Adrianne “A.C.” Babbitt's Blog, page 2
November 6, 2020
“Fight for Love,” by Rosie Makinney
Fight for Love, by Rosie Makinney, is a profound book about the effects of pornography addiction in marriage.
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Content
As a wife of a porn-addict herself, her experience and research combined, is a “life-changing resource” for wives of porn addicts (Josh McDowell, author).
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Makinney focuses on how porn affects men, their wives, and kids – providing families tools to fight back and make recovery possible. She has packed her ten chapters with neuroscience research findings, Scripture, a biblical battle plan, and her personal, informational memoir.
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“Fight for Love” debunks cultural norms and lies associated with sex and pornography. Highly researched and supported by sources, Makinney even suggests both men and women’s brains are susceptible to pornography.
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Review
“Fight for Love” is highly recommended by author, Josh McDowell. Personally, it was hard to face this topic, but quite insightful. I appreciate the author & her contributor’s honesty about their struggle with pornography.
Lastly, I admire the author’s goal in publishing this book. You’re not alone in this marital struggle. I highly recommend this book as a resource for couples. This book will equip you and your spouse with the tools needed to find healing, recovery and restoration.
About the Author
Main Author
Rosie Makinney is a writer and speaker who ten years ago entered the fight against her husband’s compulsive porn use. Through her faithful and uncompromising stance and his repentance, counseling, and group work, their marriage is now porn-free.
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From the very beginning of her journey, Rosie has been bold and relentless about reaching other wives struggling with porn-invaded marriages and has built a recovery community on the central coast of California.
Together with her husband, Mark, a certified sexual addiction therapist, Rosie founded Fight For Love Ministries, which takes a message of hope and truth into churches.
Rosie is passionate about kick-starting this discussion among women to empower them with both the facts and the faith to fight against porn addiction and its effects on them, their spouses, and their families. Connect with her at RosieMakinney.com.
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Forward Only
Josh McDowell, internationally known for his books on apologetics (Evidence That Demands a Verdict) and youth culture (Right from Wrong) as well as his innovative mission outreaches into the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, would tell you in a minute what his first ministry is–his family. He and Dottie, his wife of more than thirty years, still keep tabs on their four children from their home.
The post “Fight for Love,” by Rosie Makinney appeared first on The Haven.
October 30, 2020
“For All Who Wander: Why Knowing God is Better than Knowing it All” by Robin Dance
For All Who Wander: Why Knowing God is Better than Knowing it All, is written by Robin Dance, who is also an (in)courage author.
Content
Dance has a corresponding journey guide/journal that corresponds with the book. Dance’s goal is to “help others find hope and healing in their own story” while reading hers.
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Her book includes 25 chapters, which correspond to the journey guide.
Dance’s purpose in providing the journey guide is so readers can read, reflect, resolve, and pray – enhancing their reading experience.
Her book includes highlighted key points, relevant quotes from written works, etc., incorporates Scripture and shocking statistics.
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Review
As for myself, I loved Dance’s creative chapter titles! She shows a great deal of creativity in crafting her writing.
As a fellow blogger, I enjoyed her description of her blogging journey and the impact it had over her life. Dance is relatable, open and authentic.
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She effectively uses the teachable moments in her life to teach, help and encourage others. Incorporating media and literature of today with her story, was a treat.
I enjoyed my journey through her book and would highly recommend it for Christian women.
About the Author
Robin Dance
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Robin Dance is a writer, speaker, and contributor to the (in)courage community and The Art of Simple.
She’s traveled to India as a blogger and child sponsorship advocate for Compassion International, and her writing has been featured in ten book compilations as well as HomeLife and Mature Living magazines.
She and her husband, Tad, are enjoying newfound freedom as empty nesters, but they keep their fingers crossed and the back door open for their three adult children.
As Southern as sugar-shocked tea, she currently lives in Macon, Georgia, and online at robindance.me.
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(in)courage
At (in)courage you are welcome to a place of faith, connection, and friendship, where you will always find yourself among friends.
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Founded in 2009 by DaySpring, the Christian products subsidiary of Hallmark Cards, Inc., the vision for (in)courage was to create a new home for the hearts of women, where women take turns pulling up a chair to share their stories of what Jesus looks like in their everyday, gloriously ordinary, and often messy lives.
Since then, (in)courage has grown into a vibrant community that reaches thousands of women every day, welcoming them just the way they are, offering a space to breathe, loving support, and resources for meaningful connection.
The post “For All Who Wander: Why Knowing God is Better than Knowing it All” by Robin Dance appeared first on The Haven.
October 27, 2020
“Modern Parents Vintage Values: Instilling Character in Today’s Kids” (Revised & Updated) by Sissy Goff & Melissa Trevathan
Modern Parents Vintage Values: Instilling Character in Today’s Kids (Revised & Updated) by Sissy Goff & Melissa Trevathan, and both are certified counselors.
