Book Review: Remember Me by Penelope Wilcock

July 30, 2012 by Ordinary Servant | Leave a comment

Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Crossway (July 6, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10:1433526638
ISBN-13: 978-1433526633
Price: $12.99
Purchase: Amazon

 

 


Description

Remember Me is the third of a trilogy of books focusing on the character of William de Bulmer, his conversion of life and heart, and the flowering of his ability to love.  After the brothers of St. Alcuin take William into the abbey (in the Hardest Thing to Do), he falls in love with Abbot John’s sister (in The Hour Before Dawn), and now has accidentally lost all of the abbey’s money.

Seasoned author Penelope Wilcock unlocks the story of one man’s struggles, mistakes, and heart’s longings, and traces the possibility of what it means to get things wrong and begin again. As with each novel in series, the reader is encouraged to explore a universal aspect of the Christian faith–in this case, the cost of allowing God to do what is necessary to make one whole.

If you would like to read a chapter excerpt of Remember Me, go HERE.

Review

I must admit, I don’t usually read books like Remember Me, but I was delightfully surprised. What a gem of a book!

Penelope Wilcock is a wordsmith. She writes beautifully and descriptively. I was able to envision the various characters and feel everything they felt.

My favorite character was William de Bulmer. I felt compassion and sympathized with him a great deal. I was able to put myself in his shoes and identify with his dilemma.

He was vexed in spirit and seemed to have come from an abusive past which haunted him. He was also in love which just added to his inner struggle, turmoil and guilt.

I was experienced a gamut of emotions while reading this book. Remember Me made me think deeply and reflect on my own life. How many times have I failed and been judged ruthlessly by others?

This excerpt especially touched me:

“It is as we are faithful, as we are gentle, as we are humble and kind, that we remember the human and open the way for the kingdom of Jesus.  So I–or you–can be the good thief in our fragile and faltering humanity, begging him: ‘I am lost, I am broken, I am done for. Please put me back together again. Please heal me. Forgive me. Please remember me.’ And in so doing we also open the way for the kingdom to begin.” (Page 143)

Remember Me is about love, loss, regret, forgiveness and redemption.

I highly recommend this book to young adults and adults alike.

In conclusion, I would like to thank Bonnie S. Calhoun and Crossway for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this wonderful book.

PENELOPE WILCOCK is a full-time author living in Hastings, Sussex, on the southeast coast of England. Her blog, Kindred of the Quiet Way, is about a simple and spiritual Christian lifestyle. Her other books in The Hawk and the Dove series are The Hawk and the Dove, The Wounds of God, and The Long Fall.

When He Plans The Next Step…

July 23, 2012 by Katie | 2 Comments

I’d like to introduce Heidi Kreider. She is a dear friend and my first guest to post on my new blog. I am so grateful to God to have crossed paths with her on the Michael Hyatt Platform Team and become friends. She is a gifted writer and godly woman. She authored a wonderful book called The Secret of Counting Gifts which she will be talking more about below.

Abruptly my life course changed direction. Though it wasn’t an earth shattering change, I felt like I had lost my purpose. For a decade I homeschooled. I thought I would graduate all three of my children. Instead, our home school whittled down to one. I wasn’t sure what to do with myself. My life didn’t look like the picture I carried around in my head.

A wise one once said, “the years reveal what the days cannot see.” In my insecurity, God was already at work. He had the next step of my life planned. He brought to fruition a life long dream of mine, to be an author. There was never enough time in a day to pursue any serious writing… until my life course changed direction. My God works that way, often in ways that I only recognize in hindsight.

I am now an author. More importantly, I am a Jesus lover, wife of 18 years, and mom to 3. I’ve spent the past fifteen years at home. My days are full taxing my children to their various events, adventuring on field trips, and laughing uproariously with my friends. I count gifts daily and seek grace and forgiveness hourly. I have been blessed with deep friendships and have prayed many friends through the horrific battle of breast cancer.

While homeschooling just one, I wrote my first novel, The Secret of Counting Gifts and the accompanying  journal The Secret of Counting Gifts Gratitude Journal. Both are now available in eBook and paperback through Amazon.com.

