Lead. Serve. Love. By Gregory Lang

Lead. Serve. Love. Three words. Consisten with its title, this petite book was designed around three words. Each chapter heading is three words. The subtitle is the mission statement, "100 Three-Word Ways to Be Like Jesus."

The author's passion for God clearly displayed in red, "Dedicated to my Lord, who died for me so that I might live." Truly this author is also a humble man of God. In the Acknowledgment at the back of the book he shared," Indeed, I am a depraved, morally bankrupt, wretched sinner through and through. I've attended church sporadically most of my life, haven't spent a minute in seminary, and only recently gave the Bible more than a cursory review. I've attended exactly one theology class, and I dropped out of it."

Mr. Lang then gives all the glory to the Holy Spirit. He gives thanks for his salvation through Jesus Christ his Lord and Savior. With each turn of the page, a three-word title is listed and underneath an exhortation to change is announced. The next page is a list of appropriate and contextually accurate Scripture references with the reference written out. Perfect for a daily devotional or a quick break from your day! How often do we not take even three minutes to crack open a devotional book because we think our devotion time has to be more in-depth? Guilty. Guilty. Guilty.

I love the description on the back of the book, "Lead by example. Serve each other. Love the unloved. Simple yet profound, these three-word messages will help you live like Jesus. Give second chances. Help others succeed. Believe in miracles. Change doesn't have to be overwhelming. Practice one down-to-earth message each day, and see your life change in an eternal way."

Great gift book. Wonderful daily devotional. Inspirational pick me up. Buy it today!!
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.”

Are you a manufacturer of a product or currently market a service? Christina will review it! Email christina@wordsofgrace.info with product name, description and manufacturer's suggested retail price along with any other information relative to said product. You will receive a response via email within two weeks if product will be reviewed. Please note not all products will be considered reviewable. Please do not send products without prior consent. Note: Products sent for review will not be returned. Product submission authorizes consent for said product to remain in sole possession of recipient. No monies shall be exchanged for product submission nor permission granted for reviews prior to submission. Reviews shall remain effective and in full force at sole discretion of blog administrator and/or authors related to http://www.christinawillreviewit.blogspot.com/.

The Part-Time Vegan by Cherise Grifoni

This paperback cookbook promises "201 Yummy Recipes" and does not disappoint. A very helpful Vegan 101 is included in Chapter One. Chapters are broken down by food type ie. dips and appetizers, easy breakfasts, salad dressings, salads, super soups, vegetable dishes, rice, pasta, grains, tofu, seitan and desserts.

Chapter 13 offers 11 different meal plans consisting of appetizer, main course and dessert. All dinner plans serve four making the plans quite attractive to experiment or to make for a romantic dinner for two. Yes, I said romantic because after reading this cookbook I do believe good health and better eating can be good for a marriage!!

The author's sense of humor and her casual approach to Vegans as explained in the back of the book in the 'About the Author' section left me with a dilemma.

As this review was offered in the Christian market to be sold in the Christian market as a Cooking resource, I must not turn a blind side to the text presented. In my opinion, the author's comments throughout the book presented verbiage with a sarcastic, non-biblical approach.

For example, immediately upon cracking open the cover in the 'Acknowledgements' section Ms. Grifoni states, "A salute to my father, Jim, because he has taught me the most important lesson that I have ever learned: be tough, or you will break; no on will ever, ever put you back together but yourself." God's Word tells us that we are desperately lost apart from Him Ephesians 2:1-10. He will provide all our needs Philippians 4:19. He will renew our minds Romans 12:2. He will straighten our paths Proverbs 3:5-6. God also tells us our acts are like nothing but filthy rags Isaiah 64:6 without Him.

The word "hell" being used twice was offensive. I quote respectively (section V11 and page one), "Are you curious about where the hell vegans get their protein?", "Maybe you have questions like these, 1. How do you start? 2. What ingredients do you look for? 3. And how the hell do you find them?"

Also distasteful the use of the "ninth-circle". There are not three sins according to God's Word but seven Provebs 6:16-19 the Lord detests. Also there are no levels of Hell as acted out in Dante's play. Hell is hell. Horribly horrific. Enough said. This is supposed to be a cookbook after all. I mention these details merely for the sake of supporting the argument that sarcasm/joking about the things of God or God's proper behavior for His people is not biblical.

Also offensive page 219 describing the Foolproof Vegan Fudge, "Rich and delicious, vegan fudge is just as good as the "real" stuff. So good, actually, that no one will ever know the difference. See, a little fraud may or may not be a good thing!."

Humorous? I understand the attempt to use words like virtue, contrast heaven and hell in regard to "good eating choices vs. bad eating choices", however Ms. Grifoni's attempt is in bad taste - pardon the pun.  It is unnecessary.

If you are going to write a book for the Cooking Market, write a book about cooking. Period. Leave the "religious" humor at home.

Solely reviewing this book as a cookbook I give it five stars. The recipes are fabulous. I had been buying some of the staples in it such as quinoa, tofu, couscous and up til now have not known what to do with these items other than cook and add butter (seriously!).

For this reason I appreciate her incorporation of those specialty or "vegan" ingredients with my standard list of pantry items. I am sure we can all agree we do not want to buy 5-10 new items that we may use just for the recipes in a cook book never to use again. Ms. Grifoni allows the average reader to save his/her money and just buy one or two items to make many of the recipes.

I appreciated several of her humorous attempts aimed at men and women of faith. Her Table of Contents reads "Table of Contentments." I also appreciated the Intro title "Totally Not Boring Intro". She was effective and encouraging in her little comments for each recipe. She offered tips and tricks and a few warnings here and there which left me the reader feeling so much less intimidated about exactly what a vegan lifestyle is and is not.

