The Blessed Church - a Waterbrook Multnomah Review

Everyone is curious to know the secrets for church growth. All churches go through valleys and peaks, and Robert Morris' book The Blessed Church: The Simple Secret to Growing the Church You Love gives some tips for church growth--not just in the numbers sense but in the wisdom, knowledge, and experience sense.

As I read the book, I felt like it could greatly benefit those who are newly called to preach and for those who are newly pastoring. It also would be beneficial for pastors who have found themselves in a funk or who are discouraged by a stagnated fellowship or a drop in membership and/or attendance.

At first I felt a little skepticism, because Morris' own church is a large church. We're talking thousands of attendees and members, multiple church services, and church BRANCHES. Yes, I said BRANCHES. That, to me, is remarkable. In a day where we find that some large churches tote the prosperity gospel line, I found myself starting out this book a little biased and definitely looking for signs that this church might be one of them. I'm ashamed to say that, but I also believe that we also have to be cautious in what we read.

Upon further reading of this book, I found several nuggets of great advice and truth. I'm a big staunch supporter of those in leadership positions being leaders. Notice I said leaders--not kowtowing slaves or hard-nosed dictators. There's a middle ground there that is hard to stand on, yet a pastor (or Sunday school teacher, or prayer warrior, or choir leader, etc.) should try to maintain that. Anyone in church leadership should be willing to listen, to delegate authority when needed, and jump in there when work needs to be done.

Some things that I wrote down that I found relevant to me and to those I know were these:

• What frustrates you is probably what God has ordained your ministry to be. Aha!! Brilliant! I definitely could see that possibility. (this from Chapter 6)
• Write a vision for your church so that the body knows what the goals of the church are. (chapter 10) I think a lot of times, we just are focused on having church: worshiping, listening to the preaching, going to Bible study, that we fail to think about a vision of where we're hoping to head in the future.
• Pastors need to delegate. Exodus 18:13-23 was shared, in which Jethro gave Moses advice on delegating authority to other men so that Moses was not spending from daylight till dark in hearing the needs of the people. "Otherwise, you and your associates will all fall prey to burnout, which, in turn, eventually leads to what I call the prayer of the burned-out pastor." WOW!! How many times have you seen the same people doing everything? Often, this is a situation where there's not enough delegation happening. (Though sometimes it's as a result of there not being enough willing to do the work!) Too often there's an individual who doesn't trust someone (or "someones") to help do the job because they think it won't get done properly. This, like Morris iterated, causes burnout and oftentimes bitterness on the part of the person doing it all, and sometimes on those who would like to help but who are turned down.

I really enjoyed this book, and I found a lot of good suggestions for growing the church. I think that God doesn't necessarily want every church to be a thousand-plus church membership, but He wants us to remain busy and excited and goal-oriented.

 
I received The Blessed Church as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers. My comments and opinions are my own.

The Scent of Cherry Blossoms - a Multnomah review

The Scent of Cherry Blossoms, an Amish fiction novella written by Cindy Woodsmall, is a book that has been on my to-read list for a while. When I finally got to reading it, it didn't disappoint!

This story is written during the Spring, when the cherry blossoms are in bloom (hence the title). Annie Martin is a Plain Mennonite whose family has gone through tough times in recent years. With the separation of her parents' in past years, Annie has a hard time relating to her mother at times. As the result of an argument, Annie and her mother decide it would be best for Annie to spend a few months with her grandfather in Apple Ridge.

Aden Zook is a young Amish man whose family has had their share of heartaches, too. Aden's twin brother Roman and their father were both involved in a horrible accident, leaving Roman confined to a wheelchair. Aden has a stuttering problem, and he lacks the confidence to date.

When Annie comes back to Apple Ridge and helps in the Zook diner, Aden finds himself remembering his feelings for her. But one major thing stands in their way: Annie is Mennonite, and Aden is Amish.

The characters in this story are so endearing. The powerful story of the Zook brothers' past and Annie's own heartbreak will melt your heart. Their troubles seem impossible to overcome, and Cindy does a good job weaving the storyline into a way that the story finds resolution quite well.

Cindy has an excerpt of this story on her website if you would like to read it. Click {here} to go to that page.


I received The Scent of Cherry Blossoms as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers. My comments and opinions are my own.

A Sound Among the Trees - a Multnomah review

A Sound Among the Trees, a Christian historical fiction novel by Susan Meissner, is a book about a house and a family that has survived its antebellum roots, but not without its share of sorrow and mystery.

This is a book that is written quite interestingly. A fair portion of the book is spent "showing" the letters of an ancestor of the family who was touted for having been a spy during the Civil War. Susannah Page had lived her share of tragedy, and her great-granddaughter Adelaide felt like the house was cursed because of what had happened there. Because of Adelaide's ancestry line, the "curses" simply continued throughout the years, leaving the family to continue its struggles with tragedy and sorrow.

