Kaylea Hutson's Blog, page 53

Quote of the Day: A New Habit

Just something to think about today, thanks to The Happiness Project.

"If you make it a habit not to blame others, you will feel the growth of the ability to love in your soul, and you will see the growth of goodness in your life."
— Leo Tolstoy

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Something Cool

Each year, the church I work for hosts a community "shoebox" party for Operation Christmas Child. We stuff items into shoeboxes, which are then distributed to children around the world through Samaritan's Purse.

This year, we learned (because of tracking a few packages) that a lot of our boxes went to children in Ghana.

Today, Lane McLoud, who has helped spearhead the project for many years, received a note from a boy in Ghana, thanking her/us for the box.

Wow. I was in awe as I held the letter. What an amazing thing to think that one of the boxes we filled more than four months ago, made a difference in the life of this young man.

I wanted to share it, not only here, but I'll go put this on the children's ministry blog. Sometimes since we only see the "input" of our actions (the pile of boxes waiting to be shipped overseas), it's nice to see the "output" or "outcome" of the box who touched the life of a child in another country.

Just a small thing that really made my day better today.
Thanks Lane, I needed the reminder of why we do what we do.

Blog Tour: The Deepest Waters (Review)

In The Deepest Waters, Dan Walsh has once again pulled together a novel which weaves together historical fact, along with themes of love, hope and faith.

With The Deepest Waters, Walsh tells the tale of John and Laura Foster, who become victims of a shipwreck while on their honeymoon.

I found the story interesting - OK, it was a bit predictable a bit at times - to watch the story of Laura and John unfold. Walsh tells the tale from the perspective of his two main characters - Laura, who is rescued with he women (ala the Titanic), and John, as he finds redemption from a certain death in unexpected ways.

I liked the book simply because I enjoy seeing how Walsh pulls historical facts and ideas into his novels. While it's not my favorite - I really liked his first two books - The Deepest Waters is a solid, stand-alone tale that will provide a delightful read for someone wanting to escape reality a bit..

If you are looking for a love story that ranks up there with Nicholas Sparks, but has a solid Christian theme, then look no further - I think The Deepest Waters, will fill that desire.

On a scale of one to five, with five being the highest, I give this book a solid three and a half to four. For historical fact and character development, Walsh does a fabulous job. (I really liked the supporting storyline which develops using a character from the boat and servants in John's family home.)

It will be interesting to see what Walsh creates next, since he retired from the ministry in August 2010 to write full-time.

More About The Book
For John and Laura Foster, what began as a fairytale honeymoon in 1857 aboard the steamship SS Vandervere soon becomes a nightmare. 

A terrible hurricane strikes and the grand ship is lost in the murky depths of the Atlantic. 

Laura finds herself rescued with the other women and children, but how can she feel anything but despondent without her groom? 

Suspecting her John is gone but still daring to hope for a miracle, Laura must face the possibility of life alone.

About The Author
Dan Walsh is the award-winning author of The Unfinished Gift, The Homecoming, and The Deepest Waters.

A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Walsh served as a pastor for 25 years. He lives with his family in the Daytona Beach area, where he's busy researching and writing his next novel.

Find him online here: http://www.danwalshbooks.com/

Online Resources
Buy It At Amazon.com
Read an Excerpt of Deepest Waters here
Download a Readers' Group Guide here.

Past Reviews & Interviews with Walsh: 
The Unfinished Gift (Review & Interview)
The Homecoming (Review & Interview) 

About Revell, The Publisher
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, offers practical books that bring the Christian faith to everyday life.  They publish resources from a variety of well-known brands and authors, including their partnership with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and Hungry Planet. For more information, visit www.RevellBooks.com.

Note: As a freelance journalist, I was provided a copy of this book by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. This review was not influenced by a free book - just in case you (or the FTC) were worried about this detail.

Blog Tour: Besides Still Waters (Review)

Let me say first, that I am, not a huge fan of Amish fiction. At times, the genre seems well, over populated, with authors jumping on the bandwagon just for sales.

