SINGER/SONGWRITER PERRY LaHAIE TO LEAD WORSHIP AT FIRMLY DRIVEN NORTHWEST 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 30, 2016) - Moody Radio morning drive-time host and Frontiers recording artist Perry LaHaie will lead worship and share music from his critically-acclaimed CD, Ahead, at Firmly Driven Northwest 2016 (firmlydrivennw.com), a prayer gathering for the Muslim world which is scheduled for Friday, April 1st through Saturday, April 2nd. 

The event will be held at World View Center, 6012 SE Yamhill Street in Portland, Oregon.
The goals for the two-day Firmly Driven prayer and worship event include:

• Prayer - That the worship, intercession, thanksgiving, silence, listening, and waiting that worshippers experience together over 2 days will have a deep, lasting impact on Portland and the nations.
• Equipping - That each person coming will be equipped to pray and lead prayer more effectively and freely, remembering that prayer is mostly "caught not taught."

"In Genesis 12, God promises Abraham that through him all the families of the earth would be blessed," LaHaie explains. "And Abraham's greatest son, Jesus, would bring that blessing. Then in Revelation 7:9, we see that promise fulfilled as some from every tribe and language and people and nation will be worshiping Jesus in the new heavens and the new earth. I absolutely know that the Firmly Driven worship and prayer gathering will move us one step closer to Revelation 7:9."

The focus of Firmly Driven will be fervent prayer for the Muslim community in Portland, for the refugee crisis in the Middle East, for breaking the strongholds of terrorism and for the sending of workers into the 1,108 Muslim people groups across the globe who don't have even one messenger of the gospel. 

"We're expecting God to open the door for breakthoughs of Jesus' love into the Muslim world," says LaHaie.

 

For more information about LaHaie, Ahead or Frontiers, visit perrylahaie.com 

or frontiersusa.org.  

About Perry LaHaie:  Perry LaHaie is best known as a recording artist with Frontiers, an international community of people dedicated to inviting Muslims all over the world to follow Jesus. LaHaie uses his platform as a recording artist to challenge believers from across America to take the Gospel to the Muslim world. His current release, Ahead, produced by Grammy Award winning engineer Andy Hunt, follows his 2008 debut, Endless Fields. Inspiration for the new album, according to LaHaie, draws heavily on a quote from Dawson Trotman, the founder of the Navigators: "When you can't see very far ahead, go as far ahead as you can see." LaHaie currently can be heard as an on-air radio personality weekday mornings on 89.3 FM, Moody Radio West Michigan, as a host of Perry & Scott in the Morning. He is also the host of the nationally syndicated radio feature, Cast Yourself In, a program that tells amazing stories of how God is working in the Muslim world. Cast Yourself In is broadcast on more than 300 stations and translators across the U.S., and worldwide through the Internet. In addition to being a singer/songwriter and radio personality, LaHaie is a sought after guest on a number of local, national and international television shows such as LeSea Broadcasting's flagship show, The Harvest Show and Cornerstone TV's flagship show, Real Life.    Of his journey of faith that has taken him across the U.S., Mexico, Thailand, Turkey, Russia and Belgium, he says, "Jesus has found me. And now He's invited me into this thing that's bigger than me, and not about me--His great work to bless the nations." Follow LaHaie on Facebook (facebook.com/perry.lahaie) and Twitter (@perry_lahaie). For more information about 89.3 FM, Moody Radio West Michigan, visitmoodyradiowestmichigan.fm.

The Union of Sinners & Saints - Review of Christ the Lord is Risen Today

The Union of Sinners and Saints, featuring members of Petra and Whiteheart, two of the best-selling Christian rock bands of all time, has announced their debut radio single, "Christ the Lord is Risen Today," and it is now available for your programming consideration and review.

This initial release is from the band's upcoming self-titled debut album that will be released June 17, 2016. The single showcases John Schlitt's soaring rock vocals, and with Smiley producing, singing and playing, there are distinctive echoes of the familiar Whiteheart sound.

Fans can look forward to the release of the new CD project, available exclusively at Lifeway Christian Stores and digitally on iTunes and other popular online outlets worldwide. The project will feature ten new compositions and updated versions of Petra and Whiteheart classics.

Smiley is producing the record and bringing in an all-star cast of musicians including Brian Wooten (Whiteheart, Trace Adkins) on guitar, Chris McHugh (Whiteheart, Keith Urban) and Jon Knox (Whiteheart) on drums, Brennan Smiley (The Technicolors) on guitar, Peter Furler (Newsboys) on drums and vocals, Dave Ellefson (Megadeth) on bass and others for guest appearances on selected cuts.

Richie Biggs (Whiteheart, Petra, and The Civil Wars) is mixing the record.