The Secret of Counting Gifts is a story about life, friendship, hardship, and gratitude. It is the story of Kris McClintock and Liz Bower and their friendship that spans twenty-eight years.

Through marriage, babies, and infidelity they stand by each other and hold one another up… until breast cancer delivers the final blow. As she sits by Liz, Kris recounts the trials and blessings that made them who they are. She tells their story and recalls the many “gifts” they have been blessed with throughout the years. She shares of how Liz taught her to notice the gifts in each day and to live with a grateful heart. It is through the telling of their story that the secret of counting gifts is discovered….

I look forward to seeing how God will use this next step in my life. Throughout this month, I am on a virtual book tour. You can see the stops along the way at www.heidikreider.com.

Come on over and say “Hey!” and register for my giveaway… autographed copies of  The Secret of Counting Gifts and The Secret of Counting Gifts Gratitude Journal in a hand-made basket.

I’d love to chat. How has your life direction changed? What is your next step?

**Heidi Kreider is a wife, mother, author, and friend. She blogs about life, grace, and gratitude at www.heidikreider.com.

Book Review: Passages by Brian Hardin

July 19, 2012 by Ordinary Servant | 2 Comments

Passages by Brian Hardin

ISBN-13: 9780310329190
Publisher: Zondervan
Publication date: 11/28/2011
Pages: 224
Price: $14.99
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | CBD

 

 

 

 

 

 

The journey is the destination.

Description

Many of us would love to read the Bible more often, but we rarely make time for more than a few verses on the run.

But the Bible was never meant to be read in short segments here and there when you can fit it in.  The Bible is meant to be experienced in sizable chunks–in passages–and read daily.  It is not a book of mystical incantations, but the story of God’s passionate love–for you.  It is not a distant relic, but a best friend offering counsel and companionship–for today.

Through his own remarkable story, Brian Hardin shows you how reading through the Bible in a year changed his life and how it will change yours too.  Passages goes beyond exploring how the Bible was meant to be read, providing three distinct Bible reading plans to help you get started doing it right now.

Hardin, whose daily podcasts has more than a million listeners a month, guarantees you a life revolution, if you will only commit to a few minutes a day to read through the Bible in a year.

As you rediscover the joy of reading the Bible, visit www.dailyaudiobible.com and join a community of fellow readers to share your thoughts on your new adventure.

Review

I read Passages in two days. As soon as I read the description, I was hooked.  I can’t tell you what an incredible book this is.  I have read many books on this subject, but Passages is in a league by itself.

Brian Hardin begins by explaining how he came to read the bible everyday.  He gives his testimony in Chapter One entitled “The Olive Couch”.  Chapter Two talks about the reasons why we don’t read our bible.  This was one of my favorite chapters.

Our number one excuse for not reading our bible is lack of time..

“Time is always an enemy.  Reading Scripture is always on our perpetual to-do list; but as the day goes by, it ends up at the bottom of the list, and by the time we fall into bed, we’re just too exhausted to read anything that requires serious thought.” (Page 32)

Can you relate?  I know I can because I struggle with this myself.  The other is understandability which Brian Hardin discusses as well.

“The Bible is written as a story, a story that has not yet reached its conclusion. The story has wound its way through battlefields and wedding nights, through birthing chambers and funeral parlors, from transcendent pleasure to utter hopelessness.  This is the unstoppable story of God and his profound love for humanity.” (Page 35)

Chapter Six was extremely interesting for me.  The chapter discusses “Lectio Divina: Divine Reading”.

“Lectio divina is an unhurried, contemplative reading of a portion of Scripture.  The practice of lectio divina includes four steps: Lectio, read; Meditatio, meditate; Oratio, speak or pray; and Contemplatio, contemplate or rest.” (Page 103, 105)

Brian Hardin also writes that reading the Word of God out loud has remarkable power and authority.  I admit, I never read the Bible out loud to myself.  However, after reading this book, I will now apply this new practice to my daily bible reading.

Brian Hardin has a unique, creative and eloquent writing style. Passages inspired me so much. I am now listening to his daily podcasts and also joined Daily Audio Bible online community.

If you struggle with reading the Bible, I highly recommend this book.  Passages is full of wisdom and inspiration.  I especially loved reading people’s testimonies throughout the book.

