Review of Rick Barry's 'The Methuselah Project'

I recently finished reading The Methuselah Project by Rick Barry, and I enjoyed it! It is a great combination of historical fiction and science fiction. I'm not typically a science fiction reader, but our family loves the storylines found in Marvel comics; from the description of the novel, it looked like The Methuselah Project would have a Captain America feel to the plot and dialogue. Thankfully, the novel remained very original even though the hero Roger underwent experiments during WWII and cannot age--which is very similar to the experience of Captain America in the Marvel Comics.

The chapters within the novel jump back and forth between two story lines; the first is Roger Greene's, which begins in 1943 as he flies a fighter plane over Hitler's Germany. His plane is shot down, and Roger becomes a POW. As this storyline progresses, Roger discovers he isn't a 'regular' POW and is part of a secretive experiment & plan of Hitler's and Roger is now a key component of the Methuselah Project. The second storyline belongs to Katherine Mueller, a young woman living in Georgia in 2014. She is receiving military-type training from her Uncle Kurt and they are both part of the Heritage Organization--Kurt having been part of the organization for a very long time, and Katherine still in the early stages of her training and knowledge. While you know there must be something that will connect the Heritage Organization back to Roger's imprisonment, you are left wondering throughout most of the novel exactly how they connect and if your various guesses will be correct. The anticipation made it hard to put the novel down to do other things!

Ingrained within both storylines you will find strong character development & mystery, experience empathy, and anxiously await the collision of the two storylines. When is does occur--in March 2015--you get drawn into a whole new level of action & suspense.

The Methuselah Project ended in the best way I can convey as possible--my desire for Rick Barry to write a sequel! I really don't want to give any other details about this novel, because it's so much more fun to read a book and discover things for yourself.

* I received a complimentary copy of The Methuselah Project in exchange for my honest review*

~~~~~~~~~

Book info

About the book: The Methuselah Project (Kregel, September 2015) Nazi scientists started many experiments. One never ended. Roger Greene is a war hero. Raised in an orphanage, the only birthright he knows is the feeling that he was born to fly. Flying against the Axis Powers in World War II is everything he always dreamed---until the day he's shot down and lands in the hands of the enemy. When Allied bombs destroy both his prison and the mad genius experimenting on POWs, Roger survives. Within hours, his wounds miraculously heal, thanks to those experiments. The Methuselah Project is a success---but this ace is still not free. Seventy years later, Roger hasn't aged a day, but he has nearly gone insane. This isn't Captain America---just a lousy existence only made passable by a newfound faith. The Bible provides the only reliable anchor for Roger's sanity and his soul. When he finally escapes, there's no angelic promise or personal prophecy of deliverance, just confusion. It's 2015---and the world has become an unrecognizable place. Katherine Mueller---crack shot, genius, and real Southern Belle---offers to help him find his way home. Can he convince her of the truth of his crazy story? Can he continue to trust her when he finds out she works for the very organization he's trying to flee? Thrown right into pulse-pounding action from the first page, readers will find themselves transported back in time to a believable, full-colored past, and then catapulted into the present once more. The historical back-and-forth adds a constantly moving element of suspense to keep readers on the edge of their seats. Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1GcsGbS About the author:    Rick Barry is the author of Gunner's Run, another World War II novel, Kiriath's Quest, and over 200 articles and fiction stories. In addition to being a World War II buff, he is the director of church planting ministries at BIEM, a Christian ministry operating in Eastern Europe. He holds a degree in foreign languages, speaks Russian, and has visited Europe more than fifty times. Rick lives in Indianapolis, Indiana. Connect with Rick online: website, Twitter, Facebook

'God Made All of Me: A Book to Help Children Protect Their Bodies' Book Review

I'm a mom to six kids, ranging in age from 15 to 1. I'm also a foster mom and a part of our Children's Ministry staff at church. So keeping kids safe is a big part of my life. That said, it can often be difficult to find the right words to talk to our kids about being fearfully & wonderfully made, while also discussing the fact our private parts as areas others shouldn't been looking at or touching. 'God Made All of Me: A Book to Help Children Protect Their Bodies' does an excellent job at assisting parents and affirming children!

DO NOT purchase this book and just hand it to your child to read alone. Read it yourself a few times, and then gauge the best way to read it to or alongside your child. It is also critical that you yourself become very comfortable in discussing private parts as well as their names--if you can't openly and honestly have a conversation, how will your child ever feel like he or she can really come to you with questions or concerns? Shame & embarrassment have no place within your verbiage. You MUST be proactive so that your child KNOWS you are 100% available in every way they might need you.

Ultimately, I think this book is even more for parents than it is for the child. But once the parent-or other safe adult-gains insight to the richness of this book, they will be able to teach their kids some fantastic Bible verses while opening up conversations that can be properly adjusted based on the child's age and comprehension.

This book is an excellent resource, and discusses a critical topic we so often avoid. I highly recommend it, and see it as a way to stop the silence and start the needed conversations so we can be the safe haven and advocate God expects us to be for our children.

* I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.*

