A Grand read

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Missions anyone

Extreme poverty does not have to exist. When Christians accept that fact and start living accordingly, we will find the solution is already within our reach.ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eR2xfw8OTT4

This book inspired me to  work at our local soup kitchen! it thrilled me to see that Extreme poverty has been cut in half in the last thirty years, and the global Church is the most promising force to bring it to an end. http://www.hoperisingbook.com/

I seldom cry while reading a book but I did with this one then got really excited and inspired.
Even before Todd moves on to outline the HOW of ending world poverty, he shares facts that ignite the heart and quicken the mind with glimmers of hope for the future that are easily within our grasp. Facts like:
-          22 countries have cut their malaria rates in half in only six years.
-          Before the 1990’s 40,000 children would die each day from preventable diseases. In the 1990’s, that number dropped to 33,000. By 2008 it dropped to 24,000.
-          HIV infections have fallen from 2.3 million in 2005 to 1.6 million in 2013.
And these are just a sample of some of the examples Todd discusses. There is a very real downward trend, which is heartening and hopeful. Then Todd drops the bombshell.. this has all been accomplished with Christians in America only giving roughly 2.7% of their income to helping the poor! What would happen if we gave 4%? Or 5%? Or the standard 10%?And remember, if we’re not giving, no one else will. (Non-Christians average giving 0.7% percent of their income to the poor.)
Using realistic examples, with real figures Todd reveals that all of the money spent on Black Friday last year would provide the entire world with clean water.. TWICE!
Anyway, I don’t want to re-write his book. Nor could I even begin to. So to get the full scoop you’ll just have to buy it and read all these details for yourself.

About The Book

Here is the description of Hope Rising: How Christians Can End Extreme Poverty In This Generation by Scott Todd from Amazon.com:
Extreme poverty does not have to exist. When Christians accept that fact and start living accordingly, we will find the solution is already within our reach.
Worldwide, 19,000 children die from preventable deaths every day. If that statistic leaves you feeling powerless, you are not alone—but you are wrong. If a false sense of powerlessness has lulled you into apathy, it’s time to shake off the grogginess of low expectations and get to work. We can make this world a place where kids do not die from easily preventable diseases.
In Hope Rising, Scott Todd of Compassion International pens a galvanizing, comprehensive vision of the movement that will eradicate extreme global poverty through transformative Christian generosity—and do it within our lifetime. Todd provides riveting evidence to show that we are much closer to that goal than you might think.
According to Todd, we live in an historic moment, and chances are you are already part of it. The gospel is already reshaping lives from thoughtless consumption to informed concern. Twenty-first-century Christians are generating multi-continent grassroots movements through communications and travel. Public and private sectors are working together.  It’s a whole new era of philanthropy, compassion, and justice aimed at eradicating the pandemic of extreme global poverty.
This is a future we have the God-given power to create. This is the history we hope to write.
Scott C. Todd, Ph.D. is the Senior Vice President for Global Advocacy at Compassion International. During his ten years of service at Compassion he has held a number of posts, including Director of Compassion’s HIV/AIDS Initiative, Child Survival Programs, and a range of special programs serving children in poverty around the world.

There are so many things one can do!
This book is well written, passionate and compassionate, a true rallying cry to those who have been called by their Savior to care for the poor among us. Todd goes over the history of the church in regards to caring for the poor, he discusses verifiable facts and figures, and he goes on to outline detailed action plans that every Christian can take to help change the world.This book is well written, passionate and compassionate, a true rallying cry to those who have been called by their Savior to care for the poor among us. Todd goes over the history of the church in regards to caring for the poor, he discusses verifiable facts and figures, and he goes on to outline detailed action plans that every Christian can take to help change the world.Scott Todd writes with immense knowledge, experience, heart, and facts. He offers a compelling picture of why we can and should put out hands to work on behalf of the poor and help to eradicate extreme poverty. Unfortunately it's the believers themselves, who say they are champions for the poverty stricken, that don't believe it can actually be done so they sit back and do nothing. Todd gently shows through scripture and real life examples how and why we can and need to stop believing the low expectations that have been placed on us. 
The book offers background on poverty, foundation for why we must get to work on poverty, and practical solutions that any person can participate in and know for sure that a difference is being made. Scott Todd writes with language that isn't hard to grasp and with heart that is very hard to miss. He's gentle in his call-out of the Church and their indifference which has led to greed and he calls us back to the True Fast of Isaiah 58. Want an abundant spiritual life? 
It's a compelling read, 

Hope Rising is available for order on Amazon now! The bookwas just  out April 29, 2014. Get it today!