In conclusion, I want to thank Brian Hardin for writing this book.  I also want to thank Litfuse Publicity and Zondervan Publishers for sending me a complimentary copy of this book to read and review.

Brian Hardin is a speaker, photographer, record producer, and an ordained minister.  In 2006, he created the Daily Audio Bible, an online podcast that now delivers 1.5 million downloads a month.  He has produced over 150 albums and works with artists and the arts extensively.  He is married to Christian musician Jill Parr.

Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Heart Strings

July 17, 2012 by Ordinary Servant | 14 Comments

I have had the blessing of traveling a great deal in the past.  I visited several countries and have seen poverty at it’s worst.  Nothing breaks my heart more than witnessing homeless and hungry children, especially orphans.

Photograph by Chan Kwok Hung

This photo speaks a multitude, doesn’t it?  This world can be such a cruel place. How I wish something could been done to help save every child and preserve their innocence.

There are times I feel helpless and overwhelmed, like tonight for instance. I was walking crosstown on 42nd Street to catch my bus home.

As I was walking, I took in my surroundings; the rhythm, activity and energy of rush hour.

Until something caught my eye that caused me to stop in my tracks. I remained frozen, watching, pondering whether I should go do something.

This moment reminded me of an incident I read in Jeff Goins’ new book, Wrecked. I knew I had to make a choice.

Suddenly a man spoke and snapped me out of my trance. I guess he noticed my struggle. He tells me, “Your heart strings are being tugged, huh?” I said, “Yes.”  He nodded in understanding.

Right then, I decided to walk over to her. This young woman who was pregnant sitting on the hot concrete floor with a toddler. She must have been no more than twenty-five years old. I asked her if she needed help.

She didn’t speak English. She said something which sounded like Spanish.  However, when she responded again, I realized it wasn’t Spanish, but more like Portuguese or Italian.

She wanted me to give her money. I told her I didn’t want to give her money. She said she needed diapers. I said I would go buy her diapers if she wanted. She agreed for me to get her diapers.

I asked, what size, she tells me size four. For the life of me, I don’t know how we were able to understand each other, it had to have been the Holy Spirit.

She tells me she would wait for me in the same spot for only twenty minutes. So I take off in a hurry to the nearest place I could find and bought diapers. I also bought her a few other items so she could feed her child who looked dirty, hungry and tired. I especially felt compassion for her child.

The city was so hot. I’m sure this poor child was outside all day in the heat while her mother begged.

When I returned she was there waiting. I handed her the bag and she thanked me.

What was most beautiful to me was the reaction on the little girl’s face. She pointed to the bottle of water and looked up at me with a big smile. She seemed genuinely appreciative. I grabbed her little hand and smiled at her too. My heart swelled with love for that child. I so badly wanted to protect her.

I looked into the pregnant mother’s eyes and told her Jesus loved her. I also told her to be careful and to take good care of herself and the baby. I just hope she really understood what I said.

I arrived home very somber. I began thinking about all the homeless mothers and children living in the streets of New York City and around the world. My heart hurts for them.

This tug never goes away. I guess it serves as reminder to never forget.

I wonder how things would be if every Christian from around the world stopped to help and encourage one person each day?

What do you think would happen?  I would be very interested in hearing your thoughts.

 

 

 

Wrecked by Jeff Goins

July 13, 2012 by Ordinary Servant | 4 Comments

I barely made it out of bed alive this morning. Ok, maybe I’m exaggerating a little bit. But seriously, I am dead tired and it’s all Jeff Goins fault.

It’s his fault because I couldn’t stop reading his new book last night. I literally had to peel myself away and get some sleep.

Thus, I rolled out of bed, as we say in New York City, mad tired.

I began my daily routine by turning on the water to take a shower. Guess what, there was no hot water… again.

Needless to say, this isn’t what I would call an ideal way to start your day. However, the cold shower definitely jolted me awake. Seriously, you should try it some time.

While taking my cold shower, I was thinking of Wrecked. My thoughts brought me back to a time where a group of us from Times Square Church went on a short missions trip to Guatemala.

I remember when we first arrived to the mission, it was hot. We all wanted and needed to take a shower.  But, there was one little problem, there were no bathrooms or showers.

