Book Review: The One Jesus Loves

The One Jesus Loves by Robert Crosby

Every Christian wants to grow a deeper relationship with Christ and Dr. Crosby wrote this book to teach us how to move closer to Christ. He describes the levels of intimacy with Jesus as "circles", which brings life to the design on the cover.
Initially, I was attracted to this book by it's tagline: Grace is unconditionally given, intimacy must be relentlessly pursued. I love the fact that he focuses on how intentional we have to be to seek God. It's not a deep theological book, but although simple to read, it definitely has a lot of scripture.

After getting this book, I realized the author was one of my college professors. It got me excited and I was ready to love the book. However, I didn't like the book. I found it a bit repetitive in the first few chapters, which leads me to believe that this book is more suitable for someone who is starting his pursue of Christ. The chapters were too short (I would've personally prefered longer chapters) and not very linear in thought, the content became predictable [for me] and it seemed like I had already studied much of it. I've been growing deeper in intimacy for years now, so this book had nothing more to offer than a pat on the back that said "keep seeking God". I guess what I'm trying to say is that it wasn't very practical for me. I'm sure if I had read this years prior, it would've changed my life. So please, if you're starting to take your faith serious or you just recently got saved, do pick this book up! It gives you the basics to deeper intimacy with Jesus.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book 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 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review: The Road Trip That Changed the world

My husband was the first to read this book. He would share with me bits and pieces of Mark Sayer's research about our culture that left me wanting more! So I picked up the book and it took me about 4 months to read. It's definitely an easy read but the content is so rich, that reading the book becomes a 'road trip', if you will. You embark in a journey, savoring each detail from the past that explains how we, as a culture, got here: our low church attendance, our fascination with new age theology, our lack of commitment in everything, and how we see our faith. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who is called to this generation, it will give you a better understand of our past generations as well. Seriously, EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ THIS!

I received this book free from the publisher book 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 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review: Outreach and the Artist

Spreading the gospel is a task worth every God-given resource we have, and artists and their creative gifts are no exception. Whether you are an artist whose talents are an untapped source of energy for your church or a ministry leader wanting to involve artists and the creative arts in your outreach efforts, Outreach and the Artist will renew your vision. Musician and biblical scholar Con Campbell offers encouragement, wisdom, and practical tips for evangelism with, through, and to the arts...

This book is definitely one to have if you desire to use a creative approach in ministry. Not all modern churches know how to approach artists or the artistic community; this is where Con Campbell comes in. He offers ideas and strategies that work if both the church and the artist are willing to give it their all.

At first, I thought that the book would be all about jazz since that is Campbell's artistic field. But it's not about the specific artistic field, rather the approach to share the gospel through the artistic field. He also explains why some Christian artists prefer to stay in the secular artistic community, rather than to be more up front with the Gospel in their work (they do share about Christ when approached by non-believers). I also absolutely enjoyed the artist profiles that showcase artists with different talents and their struggles as a Christian in the arts and as artist in the church. It opened my eyes to see how misunderstood the artistic lifestyle is in the church.

I was challenged and inspired by this read to be artistic minded and intentional with the Gospel. Every church leader should desire to reach the artistic community and the unbelieving artist. This book is definitely first of its kind but certainly not the last!

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book 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 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review: Bread & Wine

As a follow up to her two bestselling books, Bittersweet and Cold Tangerines, author and blogger Shauna Niequist returns with the perfect read for those who love food and value the community and connection of family and friends around the table. Bread & Wine is about the ways God teaches and nourishes people as they nourish the people around them. It’s about hunger, both physical and otherwise, and the connections between the two.

The first thing that caught my eye from Bread & Wine was the cover. I'm a lover of typography & photography done right, so I was automatically drawn with intrigue to this book. The second thing that caught my eye was the title. Who doesn't love bread and wine? These two elements play a big role in the significance of my savior Jesus Christ. I thought to myself, "Could this book possibly bring a more practical aspect to these elements in my everyday life?". As I read this book, I realized that the answer to my question was a resounding YES!

Shauna Niequist inspired me to recall my earliest memories of eating and sharing a meal. Growing up in a hispanic culture, every event revolves around food. I have more memories of funeral meals than birthday/weddings ones. I wasn't necessary taught to love cooking but I was definitely taught to love to eat. I have always been skinny, something that my family misunderstood as an obvious cry for "feed me! I need to eat!". I was constantly being offered a plate of something I could not refuse (it's insulting to refuse food). Looking back though, I recognize the importance of meals and I'm able to create meals for my husband with enjoyment. There is this desire in me to love people through the ability to make meals. Guests that visit us at home know that I am always offering something for their enjoyment, whether that's a piece of homemade cake or a soothing cup of my delicious french vanilla chai. Discovering that I related to Shauna in that way made me feel as if I was a guest at her home & I was enjoying one of her delicious recipes!

"The impulse to feed is innate. Food is a language of care, the thing we do when traditional language fails us, when we don't know what to say, when there are no words to say. And food is what we offer in celebration—at weddings, at anniversaries, at happy events of every kind. It's the thing that connects us, that bears our traditions, our sense of home and family, our deepest memories, and, on a practical level, our ability to live and breathe each day. Food matters."

I enjoyed this book because it pushes you to make, create and taste. This book is not meant to be enjoyed in the covers of your bed; this book is meant to be a companion in the kitchen as you try the recipes in each chapter. You'll laugh, cry & value the honesty that comes from Shauna, all the while you're getting stains on your apron. True interaction at it's best!
But above all, you will leave with an appreciation for God and the way He created us to bond over a hunger that we all share in common, both spiritually & physically. May we remind ourselves of the importance that came from the Last Supper and may we apply it to our ordinary lives.