With that said, I know this doesn't reflect the entire line, because at least two authors have mangaed to wiggle a few well-written Amish novels onto my reading list.

Tricia Goyer is one of those authors.

I'll admit, I picked up the novel because I've been very impressed with Goyer's previous works of fiction - especially The Swiss Courier. I like how she crafts her novels, weaves strong story lines into the pages, and sometimes leaves me "thinking" after I put it down for the last time.

I found Besides Still Waters different than other Amish books for a variety of reasons.

First, the setting moves from the midwest and Montana - most Amish novels are set in Pennsylvania, Indiana or even Missouri (which has a growing Amish population). I found Goyer's descriptions of Montana to be vivid and made me want to travel there.

Second, the storyline is different, in that while it takes place chiefly among an Amish family, it could honestly take place among any family. The struggles that Marianna Sommer faces in terms of her faith, family and personal identity, are all to real for most teenage girls (and guys).

This was an interesting first Amish novel for Goyer. I'm not sure where she plans to take the series, but she definitely left me wanting to know more about Marianna and her family.

On a scale of one to five, with five being the highest, I give this novel a solid 3.5 to 4. It's definitely one I could recommend to others.

More About The Book
Raised among the Amish of Indiana, 18-year-old Marianna Sommer plans to get baptized into the church, marry Aaron Zook, and set up life in the only community she has ever known. 

But when her older brother chooses the world's path following his rumschpringe, and a younger sibling begins showing interest in Englisch ways, Marianna's parents move the family to Montana. 

Although she is also in her rumschpringe years and not obligated to move, Marianna makes the journey to dutifully help her mother who is expecting another child. 

Surprisingly, from strangers on the cross-country train ride to the less rigid stance of the new Montana community, many Englisch influences awaken within Marianna—and even her father—the desire to pursue a deeper kind of joy and love for God. 

After an accident, Marianna tells her friend Ben a defining story about the Sommer family, and his response further illumines the active relationship God seeks with His followers. 

In due time, she learns the move from Indiana was not about losing anything, but finding out who God really is. Despite all the shake-ups, Marianna feels a sweet peace, like still waters, in her soul.

About The Author
Tricia Goyer is the author of 26 books including Songbird Under a German Moon, The Swiss Courier, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough. She won Historical Novel of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from ACFW, and was honored with the Writer of the Year award from Mt. Hermon Writer's Conference in 2003.

Goyer's book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion in 2005. In addition to her novels, Goyer writes non-fiction books and magazine articles for publications like MomSense and Thriving Family.

Goyer is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences, and has been a workshop presenter at the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International Conventions. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Ark., where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife. Visit www.triciagoyer.com for more info.

 Online Resources
Watch the book trailer on YouTube


More from the publisher - B&H Books
Check it out on Tricia Goyer's Blog
Find it online at Amazon.com
Read reviews at Goodreads.com
Follow the blog tour here!

It's A Contest
To celebrate the release of the first book in the Big Sky Amish series Tricia is giving away 10 copies of Beside Still Waters and a pair of super cute antique Amish salt & pepper shakers. (photo attached)

Details at Tricia's blog, It's Real Life: http://triciagoyer.blogspot.com/2011/04/beside-still-waters-giveaway.html

BONUS! Each person who enters the giveaway will receive a FABULOUS Montana Amish Calendar. Hurry, it's only available while supplies last!

Note: As a freelance journalist, I was provided a copy of this book by Litfuse Publicity Group. This review was not influenced by a free book - just in case you (or the FTC) were worried about this detail. 

Blog Tour: Coach Wooden (Review)

Legends aren't born. They're made.

When John Wooden graduated from eighth grade his father gave him a handwritten card and said, "Son, try to live up to this." 

On the card, his father had written seven simple yet profound life principles:
    Be true to yourself
    Help others
    Make friendship a fine art
    Drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible
    Make each day your masterpiece
    Build a shelter against a rainy day by the life you live
    Give thanks for your blessings and pray for guidance every day

These principles were the key to Coach Wooden's greatness--and his goodness. Through powerful stories and advice, this book shares the wisdom that made Wooden happy and successful, not just in his career but in life. 