When Adelaide's deceased granddaughter's husband remarries and brings home his new wife Marielle, Marielle began hearing rumors about the house and its former inhabitants right away. Through one of the Old Blue-Haired Ladies, Marielle learned that a seer (clairvoyant) had been at the house and had proclaimed that Susannah's spirit still haunted the house, exacting restitution upon all of the women who continued to live at Holly Oak. While Marielle is getting moved in, she finds herself interested in knowing the story and seeks to find answers.

I liked how the author was able to throw the letters from the Civil War into the storyline. It felt joined together very nicely. This isn't an easy task to undertake, but Meissner did a wonderful job adding that to the story.

While I found the writing of this book to be really wonderful--engaging, even--there was something missing that I can't quite find words to explain. For one, I didn't feel like the characters were fleshed out remarkably well. I didn't feel a connection with Adelaide--in fact, her character was an annoyance to me. Marielle's character seemed flighty and disconnected, and I just couldn't find myself relating to her at all. Her husband Carson was merely a secondary character that didn't have much involvement in the story at all. There was the use of a seer (clairvoyant, medium, etc.) that, to me, added nothing to the story.

In spite of being published under a Christian publisher, there was nothing overly Christian about this book. There was a talk of the "spiritual" life, but nothing overwhelming or even much noticeable.

The story felt very somber all throughout, and it wasn't until the very last two or three pages that I felt like there was some resolution there, but even then I've left the story feeling a little dejected.

I really feel like this story could have been better served as a traditional historical fiction novel. Wow, that would've rocked! But since it wasn't, I would have liked to have seen more interaction with Carson, more of Susannah's story (that really intrigued me), and generally more fleshing out of the family members. It felt like historical fiction novel that was forced into a contemporary story.



I received A Sound Among the Trees as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers. My comments and opinions are my own.

The Harvest of Grace - a Waterbrook Multnomah review

Harvest of Grace by Cindy Woodsmall is the third book in the Ada's House series. This Amish fiction book was a pleasant read, and even at 354 pages, it doesn't feel like a long read. It is full of action, but I'll warn you that you'll probably want to read the first two books in this series before you try to read Harvest of Grace, because there are a lot of characters in this one whose stories are told in the first two books.

Sylvia Fisher and Aaron Blank are the two main characters in this story. You will also find a continuation of the stories of Cara Moore and Ephraim Mast as well as Lena Kauffman and Grey Graber.

Sylvia Fisher has left her home where her sister has betrayed her and married the man that Sylvia had promised to marry. Knowing that she needs to remove herself from Elam's gaze so that her feelings will fade for him, she moves to a dairy farm where she works tirelessly from dawn till nearly dusk.

Aaron Blank returns home after he's become sober, and the reception that he'd hoped he would get from his parents was not there. Hoping to gain his parents' merit and get them to sell the dairy farm so that he can open a store, Aaron finds that his task will not be easy when he lays eyes on the hard-working Sylvia Fisher.

The characters in this story are developed so beautifully. I truly enjoy a book whose characters I can see differing personalities. It's hard to peg characters, and sometimes they all seem to have the same type of personality, but Cindy does a good job with the individual character qualities of these characters.

Once I finished reading the book, I was sad to find out that this is the final book in the series. Too much was left open to me. I like an ending--a flat-out "that's-it-and-they-lived-happily-ever-after" story. What happens to Grey and Lennie? Are they able to have children? I'd like to see more of Cara and Ephraim as well. So sad that these folks' stories are through!


I received The Harvest of Grace as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers. My comments and opinions are my own.

The Christmas Singing - a WaterbrookMultnomah Review

I loved this book. The Christmas Singing by Cindy Woodsmall is an Amish novel set in Amish towns in Ohio and Pennsylvania. The main character Mattie Eash moved to Ohio after her childhood love broke off their relationship. Determined to make a new start, she opens her own cake shop and her creativity flourishes. With a successful business, Mattie has it all--even a promising beau, safe and loyal.

But when her shop goes up in flames and she's forced to return to Pennsylvania at her elderly parents' request, she dreads what she knows will happen--seeing her ex-boyfriend Gideon.

Gideon Beiler has his reasons for breaking up with Mattie. In spite of her suggestion that he cheated on her, Gideon did not do that. But for him, it was easier to allow her to think that way instead of telling her the truth. Gideon's Mattie Lane, as he always called her, lived in Ohio but it didn't keep him from making visits every now and then to check up on her, in secret. When Gideon hears that Mattie Lane has returned to Ohio for a few weeks, he can't help but feel those old feelings stir up so strongly. But he must hold them to himself, because he knows she can't find out the truth.

This book was incredible. Cindy did a great job writing the story, and Gideon's secret kept me on the edge of my seat! This is a great story for the Amish enthusiast. I highly recommend this one! It's a keeper!