Thankfully, it began to rain.  We knew this was our opportunity to take a shower.

Now keep in mind, I’m from New York City, ok? I’ve only camped out maybe a few times in my life and poorly at that. I’ve never taken a shower in the middle of nowhere before, much less in the rain.

But there I was in the mountains of Guatemala, in the rain, with a bunch of people I didn’t know and a major decision to make. Shower or no shower, is the question. I felt gross, so I decided on the shower. The next dilemma was to figure out how and where?

The shower situation definitely took me out of my comfort zone. I basically was forced to use my imagination and pray… a lot.

Thankfully, the Lord had mercy on my poor soul and answered quickly. There, hidden in view, was my salvation… a small cascade of water falling off a tin roof. When the water hit my skin, it was as cold as my shower this morning.

The only difference is, I actually enjoyed it.

This experience definitely wrecked me and so is reading this book.

Wrecked is stirring me in a major way. Jeff Goins is a prolific and amazing writer. His writing is like eating your favorite ice cream, you don’t want to stop.

But whatever you do, don’t buy the book yet.  You don’t want to miss out on this:  http://wreckedthebook.com/.

Jeff Goins is a part-time blogger, speaker and author. He works full-time for a nonprofit organization called Adventures in Missions, where he serves as the Communications Director. In his free time, he writes books and shares ideas worth spreading.

Originally from the suburbs of Chicago, Jeff graduated from Illinois College with a double major in Spanish and Religion. There, he spent a semester in Spain, which opened his eyes to different cultures and stretched his worldview.
After a year of travel and long-distance communication, he moved to Tennessee to chase the woman who became his wife. In 2008, he married her.

Since 2006, Jeff has worked out of his home, overseeing marketing, communications, and innovation teams from afar. He is passionate about not only telling great stories, but living them, as well.

His blog, GoinsWriter.com, is one of the fastest-growing blogs on the web and is a well-respected resource for bloggers and writers. In 2011, it won the Top 10 Blogs for Writers award on WritetoDone.com. Each month, he receives over 80,000 visitors to his website.

Jeff’s work has been published online and offline in a variety of publications, including RELEVANT Magazine (which has a circulation of more than 150,000 readers), Copyblogger.com (voted by Ad Age as one of the top marketing blogs online), and ZenHabits.net (one of Time Magazine’s Top 50 Websites for threes years in a row).

Jeff and his wife, Ashley, live just outside of Nashville, TN with their son and dog.

Book Review: Faith and Other Flat Tires

July 10, 2012 by Ordinary Servant | Leave a comment

Faith and Other Flat Tires

by Andrea Palpant Dilley
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Zondervan (February 6, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10:031032551X
ISBN-13: 978-0310325512
Price: $14.99
Purchase: Amazon | BN | CBD

Sample Chapter

Description

At age twenty-one, Andrea Palpant Dilley stripped the Christian fish decal off her car bumper in a symbolic act of departure from her religious childhood. At twenty-three, she left the church and went searching for refuge in the company of men who left her lonely and friends who pushed the boundaries of what she once held sacred.

In this deeply personal memoir, Andrea navigates the doubts that plague believers and skeptics alike: Why does a good God allow suffering? Why is God so silent, distant, and uninvolved? And why does the church seem so dysfunctional?

Yet amid her skepticism, she begins to ask new questions: Could doubting be a form of faith? Might our doubts be a longing for God that leads to a faith we can ultimately live with?

Review

Faith and Other Flat Tires is as unique as its title. The subheading reads, “searching for God on the rough road of doubt”.

I have a penchant for memoirs, and this one was especially captivating.

Andrea Palpant Dilley was the daughter to Quaker missionaries who served in Kenya most of her childhood.  She had grown accustomed to living in Africa, that when she returned to the States, she had difficulty assimilating into the American culture.

While living in Africa as a child, Andrea Palpant Dilley was exposed to a great deal of suffering and death.  Those early experiences planted a seed which then germinated into doubt and her crisis of faith.

As we traverse this earth, sooner or later, we will face doubt.  We will wrestle, as Jacob did, with an invisible God, we can’t see or touch. Doubt will inevitably be our companion or foe on this sojourn.