This inspirational and conversational book will encourage, challenge, and motivate you to build these principles into your own life so that you can impact the lives of others.

What I Thought
 OK, I'll admit it. I didn't know who Coach Wooden was when I agreed to read and review this book.At least two guy friends saw me reading it and were like "wow, the most winning-ist coach in history."

So, you could say, that I didn't have much sports knowledge going into this book. But to my surprise, this book is more than a memoir focusing on a retired collegiate coach.

Rather, it's a book that is quite straight forward and focuses on seven life-lessons which can be applied in everyone's life.

Through stories from Wooden (the book was finished before he died in 2010), and from people impacted by the coach, Williams has crafted a book that takes the seven lessons Wooden used to shape his life and turned them into a book which is both easy to read and also enjoyable.

Seven simple, easy to follow lessons. Wooden used these tenants to shape the lives of the students who he came into contact with.

This book, and the lessons within, may ultimately change your life. I'm glad I took time to read it, and look forward to recommending it to others.

More About The Authors
Pat Williams is senior vice president of the NBA's Orlando Magic. He has more than forty years of professional sports experience, has written dozens of books, and is one of America's most sought-after motivational speakers. He lives in Florida.

You can find more about Williams here: http://www.patwilliamsmotivate.com/

Jim Denney is a full-time freelance writer with more than 80 published books to his credit. His collaborative titles include In the Trenches: the Autobiography with Super Bowl champion Reggie White; Undefeated, with father-son Super Bowl/Rose Bowl champs Bob and Brian Griese; A Model for a Better Future with Kim Alexis; and numerous books with Pat Williams, including Go For the Magic.

Online Resources

Read an excerpt from Coach Wooden online
Purchase Coach Wooden at Amazon

About Revell, The Publisher
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, offers practical books that bring the Christian faith to everyday life.  They publish resources from a variety of well-known brands and authors, including their partnership with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and Hungry Planet. For more information, visit www.RevellBooks.com.

Note: As a freelance journalist, I was provided a copy of this book by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. This review was not influenced by a free book - just in case you (or the FTC) were worried about this detail.

Blog Tour: Lazarus Awakening (Review)

Have you ever wondered what it was like, to stand outside the grave, listening to Jesus say "Lazarus, Come Out," and watch as Jesus brought Lazarus back from the dead?

Imagine the emotions you might feel, as the one Jesus loved, came back to life.

Using the story of Lazarus as a jumping off point (after writing about his siblings Mary and Martha), Joanna Weaver has crafted a book that helps her readers find their place within the heart of God.

This booke, written in an easy, conversational tone, weaves together Biblical facts and personal stories to bring out a variety of themes - including awakening from a spiritual slumber and determining what holds you in a "grave" in life.

I found myself drawn into this book, (I've read other books by Weaver), and I found myself once again, looking at a familiar story in a new way.

I appreciate the message Weaver has included in her book, and would like to dive into it deeper using the included Bible study with a small group.

Written as a "women's" Christian living book, the story - and it's message - is one that everyone needs to know - regardless of gender.

More About The Book
Getting God's Love from Our Heads to Our Hearts

You believe that God loves the world…but sometimes you wonder if He truly loves you.

For many of us, moving the truth of God's love from our heads to our hearts is a lifelong process. As we consider our inadequacies or grieve our shattered dreams, we find it difficult to believe that God cares for us personally.

In this life-giving book, Joanna Weaver shows you how to embrace the truth that Jesus loves you apart from anything you accomplish, apart from anything you bring. Just as He called Lazarus forth to new life, Jesus wants to free you to live fully in the light of His love, unbound from the graveclothes of fear, regret, and self-condemnation.

Love is calling your name.
 About The Author
Joanna Weaver is known the world over for her transparent and life-changing books, Having A Mary Heart in a Martha World and Having a Mary Spirit.