My Thoughts:

The hard rock sound of electric guitars and the scream-like singing style will cause listeners to be alert when they hear the words of an old, familiar hymn.  The words are all there, and when you get to the hallelujah at the end, you will definitely hear a very celebratory sound!

I've had the pleasure of conducting a phone interview with John Schlitt, and if his faith plays even a small part in this new project, then listeners are in for quite a treat!  This is a very old-school, hard-rock sound, but the joy that fuels the words to the songs is unmistakable!  If this is your preferred music style, take a listen, because your heart will soar along with the music! 

One Dress. One Year by Bethany Winz with Susanna Foth Aughtmon - REVEIWED

About the Book:
One girl. One dress. One year. For freedom. 
When sixteen-year-old Bethany Winz learned about the millions of men, women, and children around the world trapped in slavery, her stomach churned. How can anyone do that to another human being? she wondered. And why aren't we doing something?

This is the story of Bethany's "something."

Journey with her as she wears the same black dress every day for a year to focus attention on the lack of choices people in modern-day slavery face and raise money to help end human trafficking. As Bethany works to bring freedom to people worldwide, she'll discover how much she too needs freedom. You'll be inspired not only to change the world in your own way but also to experience the life-changing freedom of God's irrepressible love.
My Thoughts:

“When I’m exposed to evil, I want to do the same thing.  I want to close the cabinet door and pretend I never saw it in the first place.  The problem is that I did see it.  I know it’s here.  That makes me responsible. If I don’t face it, then who will?....Slavery still exists, and you know about it.  Will you face it?  Will you do something?”  (p. 58)

This profound revelation is discovered by a sixteen-year-old girl as she fights to raise money to free others from modern day slavery.  During the year of her fund-raising fight for freedom she faces medical challenges, grievous emotional hurt(some young folks are still very mean spirited), discouragement, and a host of other challenges.  Along the way she learns some very powerful spiritual truths that set her own spirit free!

“I believe in freedom from slavery for others.  I’m just not sure I’ll ever find freedom for myself – freedom from self-loathing, freedom from being a people-pleaser, freedom from the sense that I’m not good enough and never will be.” (p. 118)  Can I get a good amen, folks?  I’m decades older than this young lady, and I’m still fighting for freedom from some of these very things!  What a blessing to learn this truth at such a young age!!

But she doesn’t stop there!!  As the reader follows her through her year and all of its many facets, public speaking, public scrutiny, private exhaustion, and private discovery, Bethany’s conclusion, as she enters her first year of college is this:  “Your truth is the same as mine.  God loves you dearly. It may take years to understand it, but it’s the only truth that matters.  And the craziest part is that when you truly believe it, you start to find freedom.” (p. 146)

This is a significant book in many ways!  Yes, I learned many facts about human trafficking.  Yes, I know that I now have a responsibility to do something.  But more importantly, I know that God knows exactly where I am financially, emotionally and spiritually, and HE will show me exactly what I can do to help others find freedom! 

Go.  Read this book.  Allow God to transform your life!  I am grateful for young adults that are already light years ahead of me on this spiritual journey! I am challenged to seek God more earnestly than ever before, for the rest of my days!!  PRAISE GOD!!

About the Author:

Bethany Winz is studying social justice at Trevecca Nazarene University where she's learning to love Nashville and urban farming. She already loves Jesus, hot tea, good books, and bacon. She processes the world by writing and blogs about the adventure of growing up and what she's learning about justice at www.bethanywinz.com.

Susanna Foth Aughtmon is the author of All I Need Is Jesus and a Good Pair of Jeans, My Bangs Look Good and Other Lies I Tell Myself, and I Blame Eve. She coauthored A Trip around the Sunwith Richard Foth and New York Times bestselling author Mark Batterson. A pastor's wife and mother of three, Susanna blogs about life's adventures at www.tiredsupergirl.com.

Synced by Jennifer Kennedy Dean - REVIEWED

About the Book:
Synced: Living Connected to the Heart of Jesus (New Hope, February 2016)

Prayer can become extraordinary when we live connected to the heart of Jesus.

Synced encourages you to emulate the way Jesus lived His life. With real-life stories of people walking closely with Jesus, finding themselves in the right place at the right time, readers are challenged to examine what staying in step with the Spirit looks like. National best-selling author and known prayer expert, Jennifer Kennedy Dean, uses the familiar passage of the Lord's Prayer as anchor points to present the way Jesus lived His life in step with the Father through prayer.

Every moment is pregnant with purpose. Every moment is drenched in power. Prayer is no longer the means by which you attempt to get God to perform for you and becomes, instead, the means by which you connect with His heart and mind. A praying life is a life of peace and soul-rest. A praying life is lived in sync with the heart of Jesus.

