Book Review: Beautiful Things Happen When a Woman Trusts God by Sheila Walsh

This book review is found on Amazon.com
A Warm Blanket for Your Chilly Soul, April 8, 2010 This review is from: Beautiful Things Happen When a Woman Trusts God (Hardcover) Truly this author understands coming alongside her reader and sharing her heart in an openly transparent way. Sheila Walsh has done an amazing job in encouraging her audience which is clearly women. I enjoy a direct - "down-to-earth" read. However, this work is anything but simple. Sheila Walsh incorporates the Bible in each and every chapter. She relates her experiences with wisdom and a peppering of humor. Her writing style leaves the door open for the reader to relate and form their own opinions of what she is sharing. But don't misunderstand - everything she says is under-girded with the Pure Word of God. No gray areas - no muddy water to wade through. She delivers God's Truth straight up! One criticism I had (because I am also a writer) is this book could have been edited for correct spelling of numerous words. One example is the word "Crucifixion" was misspelled as "crucifiction." Misspelling that word is tragic as the misspelled word contracts the meaning of the word, which is so important. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I will not soon forget it. Whenever I see a swing I will think of Sheila Walsh. I appreciate her boldness and honesty. I related so much to her struggles with fear, public speaking and being haunted at times with the past. But like Sheila, I have the Lord and know nothing will ever keep me from growing in Christ - and swinging higher and higher..until either my Lord Jesus Christ comes back to get me or I am called to my eternal Home - Heaven. Kudos to Sheila Walsh for reminding me that this is not my final resting place!!! Disclosure of Material Connection: Thomas Nelson Publishers sent me a free copy of this book as part of their bloggers book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Book Review: Captivating: Unveiling The Mystery of a Woman's Soul by John & Stasi Eldredge

 

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Captivating by John & Stasi Eldredge - New Age Packaged as Christian Doctrine, April 27, 2010

This review is from: Captivating Study Guide: Unveiling The Mystery of a Woman's Soul (Paperback)

As posted on Amazon.com 

First off, this book is supposed to encourage the heart of every woman to become "Captivating" as God designed her to be. However, the message is muddied as Biblical references are inaccurately used to prove the message that the heart of a woman is anything but deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9). Depicting our heart as deserving of all with God in us - especially in the "warrior woman" was the first red flag I experienced in reading this book. As a born-again Bible toting Christian believer, I found this message to support New Age philosophy using Scripture to inaccurately state principles about the heart of a woman.

In this review I will give short statements so the potential buyer of this book is not deceived by the subtle introduction of New Age in Captivating. From a structural standpoint, I found using "we" to prove points frustrating. Because this book is co-authored, I found it confusing at times to realize whether John or Stasi was speaking. The "we" though did not apply to the co-authors but was referring to the reader! However, the "we" is used which irritated me the reader because Scripture was thrown in with oodles of assumptions and generalizations.

I did enjoy several personal accounts of Stasi's and related to what she was sharing. I give grace to Stasi as this is her first book. And for that reason I did give this book 1 star out of 5. However, her husband John has authored several books and he should have known better in writing a book in the third person - especially a non-fiction book.

My objections: John plugging his book for men Wild at Heart often, Bible verses were not cited with versions, one verse was quoted by Dan Allender - who is???(p.51), Anderson quote - where is that argument supported in the Bible? (p.104), elevating Cinderella over the Proverbs 31 Woman, promotion of two New Age books written by Frances Hodgson Burnett (A Little Princess, Secret Garden), The Essence of a Woman New Age (p.132 & 134).

"The War Against Femininity?"I am not familiar with what that war is about but in my Bible the war is against good (God) vs. evil (Satan), Eve was a helper to Adam and God gave Adam domininion over all (p.134). Lastly, what made this book a train wreck for me personally, was the endless references to secular movies, books and quotations (I do not look to Bruce Springsteen for inspiration, Jerry Maguire's "You Complete Me" is not biblical, Dan Fogelberg's "Longer" song I wish had never been brought back up into my memory bank and lastly, Harrison Ford does not make this woman "weak in the knees" Stasi! (p.131).

When I review any book, I try to find the inspiration - the takeaway for the reader. The takeaway in this book was zero other than several of Stasi's stories as mentioned above. I cannot promote a book that disguises itself as a Christian work when it is clearly steeped in not only secular culture, but sadly deceptive New Age doctrine that may be "Captivating" to a new believer or true seeker of God's Truth. I pray these authors do not author any more books in the Christian non-fiction genre unless they get their Scripture in context and accurately stated and properly referenced.

Poor Apostle Peter- he is accused of "trying" to convey a Truth in 1 Peter 3:3-4 (p 136). This heresy is anything but "Captivating!" but downright insulting to the God of the Universe and the Holy Spirit that moved the Apostle Peter's hand to pen the Scripture.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review: Storm Warning by Billy Graham

As reviewed on Amazon. com

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Storm Warning by Billy Graham, May 21, 2010

This book is about the spiritual, actual and economic storms described in the Book of Revelations. Billy Graham is famous for his ability to evangelize, and this book was on point with his love for God's Word. However, I read this book with an objective point of view - trying to forget I was hearing directly from Billy Graham. This read is chock-full of Scripture and invitations to salvation. The target audience is believer, unbeliever as well as the scoffer who disagrees that our world is in the midst of a storm as described in Matthew 24:4.

Storm Warning is a revised, updated, reprinted version Mr. Graham had originally written in 1992. He shared in this book that after the events of 9/11 and the political, social, environment we are now in had confirmed the need to revise his original work so it would be relative for today.

I gleaned much knowledge in regard to the history of the Roman Empire and Caesar's command that the people idolize him. The study of Revelations 2 & 3 in which John sends the alerts to the seven churches and then the second warning of the seven seals of the scroll being opened was truly illuminating. I appreciate the fact that Mr. Graham included the present age also in the study of Revelations, as John wrote these letters for the church today, as well, to warn of the coming storms.

I had always created an image in my mind of John sitting around cracking open coconuts and watching his beard grow while on the Island of Patmos. The Truth of the Bible is very different than that image. John was actually in prison. The only time he most likely had to write was while he was locked in his prison cell. In the hot sun he was forced to carry gravel chipped from granite cliffs above the sea. He brought the heavy loads to a cargo dock which was at the Roman Citadel. This material was used to  build the foundations for the temples and palaces of the Emperor Domitian and to pave the Roman roads (all roads lead to Rome). Interesting!

Mr. Graham makes mention of his crusades often, but for the most part there is a valuable lesson in the stories he weaves. One criticism I had is that there are frequent references made to various statistics in which there are no footnotes given for the reader to research.  A Berean at heart, I did not feel the author was accommodating in that there was merely a section titled "Works Cited" at the end of the book. I also did not agree with his Population Explosion Theory.

Lastly, I did not get a keen sense of whether Mr. Graham believes in Pre-Tribulation or Post-Tribulation Rapture of the Saints. I would have liked more information about both as the Tribulation references could be quite scary and depressing for someone not informed of the Rapture of the Saints. This comment is strictly personal as I am a Pre-Tribulation believer and would have found it interesting to have paired that theology with the Apocalypse references.

I would undoubtedly recommend Storm Warning to everyone! I also want that blessing that comes from reading the book of Revelations. So I plan on grabbing my Bible now after finishing this review. Billy Graham has gotten this individual inspired!!!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”