false 285 141 126 true 5639813 read 4 true 3932725 currently-reading 11 true 3932724 to-read 69 false 3932736 fiction-christian 34 false 4195636 non-fiction-christian 7 false 3944018 fiction-general 6 false 3939641 bible-studies 4 false 3939766 non-fiction-devotionals 2 false 4851300 best-of-the-best 1 false 4820568 first-reads 1 false 7014334 fiction-christian-young-adult 1 false 4722230 fiction-children-s 1 false 4453007 essays 1 false 4534839 non-fiction-general 1 false 6530731 bibles 1 false 3975461 podcast-christian 1 false 3939659 sermons 1 false 4453036 plays 0 false 5520493 randy-singer 0 false 4845804 humor http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75755727 to: Critical Care (Mercy Hospital) by Candace Calvert
bookshelves: fiction-christian
Can a medical drama be written without explicit dialogue or scenes? Can an author craft a story without such material? Certainly! And Candace Calvert has done just that.

Critical Care is the engaging story of Sierra Mercy's Emergency Room physician (Dr. Logan Caldwell, aka Dr. McSnarly) and Claire Avery, an Education Nurse charged with securing the mental and emotional well being of the emergency care staff.

What did I learn from this book? What keeps takeout pizza's on speed dial for an ER doctor. The often comical mental discussions women have with themselves when falling in love. And finally, that there is nothing that an afternoon walk in a 'glorious field of daffodils' won't cure.

This story is filled with believable characters with personalities much like most work environments. There is always an ambitious type A personality such as Sarah Burke, another ER nurse that at Sierra Mercy Hospital is driven to succeed or to please at all costs.

In addition you'll often find dedicated managers/supervisors such as Erin Quin, Sierra Mercy's ER Head Nurse, who receive dictates from their superiors but identify more often with their subordinates. And there is most always a person having to process the fear and failures of their past like Claire Avery, the heroine with traumatic memories of the loss of brother.

With this array of characters and personalities, the reader can easily relate to Critical Care. As the novel develops and the reasons for each behavior is revealed, the result is a well developed storyline.

The romance between Dr. McSnarly and Claire Avery gradually unfolds first with frustration, then with uncertainty, and finally with grace. In the end, the story heralds that fact that our behavior is sometimes the result our past experiences and the clear choice in overcoming them is to simply face them.

Critical Care is a great read. I recommend it highly and look forward to Book Two. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/71270205 to: The Shame Exchange: Trading Shame for God's Mercy and Freedom (Paperback) by Sally Breedlove
bookshelves: non-fiction-christian
Written by a team of two couples with many years of experience, this is a timely book for those who find themselves struggling with shame and guilt whether it their own or others.

An extensive list of real life examples and illustrations are noted throughout the book. What follows is a general discussion of the definition of shame and guilt and the suggestion that not all shame or guilt is bad.

An engaging concept and while reading the book you find that it is true. Some shame, some guilt is healthy and promotes repentance and reconciliation.

While the book is written to all, the focus seems to be mainly on those who have made a commitment to Christ.

All ideas in the book are biblically sound and therefore trustworthy. The application process of the ‘healing ingredients’ provides a firm foundation for dealing with shame and guilt prompting the reader to solid approach to healing.

If I would note one criticism, it would be the shift in speakers. All four authors are interesting and offer great advice; however, the reader may struggle with the change in author.

I would recommend this book to any believer battling the issue of shame and guilt. The advice comes from four experienced authors and provides sound biblical advice.

Disclaimer:
The review copy of this book was provided free of charge by NavPress and has been donated to the library of Westwood Baptist Church. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75134737 to: Grace Notes: Daily Readings with a Fellow Pilgrim (Hardcover) by Philip Yancey
bookshelves: non-fiction-devotionals
Philip Yancey’s writings both encourage and challenge me. The insights and observations he offers in his work bear witness of his contemplative walk with God. It is for this reason that I anticipated reading his new devotional Grace Notes: Daily Readings with a Fellow Pilgrim.

In this 366 day devotional, he includes key sections from previous works such as The Jesus I Never Knew, What’s So Amazing About Grace?, and Where Is God When It Hurts?, as well as many of his other writings.

The form of this devotional is quite different from most. The majority of devotionals I’ve read take the form first of a select scripture, then perhaps a related quote, a short grouping of text to illuminate the scripture and sometimes a prayer.

In Grace Notes: Daily Readings with a Fellow Pilgrim, scripture is mentioned and referenced in the text but not listed separately at the beginning or ending of the devotion for that day. It is a different approach to devotional reading and brings a more conversational tone to the book.

So many areas of Christianity are covered in this devotional which makes it one to keep and return to year after year. If you are new to the writings of Philip Yancey, a descriptive bibliography is included referencing many of his books and articles.

If asked which one of Philip Yancey’s books was my favorite, I would be hard pressed to give only one. Yancey is thoughtful and provocative, engaging and inspiring, and always sincere and genuine. This makes this devotional rare indeed.

Consider the following concepts:

* From June 1st, entitled ‘Atrocious Mathematics‘ – “I hear a loud whisper from the gospels that tells me that I did not get what I deserved. I deserved punishment but I got forgiveness.”

* From August12th entitled ‘Downward Surrender’ -“Jesus suggest that we discover self not by staring inward but by gazing outward, not through introspection but through acts of love.”

* From November 4th, entitled ‘Weapons of Mercy’ -“If my activism, however, well-motivated, drives out love, then I have misunderstood Jesus’ Gospel. I am stuck with the law, not the gospel of grace.”