If you're interested in reading an excerpt, go to Cindy's website.





I received The Christmas Singing as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers. My comments and opinions are my own.

When the Soul Mends - a WaterbrookMultnomah Review

Hannah Lapp had begun a new life in the "Englischer" world with her fiance Martin Palmer and his nephew and niece that he was raising. Fulfilling her dream of becoming a nurse has almost been brought to fruition when she gets the call to go back home to help with her sister. What Hannah was not prepared for was to have to work with her former fiance, Paul Waddell, in order to help her sister Sarah.

After having left her Amish community two and a half years prior with her heart broken, Hannah returns to her Old Order Amish community in Owl's Perch, Pennsylvania. When she returns to find that the community has had a terrible loss and that her sister's mental health is shaky, Hannah has to also deal with the reason for her departure.

Thrust back and forth between her Amish community and her life with Martin, Hannah struggles between where her heart wants to be.

I absolutely loved When the Soul Mends! If you're not familiar with Cindy Woodsmall's books, I encourage you to read them. If you enjoy Amish fiction, this one will easily be a favorite. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters in this novel--they were portrayed very well. From Hannah's stubborn streak to Paul's annoyingly (LOL!) calm demeanor, Cindy has painted these characters very well.

The only bone that I have to pick (and it's not a big bone) is that I'd be more interested in knowing about Sarah's mental issues--what brought this about? Maybe Cindy has it in mind to write the next book in the series about Sarah (hint :P).

When the Soul Mends is third installment of the Sisters of the Quilt Series. You can go to Cindy's page and read an excerpt of the book if you're interested.



I received When the Soul Mends as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers. My comments and opinions are my own.

Forever Faithful - a Waterbrook Multnomah review

Forever Faithful, a trilogy by Karen Kingsbury, is a compilation of the novels Waiting for Morning,
A Moment of Weakness, and Halfway to Forever.

The first novel will introduce you to Hannah Ryan and her daughter Jenny. Hannah loses her husband and oldest daughter in a car crash. A drunk driver plows into the vehicle, and Jenny is the only one of the three remaining alive. When Hannah goes to the hospital, finding only her youngest daughter has survived, she vows to get revenge against the careless drunk who killed her beloved husband and daughter. This book is heart-wrenching and gut-punching. The first three chapters left me so emotional that I wasn't sure that I would be able to continue reading. However, since the trilogy is an astounding 1100+ pages in length, I simply put the book down until the following day after I'd had time to get myself calmed down.

Novel Number Two is the story of Jade Conner and Tanner Eastman, childhood friends who were separated during their adolescent years then reunited as young adults. When Tanner's wealthy mother determined that Jade wasn't good enough for her aspiring politician of a son, Jade and Tanner were tragically separated again for another decade. This is a powerful story that will move you and keep you reading to see if things get better for Jade and Tanner.

Novel Number Three is another gut-wrencher. This was another one that I had to keep the tissue box nearby. The characters from the two previous novels are joined together and are all friends. When Hannah and new husband Matt determine to adopt a young girl, they wind up having her ripped from their arms, leaving them bereft. When Jade comes down with a deadly disease, Tanner visions himself spending the rest of his life without Jade--this time, forever. I found myself at times skimming through this book because toward the end there was a case involving Matt that didn't seem to really add much to the story. It just felt like filler to me.

I'm a very avid reader of Karen's, but this series was way too emotional for me. If I'd not been given it to read for review, I'd have never finished it. Real life is hard enough, and when I read, I like to escape just a wee bit, so this trilogy was very hard to get through. However, if you like a good read with lots of emotion, this trilogy will definitely be for you.


I received Forever Faithful as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers. My comments and opinions are my own.

Sir Rowan and the Camerian Conquest - a Waterbrook Multnomah Review

Before I even start my review, let me just say it.... WOW! Ok, with that out of my system, let's begin. :P

Sir Rowan and the Camerian Conquest, written by Chuck Black, is a YA fantasy book. It's published by Waterbrook Multnomah, a Christian publishing company. The novel is 182 pages in length, with discussion questions and answers following. Also in the back is a scoresheet of a song entitled The Final Call written by Emily Elizabeth Black, Chuck's talented daughter. (Also if you go to the series' website, Arrethtrae, you will find a CD of music written and performed by Emily that you can buy! You can also hear a demonstration of music.)

This is the second book that I've read in this series (Sir Rowan is the sixth book in the Knights of Arrethtrae series), and I just have to say that this series is, just simply put, excellent. (If you want to read a review I wrote on Sir Quinlan and the Swords of Valor, click *here*.) I hold a love of fantasy, and this book definitely feeds that love. My young boys (11 and 6) love fantasy as well, and even though this story is a bit "old" for my youngest son, he could definitely appreciate it as a read-along. Even though this book is considered YA, I believe that all ages can appreciate it.

