Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Children's Book Review - The Push

The Push : a story of friendship
By Patrick Gray
Illustrated by Justin Skeesuck & Matt Waresak
2018 Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Reviewed by Diane Busch

This is a wonderful book for all children between the ages of about 6 and 12. 
The friendship that is portrayed between these 2 boys is more intimate than we are used to reading about for boys. 

John is a quadriplegic in a wheel chair and Marcus helps him eat, dress, get around, etc. After a few years John feels bad that their friendship is so one-sided; that Marcus is always helping John, but John can not help Marcus. Then Marcus reminds John of all the ways he helps him, such as making him laugh, helping him with math, helping him learn patience, etc. 

I was reading this book out loud to my grandchildren, and as I got near the end (page 26), I was in tears and had to take a momentary break because I couldn’t read without crying. The story is so touching and teaches a great lesson for children and adults. 


A copy of this book was provided for review. 

Monday, March 12, 2018

New Book Review

The Genius of One: God's Answer for Our Fractured World
by Greg Holder
NavPress 2017

Review by Diane Busch

Jesus prayed for his disciples and followers (for us).  What did he pray?  He prayed that they would be one.  He prayed for unity.  (John 17)  We are called to be ministers of reconciliation, not destroyers of oneness or unity.  (p. 24)  "Interdependence is very clearly Paul’s main point with this talking anatomy lesson [in 1 Corinthians 12].  But implicit in it is the need for every part to actually do what it is supposed to do, whether it be a prominent and highly visible part or not.” (p. 98)

"What if there were some aspects of the incarnation--God being in the world in a physical, flesh-and-blood way—that applied to us?” (p. 138)
"The Church is his body, it is the physical form of his presence on earth. Touch the church and you touch the body of Christ, which means you touch Christ. That also means that when the body of Christ touches the world, so too does Jesus. It is one of the ways he comforts people in troubles.” (p. 139)

2 Corinthians 1 - He is the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 
"One of the ways God comforts his people in their troubles is a flesh-and-blood presence. (p. 140) The genius of God is this: we are to share what we’ve gone through with one another. This is how we embody the very presence of the god of all comfort.  We are again in the mystery. But god will use the pain that left a scar on ones heart to now strengthen another. Hope flows ever so slowly from one to the other. And yet God points comfort in both directions. Now the one with older, partially heard wounds find meaning in what happened all those years ago. Not a reason—but now something redemptive is finally happening.” (p. 146)

“In a world splattered with hate, the body of Christ must now move—dripping with grace and veined with love.” ( p. 190)

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:27‬ ‭NIV‬‬ - Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.

We need this book at this time in America. We Christians in all of our churches need to be united and do ministry in oneness. It’s not a competition between Christians or churches. We are all on the same team. Backed by scripture for spiritual oneness, Greg gives many examples and possibilities of what this may look like. He encourages us to find creative ways to work in unity toward the common goal. 

Each chapter ends with questions for reflection and discussion so I recommend you read this with at least one other person to discuss and share and collaborate. 

I was tempted to skip the last chapter, but having pressed on I must now appeal DO NOT SKIP CHAPTER 12!  It is full of great content and real life stories!

A copy of this book was provided for review.

Saturday, March 3, 2018

Book Review

Is This the End? : Signs of God's Providence in a Disturbing New World
by David Jeremiah
Thomas Nelson 2016

Reviewed by Diane Busch

Mr. Jeremiah is a biblical scholar and has a way of explaining biblical truths and prophecy in an easy to understand manner.  It is difficult to summarize this entire book, as the author speaks to many different topics of interest, such as: political upheavals, refugees, diseases, nuclear threats, failing economies, etc.   One of the first topics he covers is to prepare us Christians for the coming persecution.  Christians in many other countries today are enduring persecution, and we will soon if not already be enduring it here in America.  But he also gives us hope, in his scripturally-based belief that the rapture of those who love and follow Jesus will occur pre-tribulation.  As to the question that is the title of the book, no one knows the time of the Lord’s return, but we are experiencing "birth pangs” and have seen some prophecies fulfilled.

Book Review

God and Donald Trump
by Stephen E. Strang
Frontline 2017

Reviewed by Diane Busch

I am so glad I listened to this audiobook.  If you have had doubts about Donald Trump being president, whether you voted for him or not, please read this book.    If you have questions about his character and why did Christians get behind him and support him in the 2016 Presidential election, please read this book.  I was enlightened, informed, and impressed.  There was so much about this man, that I did not know.  I was reassured to find out that whether he is a born again Christian himself or not, he is open to wise godly counsel from others and he has a strong stance on supporting Christians in America and their constitutional rights.  My doubts and concerns were addressed and my questions answered.  I came away with peace and acceptance in my heart.  I have been assured that God can use Donald Trump in "such a time as this".