The following excerpt encompasses the beauty and brilliance of this thoughtful, philosophical and superbly written memoir:

To me, longing for God was like hearing music from an open window on the street or seeing mountains off in the distance. The yearning felt almost like grief.  A cry born into my heart before the human heart ever existed. A desire so deep and far back that it seemed almost prehistoric. I sensed the imago Dei, the image of God within me. I was Plato’s child searching for the lost language of my origins. I was a homing bird traveling with my outspread wings, carried by the innate compass and crossing a thousand miles to get back to the place where I began. (Page 235)

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Faith and Other Flat Tires and highly recommend it to adults who are struggling with faith and doubt.

In conclusion, I want to thank Zondervan and Handlebar Marketing for sending me a complimentary copy of this book to read and review.

Author

Andrea Palpant Dilley grew up in Kenya as the daughter of Quaker missionaries and spent the rest of her childhood in the Pacific Northwest. She studied English literature and writing at Whitworth University. Her work as a writer has appeared in Rock and Sling, Geez, and Utne Reader, as well as the anthology Jesus Girls: True Tales of Growing Up Female and Evangelical. Her work as a documentary producer has aired nationally on American Public Television. She lives with her husband and daughter in Austin, Texas.

Book Review: You Are a Writer

July 1, 2012 by Ordinary Servant | 4 Comments
You Are a Writer

By Jeff Goins
Print Length: 77 pages
Publisher: Jeff Goins
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Published: 1st Edition April 27, 2012
Language: English
ASIN: B007YJEIAS
Price: $4.99 (Kindle)
Purchase: Amazon

Description

You Are a Writer is a book about what it takes to be a writer in the 21st Century.

Author Jeff Goins shares his own story of self-doubt and what it took for him to become a professional. He gives you practical tips for freelancing, how to get published in magazines, and what it takes to build a platform that brings the gatekeepers to you.

This journey of becoming a writer begins with a simple but important belief: You are a writer; you just need to write. Readers will learn the importance of passion and discipline and how to show up every day to do the work.

Here’s what else you will learn:

  • How to stop waiting to be picked and finally choose yourself
  • What it takes to build a platform
  • Why authors need to brand themselves (and how to do it)
  • Tips for freelancing, guest blogging, and getting published in magazines
  • Different ways to network with other writers, artists, and influencers
  • The importance of blogging and social media and how to use it well to get more readers and fans of your writing

You Are a Writer is a book that will help you fall back in love with writing and make the connections you need to build your brand as a writer. It’s about living the dream of a life dedicated to words.

And it all begins with you.

Review

I have had the pleasure of following Jeff Goins’ blog for over several months now.  I was first introduced to his writing through friends on Twitter.  I was completely blown away.  I’m not exaggerating when I tell you that I love every single thing this man writes.

Jeff Goins is an incredibly gifted writer and communicator. He creates what Michael Hyatt calls in his book Platform, a “Wow” experience. Everything Jeff Goins does and writes is remarkable. I have learned so much from him by following his blog and participating in his writing challenges.

One of the things I love most about Jeff Goins is his heart.  He is kind, generous and a servant, which makes him such a great leader.  I am blessed to be a part of his tribe.

You Are a Writer is a brilliant book.  I started to read it and couldn’t put it down. This book goes step by step on how to make “You Are a Writer” a reality in your life. The first step is by confessing, believing, accepting and then acting upon it.

The way I did it was by first looking at myself in the mirror and saying to my reflection, “You Are a Writer”.  I confess I had to say it more than once to let it sink in.  It’s incredible how much resistance I faced with while doing this simple exercise.  Those unrelenting negative voices kept trying to convince me otherwise.

After I did this, I took it a step further by confessing it to the world on Facebook, Twitter and my co-workers.  I was surprised and happy to get a lot positive responses, which was encouraging.

If you ever dreamed of being a writer or if you are one and not really pursuing it, I highly recommend this book.  You Are a Writer will definitely help, inform, inspire and encourage you!

Author

Jeff Goins is a part-time blogger, speaker and author. He works full-time for a nonprofit organization called Adventures in Missions, where he serves as the Communications Director. In his free time, he writes books and shares ideas worth spreading.

