I passed it along to a friend who owns a donkey. I think she will enjoy it, and am looking forward to her review.

One thing I did enjoy on the author’s website is adorable, printable inspiration featuring Flash’s ears - http://rachelanneridge.com/inspiration/. Now this is inspiring!

*Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of these books for my unbiased review.

Go ahead and give it a try if you want

3 stars

Go Ahead & Like It by Jacqueline Suskin

What do you like in life?

For what are you grateful?

Have you ever made lists of the things you like?

That is just what author Jacqueline Suskin encourages readers to do in her new book Go Ahead & Like It.

Suskin believes making these lists is a celebration of the sacred, and that the lists become our appreciation guides of life. Sometimes we just don't have enough appreciation for what is around us and what God has given us. This book is a reminder of that.

The book is full of artwork and lists Suskin herfelf has made over the years in hopes that it will help prompt readers to make their own lists. I wish the book had blank journaling pages for my own lists, but there is only one page for readers to do that. The simple addition of blank pages would have made the book more useful and a wonderful keepsake. But, if you need inspiration to help you be more grateful in your life, go ahead and give it a try if you want. Hopefully you will like it.

One of my lists after reading the book:

I like ...

• The smell of rain
• Cool breezes
• Seeing my dog’s nose twitching when she catches the scent of something that intrigues her
• My pillow. Ahh, my pillow!
• Art

For more information on the author, visit http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/305888/jacqueline-suskin/

To see an excerpt, visit http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/252022/go-ahead-and-like-it-by-jacqueline-suskin/

*I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this unbiased review.

Love knows no borders: Heading to Colombia

As a Christian, I believe churches have a priority of sending people out. Jesus Christ gave us the mission of making disciples for Him for the transformation of the world. Thus, we are to seek Kingdom expansion! Every church has a responsibility to spread the Gospel beyond its own four walls, and we are to constantly be looking outward—whether locally or to the remotest edges of the world.  We are to proclaim the Word of God in truth and love.

As a people on mission for Jesus Christ, we share the passions of God’s heart for one another, for our nation, and for the nations of the earth. Therefore, my husband and I will be partnering with God to be world changers by being a part of a team that will be planting two churches in very unchurched areas in Colombia during an 11-day mission trip in October.

We want to reach as many people as we can with the love of God. We are invited to be the catalyst to get a movement started in Colombia.

First, we desperately need your prayer.  We believe revival begins with prayer. Your prayers will be the fuel that will allow us to be successful as we follow God’s leading in our ministry in Colombia. With your prayer support, great things can happen.

Second, as you can imagine, a trip like this requires financial support. It will cost about $6,000 for both my husband and I to go (with those funds also going to help build the foundation of the church plants, water purifiers for the communities, supplies for the church plants’ ministry and more). So you are not only supporting us, but the church plants as well. We are digging into our savings as we are committed to being obedient to what God is calling and leading us to do in participating in His worldwide mission. But we still need your help. If you would like to give, please let us know.

… And since this is a book blog, I couldn’t go without mentioning the “Mission Journal” by Ellie Claire that I just picked up to take on the trip. It is full of blank pages for me to fill out while on the risk-taking mission trip, and also includes inspiring Scripture and quotes. At the bottom of each page it asks: “What is God teaching me?” and “How is God changing me.” I can’t even begin to imagine the answers to those questions, but know it will be profound.

Blessings!