My Thoughts:

“And for what purpose did Christ take hold of me? (Philippians 3:12) To establish the kingdom of God on earth through prayer.  To live synced to His heart so that His heart is reproduced in me and flows through me.” (p. 147)

Get out your highlighter and your Bible and prepare to receive some practical, life-transforming truth! Using Jesus’ teaching on prayer, Dean expounds on the truths of God’s word, uses powerful, real-life examples, and simply and profoundly explains to believers how to sync your heart to the Father’s heart.

Consider this statement found on page 133: “When you worry about it (trouble) and anticipate it , the grace to handle it is missing.  But when (trouble) comes, then comes strength.  Grace meets you where you stand.”  Folks, this is a book to be savored, studied and ingested into your spirit.  I’m still going back to re-read passages.  This is a God-appointment for me!

I highly encourage every believer to pick up a copy of this book today!  It is no great tome (171 pages including the conclusion), but it is an book anointed with the truth of God’s Word and has the power to challenge you to seek more of God in every area of your life!

I can’t recommend this highly enough!!

About the Author:

Jennifer Kennedy Dean is executive director of the Praying Life Foundation and a respected author and speaker. The author of numerous books, studies, and magazine articles specializing in prayer and spiritual formation, her book Heart's Cry has been named National Day of Prayer's signature book, while her book Live a Praying Life® has been called a flagship work on prayer. Widely recognized as an unusually gifted communicator, Jennifer speaks all over the country calling God's people to discover the difference between a prayer life and a praying life. Jennifer is the author of such books as Altar'd, Clothed with Power, Conversations with the Most High, Life Unhindered!, Power in the Blood of Christ, Power in the Name of Jesus, Secrets Jesus Shared, Set Apart, The Power of Small, and much more. A highly demanded speaker, her engagements include respected organizations such as the Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove and Focus on the Family. She is a board member for Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, a member of America's National Prayer Committee, a member of National Professional Women Association, and national prayer director and board member for Christian Women in Media.

Finding God in the Ruins by Matt Bays - REVIEWED

About the Book:

When the reality of your pain doesn't line up with what you've been taught in church, then what? While many abandon their faith or embrace hopelessness, it is possible to discover the God who heals your heart in the midst of the pain.

Matt Bays has been where you are. His unforgettable stories of loss and healing will usher you into a life where gratitude overpowers anger, hope overcomes despair, and hunger for God replaces indifference to God. With a fresh and original writing style, Bays demonstrates that true redemption is far more powerful than the temporary fixes of sanitized Christianity.

My Thoughts:

“God knows your name.  And in the immense pain, he whispers under his bright, sending a love song – a melody of grace notes that in time will balance every dissonant chord of tyour life.  He is the one who, at this very moment, wherever you may be, has hung and invisible banner over your head that reads, I have reddemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. – Isa. 43:1 ESV”

Matt Bays’ book, Finding God in the Ruins, has been a tool used by God in redeeming some of the darkest moments of my life.  I have wept, rejoiced, and sat in silent awe at the transformation that took place in my heart as I read this book.

Was is what I expected?  No. It was too transparent, too raw, too messy, too painful – it was TRUE!!!  And this is the truth, transparency and messy painfulness that I want to have every moment the rest of my life in relationship with God – my creator, my redeemer – my friend!  

Dear reader, if you don’t read another book all year, pick this book up and soak up every single word! Lay down your religious tradition and embrace the love of your heavenly Father – completely – without reservation – in spite of your mess – your pain – in spite of everything!!  Please, I ask you from the deepest part of my heart – chase after God and your redemption with every fiber of your being!!  Be made new!!


I PRAISE GOD for Matt Bay’s and his amazing, painful obedience to write this beautiful book!!

Purchase your copy HERE today!

About the Author:

Matt Bays is a writer, speaker, and musician with a passion to call people out of their hiding places; calling forth others' stories is the hallmark of his spiritual vocation and purpose. In ministry for twenty years, Bays was most recently the worship pastor for Northview Church in Carmel, IN, recently noted as the second fastest growing church in America with more than 8,000 attending each weekend.

Bays is also a singer-songwriter, as is his wife, Heather, herself a sought-after studio vocalist in Indianapolis. Married for twenty years, the couple have two teenage daughters.

Roots and Sky by Christie Purifoy - REVIEWED

About the Book:
When Christie Purifoy arrived at Maplehurst that September, she was longing for a fixed point in her busily spinning world. The sprawling Victorian farmhouse sitting atop a Pennsylvania hill held within its walls endless possibilities. It was a place where she could finally grasp and hold the thing we all long for--home.

