Unashamed

Christine Caine's newest book, Unashamed, is truly a masterpiece.  It is like a beautifully woven tapestry combining experiences from her life with teachings from Scripture that give the reader true insight into the Word and into themselves.  I believe it would be impossible for anyone to read this book and walk away from it without feeling encouraged and emboldened in who they are in Christ.  The reality is that we all have suffered under shame and most, if not all, carry its effects with us daily.  We must know what our Father in heaven says about us.  We must know that Jesus died to release us from the burden of shame.  It is when we walk in these truths that we are free.  And whom Christ has set free is free indeed. 

I cannot emphasize enough that you should get a copy of this book.  It will truly change your life.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review of it.

Guys Slimline Bible NLT

Tyndale Publishers has released this Bible for young men and it is outstanding! My 12 year-old son has taken ownership of this Bible and he loves everything about it! The colors are bold and bright and he loves the maps.  It is a New Living Translation text that I have found to be easy to understand for both of us.  The Bible is slim and fits easily into his backpack.  My son appreciates the fact that it isn't heavy.

The Guys Slimline Bible is great for guys of any age!

Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review of it.

Blessed, Blessed... Blessed

The Robertson family quickly found itself a household name with Duck Dynasty.  But more than that, I think america fell in love with them for the honesty, kindness, compassion, and love they show each other and those around them.  Blessed, Blessed... Blessed by Missy Robertson is just another exhibition of these great qualities that have made her and her family an American treasure.  Missy's candid story is full of grace and encouragement for parents.  It's also educational and full of tips and advice for moms and dads who are or may find themselves in a similar situation with a child facing cleft lip and palate challenges.  I really enjoyed this sweet book and my admiration and respect for Missy and Jase has only deepened.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Daily Wisdom: 3-Minute Devotions for Women

Daily Wisdom is a delightful book that I believe many women will find enjoyable and enlightening. It is a quick daily read of scripture and a devotion full of insight and questions that encourage the reader to dig a little deeper.  This book is perfect for gifts and would make a lovely addition to a bedside table, within reach for quiet reflection on God's Word daily.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Seeking Refuge: On the Shores of the Global Refugee Crisis

Moody Publishers has teamed up with Stephen Bauman, Matthew Sorens, and Issam Smeir for this very timely, very relevant book on the global refugee crisis.  The staggering number of people who have been forcibly displaced from their homes is higher today than at any other time in recorded history.  This fact puts us all, especially American Christians, in a critical position.  

Seeking Refuge provides a Christian perspective to the refugee crisis along with a biblically based response. We are reminded in Matthew 2:13-15 that not long after Jesus' birth, He along with Mary and Joseph were refugees in a foreign land. As pointed out in the book, the Bible contains multiple examples of people who had to flee under the threat of violence or persecution including Jacob, Moses, David, Elijah, and the early followers of Jesus.

What I love most about this book is that it is truly grounded in Scripture.  Readers are encouraged to think of refugees as image-bearers of God and as such have inherent dignity and intrinsic worth. They have talents. They are answers to problems in the world. They need and deserve our time, our attention, our resources, our prayers, and perhaps most important of all our love.

Seeking Refuge is very well-rounded in that it addresses so many aspects and viewpoints. The reader gets economic facts and statistics, the processes for volunteers and their organizations, and interesting comparisons of refugees and immigrants. There are stories from refugees and volunteers. Also included is extensive information about the process for refugee entry into the United States.

I believe this book is perfect for churches, anyone interested in volunteer work concerning refugees, as well as the average everyday American citizen. Seeking Refuge addresses the many concerns some have about accepting refugees into the United States, particularly those from the Middle East. The only question that remains is one we must answer individually and as a nation which is:  will we live by fear or by faith?

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review of it. 

-A-

Answering Jihad: Introduction

So tonight we begin to really dig deeper into Nabeel Qureshi's new book, Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward.  From the very beginning of the book, the tender dedication Nabeel makes to his sister, I am reminded of what really is at stake here.  Many times when Muslims convert to Christianity, they must leave everything behind, including their family.  It makes forming a true relationship with people so much more important because you and Jesus may be all they have when they walk away. Also, it is vital to remember to pray for the newcomers as well as their loved ones.  The church must step in to "fill the gap," not as a replacement or a substitute, but as a manifestation of God's love as our new brothers and sisters in Christ move forward in their walk with Him.

Nabeel speaks from personal experience in the introduction about the impact September 11th had on him and his family as well as the Muslim community that he was a part of.  I truly cannot imagine what it must have been like and what it continues to be like for the 1.6 billion Muslims in the world every time there is a terrorist attack.  I believe we must step out of our comfort zones and engage with everyone - really know and love our neighbor like we have been called to do.  The truth is we cannot truly love them until we can look past clothing, race, religion, etc., and see people for who they really are, image-bearers of God.  By showing people the love of Christ, we are showing them Christ.  

There are some pretty tough facts presented in this book, but in order to confront the problems that we're facing today we must speak the truth in love.  As I said in my initial review, I feel like Nabeel did an outstanding job of doing just that.  So, as we go through the questions, I'm going to touch on some of what I felt were powerful points that he made.  I cannot encourage you enough to get the book and read it for yourself.  This is not a comprehensive explanation of everything the book contains.

Nabeel says, "Acknowledging violence built into the foundations of Islam could lead people to see Islam as a necessarily violent religion, and by uncritical extension, it might lead people to see all Muslims as inherently or latently violent people.  We must boldly assert that these are false and dangerous conclusions, but that does not mean we ought to close our eyes to a common impetus for radicalization.  Until we diagnose and respond to the actual causes of radicalization, we will continue to lose the sons and daughters of peaceful Muslim parents to terrorism."

When we look at the statistics, there are 1.6 billion Muslims across the globe making Islam the second largest religion.  Most Muslims are not violent people.  So where is the disconnect that has to exist to make sense out of this fact and what we see on the news?  It's vital to understand Muslims' perspectives as well as what Islam is.

We'll get into that in subsequent posts.  Please feel free to post any questions or comments, with the understanding that all posts must remain respectful.  To get more information on Nabeel's book, see www.answeringjihad.com.

-A-

Coming soon...

After receiving such a positive response to my initial post about Nabeel Qureshi's new book, Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward, I've decided to dig a little deeper into this book with you guys.  Some of you have expressed interest in having discussions about each of the questions that Nabeel answers.  Your wish is my command.  So, starting tomorrow I will begin posting my thoughts question by question.  I look forward to an honest, open, and respectful dialogue as we explore the book more in-depth.  

Also coming in the near future will be my review of Sheila Walsh's new book The Longing in Me. I'm excited to see what it's about and be able to discuss it with you too!

Stay tuned friends!

-A-

Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward

"By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35).

I first learned of Nabeel Qureshi after reading his book Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus.  It was a game-changer for me as a Christian and really opened my eyes to Islamic culture and Christian apologetics. When I heard that he was writing Answering Jihad following the attack in San Bernadino, I have to admit that I was curious to see what he had to say. Let me tell you, he totally hit it out of the park. As Christians, we are called to speak the truth in love and I cannot think of a better example of doing just that than this book.  

Answering Jihad provides readers with powerful truths grounded in fact and rooted in love. It explains in intrinsic and careful detail the answers we are all looking for regarding Islam, no matter what our religion is. What makes this book so special is that it goes beyond the answers and gives us all a path forward that is both truthful and compassionate.

I strongly recommend Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward. If you want more details on the book, see www.answeringjihad.com or message me.

I look forward to discussing this great book more with you in future posts!

-A-