Author: jlschock

Book description:

How to be a hero when you’re feeling anything but super

Despite all the superhero hype, the problems and pain in our world aren’t going away. In fact, it often feels like the threats just keep coming. But the good news is that God has placed you here for such a time as this. And the even better news? You don’t have to get rid of your anxiety, debt, speech impediment, extra weight, health issues, disability—or any other weakness—to be used by God. What this world actually needs is less-than-super people making small but significant differences in their own corners of the world.

Through inspiring stories from the Bible and his own life, Dan Stanford demonstrates that with God availability is more important than ability. Losing the Cape is an invitation to start making the world a better place through your ordinary, everyday presence.

My Review:

Losing the Cape by Dan Stanford is an encouraging book about how our originate life is the life of a superhero because of Christ’s power in us. Dan Stanford’s experience comes from his family and the stories of them. He talks a lot about his wife and how her response to her own circumstances encourages him.

I would encourage this book to anyone who needs to see how Christ can shine through their circumstances.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free in exchange for my honest review from the publisher through the Moody Blogger Review Program. http://www.mpnewsroom.com/content/blogger-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 Description:

I always have, and I always will, pray for you.

Before you were my little one, I prayed for you. As you grow, there will never be a time that I won’t cover you in prayer, because I love you so.

This cherished story, which has sold more than 165,000 copies, creates the perfect moment to wrap your little one securely in the love of a parent and of God.

My Review:

I prayed for You by Jean Fishcer is a wonderful bedtime story book. It goes through the day of a child and explains how the mom prays through the day. Its a great book for moms as well as children because it teaches moms how to pray and it teaches children how God is with them in everything they do. This would be a great book for new moms or dads.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers 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 Description:

The Woman’s Study Bible poignantly reveals the Word of God to women, inviting them to receive God’s truth for balance, hope, and transformation. Special features designed to speak to a woman’s heart appear throughout the Bible text, revealing Scripture-based insights about how godly womanhood grows from a woman’s identity as a Christ-follower and a child of the Kingdom. Now with a beautiful full-color redesign, The Woman’s Study Bible reflects the contributions of over 80 women from a wide variety of ethnic, denominational, educational, and occupational backgrounds. Since the publication of the first edition of The Woman’s Study Bible under the editorial guidance of Dorothy Kelley Patterson and Rhonda Harrington Kelley, this landmark study Bible has sold over 1.5 million copies.

My Review:

The Womens Study Bible is a fantastic resource for individual and group study. The Woman’s Study Bible is filled with charts and notes that help any Bible study. I reviewed the e-book version. The NIV translation is used for this book. I know many studies that everyone bought this specific Bible just because of the charts and notes. The resources in the back are also helpful. I honestly wish they made a men’s version. This is a great Bible.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers 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 Description

31 Days of Fun, Satire, and Deeper Meaning of the Godly Beard!

Is there a connection between hairiness and holiness? Some would say a hearty “Yes!” In fact, the world is in the middle of a beard mania. Events like Movember and Decembeard are becoming global movements and manly sites are appearing all over the internet. Is this just another fad? And what does it say that so many of the most famous Christian communicators have or did have a beard?

Throughout history, Christian men have gloried in male pattern magnificence. Saint Benedict of Nursia wore a superb double forker. The benevolently-bushed Euthymius wouldn’t allow clean-shaven monks to enter his Judean Desert monastery. St. Francis of Assisi had a beard, and now there’s a Pope named after him. He’s clean-shaven, but we’re praying for him.

Of all the great Christian men who wore beards, none stands so highly as the headless martyr Sir Thomas More. On the day of his beheading, the tufted knight supposedly positioned his beard away from his soon-to-be-severed neck, saying: “My beard has not been guilty of treason, and it would be an injustice to punish it.”

But of course, Bearded Gospel Men is about far more than beards – it’s about manliness and godliness. Through this 31-day devotional, men are inspired to rise to a higher calling. The humor and facial hair is the perfect means to have a broader conversation about living a faithful life.

So, let’s study some of these famous Bearded Gospel Men!

My Review:

The Bearded Gospel follows the modern devotional format with a verse, a reading, a contemplation and prayer for each devotion. Each devotion ranges from about 2-5 pages in length. But what really sets this book apart is the pictures and quotes and beard related commentaries throughout the book. Surprisingly, this book had me quite intrigued. I would recommend this book to anyone that adores their beard or knows someone that loves their beard. This book is a fascinating read and its a devotional too!!!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers 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.”

