"Captive" Book Review and Giveaway

What an incredible story!

Imagine: Just as you're starting to get your life back on track, a man takes you hostage in your own apartment. "Captive" is Ashley Smith's true story of how God helped her earn the trust of a man, who just killed several people in an attempt to escape going to prison, in order to escape his captivity. 

As I read this book, I couldn't help but wonder how I would have handled the situation. I can definitely say, I likely wouldn't have done it as well as Ms. Smith. In the book, she talks about making it her goal to connect with the man, Brian Nichols, and to make him see her as a person - a mother and a recovering drug addict. She makes no bones about how scared she was or how her own sorry past allowed her an insider's view of how her captive must be feeling.

As far as the story goes, it was fascinating. As far as the book goes, I found it a bit repetitive. She talks a lot about her daughter Paige. She talks about how her daughter has lost a father, how her daughter has been through a lot because of her drug problems, how she's trying to get custody of her daughter back. Each of those sub topics was discussed over and over again until I started skimming. Throw in the fact that she also used her daughter as her main avenue for getting her captive to let her go free, and you start to lose me. I understand that Paige was pinnacle in her life struggles as well as instrumental in connecting with Brian Nichols but I started feeling like saying, "I get it. Move on." The same could be said for how often her late husband Mack is mentioned. It's not that he too isn't pinnacle to her story, it's just that she kept coming back to the same point.

Don't take me wrong, it wasn't so bad that I didn't want to finish the book. (something I quickly do if the book isn't great) Plus, as soon as I finished "Captive", my 12 year old daughter picked it up and was consumed by it. 

The movie version of "Captive" is coming out in September and I hope it does justice to such an incredible story.

I have no doubt that everyone would get a blessing out of reading this book. If you'd like your name entered in a draw for a free copy of "Captive", leave a comment below. The draw will be held Aug 27th, 2015. Good luck


Also, visit www.captivethemovie.com/followyourpurpose. 
Share your own story of overcoming what held you captive and how you are now following your purpose.

"The Bridge Builder" Book Review and Giveaway

May there be no mistaking it. 

I am a born again, evangelical Christian who believes that God chose the children of Israel as His chosen people to showcase His might. I believe Jesus was fully God and fully human. The human side was Jewish and because the Jews rejected Him as Messiah, salvation was opened to the Gentiles. I also believe that the Church has NOT replaced the Jews in any way. 

I also want to make clear that I have long thought of the Jews with favor because I wish to line my heart up with God's.  And if God says, in Genesis 12:3, "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." then my desire is to do just that. This makes me extremely Pro-Israel. I support Stephen Harper as Prime Minister of Canada for this very reason and believe that this is the sole reason Canada fared so well during the 2008 financial crisis.

Now to the actual review of the book. (You'll understand why I felt I needed to explain where I'm coming from in just a moment.)

"The Bridge Builder" by Zev Chafets is the biography of Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein. Truthfully, I hadn't heard of Rabbi Eckstein before and had no idea why he was of importance. As it turns out he's given his life to raising funds for the Jewish people to allow them to immigrate to Israel from places such as Russia, as well as a long list of social and welfare programs. Truthfully, that is putting it mildly. Eckstein has literally fundraised 100s of millions of dollars for the Jewish people. An astounding achievement by anyone's standards. For this I applaud him.

Then it breaks down.

As it turns out, most of the money comes from people like myself - born again Protestant Christians who also cling to the promise of Genesis 12:3. Awesome! To God be the Glory! But, as I've come to learn through this book, a lot of the time, they don't want our money because they see us as idol worshippers. Fair enough. I'm actually totally okay with that and see where they're coming from. But what irks me is the way Eckstein refers to Christians. He might think he loves them but when he talks about the number of Christians in the various countries and then says "This is too much potential to be ignored." I says to me, "I love Christians like a person loves the gold in the gold mine." Not flattering.