In lyrical, contemplative prose, Christie slowly unveils the trials and triumphs of that first year at Maplehurst--from summer's intense heat and autumn's glorious canopy to winter's quiet grief and spring's unexpected mercies. Through stories of planting and preserving, of opening the gates wide to neighbors, and of learning to speak the language of a place, Christie invites you into the heartache and joy of small beginnings and the wonder of a God who would make his home with us. 

My Thoughts:

“In desiring to see more of God, I struggle against the smallness of new beginnings…I forget that everything good requires cultivation.  This is, in fact, part of the gift.” (p. 96)

Christie Purifoy explores the effect of major life changes in her book, Roots and Sky. Changing careers, bringing home a new baby, moving away from family, beginning a new faith journey in a new church home….beginnings all of us have experienced in some measure.  She explores the “cultivation” process we each experience as we face new beginnings – or abrupt or tragic endings. (the Sandyhook school shooting is something she writes about) 

Purifoy has a faith that the reader is able to observe throughout the book – a faith that grows, changes and strengthens.  The writing is almost poetic in its visual images, and it’s not hard to imagine yourself as one of the neighbors in the neighborhood.

This is not a “quick read”, but rather a slow, tasteful meandering through the season of a year in Purifoy’s new home.  This is a book to be savored.  The language is rich and thoughtful, and readers, like myself, will be encouraged to look forward to times of change with a more contemplative attitude! 

About the Author:

Christie Purifoy has taught literature and composition to undergraduates at the University of Chicago, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and the University of North Florida. In 2012, Christie traded the university classroom for a large vegetable garden and a henhouse in southeastern Pennsylvania. She writes about the beauty, mystery, and wonder that lies within the ordinary at her blog, There Is a River (www.christiepurifoy.com).

Dressed for Death by Julianna Deering - REVIEWED

About the Book:

A Regency-Era Costume Party Should Have Been an Amusing Diversion, but it Seems Wherever Drew Farthering Goes, Mystery--and Murder--Are on the Guest List

Drew and Madeline Farthering arrive at a Regency-era house party at Winteroak House, excited to be reunited with old friends, including Drew's former Oxford classmate Talbot Cummins. Tal is there with his fiancée, Alice Henley, and though many present seem worried about the couple, nobody is prepared when Alice dies from an apparent overdose. Tal refuses to believe she'd taken the drugs intentionally, and a dark question arises of whether the death is an accident or murder.

The police have their own information though, and Drew is shocked when they arrest someone he's trusted and admired since his childhood--someone who's been smuggling drugs into the country for years. Stunned by what has happened, Tal begs Drew to get to the bottom of everything, but Drew has never felt more unsettled. Questioning his own ability to see people as they really are, Drew doesn't know whom to trust, and he's not ready for the secrets he's about to uncover--or the danger he'll bring down on everyone he holds dear.

My Thoughts:

"It was a sad and broken world, God help them all, and there was little Drew could do about it." (p.305)

Julianna Deering knows how to explore the human condition within the context of story in high fashion! I’d have never dreamed up a Regency weekend dress-up/mystery party among the elite as a setting for a truly dark and somewhat sad turn of events based upon greed and power.  But she did this and more! 

Deering creates a host of endearing characters whose hearts are transparent (for the most part) and their friendships deep and constant.  This group gathers for a unique type of party, and as they come away from the “real” world, it seems the reality of greed and murder find them despite their best efforts to get away.  There are newly-weds, and in-love-want-to be-married couples, as well as siblings thrown into the mix for good measure. Drew and Madeline Farthering are the central characters, and despite Drew’s reputation as one who can find the truth at the bottom of mysterious events, even he fails to see the truth right in front of him – too late for some, and almost too late for those dearest to him!

I think what I loved most about this story is the genuine relationships that become apparent among the characters in the novel.  I dare say there are readers who will come to the pages of this novel that would love to find such genuine and loyal friendships!  It is true that they are forced to deal with greed and murder in an up close and personal way, but they survive and thrive because they have each other to depend upon!

This is an enchanting tale that will captivate readers from beginning to end!  I am happy to recommend this to anyone who enjoys a true cozy mystery!

About the Author:

Julianna Deering has always loved British history and literature and is particularly a fan of the classic mysteries written by Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie. She graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas and now works for an attorney specializing in wills and estate planning. She lives outside Dallas, Texas, where she loves to quilt, cross-stitch, and watch hockey. Learn more at www.juliannadeering.com.

Miriam by Mesu Andrews - REVIEWED

About the Book:
The Hebrews call me prophetess, the Egyptians a seer.
But I am neither. I am simply a watcher of Israel
and the messenger of El Shaddai.
When He speaks to me in dreams, I interpret. When He whispers a melody, I sing.