~~~~~~~~~

God Made All of Me: A Book to Help Children Protect Their Bodies(New Growth Press, September 2015)

“God made every part of you!”

It’s easy to convey the message to children that their bodies—or particular parts of their bodies—are shameful. This misconception fuels confusion, embarrassment, and secrecy, and often prevents children from recognizing or reporting sexual abuse.

God Made All of Me is a simply-told, beautifully-illustrated story to help families talk about these sensitive issues with two- to eight-year-old children. Because the private parts of our bodies are private, the home is the ideal environment where a child should learn about his or her body and how it should be treated by others.

God Made All of Me starts from the fundamental truth that God created everything and applies that truth—the doctrine of creation—to kids and their bodies. It equips parents to talk with both boys and girls about their bodies and to help them understand the difference between the appropriate and inappropriate touch of others. God Made All of Me allows families to build a first line of defense against sexual abuse in the safety of their own homes.

God Made All of Me is the first children’s book written by Rid of My Disgrace authors Justin and Lindsey Holcomb. Parents of young children themselves, the Holcombs regularly counsel victims of sexual abuse and are profoundly aware of the dangers kids face. Their simple and relatable story, designed to help children protect their bodies, will be an important resource for every family with young children.

'Gather Around the Amish Table' book review

We took the pumpkin cookie recipe & turned it into a bar cookie!

I had anticipated that an Amish cookbook would be time consuming, difficult to replicate recipes, and just simply above both my skill set as well as my timeframe. Oh, I was definitely wrong with all my assumptions!

• I love this cookbook. It holds the prettiness of The Pioneer Woman in that it's truly a beautiful book in and of itself. If you are building a collection of "pretty" books for your kitchen, Gather Around the Amish Table is one you want to add.
• The recipes are simple. Basic. Time savers. Ingredients are things I either have on hand or can easily purchase at the store.
• The recipes are great for large families. And regular size families.
• The book contains great stories. It is fun reading the snippets regardless of what you decide to make.
• It is a wonderful collaboration. Gather Around the Amish Table contains "treasured recipes and stories from Plain Communities".  In some ways it reminds me of the church and family reunion cookbooks I have in my cabinet, but contains a wonderfully professional touch that helps create a phenomenal resource!

