Book Review: The Story of the World by Susan Wise Bauer

In this book, you’ll soar in the sky on an adventure on a flying carpet as you learn the history of the Middle Ages.

The Story of the World Volume 2: The Middle Ages by Susan Wise Bauer was the second book in a series of History books that we use for homeschooling.  She includes religious aspects, including Christian religion, which I enjoy to add to my teaching.

Learn about the fall of Rome, the rise of the Muslim empire, the plague and King Henry VIII in the pages of this book.  Mrs. Bauer does a wonderful job of creating a story to keep young ones interested in History.  The book also is interesting and filled with facts that are new to many adults.  As we have read through these books, I have enjoyed our journey.

We look forward to starting book number 3, which we will be getting to in a few weeks.

I can’t wait to see how Mrs. Bauer will bring to life the Early Modern Times.  I’m expecting it to follow suit with the first two books.

For younger children, these books are easy to follow.  My children are a little bit older but we want to finish the series out.  They enjoy listening to History be brought alive through Mrs. Bauer’s words.

Book Review: Watch for the Light by Plough Publishing House

Before I begin writing my review, I must admit that I have not been able to read the book cover to cover yet.  Although, I am dying to!

This book was received in the mail yesterday.  It was the perfect day to have it arrive because it is daily readings for the Advent and Christmas season.  As God’s wonderful Hand guided this book to my house to appear on the same day that the devotions started, I knew that this was a good sign.

Last night, I read November 24 daily reading.  Written by Christph Friedrich Blumhardt it speaks of what the Advent really is.  Definitely a good reminder to our weary hearts and our busy lives.

Today’s reading was a poem by Sylvia Plath.  While I am not one who likes poetry.  Or even understands it.  I tried my hardest to put the pieces together and came out with my own interpretation of it.  I suppose that is the beauty of poetry and art.  One sees what they see.

I skimmed through the book, without spoiling any of it for myself, and am very pleased.  I am looking forward to spending my Advent season reading these daily devotions to uplift and encourage my spirit while I am trudging through the shopping centers or dreading that family get-together.

If you have the opportunity to get this book and read it, do it!

*Disclaimer I was given this book to review by Plough Publishing House as part of the Handlebar Team in return for my honest review.

Book Review: The Book of Revelation Made Clear by Tim LaHaye & Timothy E. Parker

There are few people that I have met who truly understand the book of Revelation.  I am one of those who do not understand it all.

I have received a book to review from BookLook Bloggers and am very thankful for it!

Tim LaHaye is an author that I have read several books from.  Mainly from The Left Behind series.  LOVED those books!  He joins up with Timothy E. Parker to teach everyone about the book of Revelation in the Bible.

Each chapter relates to a chapter out of Revelation.  It starts out asking questions with multiple choice answers.  After that each answer is shown with a Bible verse and then explained, and the correct answers are given.

The book also includes tables that help to explain several details of Revelation.  I found them to be easy to understand and helpful to the content.

This book would be great to do as a group study or just to read as devotions in the morning, as I did.  The Book of Revelation Made Clear is a book that will stay on my book shelves for sure!

I recommend this book to all!  If you have any desire to search for the knowledge that the Lord blesses or if you just want to have some questions answered and understand things more clearly, this book is for you!

**Disclaimer:  I got this book from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Apostle Paul by Nancy I. Sanders

I was a little bit disappointed when I saw the reading level of this book.  I was not aware that it was for a little bit younger kids than my own. 

With that said, it’s still a great book.  My son is just above this reading level, which is listed on the back cover as RI 2.1, RL 2.3 and RI 2.5.  He looked the book over and thought that it did look interesting enough for him to read anyway.  It will be added to his pile of books to take on our vacation next month.

My daughter, who is 11, said this was way too young for her.  She also said it’s too boring and school-like.  But she did express an interest in reading the Mary book of this series. 

I have read through this book and think that it is a very good choice for young readers to introduce them to Bible people.  The book has photos and illustrations through out, to make sure and keep the interest of readers.

Definitions of words are included for many and added as an extra decorative box on some of the pages.  The word is also highlighted in colors through out the book when there is a definition that accompanies it.