At eighty-six, Miriam had devoted her entire life to loving El Shaddai and serving His people as both midwife and messenger. Yet when her brother Moses returns to Egypt from exile, he brings a disruptive message. God has a new name – Yahweh – and has declared a radical deliverance for the Israelites.

 Miriam and her beloved family face an impossible choice: cling to familiar bondage or embrace uncharted freedom at an unimaginable cost. Even if the Hebrews survive the plagues set to turn the Nile to blood and unleash a maelstrom of frogs and locusts, can they weather the resulting fury of the Pharaoh?


Enter an exotic land where a cruel Pharaoh reigns, pagan priests wield black arts, and the Israelites cry out to a God they only think they know.

My Thoughts:

“Greater suffering means deeper revelation as you near God’s promise.”  (p. 161)

These words, from Abba Amram’s lips as he spoke to Moses and Miriam are far more prophetic than anyone could begin to guess.  Honestly, I didn’t dream Mesu Andrews could capture anything more realistic than her previous biblical fiction, but I think Miriam takes this genre to a new and more complete telling than ever before!

The complexity of the relationships in this novel blew my mind!  The societal constraints for women is examined under an extremely clear and sometimes harsh light.  (there really isn’t anything gentle about a woman’s role during that time!) Taliah’s role broke my heart time and time again, as did Miriam.  (Well, Miriam not as much because she could hear Yahweh’s voice most of the time, and that brought her much comfort.)  The role of Moses, Aaron and Eleazar are all well-developed and complex in their emotional angst and the realities they deal with as each plague descends.  I guarantee you that you will consider the Exodus story in a whole new way after reading this novel!

I was reminded of the Biblical account as I read, because Andrews opens most chapters with verses from the book of Exodus.  As always, I was led to consider my own ability to hear God’s direction in my life and I was challenged to seek the total dependence on God’s guidance that Miriam seeks throughout the novel. 

This is a phenomenal novel, and one I would highly encourage everyone to read!

About the Author:
Mesu Andrews is the award-winning author of Love Amid the Ashes and numerous other novels including The Pharaoh’s Daughter. Her deep understanding of–and love for– God’s Word brings the biblical world alive for readers. Mesu lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband Roy and enjoys traveling to visit her growing tribe of grandchildren.

and it was beautiful - by Kara Tippetts - REVIEWED

About the Book:
And It Was Beautiful: Celebrating Life in the Midst of the Long Good-Bye (David C Cook, March 2016)

"I was here. I saw beauty. I embraced it." -Kara Tippetts

How do you live out extravagant love in the everyday moments? How do you celebrate grace when your life turns out differently than the one you dreamed?

Kara Tippetts discovered how to find joy in the small moments of life. She learned how to hold tight to hope even while battling intense physical and emotional pain. And she lived out the truth that God can redeem any story.


In her final book, Kara offers gentle reflections on living and dying well. She invites us to cultivate soft hearts even when we face great disappointment. Her ideas for living are hard-won, wrestled with in the crucible of family, illness, and faith. And her constant reminder is that whether we are in the midst of dark days or mundane moments Jesus is always there, life is surprisingly beautiful, and God is forever good.

My Thoughts:

“And while I do want more, more of everything, what I want most is Jesus.  More of Him.” (p. 183)

“That’s one of the lessons cancer has taught me, that today is all I have, and I must keep my eyes focused on what’s in front of me, and do the next thing in love.” (p. 200)

Even though I knew before I read the first page, knew that “and it was beautiful” was published after the author’s death, I could feel Holy Spirit stretching my heart with each word, each phrase, each memory that Kara Tippetts shared throughout her journey.  Just a couple of days before I came to the pages of this book, my Dad, now 87 years old, shared memories from sitting beside the bedside of the wife of his youth as she recovered from a third brain surgery as she fought cancer.  Only a day before Dad shared his memories – memories steeped in thankfulness to all those that prayed him through this time of loss – my Mom had boldly declared that she knew God brought Dad to her life and married him and his two young children despite the naysayers.  They celebrate 52 years of marriage in June.

As I pray for the Tippets family as they grieve the loss of Kara’s beautiful life, I’m going to ask God to bring someone into the lives of this precious family who will love them well and faithfully as my Mom has loved my dad and his first wife’s children the past 52 years.  Oh, there have been tears as I’ve read this book!  Cancer formed my birth family, but it has been divorce after 22 years that is shaping the lives of me and my two boys right now. 

And, like Kara, I want more of Jesus that I’ve ever wanted anything in my entire life!  Is this how I wanted my story to bend?  No.  But Jesus has never left my side.  I want to love every moment of every day Jesus gives me.  I want to love others well.  I want to live every day in love with Jesus!