I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review. ~LDK

~~~~~~~~

Incorporate Amish cooking traditions this fall in your kitchen with Lucy Leid's Gather Around the Amish Table. Straight from Amish kitchens to yours, this cookbook offers favorite family recipes and charming stories from Amish and Mennonite cooks. Gather your family around the table to sample the nourishing fare and trademark charm of the plain people. In the words of one cookbook contributor: “Bake someone happy!”

Get your fall baking underway with an Amish baking basket giveaway from Lucy and MennoMedia!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Gather Around the Amish Table
• An Amish baking basket full of goodies

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 29th. The winner will be announced September 30th on the Litfuse blog.

Review of 'The Finishing School' by Valerie Woerner

I am a mom who multi-tasks...and I mean well beyond your 'typical' juggling of life! I'm currently sitting in my van, in the driveway. My three youngest children (ages 3, 1 & 1) are asleep in their carseats. School pickup for 2 of the 3 "big kids" begins in 30 minutes. It's simply not worth getting little ones out of the  van. So, from the driveway I can access my wifi, write a blog post, run in and use the restroom, let the dogs play in the back yard, and keep one eye on the clock so I leave in time to complete my first afternoon pickup. Between now and bedtime I will also run and pick up kid #2 from cross country practice, bathe a very dirty dog, change many, many diapers, stare at the kids when they ask "what's for dinner?", say hello & thanks to my mom when she arrives because she's watching kids while Mike and I go to our church Small Group, drop our oldest off to babysit as we head to our destination, dig into Ephesians, pick up kid #1, check "the homework situation", send mom home, send kids to bed, make & pack school lunches, take the dogs out, toss laundry into the washing machine, and head to bed. Bed. After I check Facebook. And Instagram. And scroll through Pinterest. And pull up house listings in my town, even though we have no plans to move. Again check Facebook. Look at the clock. Scroll through the news headlines for USA Today. Pull up my local paper. One more look at Facebook. Finally go to bed. Somehow, doing all the mindless scrolling and checking and wondering and updating has entered more of my day than I had ever intended. It's something of which I'm aware, and have been intentionally working on--one of the ways I wanted to discipline myself away from the mindless filling of my mind all day was pursing the opportunity to review books for Litfuse Publicity Group and get back into reading and writing on a more regular basis. And the chance came to review The Finishing School by Valerie Woerner, I knew it was one to which I should give my attention. Because changing the "free moments'  within my day needs attention. The Finishing School takes things that are--for me especially--'head knowledge' and discusses the importance of truly LIVING OUT the life to which God has called me. Each chapter is set up as a guide to a specific area (9. Spontaneity Loves Structure: A Guide to Balance. 18. Buried in the Sand. A Guide to Awareness). Valerie Woerner takes examples from her life, and sets the framework for taking our lives and begin living intentionally. She points out both the importance of minimalism, while also giving validity to a flexible lifestyle. Rather than hit one extreme or another (which would lose this reader completely), her chapters express a need for balance in every area of my life as I run our household and seek heavenly perspective. The book itself helps you see the process for pruning, trimming, and refining your life in ways that are not only practical, but extremely doable. This book can be read and absorbed into your life in a couple of ways. The first one--which is what I did--was read the book over a couple of weeks, highlighting the things that stood out and writing down other things that were helpful ideas. The second one--which I intend to do--involves completing the "Homework" part after each chapter. Here, Valerie has worksheets you can download. She also gives Recommended Resources after each topical chapter. This author has done her research! The third and final way you can read and soak in The Finishing School is to do it with a group of friends. Each chapter and its homework can be looked at one week at a time. There is some very rich potential to not only do the weekly chapter review and discussion, but to even expand into looking deeper at the Recommended Resources. While that isn't something I personally am interested in doing, I am absolutely certain that others--who treasure that fellowship & sincere desire to refine every area of their lives--would relish. If you are looking for a book that's not merely 'self-help' but even more about self-reflection that turns into self-motivation to pursue holiness, you will certainly enjoy The Finishing School. I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review. ~~~~~~~~~ About the book:  The Finishing School: How One Book Nerd Began Living What She Learned (Nyree Press, August 2015) Are you tired of waiting for change to happen in your life? Do you feel stuck, even though you want to live more intentionally? In today's world, our most precious pursuit of a life well lived gets squeezed out by the silliest of things: binging on Netflix or ice cream, shopping trips for things we don't need, bad habits we can't seem to get a handle on, and so much more. Valerie has been there despite knowing what she wanted for her life. Actually do it? That's the challenge. After gobbling up all the non-fiction and self-help books her donut-filled belly could handle, she decided it was time to put her knowledge to good use and start actually living it out. You will hear about her journey through victories and plenty of failures and find practical tips to apply to your own pursuit of holiness. You will find homework at the end of each chapter that includes a worksheet to put real change in motion for your own life as well as recommended books to further study those topics that really test you. Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1K9ghpY About the author:  Valerie Woerner is owner of Val Marie Paper. She and her husband, Tyler, live in Louisiana with their daughter, Vivi Mae. The Finishing School is her first book. Connect with Valerie: website, Twitter, Instagram

A GREAT, BIBLICALLY SOLID & WONDERFUL BOOK THAT TEACHES LITTLE ONES THE LORD'S PRAYER!

If you are looking for a children's board book that's not only cute, wonderfully illustrated, tells a darling story, but also throws in biblical truth and presents The Lord's Prayer in a way little ones can comprehend, Let's Learn about the Lord's Prayer by Catherine DeVries and published by Cook Publishing is the book you want to purchase! I had the opportunity to receive a copy from Litfuse Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review--and this review couldn't get more honest than having my 3 year old, Charlie, be my reviewer!

The book is written in a great way--it tells the story of Emma, a little girl who is getting ready to eat her lunch. The reader (Charlie) gets to interact with Emma as she asks him some questions. Then, as she gets ready to eat, she tells Charlie her mom has been teaching her The Lord's Prayer. So, Emma explains The Lord's Prayer phrase by phrase in a way Charlie can understand. It's also great for older children--and even adults--as it helps us better grasp how to truly teach The Lord's Prayer to the children around us! You also have the opportunity to download a song that helps your child learn The Lord's Prayer, too!

This book is promoted as the "first book of the HeartSmart series". I look forward to purchasing the other books when they come out as well. What a great way to add verses to our book library! ~LeAnne

