My Life and Lesser Catastrophes

My Life and Lesser Catastrophes – An Unflichingly Honest Journey of Faith
a memoir by Christina Schofield
Published at Chosen

About the book

Fresh, Surprising Memoir of God's Goodness in the Midst of Disaster

Just after her thirteenth wedding anniversary, Christina Schofield woke up groggy and disoriented, surrounded by nurses in a hospital. She and her husband had hit a gravel patch while on their motorcycle and crashed into a ditch. With the exception of a concussion, she was fine. But Allen had broken his neck. He was now a quadriplegic.

With her entire life flipped upside down, she began an astonishing journey of tenacious faith amid increasing doubt. Full of dark, silent hours and a woman's honest questioning of the God she thought she knew, this is also a story full of miraculous answers to prayer and head-scratching, awe-inspiring encounters with her loving Lord.

With candid warmth and transparency, Christina shows readers that even in their darkest hours, God's goodness shines through.

Who is Christina Schofield?

Christina Schofield has been a children's illustrator and writer for the last ten years, working with Zonderkidz, Group Publishing, Standard Publishing, and Cook Communications. She and her husband, Allen, a campus pastor, have one daughter, Lily, and live in Rolla, Missouri.

My Thoughts

I like real stories. No scratch that… I enjoy reading about real life events and knowing how people deal with their issues.   I find it gives perspective on how I could react and live out my faith in the midst of problems and health issues.

When I read the introduction of this book I was hooked.   I wanted to know how a mom of a toddler would go through life with her handicapped husband.   Where will she find the energy and the courage to continue?   And while I was reading I discovered a courageous woman who face the difficulties and the struggles an accident can bring in your family.   Her husband is still alive but other families are not as “lucky” as she is.  Freak accidents happens every day.   It’s how we deal with them that is important.   You can feel and sense the trust that Christina has in God.   She has her downs as anyone else would have but it doesn’t take long before she is energized again and ready to fight.

Taking care of her husband and her child is a priority and I applause her dedication to her family.    It must not be easy everyday and yet she continues to trust. 

I enjoyed reading this book and if a tragic event happens in my family one day, I hope with all my heart to have the courage of Christina.   I will trust my God everyday of my life for every aspects touching us.

My Life and Lesser Catastrophes is available at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca.

Disclaimer: Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and graft-Martin Communications, Inc. 

The Lord’s Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer – Insight and Inspiration to Draw You Closer to Him
Written by R.T. Kendall
Published at Chosen

About the book

Bestselling, Respected Author and Pastor Mines the Riches of the Lord's Prayer

No prayer is better known--or more misunderstood--than the prayer Jesus provided in his Sermon on the Mount. Turning a keen eye to this much-loved topic, Dr. R. T. Kendall unlocks the transforming truths of what we now call the Lord's Prayer. With wisdom and depth, he offers thoughtful exposition on the life-changing revelations contained in each line of this amazing prayer, including:

• interpreting and praying in the will of God
• the purpose of the Lord's Prayer
• when to pray the Lord's Prayer
• how unanswered prayer can be a sign of God's favor
• misusing the Lord's Prayer
• why pray at all?
• and more

Readers will come away not only with a model for prayer, but with a revolutionary way to pray effectively while drawing closer to the Father.

Who is R.T. Kendall?

R. T. Kendall, Ph.D., a protégé of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, pastored the historic Westminster Chapel in London for 25 years. The author of numerous bestselling books, he conducts "Word, Spirit and Power" conferences throughout North America. His ministry was transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit in the 1990s after his wife was miraculously healed from a serious illness. He and Louise now live in Hendersonville, TN.

My Thoughts

When I decided to review this book, I was reading numerous books from this same author.   Consequently, I got an overload of information from  R.T. Kendall on various subjects and couldn’t concentrate totally on this book.   I had to put it aside for a while (a bit too long I admit it) before coming back to it.  I am not in the habit of doing this but for this particular book it was a wise decision.  