Kara wanted that to.  Her beautiful words encourage us to that end.  I praise God for Kara’s life and her faithfulness!!

Purchase your copy HERE today!

About the Author:

Kara Tippetts was the author of The Hardest Peace and the co-author of Just Show Up. She blogged faithfully at mundanefaithfulness.com. Since her death in March 2015, her husband, Jason, has been parenting their four children and leading the church the couple founded in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Come to the Garden by Jennifer Wilder Morgan - REVIEWED

About the Book:
A novel based on true experiences, Come to the Garden is a story about a woman’s journey with a mysterious angel that encourages readers to believe heaven is closer than they think.

Years ago, author Jennifer Wilder Morgan served as a hospital volunteer, visiting critically ill patients—praying with them and listening to their stories. As she created a safe space for those of all faiths and backgrounds, patients began confiding in Morgan about the mysterious ways God speaks to them—including encounters with angels, visions of loved ones who've passed on, and messages of comfort spoken in dreams. She witnessed the profound healing that occurs when people are permitted to talk about these experiences, and as a result, Morgan was inspired to share her own personal encounters with God in a novel.

In Come to the Garden, the main character Jenn wakes up on her birthday to find an angel introducing herself as Margaret in the backyard garden. Lately Jenn has been struggling to make sense of the mysterious ways God has been speaking to her and is trying to understand what he wants her to know. The angel takes Jenn back through her memories and life experiences, revealing how God has been connecting with her all along. Under the angel’s guidance, Jenn finally understands the messages God has been speaking to her, in her dreams, divine promptings, and unexplained coincidences. It becomes clear that God is a faithful and persistent pursuer of the human heart.

Framed as a series of conversations between Jenn and her guardian angel, this unconventional and charming narrative will strike deep into the hearts of anyone seeking a greater understanding of God. Come to the Garden is an inspirational fictional story about the surprising ways God works in our lives and affirms that heaven is truly closer than we think.

My Thoughts:

Come to the Garden is a work of fiction, and for that – and the story behind the publication of this novel, I am thrilled to see the story published.  It is an interesting consideration of the role of spiritual beings at work all around us.  However, I must admit, I’m a bit wary that the role of Holy Spirit in the lives of believers is much overshadowed, if all but neglected in this story. It seems as though the dependence on angels for protection and guidance is a bit much.

It’s a well told story, but I think readers who come to this novel, if not very strong in their faith and well grounded in God’s Word, might find themselves a bit misguided.  Do I believe in angels and demons? Certainly.   My youngest son has met his guardian angel.  But I don’t place my faith or dependence on any spiritual being except Holy Spirit to speak to me, to guide me, to comfort me and keep me company.  If God uses angels to accomplish His will for my life, so be it, but I’m just satisfied to let this be what it is…a well told tale of fiction only.

It's a sweet story, but I don't like the sentimentality of angels giving messages from loved ones in heaven.  My loved ones will  be too busy worshipping at Jesus' feet to send messages back to earth! Just my two cents.

About the Author:

Jennifer Wilder Morgan graduated from Kent State University and is a member of the Delta Gamma Fraternity. She resides in Houston, Texas, where she served in The Methodist Hospital’s lay ministry. She is a member of The Woodlands United Methodist Church. 

Finding God in the Runis by Matt Bays - REVIEWED

About the Book:

When the reality of your pain doesn't line up with what you've been taught in church, then what? While many abandon their faith or embrace hopelessness, it is possible to discover the God who heals your heart in the midst of the pain.

Matt Bays has been where you are. His unforgettable stories of loss and healing will usher you into a life where gratitude overpowers anger, hope overcomes despair, and hunger for God replaces indifference to God. With a fresh and original writing style, Bays demonstrates that true redemption is far more powerful than the temporary fixes of sanitized Christianity.

My Thoughts:

“God knows your name.  And in the immense pain, he whispers under his bright, sending a love song – a melody of grace notes that in time will balance every dissonant chord of tyour life.  He is the one who, at this very moment, wherever you may be, has hung and invisible banner over your head that reads, I have reddemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. – Isa. 43:1 ESV”

Matt Bays’ book, Finding God in the Ruins, has been a tool used by God in redeeming some of the darkest moments of my life.  I have wept, rejoiced, and sat in silent awe at the transformation that took place in my heart as I read this book.

Was is what I expected?  No. It was too transparent, too raw, too messy, too painful – it was TRUE!!!  And this is the truth, transparency and messy painfulness that I want to have every moment the rest of my life in relationship with God – my creator, my redeemer – my friend!  