These two books have sold over a million copies and have been translated into several languages including Spanish, French, Dutch, Chinese, German, Korean and more.

Weaver has appeared on a wide variety of nationally syndicated radio and television broadcasts. Past appearances include: The Harvest Show, At Home Live With Chuck & Jenni, Midday Connection, HomeWord, and Janet Parschall's America.

She is also a highly sought after speaker and shares her message at intimate gatherings and several high profile events each year. But Weaver's greatest joy is found in being a wife and mother and her role as a pastor's wife. For more information about Weaver, visit her website. www.joannaweaverbooks.com.

Online Resources
Buy Lazarus Awakening @ Amazon.com
Download a Bible Study & Leader's Guide for Lazarus Awakening here.
Follow the Litfuse Blog Tour Here

It's A Contest
Joanna Weaver is celebrating the release of Lazarus Awakening with the Heart of God KINDLE Giveaway!

In Lazarus Awakening Weaver writes about getting God's love from our heads to our hearts. We all know Jesus loved Mary – look how she worshiped. And we can understand why He loved Martha – after all, look how she served. But what about those of us who don't know where we fit in the heart of God?

Lazarus Awakening explores the tale of the third follower – Mary and Martha's brother, Lazarus. We never hear him speak, we never see him serve. The only thing of any significance that Lazarus did was to die. And yet, the Bible is clear. Jesus loved Lazarus. And He loves you and me as well. Lazarus Awakening looks at different aspects of the story we find in John 11.

We learn what it means to be a friend of God and begin recognizing the tombs we spend far too much time in. Find out more here.


 One grand prize winner will receive:

    * A Brand New KINDLE with Wi-Fi
    * Having A Mary Heart in a Martha World
    * Having A Mary Spirit
    * Lazarus Awakening

Weaver will also select two additional contest entrants to receive copies of her trilogy. Enter soon by clicking the icons below and then tell your friends. Hurry the contest ends April 16th. The winner will be announced on Weaver's blog on April 18th.


Note: As a freelance journalist, I was provided a copy of this book by Litfuse Publicity Group. This review was not influenced by a free book - just in case you (or the FTC) were worried about this detail. 

Blog Tour: Hope, Help and Healing for Eating Disorders (Review)

Heal your relationship with food.

Eating disorders and disordered eating ravage and consume too many lives.  In this powerful book for individuals suffering from eating disorders—as well as those wanting to help—Dr. Gregory Jantz comes alongside his readers with a well-tested and successful approach that addresses the emotional, relational, physical, and spiritual dimensions of healing from an eating disorder.

Topics include:
  • Five often-overlooked nutritional keys to recovery
  • How to let go of anger, fear, and guilt
   • Tools for creating a binge-free life
   • How not to be a victim of others
   • The role of emotional and verbal abuse in eating disorders
   • Seven keys to creating healthy relationships
 
This completely updated and revised edition contains new material on nutritional leading-edge interventions, spiritual abuse, and healing strategies for compulsive behaviors.

If food has not found its proper place as nutrition in your life, discover the answers in Hope, Help and Healing for Eating Disorders. Because you can do more than just survive--you can really live.

Contains thought provoking questions and activities to guide readers through progressive healing steps.

What I Thought
I picked up this book, because well, I work with teenage girls who often deal with food issues.

The book is easy to read and contains several personal stories designed to help illustrate the message that there is hope, help and healing for people dealing with disordered eating (anorexia, bulimia and more.)

Less of a self-help book, it instead is a book which is more of an overview and resource for someone wanting to get out of the pit of food addiction.

Help and hope. I feel very comfortable passing this book along to a student, or parent for that matter, impacted by food issues.

About The Author

Gregory Jantz, Ph.D., is a popular speaker, author, host of daily radio call-in program, and founder and executive director of The Center for Counseling and Health Resources, Inc., a leading mental health and chemical dependency treatment facility in the Seattle area.