~~~~~~~~~~~

LET’S LEARN ABOUT THE LORD’S PRAYER BY CATHERINE DEVRIES

Author: Catherine DeVries

Teach your child the Lord’s Prayer in a practical but fun way with the new children’s book from Catherine DeVries, Let’s Learn about the Lord’s Prayer. Preschoolers are invited on a playdate with Emma. Together they learn the Lord’s Prayer and practice “teaching” it to Emma’s favorite teddy bear. The entire Lord’s Prayer is included, along with a custom song (free download with access code).

###

{MORE ABOUT LET’S LEARN ABOUT THE LORD’S PRAYER}

Let’s Learn about the Lord’s Prayer (David C. Cook, September 2015)

In this first book of the HeartSmart series, preschoolers are invited on a playdate with Emma. Together they learn the Lord’s Prayer and practice “teaching” it to Emma’s favorite teddy bear.

Introducing HeartSmart, a Scripture memory series designed to create opportunities for children to fill their heart with God’s Word. HeartSmart combines key Scriptures with songs, giving parents a spiritual formation path for building a strong foundation of faith.

The entire Lord’s Prayer is included, along with a custom song (free download with access code).

Learn more and purchase a copy.

{MORE ABOUT CATHERINE DEVRIES}

Catherine DeVries has written twenty books for children, including the bestselling “The Adventure Bible Storybook.” As associate publisher of Children’s Resources at David C Cook, she leads product development for The Action Bible collection, which has sold over a million copies. Catherine lives with her husband, their three children, and their big furry dog in the Colorado forest.

Book Review for Until My Name Is Known by Sonya Contreras

As someone who loves history and enjoys historical fiction, I was curious what my opinion would be with reading my first Biblical fiction novel. Until My Name is Known by Sonya Contreras drew me initially out of curiosity, and then held my interest through descriptive narrative and detailed 2nd-person conversations. I enjoyed the opportunity to look at Moses' journey in leading the Israelites out of Egypt in a very personalized way.

I had assumed "Until My Name is Known" would be a quick read; I was wrong. But if you are ready to sit down and drink in details in archaeology, rituals and life details for both Israelites and Egyptians, it's very well written. It also is a nicely analyzes the complexity of human nature & God omniscient blended in ways that personify Moses, Zipporah, Aaron, Pharaoh, and others in drastically different ways (based on how he or she views God). If you love history it is very detailed! But please keep in mind (as Biblical fiction) that it neither replaces the Bible nor can be considered more accurate than the Bible.