Dear reader, if you don’t read another book all year, pick this book up and soak up every single word! Lay down your religious tradition and embrace the love of your heavenly Father – completely – without reservation – in spite of your mess – your pain – in spite of everything!!  Please, I ask you from the deepest part of my heart – chase after God and your redemption with every fiber of your being!!  Be made new!!


I PRAISE GOD for Matt Bay’s and his amazing, painful obedience to write this beautiful book!!

Purchase your copy HERE today!

About the Author:

Our world is in massive turmoil. The suffering are desperate for authentic hope and real redemption. Yet the church often responds with tired clichés that shrink our understanding of God rather than enlarging it. 

Matt Bays understands. This book was birthed from his own deep struggles in a dysfunctional home. With pastoral wisdom, personal transparency, and unforgettable stories, he shows that true redemption is far more powerful than the temporary fixes of sanitized Christianity. 

Best of all, he leaves readers with a much bigger God than the one they thought they lost in their pain.

Matt Bays is a writer, speaker, and musician with a passion to call people out of their hiding places; calling forth others' stories is the hallmark of his spiritual vocation and purpose. In ministry for twenty years, Bays was most recently the worship pastor for Northview Church in Carmel, IN, recently noted as the second fastest growing church in America with more than 8,000 attending each weekend.

Bays is also a singer-songwriter, as is his wife, Heather, herself a sought-after studio vocalist in Indianapolis. Married for twenty years, the couple have two teenage daughters.

Bible Belles Launches "Las Aventuras de Rooney Cruz - Hannah: la Bella de la Plegari" to the Hispanic Community

Bible Belles is committed to share "Heroes for Her"™ 

the Superheroines of the Bible for Children and Youth

San Diego, CA - Bible Belles has launched the first book in Spanish from their original series, The Adventures of Rooney Cruz. The focus of the series is the five women superheroines of the Bible, starting with the first title, Hannah: The Bible Belle of Prayer. Rooney Cruz, the protagonist, is a nine-year-old girl who learns that she has hidden superpowers, and her first adventure begins a journey that will change her life forever when she discovers his first secret power: the power of prayer. 

 

According to the author and creator of The Adventures of Rooney Cruz, Erin Weidemann, "Rooney Cruz is a character that faces the same problems and difficult situations facing most of the girls today. We hope the girls of today will identify powerful ways of addressing the challenges of life through highlighting the real heroes, “Heroes For Her.”™ 

 

Erin Weidemann is a full time middle school teacher, mother, athletic coach, and five-time cancer survivor. She was convinced that having a family was impossible, but she has learned that nothing is impossible for God. Her personal experiences, and seeing that the negative situations in life can be used positively, have inspired her to create Bible Belles to help girls around the world to understand the true definition of beauty and their purposes in life. You can learn more about Erin’s history at www.ErinWeidemann.com.  

 

Characters from The Adventures of Rooney Cruz have been created with high quality illustrations by Rob Corley, former animator for Disney, best known for his work on The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast. As classic films that are loved from generation to generation,The Adventures of Rooney Cruz is a series of high impact that parents and grandparents will want to share with their children and grandchildren. Home Schooling parents, Sunday school teachers and Christian educators will want to use the series as a resource to teach moral principles to future generations through these strong female models. 

 

Book one of the Rooney Cruz series, Hannah: The Bible Belle of Prayer, is now available in Spanish as well as English, in hard copy and downloadable formats. To learn more about the series and to buy, you can visit www.BibleBelles.com. 

UNREASONABLE HOPE: FINDING FAITH IN THE GOD WHO BRINGS PURPOSE TO YOUR PAIN

AVAILABLE TODAY, MARCH 8, 2016

RISING FAITH LEADER CHAD VEACH COMES ALONGSIDE READERS FACING PAIN, LOSS OR CRUSHED DREAMS TOWARD A JOURNEY OF UNDERSTANDING
AN IRREPRESSIBLE HOPE THROUGH HIS DEBUT BOOK

Los Angeles, Calif. – March 8, 2016 – Rising faith leader Chad Veach shares how personal hardships can and will give readers a deeper understanding of God, through his debut book and an unexpected cause focused campaign that has reached millions worldwide.

In UNREASONABLE HOPE: FINDING FAITH IN THE GOD WHO BRINGS PURPOSE TO YOUR PAIN, available now, Veach shares the story of his daughter, Georgia, who was diagnosed with a rare brain disorder called lissencephaly. Despite the pain and uncertainty that this diagnosis caused, Veach found this to be the overwhelming moment when a compassionate God became the most real.

UNREASONABLE HOPE is not a book about a sad little girl with a brain disorder. It's not a book about a pastor's struggle to cope with pain. It's not about bitterness, panic, depression, or fear.UNREASONABLE HOPE is about Jesus Christ, the provider and protector, the one who is with us in the midst of every storm.