This would be a wonderful gift for any occasion. I recommend it highly. The review copy I received at no cost and was donated to my local church. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/69716117 to: GodStories: Explorations in the Gospel of God (Paperback) by Andrew Wilson
bookshelves: non-fiction-christian
"Sometimes our gospel is just too small. If we're not careful, we can take a story about Jesus rescuing creation, and reduce it into a story about me." -Andrew Wilson

`God*Stories: Explorations in the Gospel of God` by Andrew Wilson is a book for the new believer with a mind to discover the many beautiful biblical accounts in an exceptional way. It is also a book for the seasoned believer and provides a fresh, innovative view.

It's a series of reflections on God as revealed in the bible from beginning to end. It's reflecting on these accounts with current illustrations and references displaying reverence and an awe for the mighty works of our glorious God.

Andrew Wilson writes God's gospel, His `Good News', offering them in as 5 act play, which are:

* Creation and Fall
* Israel and History
* Poets and Prophets
* Jesus and Rescue
* Restoration and Hope

"It's an epic love story that starts with betrayal and ends with a wedding, but it's also a thriller where the hero fights to save the world against impossible odds. It's massive. It's a sweeping drama of GodStories from start to finish." -Andrew Wilson

Biblical events are described using current relevant topics and several different Bible versions (ESV, NASB, KJV, NKJV, and the NIV) creating a very easy to read, conversational style.

Another point I found interesting was his description of his purpose for writing this book is his reference to the `story beneath the story' relating it to popular movies providing a connection to the reader using examples from the entertainment industry, popular social media, and ideas on culture.

Intermittently listed are sections called `Coffee Breaks'. These sections include a wealth of additional areas to study, read, learn, listen and view other resources.

In these `Coffee Break' sections, the reader will find recommended reading from great minds (Hudson Taylor, George Whitfield, Elisabeth Elliot, Roy Hattersley, John Piper, and Max Turner); Prayers; Poems; Dramas that can viewed on youtube.com; Hymns; and references to the powerful preachers from the past.

I found this a wonderful read. I recommend it highly as a personal resource or a gift to a new or seasoned believer.
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/71802402 to: Deadfall (Hardcover) by Robert Liparulo
bookshelves: fiction-christian
“Four friends, beautiful scenery,
and a high tech satellite weapon
in the hands of indulgent, maniacal teenagers.”

In “Comes a Horseman“, I was intrigued. In “Germ“, I was astonished. In “Deadfall (A John Hutchinson Novel)“, I am hooked. Robert Liparulo has become one of my favorite authors.

All three Liparulo’s novels have the key elements that make for a fine suspense thriller; thorough research, educating the reader as well as entertaining them; descriptive and engaging scenery as well as character dialogue; and a mind tripping plot.

In this novel, four friends arrive in Canada on a hunting trip. On route to the isolated area in Canada, all four men, save one, discuss their personal and professional problems and express their hope that this trip will be just what they need.

They no sooner arrive when they stumble upon a spoiled billionaire teenager and his band of misfits bent on capturing footage for a new video game. This group of teenagers know little and care less about the people in the nearby town of Fiddler Falls. Declan Page, their leader, is set on gathering real-life blood and gore footage to use in the new video game.

After capturing the town and killing two townspeople using a hightech GPS tracking system combined with a prototype military defense weapon called SLC, the militant teenagers discover John Hutchinson (Hutch) out hunting.

The race is on from this point and what follows is not stop action, a survival story at its best. Hutch and his friends, save one, head toward Fiddler Falls in hopes of finding help.

They find no help.

The townspeople are being held hostage and all resources either disabled or destroyed.They stumble upon the sheriff’s wife (now a widow) and her son as they attempt to escape as well. The small group is quickly separated when Declan and his group return.

The story develops on to a wonderfully enjoyable suspense thriller. I especially enjoyed the thought processes of all the characters. The part of the evil Declan and his bumbling gun-loosing girlfriend had me wondering how Declan ever swayed the others on his team to follow him. Then again, the Bible records the answer- “money answereth all things“.

I have no doubt that you will enjoy this book. I am certainly looking forward to reading the sequel “Deadlock“. ]]> http://apps.facebook.com/good_reads/ check it out » ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/63357564 to: The Problem of Pain (Paperback) by C.S. Lewis
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/56946692 to: The Heir (Hardcover) by Paul Robertson
bookshelves: fiction-christian
"When a man knows his purpose, everyone else knows as well" - the scene setting quote from the first chapter of Paul Robertson's "The Heir".

Simply put, the plot centers around Jason Boyer, a trust-baby young man happy to exist on thirty-thousand a month until the untimely death of his father which plunges him into the political world against his will.

You are immediately taken with Jason's strange wit often sarcastic and cynical, we see a daring man emerge. His wife, his brother, and his fathers business associates notice a change in him as he embarks on setting his fathers house in order.

As he begins to make devastating business decisions primarily affecting those that chiefly benefit from his fathers corrupt business machinery, people start dying around him.

These events coupled with his own inner desire to know, prompt him to ask the question "Why am I here?". You will follow along as Jason Boyer faces events that shape his own philosophy, his moral values, his morality concerning money, power, politics, and more. The reader will find redemption and hope when the final decision is made as to what Jason does with the money.

An intriguing tale, with quick witted dialogue, fast paced events, and grand storytelling in a moral framework make this a very interesting whodunit. ]]>