Dr. Jantz's "whole person" approach to mental health addresses the emotional, physical, intellectual, relational, and spiritual dimensions of human beings. He has authored seven books, including Hope, Help and Healing for Eating Disorders and Losing Weight Permanently: Secrets of the 2% Who Succeed.


Online Resources
Read an online excerpt here.
Download the first chapter here.
Buy it at Amazon.com here
 
Note: As a freelance journalist, I was provided a copy of this book by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group. This review was not influenced by a free book - just in case you (or the FTC) were worried about this detail. 

Destination: NWA

Destination: NWA is over. The mission experience for older elementary and middle school students is finished, and it was a success.

Four days, three nights, five work projects. It proves a simple point - you are never too young to serve God.

Students helped serve a community meal, held a canned food scavenger hunt for a food pantry, helped in the food pantry, and also helped move the furniture and toys back into a re-furbished church nursery.

All in all, 30 students and a plethora of adults took part in the trip - representing four churches within the Northwest (AR) District of the United Methodist Church.

Hopefully, a few students had a chance to "Break Out" of their comfort zones and learn how to serve God in new ways, within their local communities.

Destination: NWA (or how I'm spending my spring break)

Meet the Destination: NWA Team
For the next few days I'm "missioning" with a group of older elementary and middle school students (along with three really great high school helpers). We'll be helping at a community meal, having a canned food scavenger hunt for a local food pantry, working in the food pantry and helping do a project or two at the jurisdictional conference retreat center.

I love the fact that these kids are willing to give up part of their spring break to do something for someone else.

I also love the fact that their parents trust us enough to send their older elementary (and middle school) students on four day - three night mission trip.

Here's some close ups of the students (and adults) on this week's trip.
 Team Bella Vista (First UMC Bella Vista)
 Team Springdale (First UMC - Springdale)
 Team Siloam Springs (First UMC - Siloam Springs)
Team Elm Springs (Elm Springs UMC)I'll write more later. But for now, if you are reading this, please pray for the team. We've got a few kiddos on allergy meds (season turning kind of things) and a few others who are feeling a bit run-down. 
In all today went great- a team building extravaganza!
The "work" begins bright and early tomorrow!

Blog Tour: Love Amid The Ashes (Review & Interview)

Is it possible for two people find love in the midst of heartache, loss and well, ashes?

That is the question posed by Mesu Andrews in her debut novel, Love Amid The Ashes, a story that brings the Bible to life as it explores the story of Job in a new and unique way - including placing it within the timeline of Jacob, Easu and Jospeh.

"In the myriad historical biblical novels I read – both Christian and secular – I never encountered the story of Job's life," Andrews said. "I wondered why. Was it simply too depressing or was there simply not enough historical data to create a well-informed story?

"On the first day of my research in a university library, I picked up a commentary and discovered two things: 1) Job was thought by some to be Esau's great-grandson, and 2) Job's wife mentioned in Job 3 may not have been the same wife mentioned at the end of his suffering.

"Well, at that moment, I was hooked! I didn't care how depressing Job's suffering was because we all know God blesses him in the end! My real passion for the story came when I realized the women around Job were just as important to God as Job."

Though the novel, which opens with the introduction of Dianh, Isaac's granddaughter - Jacob's daughter, agreeing to adhere to Isaac's dying wish, that she will marry into the family of Job - thus bringing God's blessing to the line of Esau through potential offspring.

The storyline weaves together not only Job's struggles, but also introduces readers to Dianah's possible heartache and pain carried with her from her young life.

Through it all, Andrews said she learned many lessons from her main characters - including patience.

"So many times in the story, I wanted to rush Dinah through an emotion or rush Job through his illness, and my critique partners would have to slow the scene progression down," Andrews said. "It was very telling about how I tend to rush my own emotions or my own health issues, impatiently tapping my toe, waiting for God to 'hurry up!'

"Just as a teacher learns far more in preparation than his/her students learn from the lesson, I think a writer probably learns more from her characters than the readers do!"