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Goff and Trevathan’s purpose in writing this book to address the issues parents struggle with the most when it comes to raising children.
Examples of these issues are technology, disrespect, entitlement, substance abuse, anxiety, depression, etc.
Not only that, the authors teach parents “how to cultivate kindness, gratitude, integrity, responsibility, and more.”
This book is broken into three parts, and includes quotes from authors, lists, suggestions for parents, children, and teach steps of application at the end of each chapter. As you can imagine, this book is highly supported by research and sources.
Review
This book is also highly recommended by authors, professors, speakers, and actress Candace Cameron Bure.
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I admire the authors’ mission to help parents by teaching how to instill “true, foundational, vintage values, built on faith and hope in Jesus Christ.”
The authors are passionate and offer a practical and professional perspective for parents to reference. They offer helpful, specific advice.
This advice is applicable and organized to each stage of childhood and adolescence.
Primarily, this book is encouraging to struggling parents and gives them valuable tools in their parenting tool box.
I highly recommend this valuable parenting resource, for whatever stage of life your kids are in.
About the Authors
Sissy Goff
Sissy Goff, M.Ed., LPC-MHSP has worked as the Director of Child and Adolescent Counseling and the Director of Summer Programs at Daystar since 1993. She also has been a guest on television and radio programs across the United States and in Canada.
A sought after speaker to parents and girls of all ages, Sissy is also a regular speaker at LifeWay’s You and Your Girl events. She has written for CCM Magazine, ParentLife magazine, and a variety of other periodicals.
She and Melissa Trevathan coauthored The Back Door to Your Teen’s Heart, Raising Girls, Mirrors and Maps, and Growing Up Without Getting Lost.
Melissa Trevathan
Melissa Trevathan, M.R.E. first became a youth director at the age of 16. Since that time, she has been a teacher, retreat leader, head of spiritual life at a private school in Nashville, and is now founder and Executive Director of Daystar Counseling Ministries that began in 1985.
Melissa has spoken across the country, including teaching graduate courses in counseling adolescents and has been a guest on television and radio programs throughout the United States and in Canada.
She coauthored The Back Door to Your Teen’s Heart, Raising Girls, Mirrors and Maps, and Growing Up Without Getting Lost. She is a regular speaker at LifeWay’s You and Your Girl events as well as a popular speaker for parents and kids of all ages.
The post “Modern Parents Vintage Values: Instilling Character in Today’s Kids” (Revised & Updated) by Sissy Goff & Melissa Trevathan appeared first on The Haven.
“Resuscitating Evangelism” by Jordan Easley & Ernest Easley
Resuscitating Evangelism by father-son duo, Jordan Easley & Ernest Easley, who are both pastors and evangelists. Their shared goal is to “share a biblical strategy for obeying Jesus and bringing new life to evangelism.”
The authors debunk excuses of Christians and churches as to why they don’t evangelize regularly.
This book includes eight chapters and an interlude, which rare feature I’ve never seen in a book before. the Easley’s integrate Scripture, quotes, highlight key points, lists, comparisons, personal experiences, etc.
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All of their content is heavily supported by sources and research.
Review
As for me, I liked how the authors pointed out, over discipling the church kills it, if lacks evangelism outside the church. Now that they point that out, i’ve definitely witnessed churches plagued with this perspective.
I admire their passion and drive to promote evangelism to today’s Christians.
I love the authors creativity in using health/medical terminology throughout the book, to unify the book as a whole. The imagery was quite effective and a unique angle to this important topic.
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As an author, I can tell these two authors, pairing up, elevates the book, by offering and highlighting their own expertise.
I highly recommend this book to any Christian or church, to further equip them for evangelism.
About the Authors
Ernest Easley is the teaching pastor over evangelism at First Baptist Church in Cleveland, Tennessee.
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He served as a lead pastor for over thirty-one years in Texas and Georgia and professor of evangelism for three years at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee.
He studied at Baylor University, Dallas Baptist University, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Luther Rice Seminary.
Ernest is the author of Through the Valleys and contributor on sermonsearch.com and preaching.com. He and his wife, Julie, have three children and seven grandchildren.
Jordan Easley is the senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Cleveland, Tennessee.
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He holds degrees from Dallas Baptist University in Dallas, Texas and Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, and also attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.
Jordan is the author of Life Change: Finding a New Way to Hope, Think, and Live.
He and his wife, Audra, live in Cleveland, Tennessee and are the proud parents of their two children, Jailee and Asher.
The post “Resuscitating Evangelism” by Jordan Easley & Ernest Easley appeared first on The Haven.
“You Are What You Do: And Six Other Lies About Life & Love” by Daniel Im
You Are What You Do: And Six Other Lies About Life & Love by Daniel Im, is quite the fascinating read. Im focuses on the seven lies of identity, describing the context in which these lies flourish, through personal stories, research and pastoral insight.