"When you eat, I want you to think of God, of the holiness of hands that feed us, of the provision we are given every time we eat. When you eat bread and you drink wine, I want you to think about the body and the blood every time, not just when the bread and wine show up in church, but when they show up everywhere—on a picnic table or a hardwood floor or a beach."

I already gave this book to a dear friend & I'm planning to give a few more away-that's the best way of appreciating a good read. You should definitely pick one for yourself!

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book 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 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

What worked for me: preparing for intentional dating

©Emily cain

Lately, I've been receiving questions from my readers about dating/courting.
You want God to write your love story & you want to know how ours came to be.
First, I'm by no means an expert on the matter. Prior to Louis, I did date & failed miserably.

But because of God's grace & my surrender to His will, the Lord lead Louis & I to each other.

"But how did you know Louis was the one?" "Did you knew he was the one before you courted?"
"How did you know you guys were ready to go to the next step?"
I love getting your emails & messages over facebook but since they tend to be the same in essence, I decided to address the matter here for the benefit of all my readers.

I'm gonna share a little of my preparation for dating/courting (which is really the call God had given me: to prepare). I was single & had no idea when I would not be. I just wanted to be obedient to the Lord; I just wanted to be ready—for whenever & whoever.

These are my top 5 books that shaped me in this area of dating & they are the foundation of my love story [Please note that none of these books replaced my time with the Lord.].
This does not mean that what works for me will work for you but it gives you a place to start as you navigate through your own path to dating/courting.
[I do encourage you to read what Bianca Olthoff wrote about dating from her post two days ago!]

Before You Meet Your Prince Charming
by Sarah Mally
The author from this book is a friend of the Duggar family, so you've been warned. I went through this book with two other friends. We made fun of it (it has cartoons & the storytelling is like a fairytale) but it gave us much to talk about. We disagreed on a few things but we agreed in many others. Take note that this book is a guide to purity. If you don't care too much about purity, then this is not the book for you. It does present some strategies the enemy uses in order to prevent us from being with "the one". This book does appeal more to ages 6-12 but anyone can read it.
find it here

I Kissed Dating Goodbye
by Joshua Harris
Very controversial book. Like the one above, it emphasizes a lot on purity. This book first introduced the term "courtship" into my life as an alternative to the worldly standards. Joshua describes his vision of courtship from his convictions and gives us a more concrete definition of what courtship is. There are things I didn't agree with but I love how Joshua Harris explains his process of surrender & how it leads to him giving up his love life as well. Kissing dating goodbye can be drastic but some of us really need this in order to fully grasp God's definition of marriage and detox from the love philosophies of the world.
find it here

When God Writes Your Love Story
by Eric & Leslie Ludy
This book is all about "giving God the pen".
I still remember reading this book, one of my faves!
The storytelling grips you and keeps you on your toes.
Losing control was one of the biggest issues I had to deal with & the Ludys encouraged me tremendously with their love story.
God can, and will, write your love story if you let Him.
find it here

Lady In Waiting
by Jackie Kendall & Debby Jones
Lady in waiting is another favorite of mine.
You will do a lot of waiting in relationships: waiting for the guy, waiting to date, waiting for engagement, waiting for marriage, waiting for a home, a job, etc... This book is the perfect aid!
It focuses on the characteristics a lady should have in her life—not just being in a relationship—while also putting a lot of emphasis in deepening your relationship with Christ.
It has a lot of biblical truth that you can later dig in deeper in your quiet time.
find it here

Passion & Purity
by Elisabeth Elliot
Last, but not least, Passion & Purity.
This book can be read by guys & girls alike; Louis and I both read it.
I would say that 90% of our growth in our relationship came from this book.
Everyone needs to read this book, even if you're already married. This book is filled with biblical life lessons. This is actually Elisabeth's diary—her deepest thoughts & longings are here; her intimate moments with the Lord are here; her story with Jim Elliot is here.
It's timeless! I can't recommend it enough!
get it here

Word of advice:
If God is calling you to be single but to prepare for marriage, don't focus too much on it. I read these books months apart each one. Don't put your identity in your marital status & make sure you fellowship with girls in your church who can pour into your life in this season. Don't move ahead of God and don't constantly share your longings & desires for marriage! Bring it to the Lord constantly if you need to, but be aware of not making it an idol.

for a complete list or if you have questions, feel free to email me.

Revolution

Rev-o-lution: a sudden, radical, and complete change from the way things are normally done

Revolution. The word itself sparks hope, ignites passion, and inspires loyalty like no other word in the human vocabulary. It conjures images of a small group of people who are unwilling to continue living the way they have lived in the past.

I just finished reading the Love Revolution by Joyce Meyer. The book is a powerful revolutionary manual that will change you as your journey through each page. Chapters are filled with guest contributors, one of them being Tommy Barnett whom I've had the privilege to meet. If you are someone who is unhappy, hopeless and depressed, you need to read this book. It will point you to Christ and will revolutionize the way you think and live life. I can safely say I'm a far better Christian today than I've ever been. I am a better daughter, student, friend and neighbor to my community. I am a love revolutionary, waiting for the perfect opportunity to do an aggressive act of kindness. This book has forever changed me in ways I was not aware of. I've been convicted of my motives and I have been transformed. I am the Love Revolution.

“Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
…And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
–Colossians 3:12-14 NIV

To find more about this revolution, check their website here.