The recipes offer versatility and a healthier lifestyle (I do believe eating is a crucial spoke in the wheel which is Lifestyle). Should this be considered a cooking resource for the Christian market? Yes. And No. The comments I explained were truly offensive and unnecessary. The Secular market would hopefully laugh along with the author. However, a born again Bible reading person like myself? Not so much.

Distasteful humor forgiven - Mercy grace peace and love to Ms. Grifoni for presenting new tasty meals without sacrificing a single animal. My extra-firm tofu has been pressed and ready to enter the saucepan as we speak. I may just become a part-time vegan after all.....


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from F+W 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.”

Are you a manufacturer of a product or currently market a service? Christina will review it! Email christina@wordsofgrace.info with product name, description and manufacturer's suggested retail price along with any other information relative to said product. You will receive a response via email within two weeks if product will be reviewed.

Please note not all products will be considered reviewable. Please do not send products without prior consent. Note: Products sent for review will not be returned. Product submission authorizes consent for said product to remain in sole possession of recipient. No monies shall be exchanged for product submission nor permission granted for reviews prior to submission. Reviews shall remain effective and in full force at sole discretion of blog administrator and/or authors related to http://www.christinawillreviewit.blogspot.com/.

The Final Summit by Andy Andrews

Having first read the first book in this series The Traveler's Gift I realized one without the other would not suffer. However, having a background of the main character Mr. David Ponder, I better realized his depression in Chapter One.

The Final Summit by Andy Andrews was a challenge for me to review. As a reviewer of mainly Christian non-fiction works, this type of Christian historical fiction left me with mixed emotions regarding take away and entertainment value.

I appreciated the "Seven Decision For Success" which was certainly the theme throughout. The story unfolds at the end of Chapter One as Mr. Ponder is an old man and though he has overcome many financials struggles and was at the pinnacle of affluence, he is lonely. The archangel Gabriel is ushered in and the adventures begin starting in Chapter Two.

Without being a spoiler of events, there was a lot of interesting historical discoveries and intermingling accounts of the human sinful condition, which was relatable to me. Hopefully relatable to readers also. There was a considerable amount of reminiscing about past time travel and the character seemed to take the role of a man with the purpose of helping humanity.

Though the writing style was inspirational, encouraging and warm as well as entertaining, I was left with one question. Wouldn't Scripture have added a deeper value to this book? I do believe God's Word would have added a point for further discovery.

The text on page 217 entitled A Personal Declaration was awesome! I appreciated the encouragement that writing provided as well as the beautiful images the author shared his reader. However, ultimately the point of any Christian truly is to give God all the glory and honor and praise. I felt there was a flavor of New Age mixed with a positive, self-help style of preaching to the reader. No doubt if Scripture had been infused into the pages of this book there would be no doubt as to what The Final Summit truly was all about (giving Glory to God).

The Reader's Guide at the end of the book was a great idea for a Christian Book Club to utilize (along with the Bible of course). This resource will drive the reader back into the book and hopefully be a tool to introduce the Gospel.

I am still absorbing this interesting read. It was a book I shall not soon forget. The take away was no doubt our free will and how we make decisions according to the choices we are daily presented.

What is your final summit? I pray every reader that closes this book will understand that though the archangel Gabriel (with or without wings) may never visit them, they are going to be facing their final summit one day. Romans 10:9-11. They may never travel through time or space. However, the God of the Bible is and was and shall ever be. And this He has accomplished without ever having to launch the Time Travel machine once. This story of the Bible as outlined in Genesis I will no doubt refer to again and again...
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.”

Are you a manufacturer of a product or currently market a service? Christina will review it! Email christina@wordsofgrace.info with product name, description and manufacturer's suggested retail price along with any other information relative to said product. You will receive a response via email within two weeks if product will be reviewed. Please note not all products will be considered reviewable. Please do not send products without prior consent. Note: Products sent for review will not be returned. Product submission authorizes consent for said product to remain in sole possession of recipient. No monies shall be exchanged for product submission nor permission granted for reviews prior to submission. Reviews shall remain effective and in full force at sole discretion of blog administrator and/or authors related to http://www.christinawillreviewit.blogspot.com/.

The Girl in the Gatehouse by Julie Klassen

The Girl in the Gatehouse was a unique read for me, as it was my first experience reading the Regency period. Add to that first, and the genre was Christian fiction.

The truth was shrouded from the start. One particular secret introduced from the start was Mariah Aubrey's banishment from her home. Mariah was an author, which was considered improper in those days.

I appreciated her spunk and her unwillingness to become a victim of her circumstances. I found the environment intriguing and at times frustrating. I kept becoming impatient asking, "Why?" often.

The main character was hard for me to understand at times. She was closed and unemotional. Possibly the author intended this aloofness which may have added to her mysterious ways.

I enjoyed this introduction to Christian fiction set in the Regency period. While I would not state it was the best book I have ever read, I do applaud the author for writing a classy, plot-driven mystery romance. No doubt, lovers of this genre will be blessed to crack open this book. Hey, he/she may even plan a beach vacation around it!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers as part of their 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.”

Are you a manufacturer of a product or currently market a service? Christina will review it! Email christina@wordsofgrace.info with product name, description and manufacturer's suggested retail price along with any other information relative to said product. You will receive a response via email within two weeks if product will be reviewed. Please note not all products will be considered reviewable. Please do not send products without prior consent. Note: Products sent for review will not be returned. Product submission authorizes consent for said product to remain in sole possession of recipient. No monies shall be exchanged for product submission nor permission granted for reviews prior to submission. Reviews shall remain effective and in full force at sole discretion of blog administrator and/or authors related to www.christinawillreviewit.blogspot.com.