From the publisher:

Have you ever looked into the faces of the people who call you “mom” and wondered what in the world you got yourself into?
If you’re like many Christian moms today, you’ve been reading the headlines and watching the rapid-fire changes in our culture with frustration and fear. Let’s face it: Moms today are facing questions that previous generations didn’t even see coming, and even our right to determine what is best for our own children is under fire. Popular speaker and blogger Heidi St. John (The Busy Mom) believes that today’s mothers need a special kind of strength. We need to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. We dare not rely on human strength for the battles we’re facing right now. In Becoming MomStrong, Heidi has a powerful message just for you—the mom in the midst of it all. Through encouragement, practical prayer points, and authentic “me-too” moments, Heidi equips you for a job that only you can do: to train your children to hear God’s voice and to walk in truth no matter where our culture is heading. God wants to use this generation of mothers to do something extraordinary:

• To be strong in the Lord
• To know who you are in Christ, and
• To impart that strength to your kids.

In other words, He wants you to be MomStrong! So if you’re feeling tired or inadequate today, get ready to find new strength as you join Heidi St. John in Becoming MomStrong.

My Review:

Becoming Mom Strong by Heidi St. John is a book for moms to encourage them through stories and scripture. This book is full of wisdom and urges moms to search Gods word in their journey to become better mothers. Heidi St. John gives helpful prayer points at the end of each chapter. Each story brings the reality of what being a real mom is like and brings encouragement. I suggest all moms or read this book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Tyndale Blog Network. http://www.tyndaleblognetwork.com/ 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 Description:

A Month of Sundays provides food for the body as well as the soul. It offers thirty-one weeks of delicious Sabbath meals along with reflections on the need for true Sabbath rest. This book will leave you feeling spiritually refreshed, reconnected with your Creator, and at peace with yourself.

My Review:

A Month of Sundays by Paula Hartman is a fabulous devotional and recipe book in one. I got this book to review mainly because of my interest in the recipes but as I read the book, I was impressed by the devotionals. This is a fantastic devotional book. I encourage you to buy a copy for yourself and be refreshed by this book as I have.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers 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.”

From the Publisher:

Have you ever thought of Jesus as a lawyer?

It may sound odd, but at times in His ministry, Jesus wore his lawyer hat. When he defended the adulterous woman, when he argued from Scripture that the disciples were fine to pick grain on the Sabbath, and in other instances, Jesus insightfully applied to uphold justice and promote goodwill.

The legal aspects of Jesus’ ministry have long been obscured or misunderstood, particularly his interactions with and attitude toward the law and lawyers. Jesus’ desire in his day and ours is to use the law to secure the rights of people to hear the gospel and to set humanity free. In other words, to be the best citizens we can be, we need to follow in the footsteps of the greatest citizen who ever lived.

Jesus in the Courtroom covers topics like:

• Why we should care about the law
• Strategic involvement with the law
• How God has used the law to expand His kingdom
• What can happen when we partner with legal professionals
• How citizenship is part of discipleship
• Christian citizenship in matters like adoption, abortion, minimum wage, foster care, and schools

We are citizens of two kingdoms, but many of us duck and run when it comes to civil life. For anyone who cares about their community—parents, teachers, pastors, you name it—engagement with our legal system can play a huge role in the health of our communities and in cultivating a context where the gospel can flourish.

Jesus in the Courtroom will help us understand not only why we have failed to appreciate the legal aspect of Jesus’ life, but also to understand and cooperate with his legal ministry to us and through us. If we are going to be faithful “citizen disciples” in this challenging new world, we need to look anew at how Jesus taught, thought, and interacted with the legal establishment of his day. 

My Review:

If you are wanting to know about the legal authority of Jesus, this book is for you. This book goes into lengthy detail on our earthly legal system and God’s legal system. I was actually amazed at the depth that the author went into. Few people understand Jesus’ legal authority but many will learn through this book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free in exchange for my honest review from the publisher through the Moody Blogger Review Program. http://www.mpnewsroom.com/content/blogger-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 Description

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Dress comes a new captivating novel of secrets, romance, and two women bound together across time by a shared dream.

