Growing Up Amish... A Memoir

By Ira Wagler.  

 This is Ira's story of growing up and how he endeavors to fit into the Old Order Amish community.   There is heartache and heartbreak through out as he figures out his way to God.  In the end there is peace in his heart.  
For some reason I did not realize this book is an autobiography when I started reading it.  As I was reading I was drawn to wonder and feel for his momma.  I can not imagine not being able to see my child.  I am glad for Ira that he was able to see in the end that God is loving and merciful and not available thru the laws that man set, but in direct relationship.  This book helps one see that there are all kinds of pain out there and that loving people thru the love that God gives us is crucial.


 I want to thank Tyndale House Publishers for my complimentary e-read of this book for review purposes.

Honor Begins at Home Courageous

Courageous is a novelization by Randy Alcorn, based on the screenplay by Alex Kendrick & Stephen Kendrick.
  It begins with the carjacking of a man named Nathan that turns out to be a law enforcement officer.  His new co-workers become close friends and surprisingly another man who is not in law enforcement is added to that number.  Their friendship lead to decisions to be the men God has called men to be.  Some of the choices they are left with are painful, some are hard, but they are all defined by a Resolution they take "witnessed by their family and their God."
I highly recommend that men read this book.  It draws a person in from the 2nd page.  I really like the moral of this book, which is that men need to be involved in their children's lives to effect a change in the world.  In short ... WOW!  Twist, turn, and MAN UP!
Here is my favorite paragraph in the entire book.
 " Nathan folded his hands on the table.  'We can't surrender to the culture.  We've minimized the role of fathers, so we've created a generation of barbarians--children who become men without growing up.  They stay in boyhood through their twenties and thirties, sometimes their whole lives.  They think of themselves first, indulge in pornography, do what they feel like, and leave their wives and culture and churches to raise their children.'"
I want to thank Tyndale House Publishers for my complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.

Stealing Jake

Stealing Jake by Pam Hillman               This book quickly drew me in!
Livy's childhood left her feeling untrusting and fearful.  She has in the past few years come to know God, yet her past continues to haunt her.  The new life she has been living leads her to make sure other children do not grow up with the same hardships she did.
  The story of Livy's childhood is interestingly unwound as you move thru her present.  An interesting point that is an under theme is that God makes a way thru if we just will trust.
Thank you to Tyndale House Publishers for making this book available to me thru NetGalley.

NLT Bible Contest and Giveaway

The New Living Translation Break Through to Clarity Bible Contest and Giveaway

Visit www.facebook.com/NewLivingTranslation and click on the tab that says “Sweepstakes”

Fill out a simple form, take a quick Bible clarity survey, invite your friends to join and you’ll be entered to win one of our exciting prizes.

With each fan number milestone a new prize will be given away.

Grand Prize

Apple iPad 64G and a Life Application Study Bible
Awarded when the NLT Fan Page hits the fifth milestone
Retail Value: $829.00

2nd Prize  - Already awarded

32G iPod Touch and a Life Application Study Bible
Awarded when the NLT Fan Page hits the fourth milestone
Retail Value: $300.00

3rd Prize – Will be awarded when fan count hits: 3500

Kindle DX and a Life Application Study Bible
Awarded when the NLT Fan Page hits the third milestone
Retail Value: $489.00

4th Prize Will be awarded when fan count hits: TBD

Apple iPad 16G and a Life Application Study Bible
Awarded when the New Living Translation Fan Page hits the second milestone
Retail Value: $499.00

5th Prize Will be awarded when fan count hits: TBD

Apple iPad 32G and a Life Application Study Bible
Awarded when the NLT Fan Page hits the first milestone
Retail Value: $599.00

Prize Eligibility – Recently updated to include more countries

Sweepstakes participants and winner(s) can be U.S. residents of the 50 United States, or residents of any country that is NOT embargoed by the United States, but cannot be residents of Belgium, Norway, Sweden, or India.  In addition, participants and winner(s) must be at least 18 years old, as determined by the Company. 

Sweepstakes Starts

March 17, 2010 @ 10:24 am (PDT)

Sweepstakes Ends

April 30, 2010 @ 10:24 am (PDT)

Wait, there’s more!

Visit http://biblecontest.newlivingtranslation.com/index.php for a chance to win a trip for two to Hawaii!

Here are the details:

Choose one of six passages of Scripture from the New Living Translation and consider:
How do these verses encourage you to know God better?
What is God teaching you in this passage?
How does this passage apply to your life?

Submit your answer and you’ll be entered to win.

Just for signing up: Everybody Wins! Win a Free .mp3 download from the NLT’s new Red Letters Project. It’s the dynamic, new presentation of the sung and narrated words of the Gospel of Matthew. You win the download just for entering! Or choose to download the NLT Philippians Bible Study, complete with the Book of Philippians in the NLT.

Every day, one person will win the best-selling Life Application Study Bible!

The grand prize: One person will win a fantastic trip for two to the crystal clear waters of the Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu’s North Shore in beautiful Hawaii.

London Confidential

Asking for Trouble is the story of a 15 yr old American girl that has moved with her family to London.  This follows the ups and downs as she figures out her way in her new life, after remembering to put her trust in God to direct her life.

Sandra Byrd has this to say in response to this book.
Your new series is London Confidential.  Book 1 is called Asking for Trouble.  Savvy Smith moves to with her family to London.  How would you describe the journey she goes through in the book dealing with her new surroundings?

I think she finds out a lot about herself, her family, and her God. Each of us can relate to not fitting in, and Savvy certainly finds out that while everyone speaks English there are many things she has to learn about living in London. This series is really a fun series, though. Lots of excitement, mishaps, friendships, fashion, and good times.

Asking For Trouble ~ Sandra Byrd ~ trailer

Thank you to Tyndale House Publishers for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book.