Andrews said she typically writes her novels to be light on fiction and heavy on Biblical facts.

"I have such a passion for God's Word. It is the air I breathe," Andrews explained. "I get a real charge out of finding fun, seemingly insignificant little verses and weaving them into an intriguing plot twist. I use my chronological Bible to discover what characters live in the same era and try to pull them all into the story!

"The Bible world was a small world, and though they didn't have planes, trains and automobiles, they had strong family ties that linked them. So, for my novels, it's not just the Bible and fiction. It's the Bible (inerrant truth without deviating), adding in historical data (from ancient texts and rabbinic tradition), joined by fiction (good ol' homespun imagination)."

In all, Andrews hopes her readers learn several things from her novel.

"I hope...they realize suffering isn't God's way of pounding people. It's His way of turning the enemy's evil plan to good – shaping us and revealing Himself," Andrews said. "Though Job asks 'why' time and time again, God never reveals the cosmic reason for Job's afflictions.

"He reveals only Job's frailty in the shadow of a loving, almighty God. Job doesn't respond with groveling and terror (as one might expect in the presence of such a display of God's power), but Job shows wonder and obedience. I suppose that's what I hope for from readers – wonder and obedience as they see God in a new way."

A Look Ahead
Andrews is in the process of editing and marketing her second novel, Love's Sacred Song, the story of King Solomon's early years and the love of a shepherd girl that shaped his character and his nation. It is set for a March 2012 release.

She has also started research on four additional biblical novels.

"I love to find famous (or infamous) male figures and then search and dig for interesting information about the women in their lives," Andrews said. "Stay tuned to discover which shadowy characters are revealed in the next four Old Testament tales!"

What I Thought
Wow.

For a debut novel, Mesu Andrews has "hit a home run" with her portrayal of Dinah and Job.

Through strong Biblical research and solid writing, Andrews has created a novel that is not only enjoyable to read, but will also challenge you to study the Bible more and more. 

I'll be honest, it made me read the novel alongside my Bible, to try to determine which aspects were fiction and which were true.

I find her placement of Job within the chronology of Jacob, Esau and Joseph, helps give the story a new twist. Exploring Dinah possible role in the story was well, unexpected.

On a scale of one to five,with five as the highest, I definitely give it a solid for, if not four and half. I honestly couldn't put this novel down. It's made me think of the story of Job in new ways - and given me new images to describe Job's sufferings with others.

This novel is challenging and enjoyable. It's definitely a book you'll want to read more than once.

More About The Book
An epic story of love and forgiveness, suffering and restoration

When her beloved grandfather Isaac dies, Dinah must follow his final command: travel to Job's household to marry his son. After Job's world comes crashing down, Dinah finds herself drawn to this great man brought low. What will she risk to fight for his survival?

Mesu Andrews weaves an emotional and stirring account of Job and Dinah. Love Amid the Ashes breathes life, romance, and passion into the classic biblical story of suffering and steadfast faith.

More About The Author
Mesu Andrews is an active speaker who has devoted herself to passionate and intense study of Scripture.

Harnessing her deep understanding and love for God's Word, Andrews brings the biblical world alive for her readers in this debut novel. She lives in Washington.

"I  have lots of free resources and info posted on my website: www.MesuAndrews.com. Folks can download discussion questions and a Bible study on Love Amid the Ashes and sign up for my weekly e-devotionals. Or they can just drop by and leave a comment. I'd love to hear from you!"

Online Resources
A Bible Study for Love Amid The Ashes
An online excerpt of Love Amid The Ashes
An online reading guide for Love Amid The Ashes
Find Love Amid The Ashes @ Amazon.com

About Revell, The Publisher
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, offers practical books that bring the Christian faith to everyday life.  They publish resources from a variety of well-known brands and authors, including their partnership with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and Hungry Planet. For more information, visit www.RevellBooks.com.

Note: As a freelance journalist, I was provided a copy of this book by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. This review was not influenced by a free book - just in case you (or the FTC) were worried about this detail.