*I received a complimentary copy of Until My Name is Known from Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest review*

Pre-Order ‘Glory Days,’ Max Lucado’s New Book, and Receive Free Gifts

Are you stuck in the wilderness known as midlife misery? Can you name the day you became a Christian but can’t remember the last time you defeated a temptation or experienced an answered prayer? Find encouragement in Max Lucado's new book, Glory Days. With God’s help you can close the gap between the person you are and the person you want to be. Like Joshua and the Israelites, you can move from a wilderness existence into a promised inheritance.

Now through August 31, 2015, pre-order Glory Days and receive free gifts!

 

There are two pre-order options:

Option 1:

Pre-order one copy of Glory Days (any format), and receive a free digital download of the abridged audio version of In the Grip of Grace by Max Lucado.

After you've pre-ordered, please claim your free gift by submitting your email and proof of purchase at GloryDaysBook.com.

Option 2:

Pre-order one copy of Glory Days (any format) AND one copy of God is With You Every Day (Max's brand-new, 365-day devotional—any format), and receive both the abridged audio version of In the Grip of Grace and a paperback copy of Traveling Light by Max Lucado (U.S. addresses only). 

After you’ve preordered, please claim your free gift by submitting your email and proof of purchase at GloryDaysBook.com.

Pre-order today and get your free gift by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the offer ends on August 31, 2015.

My Personal Review of Max Lucado's Glory Days

If you have ever had the opportunity to read any of Max Lucado's works, then you know a key thing: Lucado can take a basic "head knowledge" account from the Bible and take it to a place that causes you to truly slow down, ponder what God is trying to teach within that biblical passage, and then go deeper so you move the "head knowledge" to applied & active "heart knowledge".  And in Glory Days, Lucado does not disappoint as he sets the stage for "Living Your Promised Land Life Now".

At first, I was a little skeptical: How can I live the Promised Land life now, when I'm still on this earth and not yet in Heaven? It did not take me long to realize I am Lucado's target audience.  Here are the sentences that gave me pause the moment I opened the book:

• Our Promised Land isn't a physical territory; it is a spiritual reality. It's not real estate but a real state of the heart and mind (p 6).
• Canaan, then, does not represent life to come. Canaan represents the life we can have now (p 7)!

I won't lie; it's a little painful to see comparisons made between the Israelite's who refused to enter the Promised Land (and thus wandered for another 40 years) and my own life. God had said it was theirs, yet the Israelites allowed all the seen obstacles to stop them in their tracks and not trust the fact that God had said he had already given them the land.

God has already given me his promise, but I need to live a life that recognizes God has redeemed me, and that he will continue to provide as I face struggles in my life.

My favorite part of Glory Days is the focus on Joshua. Joshua, who trusted God's promise and didn't let giants dissuade him. Joshua, who snuck into Jericho, scoped it out, realized Rahab was being utilized as God's messenger. Joshua, who fully trusted God's plan and saw the walls of Jericho fall! And in the midst of Joshua being the one to whom the Israelites looked to for leadership and redemption, made it clear he was worshipping, honoring, and following God. Joshua worshipped God.

Am I worshipping God as I face my Jericho?

Lucado makes God's promise very clear within Glory Days. A pastor, Christian scholar, and lifelong Christian can gain a deeper and meaningful perspective of our life here on earth when we have accepted Christ as our Savior. Even though Lucado presents some deep theology, it is done in a way that new believers can make wonderful comparisons of Old and New Testament promises. In describing Jericho, Lucado presses in and asks the question, "What is your Jericho?"

"Jericho. 

It stands between you and your Glory Days. It mocks you and tells you to take your dreams back to the wilderness. It stands like an ogre on the bridge of progress. It is big; it is evil. It blocks your way. And its walls must fall. To live in the Promised Land, you must face your Jericho"(Glory Days, p 84).

Lucado does a wonderful job of weaving scripture, personal stories, and biblical situations that allow the book to become an in-depth study on how to apply God's truth to your life. The book is packed with information, and in order to get the most out of the book as I can, I will probably read it a second time. I highly recommend other's to read Glory Days  and allow their perspective to be challenged, which will ultimately deepen their walk with Christ.