Originally from the suburbs of Chicago, Jeff graduated from Illinois College with a double major in Spanish and Religion. There, he spent a semester in Spain, which opened his eyes to different cultures and stretched his worldview.

After a year of travel and long-distance communication, he moved to Tennessee to chase the woman who became his wife. In 2008, he married her.

Since 2006, Jeff has worked out of his home, overseeing marketing, communications, and innovation teams from afar. He is passionate about not only telling great stories, but living them, as well.

His blog, GoinsWriter.com, is one of the fastest-growing blogs on the web and is a well-respected resource for bloggers and writers. In 2011, it won the Top 10 Blogs for Writers award on WritetoDone.com. Each month, he receives over 80,000 visitors to his website.

Jeff’s work has been published online and offline in a variety of publications, including RELEVANT Magazine (which has a circulation of more than 150,000 readers), Copyblogger.com (voted by Ad Age as one of the top marketing blogs online), and ZenHabits.net (one of Time Magazine’s Top 50 Websites for threes years in a row).

Jeff and his wife, Ashley, live just outside of Nashville, TN with their son and dog.

My Soul Remembers Eternity

July 1, 2012 by Ordinary Servant | Leave a comment

As I look up into the vast sky,
My soul remembers eternity.
A place void of sin and full of beauty.
Yearning for His love,
My spirit soars to the heavenlies,
Where His presence dwells,
I plead, “Lord, I don’t want to leave here.”
He says, “My child, I am with you always.”
I stare back at the sky,
Filled with longing,
Missing my Beloved.
My soul remembers eternity.
If only I can see Him once again.

Pilar Arsenec, © 2012

Book Review: God Loves Broken People

July 1, 2012 by Ordinary Servant | Leave a comment

God Loves Broken People

By Sheila Walsh
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: March 13, 2012
Price: $21.99
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1400202450
ISBN-13: 978-1400202454
Purchase:  Amazon | CBD | Barnes and Noble

Description

God loves broken people. And when weary, wounded men and women find a way to open their bruised hearts and somehow welcome Him into their personal darkness, they will find a love beyond anything they have ever known.

When the glass house Sheila had lived in for so many years came crashing to the ground, she began a new life outside the safety of those walls. No, it didn’t feel good or safe — not at all. But it felt true. Sheila saw herself as a broken lamb limping after the Shepherd, not knowing where He was going, but knowing that wherever He went, she wanted to go with Him.

In twelve stirring, and deeply revealing chapters, Sheila Walsh shows how personal brokenness can open doors of intimacy with Jesus Christ that might never open in any other way. It’s not that God loves broken people more than those who imagine themselves to be whole — it’s simply that they know they are loved. They dare to believe it… and through such trust, a new wholeness emerges from yesterday’s broken pieces.

Review

Several months ago, I heard Sheila Walsh speak for the first time on a Focus on the Family broadcast. I had heard of her, but didn’t know much about her. This particular day, I was home sick and laying in bed depressed. I decided to turn on the radio to 570 AM for some encouragement. Sheila Walsh was introduced and began to speak about her life. I felt as if she was speaking directly to me. The Holy Spirit was using her to minister to me in a deep way so that I found myself in tears. She left such an impression that when I saw God Loves Broken People (And Those Who Pretend They’re Not) I knew I wanted to read and review it.

Sheila Walsh is an eloquent speaker. She is also a wonderful storyteller and Bible teacher. I appreciated her honesty and transparency in her writing. There is no fluff, Sheila Walsh tells it like it is. She also writes with a heart of compassion and love for people which is revealed on every page of this book.

I identified and resonated with what she wrote on page 45:

“God isn’t some cosmic jukebox in the sky, from which, so long as you have the right coin, you get to pick the soundtrack for your life. Those who peddle a health-and-wealth message have wounded uncounted thousands who are left reeling with only one conclusion: The reason that my child died, or that my marriage failed, or that we lost our house… is because I didn’t have enough faith.

‘That is beyond cruel; it is blaphemous. Christ never promised an easy path. He never said there would be roses with no thorns, or seasons without winter, or pathways without obstacles. In fact it is quite the opposite.”

This was comforting for me to read. For years I felt condemned by Christians because they would judge me for being depressed. They would accuse me of lacking faith because I was hurting and struggling with depression. I’m so glad I no longer believe those lies.