This book has sections on Bible heroes, extra unknown or maybe known facts and many other little things spread through the book.  I really like how well everything is explained.

I would definitely recommend this book for those of you with younger readers.  The whole series would be excellent additions to any homeschool, or home, library.

Disclaimer: This book was given to me by BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.

 

Book Review: Samantha Sanderson On the Scene by Robin Caroll

The second book of the Samantha Sanderson series was another great Christian fiction for young ladies today.

This would be the second book that I have reviewed of Robin Caroll’s and I have to say the consistency between the books was perfect.  I enjoyed the characters and the story line.

If you know of a young lady who could benefit from reading a mystery book that will grab her attention, and at the same time teach her some morals and values, these are the books to get!

I am saving this book on my kindle so that my daughter can read it after she finishes Samantha Sanderson on the Scene while we are on a vacation next month.  With the driving time that we will be doing, she will have plenty of time to read.

I really think she’ll like this book just as much as she already likes the other one.  We will definitely have to keep our eyes open for new Samantha Sanderson books to come out, that’s for sure!  It’s really hard to find good books that will teach our children the Christian values that some of us really want to instill in them.

Disclaimer: This book was given to me by BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.

 

Book Review: Ex-Muslim by Naeem Fazal

In today’s world, the word Muslim tends to bring fear to many people, especially Christians.  What many people do not understand, is that there are Muslims out there that are not against Christians.

Naeem Fazal was a Muslim, raised in Kuwait.  His story that he honestly unfolds through the pages of his book, is one that can help us as Christians to understand the Muslims and maybe even at times, help to bring them to Jesus.

I don’t want to give away Naeem’s story.  You definitely will want to read it yourself.  However, I do have to touch on some important points.

I have read many times that Jesus often presents himself to Muslims in dreams.  I find that so interesting.  Naeem explains in his book what that meant as Muslim.

One particular instance in the book that I will remember because it may one day prove to be useful to me, is sharing Jesus with a Muslim.

Naeem explains that using Jesus to lure a Muslim into Christianity creates a problem.  Telling them that Jesus is the son of God can immediately turn them off in your conversation.  This is because saying that God has a son, is akin to saying that God had a wife.

Instead, Naeem turned to using sin as an example.  Muslims understand sin.  They pray five times a day and fast at Ramadan because of sin.  Muslims also believe in the tie of sacrifice, the shedding of blood and sin.  Read a few words out of Ex-Muslim to understand this better.

…The bigger the sacrifice, the more sine and for more people it could atone.  So I asked him, ‘What kind of sacrifice would be big enough for the entire human race?’

‘Only a God-sized sacrifice,’ I said in answer to my own question.

I knew I had his attention then.  ‘Forget about Jesus being the Son of God for a minute.  Think about him as the Lamb of God.  That’s who Jesus is, man.’

It’s my belief that stories like Naeem’s can be used to help us bring Muslims to Jesus.  He wants them to be brought to Him.  He loves them as He loves us.  It’s our witnessing that brings others to Him.

Naeem’s book tells how it ‘s important to live the life of a Christian, and not just act it out.  Doing church things is good, but having God alive in your life, every day is what is important.

I definitely recommend that others read this book.  What a wonderful story that Naeem and his family have shared.

**I have received this book from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Body & Soul by Bethany Hamilton

I got this book with two hopes.  One, that I could share it with my daughter.  Two, that it would help teach about the birds and the bees, because she’s about that age now.  It far surpassed the first hope that I had.  The second hope, well, it wasn’t that kind of book.  What it was though, was a book that I am excited to share with my daughter.

Since I got this book dropped onto my porch yesterday, my daughter has been hounding me to hurry up and finish readying it.  Not only was I driven to finish it to write my review and choose a new book to read, but my child was eager to read it!

Bethany Hamilton does an excellent job helping to build a young lady’s self esteem in this book.  I think that is a very important thing to teach and keep an eye on.

What I really also liked was the health and fitness part of the book.  I am recently going through a struggle with my daughter.  She wants to eat all of this junk food, constantly.  But she is worried about getting fat.  She’s not, but she is getting a little belly on her.  🙂  Totally normal, but she still needs to eat better.