Thanks The BookLook Bloggers Team for my advanced copy of this  great book!

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Read this one!


I read this book with only one expectation to be moved and I was!. I prayed that God would use it in my life and in His Church to awaken us to an understanding of His instructions for such a time as this, and I was blown away.I received a free copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review of the book. Even though I was reading to write a review I was anticipating reading
. Dave highlighted research that exposed facts about the level of depravity in the world, which has for the most part gone unnoticed by the masses. This is a keeper! Do read today!

My experience when reading this book, included a mixture of responses such as...intrigue, surprise, fascination, mourning, deep sadness and yet also - a stirring of compassion for those who are lost in the bondage of the evil described.
This book is very well researched with a lot of quotes from key historical figures so you can hear people in their own words. 
Fiorazo’s chapter on Planned Parenthood and abortion is actually one of his better chapters. He takes an historical look at the development of the organization and its fight for abortion and the pro-choice position.Fiorazo spends a good deal of time talking about corruption and bias in the media. “We must understand some news outlets are definitely biased, and we need to listen, read, and watch!” (pg. 131). He never addresses the fact that conservative outlets are just as biased as liberal outlets. HE throws around the same pejorative language as Limbaugh and Gallagher, referring to media “elites.” He brings up the media’s love for Mr. Obama, proving once again that his real concern is political, not spiritual.
At the end of the book, Fiorazo rails against any form of faith that does not conform to his understanding of traditional conservative values. He brings up the Emerging Church, New Age, Oprah, Yoga, multiculturalism, contemplative prayer, and every other issue that is seen as a hot-topic issue for the conservative right.

Friday, April 25, 2014

A favorite!

Reading Matters!  Readers are leaders and leaders are readers. It is true that the great successful leaders read  but they did not just read any thing. They took into consideration  what they were reading.  Our founding fathers read the Bible and Pilgrim Progress! High quality literature is thought-provoking as well as entertaining. It inspires greatness and character development, and doesn't shy away from dealing with difficult topics.  

That is why I recommend Washer is known for his straight to the point pull no punches oratory and writing style. This book follows in that Washer tradition by directly and pointedly engaging what it means to be a Christian and how one can have that assurance of faith. The literature we delve into should teach us things!  This book really does! I was convicted of many things.
Yet should we read any book we find?
 So you see it is not always a good thing to be reading because it is like eating. We do not consume junk food on a regular basses so neither should "fun" books be read all the time.Plainly written, this book aims for the heart. 

 I High quality literature is thought-provoking as well as entertaining. It inspires greatness and character development, and doesn't shy away from dealing with difficult topics. 

The bulk of Washer’s book examines 1st John. The book of 1st John Washer rightly notes contains a great deal of teaching on how the Christian can have assurance of their salvation. As Washer draws out the teaching of 1st John, he does so with a view to point Christians to the truth of the gospel contained in the Apostle John’s teaching. 1 John is a very important book for a number of reasons but as Washer shows, it is important especially at this point because it helps Christians to have a standard to examine themselves to see if they have evidence from God’s Word that they have been born again. Do read this book today!This subject matter is serious business as it involves matters of eternal importance. Paul Washer has provided one with something needed to be read and reread to get the full picture!
 Those in the pulpit are called by God to declare the truth of God’s word and to reject the easy-believism, singular salvation call devoid of a life lived in service to God approach. Washer’s book is a clarion call to all of God’s people to get serious about this thing called the Christian life. Prepare to be thoroughly challenged! All should read it. It is  top favorite of  mine!

I received this book for free from Reformation Heritage Books via Cross Focused Reviews for this review. 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.”


Boys Never read


I  love true stories but this one was different. It just never drew me into it and it also shocked me in many ways. It had a happy ending when mother finally meets her long lost daughter but there were so many things in it not worth hearing that even though I read it all I could not get into it!  If you want to read a great biography here is why I do not recommend it 1) you will learn about things in life you wish you never had to think about 2) Things you might know about but wish to forget. 3) Not a boys book! Men do not read.