By itself, it's a small thing but when you add it to the number of times in the book he refers to how ardently against Christian Missionaries he is, I start to scratch my head. Let me tell you something, the more I love you, the more I feel the need to tell you about Jesus. Therefore, does it not lead to the conclusion that if Christians love Jews, they want to tell them about Jesus? Don't be offended by it, see it for what it is - loving concern. (I do understand that much that has happened to the Jews in the 'name of Christ' are nothing short of the devil's work but that's for another post)

Eckstein flatly admits he does not believe Jesus is the Messiah. He also says he didn't want Jews going to Christian worship services for fear they might convert. In other passages of this book, he admits to "to being drawn to Eastern spirituality" and says "In Jewish mysticism it (Shabbat) is associated with the Shekinah, a feminine name for God. 'The days of the week are masculine,' says Eckstein, 'The Shabbat is a queen."  What?  Again, if this is what he believes so be it. I rally for religious freedom. Just don't patronize me when you want me to write a check.

The book itself was not really worth reading in my opinion. It was a list of names, what they believed about Christian - Jewish relations, how Eckstein overcame it and the amount of money he raised. Repeat, repeat, repeat. I didn't find in inspiring in anyway.

At the end of the day, "The Bridge Builder" did nothing to garner my Christian support for the Jewish people. In fact, the exact opposite was accomplished. Actually it would be true except for one quote not from the book but from THE BOOK:

 "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
 Matthew 5:44-46

I do not believe I'm to love the Jews more or less than others. I'm to love period.

Would you like a copy of "The Bridge Builder"? Perhaps you feel much differently than I do about the situation. If you'd like your name added to the draw for a free copy, leave a comment below. The Draw will be made on Aug 24th, 2015. Good Luck.

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

 Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

"After Acts" Book Review

I was so excited to get this book. History and Bible are my two favorite subjects. Put them together and you get a happy me.  "After Acts" by Bryan Litfin is a well thought out, well researched (from what I can gather) look into the assumed history surrounding the main men and women of the New Testament including but not limited to Luke, Mary, Peter and James.  Most of these assumptions have been passed down by the Catholic church and are therefore assumed to be true. But are they? Mr. Litfin takes a close look at the earliest sources that give us the "information" and investigates whether they can be trusted. Were they biased? Did they actually have legitimate sources? etc. 

I suppose what stopped me from completely loving this book was that I'm not Catholic which perhaps explains why I didn't even know certain tales about these great men and woman and therefore can't entirely appreciate those stories being confirmed or denied. As a Protestant, I've lived my life rather Sola Scriptura.  That's not to say that I shun all extra-biblical writings. It's just that I haven't dwelt on them since I don't see them as being divine.

At some parts of "After Acts" I felt as though I were plodding through a textbook. Definitely, "After Acts" has an academic feel. While this isn't necessarily a bad thing, I wouldn't recommend this book for someone looking for fluffy reading.  The one I would recommend this to, would be an individual who thirsts for facts about history and wishes to have them laid out in a logical fashion surrounded by evidence that confirms their authenticity.

For the record, I was given this book free by Moody Press in exchange for an honest opinion.

Off Clip On Mosquito Repellent review

This is the product I reviewed; it's the Off 'Clip On' mosquito repellent. It's supposed to keep them away from you by blowing something odourless into the air. I was so hopeful it would work because who wants to smell like DEET?
Here is what happened when I tried it.

I hate to wreck the surprise for you but, for those of you who don't like to watch 2 minute videos, let me sum it all up for you in two words: Doesn't work. Such a bummer.

I was given this product free in exchange for an honest review.

"Refining Fire" Book Review

"Refining Fire" by Tracie Peterson is a delightful tale of two young women, who have sworn off marriage, falling in love. It's set in 1889 Seattle and one of the aspects I enjoyed the most about this novel was the primness of the 'Aunts' who run the Bridal School where these two gals live. It served to make me very thankful to live in the age we do where women are free to travel alone, wear what they wish, and not wear bustles.