Tenley Roth’s first book was a runaway bestseller. Now that her second book is due, she’s locked in fear. Can she repeat her earlier success or is she a fraud who has run out of inspiration?

With pressure mounting from her publisher, Tenley is weighted with writer’s block. But when her estranged mother calls asking Tenley to help her through chemotherapy, she packs up for Florida where she meets handsome furniture designer Jonas Sullivan and discovers the story her heart’s been missing.

A century earlier, another woman wrote at the same desk with hopes and fears of her own. Born during the Gilded Age, Birdie Shehorn is the daughter of the old money Knickerbockers. Under the strict control of her mother, her every move is decided ahead of time, even whom she’ll marry. But Birdie has dreams she doesn’t know how to realize. She wants to tell stories, write novels, make an impact on the world. When she discovers her mother has taken extreme measures to manipulate her future, she must choose between submission and security or forging a brand new way all on her own.

Tenley and Birdie are from two very different worlds, but fate has bound them together in a way time cannot erase.

My Review

I agreed to review The Writing Desk By Rachel Hauck through Booklookbloggers. I thought I clicked on book in print but I got the ebook instead. I like the font because it makes the book very easy to read. The author is an artist at blending characters through an inanimate object. I am not one for reading fiction book but this book is hard to put down. I recommend this book for anyone who wants to go on a historical ride through time.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers 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 Description

CONTEXT CHANGES EVERYTHING

You’ve heard many Bible stories hundreds of times, but how many behind-the-scenes details are you missing? Sometimes a little context is all you need to discover the rich meaning behind the stories of Scripture.

That’s what the NKJV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible provides. Every page is packed with expert insight into the customs, culture, and literature of Bible times. These fascinating explanations will serve to clarify your study of the Scriptures, reinforcing your confidence and bringing difficult passages of Scripture into sharp focus.

Discover new dimensions of insight to even the most familiar Bible passages as you take a behind-the-scenes tour into the ancient world.

The Bible was originally written to an ancient people removed from us by thousands of years and thousands of miles. The Scriptures include subtle culturally based nuances, undertones, and references to ancient events, literature and customs that were intuitively understood by those who first heard the Scriptures read. For us to hear the Scriptures as they did, we need a window into their world.

My Review

The NKJV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible is an impressive book for people who are interested with the cultural background of the Bible. The page quality and feel is soft and not too thin. This is a heavy book. I would not want to carry this book around but it is perfect for a study. The cross references are helpful but could be more extensive. The study notes are unique in that they focus on the culture pertaining to the people, the land, the literature and political nature of the specific culture in the Bible. The NKJV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible has several indexes including a nice concordance, a useful index to maps, and an index of articles.  The full color pictures and maps help connect to the archaeology of the time period. Each book has an introduction describing the uniqueness of each book like the authorship, date and purpose. There is a section between the Old and New Testaments entitled “The Time Between The Testaments” I recommend this Bible to anyone interested in biblical history and culture.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers 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 Description:

The God Who Saves. The God Who Provides. The Holy One. The names of God tell us who He is and how He loves us—explore the glory and the goodness of God in I Am Devotional.

Children will learn to trust God in everything as they learn about the names and character of God in the I Am Devotional. Through 100 devotions, children will see how God’s names reflect His love, strength, trustworthiness, etc., and what that means as they develop a strong faith.

Name of God: I AM

Meaning: God is to be worshipped

Application: Worship God by how you live!

Diane Stortz has a proven history of connecting well with both children and parents in her writing. With sales of 500,000 inspirational books for children, Diane is a trusted name for Christian families. The art of Diane Le Feyer has captivated readers of I Am and will continue to delight in this accompanying devotional with vibrant illustrations throughout and a vivid cover embellished with foil and lots of striking glitter.

The I Am Devotional is the perfect companion to I Am, the Bible storybook that first introduced children to the names and character of God.

My Review:

I Am Devotional 100 Devotions About the Names of God By Diane Stortz is a fantastic devotional. I usually don’t like devotionals but this one is eye catching and descriptive. My 12 year old took this book the second it came in the door. She absolutely loves this devotional. I love studying the attributes of God and even more so to share that with my daughter. The pictures are captivating and make the book flow well. I would suggest this book to anyone wanting to learn more about God or study the attributes of God.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers 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.”