The main character of this book is a guy named Rowan. Both of his parents died, and as a result he was an urchin. A stable boy with the desire to sword fight, but a boy nonetheless with no sword. However, when a knight named Sir Aldwyn came to have his horse cared for, Rowan made a plea to hold the knight's sword. Watching the young man wield his sword, Sir Aldwyn asked him if he'd like to join him in training. Rowan wholeheartedly agreed, and was trained to be a Knight of the Prince.

Rowan quickly proved to be an excellent swordsman and rose in the ranks of sword competitors to become champion. However, the fame and fortune that he received did not do him well, but instead blinded him to his real purpose in life. After being captured and held for ransom for nearly a year, he was finally left to die by his captors when they gave up on ever receiving ransom. A woman happened along, found him, and brought him back to her home to nurse him back to health. After Rowan has had a few months to recover, he joins the Resolutes, a large group of knights and other individuals whose desire is to win back their land. However, when Rowan meets an unexpected man, his life is forever changed.

I won't spoil the ending for you, so go out and grab it! I highly recommend this book. It's enjoyable and will leave you on the edge of your seat.

I received Sir Rowan and the Camerian Conquest as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers.

Sir Quinlan and the Swords of Valor - a Waterbrook Multnomah Review

Sir Quinlan and the Swords of Valor, written by Chuck Black, is a YA fantasy book. It's published by Waterbrook Multnomah, a Christian publishing company. The novel is 176 pages in length, with discussion questions and answers following. Also in the back is a scoresheet of a song entitled Ride of the Valiant written by Emily Elizabeth Black, Chuck's talented daughter. (Also if you go to the series' website, Arrethtrae, you will find a CD of music written and performed by Emily that you can buy! You can also hear a demonstration of music.)

I was a little hesitant to start reading this book (the fifth one in the Knights of Arrethtrae series) without having read the previous four. I'm obsessive about chronology, so I love reading books in the order they were written. However, I delved into the book and had no trouble getting "knee deep" in the story. The action and intrigue is gripping, and it captured my attention quite quickly.

The main character is a young man referred to by friends and family as Twitch. Twitch received his name because of a twitch that would appear in his cheek when he became nervous or stressed. Twitch and his pal Gustav, whose nickname was Tav, lived together with Tav's family after Twitch's parents tragically died. Twitch and Tav are learning to become knights for the Prince (aka Jesus).

After a bizarre type of pet infiltrates the Burkfield haven where the boys were training, many of the young knights lost interest in serving the Prince. When Tav's uncle, Sir Baylor, arrived to recruit Tav as a Sword of Valor, Twitch's interest is piqued. Tav refuses to follow his uncle, but Twitch wants to go. At Mount Resolve, Twitch kneels and determines to follow the Prince, to give himself to whatever the Prince should want for him. What results from that resolution to the King was a tumult of hardship that he'd never have imagined.

I won't ruin the story for you, but Twitch, now called by his given name Quinlan, learns that following the Prince isn't always going to be a bed of roses. The fight is fierce, it's often nasty, but in the end the journey to the Kingdom Across the Sea (aka Heaven) is what we long for and is worth the wait!

I highly recommend this book for people who love fantasy. It's a great book for adolescents as well. I plan on purchasing the other books in the series so that I can read them and pass them on to my sons.

Here's the run-down of what I think of the book:

Ease of reading ..................... 5/5
Supporting Details ................ 5/5
Sufficient Length ................... 5/5
Ability to hold my interest ... 5/5
Overall Impression ........ 5/5

I received Sir Quinlan and the Swords of Valor as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers.

When you see this image, it represents books that I highly recommend!

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball - a Waterbrook Multnomah Review

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul is a novella about two people who work at the same place but who really don't know each other at all. Through a little act of mystery and magic, the two end up bumping into each other quite frequently, even being invited to a mysterious Christmas Ball that no one else in town seems to know anything about.

The two main characters in this book, Cora Crowder and Simon Derrick, will make you smile. The supporting characters, Simon's sister Sandy, the Wizbotterdads and the Booterbaws will make you laugh.

This Christian novella will delight you with a little mystery, a little fairy-tale like magical "happily ever after" feel while at the same time making you wonder if happily ever after may ever happen for the characters in this book.

I heartily recommend this delightful read. It was a pleasant read, a quick read, and I wish there was a sequel! A girl can dream, right?

Here's the run-down of what I think of the book:

Ease of reading ..................... 5/5
Supporting Details ................ 5/5
Sufficient Length ................... 5/5
Ability to hold my interest ... 5/5
Overall Impression ........ 5/5

Here's a video trailer of the book:

I received Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers.

When you see this image, it represents books that I highly recommend!