Truthfully, I found there to be very little plot in this book. However, whatever negativity that may draw out in my opinion is well overcome by the novel's lack of mind numbing miscommunication-esque dialogue so prevalent in romance novels. Two thumbs to the author for that! Finally two heroines who actually say what they feel and feel what they say. There are also no damsels in distress. Hooray again. (Why romance writers so often feel the need to have a loud mouth be inwardly incompetent lady as the basis for their stories is beyond me.)

The only caution I would give about this book is that human trafficking of Chinese women is spoken of. It is not graphic but it is there.

I was given a copy of this book by Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

"Your Sacred Yes" Book Review

I haven't been feeling well the past few days. Last week I went to an amusement park and ever since have been feeling like I just got off a cruise ship. Even reading has me spinning. Why am I telling you this? Because I think that anything negative I have to say about this book is more likely coming from a place of nausea than anywhere else.

Well, maybe.

"Your Sacred Yes" by Susie Larson, in a nutshell, is about making sure that when you take something on it's because you feel God is wanting you to and not because of any need to impress or fear or or or. Overcommitment is a common danger, especially in this culture. People look at you like you have two heads or like you're lazy if you decide to not help out with Sunday School. The message of this book was timely for me. I had to unexpectedly come home early from a much needed vacation. I was afraid to let anyone know I was home because I truly needed a break. It felt like a lie to let the world assume I was elsewhere. After reading a few pages of this book, I decided you know what, yes I'm home and it's still okay for me to tell the world to let me be for a few days or even weeks. If the world can continue to revolve while I'm out of town, it will still revolve if I don't answer my phone. I've even been semi successful at keeping it that way.

This book isn't written in lofty or eloquent English. Sometimes I started skimming. At the end of each chapter there are reflection questions which I didn't love. I don't like thinking about mistakes in my past that God has already forgiven. No point in dredging up what's already under the bridge. I just skipped over them. Having said all that, I believe this book is going to set someone free. If I had read this book a few years ago, I bet I would be sitting here crying but God has already done a miraculous job on me in this area. Praise the Lord!

You can not earn God's love. It's funny how we can know that we can't earn our salvation but then get caught up in thinking we can earn His love. So odd when you think about it.

I think my favorite chapter is the 'bonus' chapter where the author gives a 6 week life improvement plan. She teams up health lifestyles with spiritual ones. For example when she talks about drinking more water, she pairs it with taking in more of the Word. Very clever.

BTW, this book was given to me by Bethany Publishing Group for free in exchange for an honest review.

"A Worthy Pursuit" Book Review

I'm normally not the biggest fan of romance novels but "A Worthy Pursuit" by Karen Witemeyer was lovely. In fact, I'd say the worst part about it is the cover. It doesn't match the main lady character at all. Not that it matters.

Author Karen Witemeyer spins an endearing tale of a teacher accused of kidnapping three students and the bounty hunter hired to retrieve one of them. As luck would have it, the teacher is in fact the legal guardian and the bounty hunter now has a dilemma on his hand. Cue romantic music. Of course he has to prove his worth by getting hurt defending her and the kids a couple of times and she has to nurse him back to health. I won't say too much because I don't want to ruin the plot for you.

What pleasantly surprised me was that there were a few plot twists I didn't see coming. Well, maybe that's an exaggeration. There were a few plot points I didn't see coming. That's more truthful. But, the writing was easy to read - meaning I didn't find myself skimming page after page of descriptors or inner contemplations. The characters were endearing and the dialog flowed. One thing that this book lacked (and I mean this as a compliment) was the usual mind numbing emotional roadblocks most romance novels use to bulk up their page count. Sure, the main characters have a hard time telling their true feelings in "A Worthy Pursuit" but it doesn't take up much air time.

All in all, well done Ms. Witemeyer on an enjoyable novel. You've earned my recommendation which, in this genre, is far from frequent.

BTW, I got a free copy from Bethany House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.