Sheila Walsh addresses these misconceptions and more in God Loves Broken People. She also touches upon the hard questions we wrestle with as believers. Those questions we are afraid to ask others or even talk to God about. This book gave me encouragement and hope. If you are hurting, depressed, struggling, suffering or wondering why bad things happen, I highly recommend God Loves Broken People.

In conclusion, I want to thank BookSneeze for blessing me with a complimentary copy of this book to read and review.

Author

Sheila Walsh, Women of Faith® speaker, is the author of the award-winning Gigi, God’s Little Princess® series, The Shelter of God’s Promises, and a new novel, Sweet Sanctuary. Sheila lives in Texas with her husband, Barry, and son Christian.

Worthy Publishers Book Review:
 “Break Through”

June 26, 2012 by Ordinary Servant | 2 Comments

Break Through

By: Tim Clinton and Pat Springle
Hardcover: 279 pages
Publisher: Worthy Publishing
Published: May 22, 2012
Price: $19.99
Language: English ISBN-10: 1617950734
ISBN-13: 978-1617950735
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Sample Chapter

 

 

Description

“Well he does have a good side.”

“You know, it’s probably my fault.”

“She’s had a rough life. I need to cut her some slack.”

When you really care about someone, it’s easy to get stuck in painful, even destructive patterns — caving in to a spouse’s manipulation, ignoring a live-at-home son’s irresponsibility; not confronting a friend’s addiction. We excuse people again and again, and then kick ourselves for not setting better boundaries. But this important book, with its transformational tools and insightful illustrations from leading Christian counselor Tim Clinton and noted author Pat Springle, will guide you in not only breaking through to better relationships but making big changes for the better.

With their expert principles for learning to say yes when you want to and no when you need to, you’ll discover how to give up your need to please, rescue, fix, or control anyone else. Leave others’ unrealistic expectations behind. Speak hard truth to those who have hurt you. And exchange harmful relationship habits for healthy ones. Here is expert advice you need for knowing when to give in and how to push back for the best life you can have with the people you love most. Check out the video here:

Review

Break Through is an insightful and helpful book written for anyone who struggles with co-dependency. This book reminded me of another book I read and have recommended to many people, Boundaries by Henry Cloud and John Townsend. However, Break Through goes deeper into defining what loving well looks like in relationships. Many of us believe we are loving others when we really aren’t. We think we are being helpful, when we’re actually not. This book helps expose the true dynamics in relationships. Whether the relationship is with a spouse, parent, friend or co-worker.

I loved this entire book, but my favorite chapter is five: “Dismantling Our Idols.” This chapter really opened my eyes to the function of idolatry in relationships. I was surprised by what I learned. Dr. Tim Clinton mentions the role in which parents play into these unhealthy dynamics. Parents frame how we relate to others. We mirror their example, whether it is functional or dysfunctional.

I found this book especially helpful because I’m a parent. I don’t want to pass along any of these learned behaviors, dysfunctional patterns or toxic functioning on to my children. Break Through gives good examples and teaches you how not to do that. Dr. Tim Clinton writes with sensitivity and compassion. He is not preachy nor does he condemn. He demonstrates grace to his readers and encourages that breaking free is attainable. If we do the work, we are guaranteed a breakthrough.

I highly recommend this life changing book. I believe everyone can benefit from it, I know I did. In conclusion, I want to thank Worthy Publishers and Handlebar Marketing for sending me a complimentary copy of this book to review.

Author

Dr. Tim Clinton, LPC, LMFT, is president of the nearly 50,000-member American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) and founder of Light University Online, which has over 160,000 students enrolled. He is also the professor of counseling and executive director of the Center for Counseling and Family Studies at Liberty University.

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Welcome to Ordinary Servant

June 21, 2012 by Ordinary Servant | 1 Comment

Welcome to the newly designed Ordinary Servant blog. This is my redesigned blog that honors all the great writers, bloggers, thinkers and people whose books I regularly review with a brand spanking new beautiful design and easy to use site.

It brings me great pleasure to exchange comments and thoughts with the faithful people I call readers and friends. Looking forward to getting to know you even better as this site grows. Happy blogging.