This book is all about the Lord’s Prayer.   The author is decorticating the prayer that Jesus taught to his disciples and explains it beautifully. The author goes verse by verse and expand on the subject with each chapter throughout the book.  While going through this prayer you will learn to focus on God, discover God’s prayer list and be blessed at the same time.

The Lord’s Prayer is often repeated and sometimes we might have a tendency of saying it without really pondering on the words and how it impact our own life.   This book will remind you of the importance of the prayer and how your own life can be transformed through it.

If you want to have a new perspective for the Lord’s Prayer in 2011, I strongly suggest that you read this book from R.T. Kendall.  You will get new insights on a common prayer and get inspired to re-discover it and draw closer to God.  

The Lord’s Prayer is available at a bookstore near you – even at amazon.ca.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Chosen for sending me the book for review purpose. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way.  All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Love Has A Face - Mascara, a Machete and One Woman's Miraculous Journey with Jesus in Sudan

Love Has A Face: Mascara, a Machete, and One Woman’s Miraculous Journey with Jesus in Sudan
Written by: Michele Perry
Published at Chosen

About the book
Unforgettable Memoir of a Woman Bringing the Love of Jesus to the Orphans of Sudan

Termites for dinner. Bombs in the backyard. A nation torn by decades of war still on the brink. Can one life really make a difference here?
Born without her left hip and leg, Michele Perry is no stranger to seeming impossibilities. So when she arrived in war-torn Southern Sudan--with little more than her faith in God's promises--she did what everyone told was crazy: she opened a home for orphaned children in the middle of guerilla warfare territory and has now become "mama" to over one hundred little lives.

With a deft pen, she recounts unforgettable stories of life in the bush, stories that capture the reader with the stark realities of living in a war zone—and the power of God's love to transform them. Her own story is just as compelling as the ministry she is living. From working in the slums of India to finding her home in war-ravaged Africa, her life has been a journey deeper into the supernatural power of God.

Captivatingly honest, readers will be swept up in one woman's poignant, spellbinding journey of love and the glimpses of God's tender grace and mercy in the midst of a broken and hurting world.

Who is Michele Perry?
Michele Perry is the founding field ministry coordinator for Iris Ministries in Southern Sudan under Rolland and Heidi Baker. Born without her left hip and leg and other birth defects, she endured 23 surgeries by age 13. A native of Florida, Michele studied at Baylor and has previously served in Bangladesh, India, and the inner cities of the U.S. She is also an artist, photographer, and poet. Michele wrote most of Love Has a Face on an old computer by a kerosene lamp in a bullet-hole ridden shell of a building in Southern Sudan. Her writing was punctuated by the occasional AK-47 shot.

My Thoughts
What is love? Really… have you stop a second and wondered what it was? God is the perfect image of Love. And the book Love Has A Face will demonstrate by reading of the life of Michele Perry how we can show God’s love to the ones who need it the most.

Michele has a way of writing from the deepness of her heart and makes you travel with her through her life in Sudan. WoW! That’s honestly the first word that came to my mind after I finished reading the book. She is experiencing so much of the presence of God it is almost unbelievable. But the words are there, black on a white page, telling us all the miracles that He did and the only thing she needed to do was trust Him and show His love to others.

We don’t experience these kinds of miracles here in Canada or the US. Could you imagine what would happen if it was like this here? I’m thinking of the miracle of the candies for many children who showed up for a Veggie Tales night. There were too many children for the number of candies that was purchased. However, God provided above and beyond (well one extra candy – probably for himself *grin*) what was needed… I’m thinking of how Michele prayed for a blind woman who recovered her sight. I’m thinking of how many times provisions came when they didn’t expect it – even soccer balls for the kids.

Yes God is there. He knows what is needed. He cares about everyone. But He needs others to show His love – to be Love for Him. Are you willing to follow and trust Him wherever He will bring you?