Im’s purpose is to reveal the truth that leads to freedom; from surviving to thriving. According to Im, “truth unlocks a life of purpose, adventure, meaning and destiny.”
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Each chapter focuses on one of these seven lies: You are What You Do, You are What You Experience, You are Who you Know, You are What You Do, You are What You Own, You Are Who You Raise, and You Are Your Past.
Im describes the lie, with relatable examples, the effects of the lie, and refutes the lie with biblical truth. As well as charts, lists and quotes to support his theories. What an intriguing concept?!
Review
I like how the author challenges readers to think about life, work and love in a fresh way.
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This book comes highly recommended by several notable pastors, speakers and authors.
I can feel the author’s passion and his desire to make a difference in people’s lives.
Not only does Im describe the lie, I love how he reveals the source and context from where these lies come – the reasons we believe them and the freeing truth.
I highly recommend this book for anyone seeking to further their self-discovery and development. Even for parents wanting to help their children find a higher sense of self-esteem, this is a great parenting tool to help you set and teach realistic expectations.
About the Author
Daniel Im is a speaker and leader who has traveled to cities like New York, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Sydney, and Seoul to teach, consult, and coach.
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His podcasts have been downloaded over 3 million times. He has pastored in five major cities around the world in churches ranging from 100 people to 50,000 people.
He has written two paradigm shifting books, No Silver Bullets: Five Small Shifts that will Transform Your Ministry, and Planting Missional Churches: Your Guide to Starting Churches that Multiply (second edition). He has an M.A. in Global Leadership and is a Gallup Certified Strengths Performance Coach.
Daniel lives in Edmonton, Alberta with his wife Christina and their three children. For more information, visit danielim.com and follow him on social media @danielsangi.
Book Trailer
The post “You Are What You Do: And Six Other Lies About Life & Love” by Daniel Im appeared first on The Haven.
“Younique” by Will Mancini with Dave Rhodes & Cory Hartman
Younique by Will Mancini with Dave Rhodes & Cory Hartman, is a great resource for anyone in ministry. The focus of this book is to find your specific calling and divine design for your life, vocation and ministry.
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According to the authors, “God created you with unique potential and place you on planet Earth for a specific purpose.”
This book is broken into six parts, mapping out specific topics for readers, in the preface, so they don’t have to read the entire book to find what they’re looking for. How clever is that?!
These parts include: Your Journey, Your One Thing, Your Identity, Your Direction, Your Renewal and Your Destiny.
In addition, the authors effectively use visual diagrams, tables and figures to clarify points. Other tools throughout the book are side notes, quotes, web-links to resources and highlighted main points. What a helpful, all-in-one tool!
Review
Younique comes highly recommended by several church leaders and participants of various ages, from all across the United States. I like how the authors utilized consistent symbolism and organization throughout the book.
What makes this book so interesting is the evident passion, professionalism, and focus shown by the authors. I find the intriguing title and topic, this book is an accessible learning tool for any Christian or church ministry training.
About the Author
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Will Mancini is the founder of Auxano, a non-profit, nationally-based church consulting firm, and the cofounder of Younique, a coaching company that delivers life design training through local churches.
He has written five books, including Church Younique and God Dreams, and enjoys speaking and writing about how to find clarity and live a life of meaningful progress.
Will lives in Houston with his wife Romy and their four children.
You can learn more about Will and his work at willmancini.com.
Connect with him on Twitter at @willmancini and Instagram at @will_be_clear.
The post “Younique” by Will Mancini with Dave Rhodes & Cory Hartman appeared first on The Haven.
“From and Before God” by Sugel Michelén
From & Before God: A Practical Introduction to Expository Preaching by Sugel Michelén is a great resource for any pastor.
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Michelén focus is based on the verse 2 Cor. 2:17, where ministers are called to preach “as from and before God.” Pastors are commissioned by God, for God alone.
Michelén asks pastors, “How would you preach differently if Jesus was sitting in your church, listening? He is!”
This book is broken into three parts, for accessibility and organization: The Theological Anchor; The Nature, Form & Content of the Expository Sermon; and Step-By-Step Preparation of an Expository Sermon.
Michelén includes quotes from notable pastors and theologians, is highly integrated with Scripture and highly supported with backed up research.
Review
Michelén integrates his concepts well, with an abundance of scriptural support, analyzation, and personal application. I can feel the passion emanating from each page of Michelén’s book.
I like how the author incorporated humor, relatable examples, and clear imagery for understanding. I recommend this book as a resource for anyone seeking to begin or improve their expository preaching.
About the Author
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Sugel Michelén, has been a pastor at IBSJ for more than 30 years, leading the preaching ministry almost every Sunday.