. It begins with a sudden and terrible crime against a completely innocent schoolgirl that could have sentenced her to a life of tragedy. But Minka was no ordinary girl. After giving up the child the crime caused her to have, she began to search and wait for decades for the moment she knew somehow had to come—the moment when she would at last be reunited with her daughter. Authors Cathy LaGrow and Cindy Coloma, with the help of the families involved, have eloquently captured this magnificent story of tragedy overcome by love, hope, and perseverance.
 when Minka whispered her secret, impossible prayer for the first time: Lord, I’d like to see Betty Jane before I die. I promise I won’t bother her or interrupt her life. I just want to lay eyes on her. Unbeknownst to Minka, that very same day, a judge was releasing the sealed adoption records to her 77-year-old daughter. And soon, Minka’s phone would ring. Written by Cathy LaGrow (Minka’s granddaughter), The Waiting brings three generations of this most unusual family together over the course of a century to tell a story of faith that triumphs, forgiveness that sets us free, and love that never forgets.

A waist of a read

A Broken Kind of Beautiful I had heard so many great things about the book, I decided to finish reading it despite my lack of interest at the time.  Not a great read so don;t waist time trying to find a christian point in it.To much of marriage did not work pitch him get a new one.The theme verse of the book I did find to be taken out of context. This was troublingFeeling all alone, abandoned by family and God, fourteen year old Ivy Clark left Greenbrier, South Carolina to become a fashion model. Over the next decade she proved to be very good at her vocation since clients sought her out. She is also hurt by the people in her life as she desperately needed someone who would break down her barriers to love her as Ivy and not just for being a success. Now at twenty-four, Ivy's career is in rapid decline as the camera shows her age to those who pay the bills demanding a younger face.

Ivy returns to Greenbrier and works at her deeply devout stepmother Marilyn's bridal shop ironically to include modeling the purity white gowns that constantly remind her of being unwanted damaged goods. Ivy's former photographer Davis Knight left his camera behind to follow her to Greenbrier where he also once lived; he obtains maintenance work at a church. He always could see passed her mask to her inner insecurities and makes it clear to her he wants more between them; but she rejects him though she feels the same.

Katie Ganshert

Katie Ganshert
Christy Award finalist,Katie Ganshertis the author ofWildflowers from WinterandWishing on Willows. She lives in Iowa with her handsome husband, their dinosaur-loving son, and their goofy black lab, Bubba. When she’s not busy writing or playing or reading or snuggling, she is obsessing over the paperwork and the waiting that comes with adoption, which she and her husband hope to complete sometime before they are fifty.     
- See more at: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/author-spotlight.php?authorid=145407#sthash.YeDxgXcH.dpuf



Monday, April 21, 2014

I was wrong

Home Behind the SunConnect with God in the Brilliance of the Everyday

This book brought back memories . The front caught my attention!
Sadly at the part when I cried, it made me sad. Now my sister is reading  this book!
This book
 made me wonder.  I did not love it but some how I read it and was something to change my life! I thoroughly enjoyed this book with the unique first person storytelling and the many characters intertwined throughout the story. I wont read it again but it has changed my life to think  more about normal life! thanks for the book http://booklookbloggers.com/blogger/request


Tim Willard - Allume 2014 KeynoteTIM WILLARD
@TimothyWillard

Nothing captures me like the quiet words of my wife, Christine, and the epiphanies of my three pixie daughters, Lyric, Brielle and Zion. I feel like a farmer most days, plying the writing trade in the fields of imagination.
I co-authored Home Behind the Sun: Connect With God in the Brilliance of the Everyday (2014) and Veneer: Living Deeply in a Surface Society (2011). My first devotional, Longing For More, releases in the fall of 2014 with Bethany House. I also serve as the Spiritual Director for Praxis
Me, Christine and the pixies live in Oxford, England while I study under Alister McGrath for the PhD in Theology. My topic isn’t boring: Beauty and imagination as apologetic in the works of C.S. Lewis. And yes, I do believe in faeries.
ASON LOCY

Praxis Creative Director & Accelerator Core Mentor
Jason is the Creative Director and Principal of FiveStone, a design group that he founded in 2001, as well as the Creative Director for Praxis. FiveStone focuses on helping organizations articulate their unique story, create memorable experiences, discover new opportunities for growth, and implement a brand identity that transcends the visual. From their launch, Jason worked with the founders of the Q conference and Praxis to create identity, messaging, content, and experiences that have defined those organizations positioning in the marketplace. Other work includes conceiving and creating a new adoption engagement and fundraising platform for Bethany Christian Services, designing an interactive campaign for MTV, and character development for Chick-fil-A. Jason is also the co-author of Veneer: Living Deeply in a Surface Society (2010, HarperCollins) and Home Behind the Sun: Connect with God in the Brilliance of the Everyday (2014, Thomas Nelson).