Body & Soul includes exercises, a weekly schedule to try, a list of ingredients to stay away from and recipes to stay healthy.

Right now, my daughter is standing next to my computer, waiting to grab this book when my blog post is done…..oops, there it went!  It’s in her hands.  Now my prayers is that the information in that book will go to her heart.

Disclaimer:  I received this book from Booklook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Samantha Sanderson at the Movies by Robin Caroll

Exciting and suspenseful, follow as Samantha Sanderson, dying to get a lead article to write for the school newspaper, and creates havoc for herself along the way.  Samantha Sanderson at the Movies, by Robin Caroll, is the first in a new series of Christian books for young girls.

This is a great story for middle school aged young ladies to read, with Christian morals.  God is brought up and often prayed to in this book.  I will encourage my daughter to read books that have Christian morals and Jesus.

It’s time we teach our girls that there is more to life than just their own wants and needs.  This book will teach your daughter that their are rules to follow and followed exactly.  When you try to find ways around what you know you shouldn’t do, that is dishonorable.

I am very excited to introduce a new series to my daughter.  Christian novels for kids are so hard to find.  I am going to be trying to get my hands on the next book in this series called, Samantha Sanderson on the Scene.

A nice feature that came with this book is discussion questions.  I was thinking of writing a few myself after I was done, so I could assign my daughter this for a homeschool read.  But now that I’ve seen the discussion questions at the end, I won’t need to do that.

Disclaimer: BookLook Bloggers gave me this book in exchange for my honest opinion in the form of a review.

Book Review: Plain Faith by Ora Jay and Irene Eash with Tricia Goyer

There have been times when I wondered if the Amish life would be good to live.  With the lack of electrical devices and things of that nature, your free to think of God all of the time.  But what if your salvation counts on the good deeds you do, rather than your belief in Christ?

The Amish are very worried about rules and traditions.  It’s their way, or the highway.  As much as the basic and simple life seems a little thrilling to me, I think the focus is way centered on your deeds, instead of your beliefs.

This young couple, after the loss of their daughters, started to wonder about their religion.  They had answers that were not getting answered within their own religious confines of the Amish.  How can you understand the Bible verses when they are always said in a language that you don’t understand?

I think the biggest concern that I had with the Amish people was that how many of them are so unsure if they will be in Heaven.  How sad!  I know, without a doubt, that I will be in Heaven!  I do not have to worry about what I do, although, I have to watch what I do.  But when I do good, that does not get me into Heaven, and when I do bad, that will not keep me out of Heaven.

To see this family grow and struggle, but reach the blessed points of their lives to see their children come to Christ!  What a glorious blessing!

I have never been disappointed with a book written by Tricia Goyer.  She is an excellent author and she does have such a love for people.

This book is definitely a must read!

Disclaimer: BookLook Bloggers gave me this book in exchange for my honest opinion in the form of a review.

100th POST!! Book Review and Autographed Giveaways: The Law of Self Defense by Andrew F. Branca, Attorney at Law

How much do you really know, to keep yourself within the law, of self defense?  Is your state a Duty to Retreat, Castle Doctrine or Stand Your Ground State?  If you had to use the Tueller Drill in your defense, could you?

If you intend to protect yourself against any attack, this book is one that you need to read.  You don’t need to be a gun owner, a daily carry person, or even wield a knife to protect yourself to get information from this book.

Written in a very clear and easy to understand way for us regular folks, Mr. Andrew F. Branca has done an excellent job trying to train us all in the current-to-when-he-wrote-the-book laws.  Not only will you be able to understand the laws, but you’ll also be able to easily apply them.

What I really liked about reading this book was the tables that were included with information for each state.  Highly valuable!

You can order this book online directly from Mr. Branca’s website here, or you can also order it from Amazon.com.  The Kindle version or the print version.

However, if you’d like to take you chances on winning an autographed copy of this book, I am running a giveaway through 1 Million Moms Against Gun Control in Washington.  To enter you simply have to head over to my Facebook page, 1mmagc-wa, and enter through Rafflecopter.  After you have done that, you have the option of buying more entries by donating to the Washington 1MMAGC GoFundMe account.  Each dollar that you donate gives you an extra entry!

Good luck!