He is known by our distributors as a lecturer and more recently as the author of the B&H Spanish book “De parte de Dios”.
Moved by the understanding that children must be nurtured in the fear and admonition of the Lord, he has completed a large number of studies in education and has served for several years as director of ACSI Latin America.
This has not only established him as an amazing communicator, but also as someone ideal for working with children and their parents.
In addition, for over 25 years, Sugel has served as a senior executive and professor of philosophy at IBSJ Private College (Logos CS)
The post “From and Before God” by Sugel Michelén appeared first on The Haven.
October 13, 2020
“Find More Money: Increase Your Income to Tackle Debt, Save Wisely, and Live Generously,” by Art Rainer
Find More Money: Increase Your Income to Tackle Debt, Save Wisely, and Live Generously, by Art Rainer, is a helpful tool for improving finances.
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The main focus of this book is to help people provide beyond their full-time jobs, especially when that isn’t enough to provide.
Rainer calls it find a “gig”: “stewarding your talents, time and abilities so you can live generously on mission for the kingdom (of God).”
His goal is to help others have financial freedom, in order to advance God’s kingdom – not to become wealthy.
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Review
For myself, I several of his principles helpful. First, Rainer listed key priorities to consider when choosing a side-gig: opportunity, skills, and passion.
Considering these priorities in order will help you be more successful in finding the right side-gig for you.
Rainer also provides specific sites and resources to help readers find such jobs. I highly recommend this book! It is packed with original, engaging and helpful content.
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About the Author
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Art Rainer is the vice president for Institutional Advancement at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
He holds a Doctor of Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University and an MBA from the University of Kentucky.
He writes widely about issues related to finance, wealth, and generosity and is the author of The Money Challenge: 30 Days of Discovering God’s Design for You and Your Money.
Art lives in Wake Forest, North Carolina, with his wife, Sarah, and three children.
The post “Find More Money: Increase Your Income to Tackle Debt, Save Wisely, and Live Generously,” by Art Rainer appeared first on The Haven.
“Journey to the Cross: 40 Days to Prepare Your Heart for Easter,” by Mary Carver and the (in)courage community
Journey to the Cross: 40 Days to Prepare Your Heart for Easter, by Mary Carver and the (in)courage community, is an encouraging devotional.
Content
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Focused on the 40 days of Lent, this devotional features Scriptures, short essays, encouraging stories, quotes, reflective questions and prayers. It even has room to write your reflections, etc.
In addition, the key themes of this book addresses are sacrifice, reflection, gratitude, prayer, and fasting.
For those who like to keep track, it includes a Lent devotional calendar checklist, to keep track what days have been read.
Review
As for the book itself, it’s small, durable, perfect for on the go devotionals at the coffee shop.
The beautiful artwork and word art make the book more appealing and nurture a sense of serenity.
With varying lengths of pages day to day, it is still short enough to fit into any schedule. I highly recommend this well-made devotional.
About the Author
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At (in)courage you are welcome to a place of faith, connection, and friendship, where you will always find yourself among friends.
Founded in 2009 by DaySpring, the Christian products subsidiary of Hallmark Cards, Inc., the vision for (in)courage was to create a new home for the hearts of women, where women take turns pulling up a chair to share their stories of what Jesus looks like in their everyday, gloriously ordinary, and often messy lives.
Since then, (in)courage has grown into a vibrant community that reaches thousands of women every day, welcoming them just the way they are, offering a space to breathe, loving support, and resources for meaningful connection.
The post “Journey to the Cross: 40 Days to Prepare Your Heart for Easter,” by Mary Carver and the (in)courage community appeared first on The Haven.
“90 Days with the God Who Speaks” by B&H Publishing Group
90 Days with the God Who Speaks, by B&H Publishing Group, is a 90 day devotional for men and women of all ages.
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This particular devotional focuses on Christ throughout the Bible, through the storyline of Scripture and essential biblical doctrine.
Interestingly, this devotional’s content is based on “The Gospel Project” curriculum. This is a widely known biblical curriculum.
As well as great foundational content, this book includes biblical narrative, personal application, personal reflection questions, and prayer prompts.
Each day is only 2-3 small pages long, easy to fit into anyone’s busy schedule.
Review
For myself, I liked that this devotional’s content is biblically focuses, doctrinally accurate, personally applicable, and teachers the reader doctrine and biblical truth.
I also thought it was clever for the publisher to use the wi-fi symbol to draw the audience in. The book itself is small, yet durable – great for on the go devotionals in the coffee shop. I highly recommend this devotional.
About the Author
B&H Publishing Group, an imprint of LifeWay Christian Resources, is a team that believes Every Word Matters®. We seek to provide intentional, biblical content that positively impacts the hearts and minds of people, cultivating lifelong relationships with Jesus Christ.
The post “90 Days with the God Who Speaks” by B&H Publishing Group appeared first on The Haven.