Last year when news of Georgia's diagnosis reached a worldwide community, her story touched many lives including Veach’s close friends, celebrities like Justin Bieber, NBA champion Tyson Chandler, model Hailey Baldwin and PGA golfer Ricky Fowler, even strangers. All were so compelled by Georgia’s story that they got tattoos of the letter "G" in her honor. The idea has become a movement, affectionately referred to as “G tats.”

“A friend from New York came up with the idea,” Veach explained. “I had just finished preaching at Hillsong NYC and he said ‘let's get up tomorrow, get some pancakes and get tattoos.’ He designed the tattoo for Georgia and said every time we look at it, we'll pray for her and then it just kind of took off. Last week, I got texts from two people who got ‘G tats,’ bless their hearts. I don't know what the count is at, but it's a lot of people. It's a pretty humbling thing when someone marks their body for your daughter. It's an unbelievable act of kindness.”

Actress Ashley Benson, star of Pretty Little Liars, who is pleased to have her own “G tat” said, “I look up to Chad and [his wife] Julia because they deal with so much, yet every time I see them they have a smile on their face and embrace me with love and positivity. Their love is endless; they are generous and unbelievably kind. They are truly an example of God. Knowing their family and my sweet Georgia has forever changed my life. I continue to pray for them and Georgia every day.

UNREASONABLE HOPE  has already garnered endorsements from a number of faith leaders, influencers and friends of Veach, including Rich Wilkerson Jr., Louie Giglio and Carl Lentz. The book also features a heartfelt and very personal foreword by New York Times bestselling author and Pastor Judah Smith.

Veach brings his casual, and at-times humorous perspective to this heartbreakingly real and highly relatable book, with practical steps at the end of each section for readers to take in their own lives. Through this book, readers discover that although someone may not know the purpose of every struggle and hardship, it doesn’t mean they can’t find God through it all.  In fact, they likely will.For more information about Chad Veach please visit: Website: www.unreasonablehope.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/chadcveach

Twitter: @chadcveach
Instagram: www.instagram.com/chad_veach

Unreasonable Hope by Chad Veach

Thomas Nelson

9780718038342

0718038347

Pub Date: 3/8/2016

$16.99/$21.00 Can./£10.99 UK

Paperback

224 Pages

Religion / Christian Life

About The Author

Chad Veach is the pastor of Zoe Church in Los Angeles, California. Chad and his wife, Julia, have three beautiful children, Georgia Estelle, Winston Charles and Mavrick Montgomery.

I'm still here! Just....

The Gift of Friendship edited by Dawn Camp, Forward by Jennifer Dukes Lee - REIVEWED

About the Book:
Sharing secrets. Laughing until it hurts. Hugging through tears. True friends are one of God's greatest gifts.

You'll cherish these stories of true friendship from

· Lisa-Jo Baker
· Holley Gerth
· Bonnie Gray
· Liz Curtis Higgs
· Jennifer Dukes Lee
· Tsh Oxenreider
· Crystal Paine
· Myquillyn Smith
· Renee Swope
· Lysa TerKeurst
· Jessica Turner
· and many more

Whether next door or in the next time zone, our friends are some of our most vital relationships. We cherish time spent together and look forward to the next time we can solve the world's problems over coffee. There is something about a true friend that no other relationship can touch.

Collecting over fifty true stories from some of today's best writers, Dawn Camp offers you a chance to sit back and experience the gift of friendship. With its beautiful photographs and poignant prose, this collection is the perfect pick-me-up anytime you need a boost.

My  Thoughts:

The Gift of Friendship – this is a book of short vignette’s detailing the many facets of friendship among women – both familial and friendships made throughout our lifetimes.  These are brief, but very thought provoking.  Friendship – community – God designed this to draw us closer to Him, to keep us strong in our faith walk, to keep us accountable – these relationship serve SO MANY purposes!

There was a time in my life – years, in fact – where my life was almost devoid of friendship.  After a deep betrayal, I withdrew even further away from any opportunity to cultivate friendship in any form.  I isolated myself.  It was the most miserable place I’ve ever been in my entire life. 

This only changed for me in the last couple of years, and now, God has blessed me with a friendship overflow!  I actually have to put things on my calendar to keep everything sorted out!  Talk about making a difference in my life!! FRIENDSHIP is CRUCIAL to our survival in every way imaginable!!

So, if you want to be encouraged, if you want to thank God for the friendships He has blessed you with, read this amazing book – buy a copy for a friend – and share it!  There are many special occasions to celebrate with friends!  I’m happy to recommend this book!