It doesn’t have to be in Africa you know. It can simply be here in your city. Don’t walk fast when you see a street person; take the time to be a blessing for them. Love them just like Jesus would have love them himself. It’s that simple. Sometimes a simple smile is enough. Acknowledge them and let them know that God do cares about them.

I was blessed beyond measures by this book. And I hope that one day my own children will pick it up and read through it to learn of God’s love.

If you want to experience His love and see what He is doing in Sudan – pick up Love Has A Face next time you go to the bookstore. You won’t be disappointed. Expect to be moved and have tears in your eyes when you read it.

Love Has A Face is available everywhere even at amazon.ca and indigo.ca.

Held Hostage - A Serial Bank Robber's Road to Redemption

Held Hostage: A Serial Bank Robber’s Road to Redemption
By Ken Cooper
Published at Chosen

About the book
Husband. Father. Esteemed Community Man. Armed Bank Robber.
The unflinching story of one man's double life--and his ultimate transformation.

To his friends and family, Ken Cooper was the epitome of the perfect citizen: he was devoted to his wife and kids, loved by all, and had a high-profile job for a well-known Christian college.

Yet beneath this polished exterior lurked a man haunted by a broken past and fueled by a dangerous addiction. This man was known to the newspapers and public as the armed and mysterious "gentleman bank robber."

With raw authenticity, Ken bares all--from his tragic past to his time in one of Florida's most notorious prisons--in this unforgettable story of one man's miraculous redemption.

Who is Ken Cooper?
Ken Cooper, who served four years of a 99-year sentence, later worked with four others to found Prisoners of Christ, a faith-based reentry ministry for the transition of inmates plagued with addictions. Now he heads up Ken Cooper Prison Ministries, involved in prison ministry organization development, consulting work, and education on overcoming addictions. Ken has been featured in numerous media outlets including Time, The Christian Science Monitor, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and the Associated Press.Ken and his wife, June, live in Jacksonville, Florida.

My Thoughts
I had the privilege to be part of the 20 bloggers to review this book in advance. Testimonies are always powerful. After all, testimonies can have the power of changing lives. Revelation 12:11 says “They overcame him (meaning the accuser) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” . While I read this book I could see God being at work in the life of Ken Cooper.

Ken Cooper had it all but somehow he wasn’t satisfied with all that. He would get a rush by robbing banks. He would take hostages and let them go when he would be safe. He would think through all the steps before acting. He was pretty good at it for what I read. Except he made an error once – he took on a partner. That day he got caught and he went to prison. It’s important to know that every decision we make affect our life and other people’s life. I think Ken Cooper realized that BIG time that faithful day.

Circumstances made it so that people were bitter because he took some hostages while doing his sideline work… He was always polite and nice with people though and was known as the gentleman bank robber. But he got severely punished by being sentenced to 99 years in prison. From now on he was known as ninety-nine.

Amidst of the hard life in prison and all the things that could happen there, Ken got saved and grew in his relationship with God. To the point that he got transferred to one of the hardest section of The Rock to another section which was heaven compare to where he was before. He got connected and have being able to go to Christian events within the prison. God guided him through the days, months and years of living in a prison.

Then one day a miracle happened. He was on his way to freedom. And God has still some work to do in him. But what a change in a man who before couldn’t live without the adrenaline rush of robbing bank!

I really enjoyed the book even though sometimes his story was hard and difficult to read. Ken Cooper went through a lot in his life. It wasn’t always rosy like some people might have think. But somehow, God was with him and drew him closer to HIM. And in the end, God showed Ken Cooper that He has a sense of humor and gave him the opportunity to ask forgiveness for what he did. How? You might wonder. I don’t think I will tell you this specific information. It’s just too good. I see God’s hand through it and something like this can only happen because of Him.

Held Hostage is available everywhere even on amazon.ca and indigo.ca.