Confessions of a Clown

Jesus Calling Devotional Bible

2011-10-11T21:03:00.001-07:00

Jesus Calling Devotional Bible is translated in New King James. The bible contains 260 prayers and devotionals written by Sarah Young. These devotionals were taken from Ms. Young’s two books, Jesus Calling and Jesus lives. I have read Jesus Calling, and have found it to be biblical and inspiring. These prayers have come from years of time Ms. Young spent praying to Jesus through scripture. I appreciated the Devotional Index that covers a variety of topics which are supported by verse. The pages are listed for quick reference. There are also special sections that highlight verses in which God speaks to people through His Word. The bible is quite beautiful with a padded cover, and seems quite durable. The font of the bible is easy to read, and is of average size. The pages of the bible do seem thin. Jesus Calling would make a wonderful gift for any young lady, or woman wanting to spend more time in the word of God. men may enjoy the bible as well; it just seems to be more of a woman’s bible. There is a presentation page, in which a message could be written to the recipient of the bible. This bible reminds us that God speaks to us through His word. Unfortunately, we are often so caught up in our problems that we miss what he is trying to tell us. I believe that God will speak to all of us, if we would just be still and listen.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Beginning Reader's Bible

2011-09-20T16:59:00.000-07:00

Our family has just completed reading “The Beginning Reader’s Bible”. Our children ages 10 and 5, thoroughly enjoyed this bible. The bible stories were short, and easy to follow. The author’s did a wonderful job of breaking down the stories into kid friendly language, while still presenting an accurate account of the biblical passages. Each story ended with a Pray God’s Word, which were biblical verses that children could read and pray about. My 5 year old really liked the Do God’s Word activities scattered throughout the bible. The pictures were vivid and well illustrated. This bible is a great introduction to God’s word. We have purchased many children bible’s, but this is one was a favorite.

**Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."**

The American Patriot's Almanac

2011-01-10T14:27:00.000-08:00

The American Patriot’s Almanac, I believe, is one of the best historical looks at this still new nation. I think the authors captured the heart of America well with this book that takes a look at how individual events in American history create a tapestry of red, white, and blue. It displays a country of refugees, banding for a common cause, and fighting for its liberties and freedoms. The foundation of this country is built on the sacrifice of those for their belief in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They believed that all men were created equal, and that the Divine Creator gave them this freedom.

This book is filled with stories that display’s the heart of America. Stories of Jesse Owens or Pat Tillman, these show the courage to face adversity no matter the cause. These stories, like many others, speak of the American spirit. It is easy in today’s society to get caught up in the “Where are we going?” However, after reading this book, my spirits are renewed. This nation is founded by those who did not know the future, but wanted to change the past. I believe that we cannot really know where we are going as a nation, unless we know where we have been. We should not step blindly, but use the same courage, same spirit, and same American heart that started some 200 years ago.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone and everyone who wants to know a little more about how this country got to today. God bless the soldiers for continuing to fight to keep these freedoms safe.

Disclosure: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Prophecy Answer Book

2011-01-10T09:09:00.000-08:00

The Prophecy Answer Book, written by David Jeremiah, was not as embellishing as I would have hoped for. It is a total 191 pages, however quite small in size for a book. It would be great for traveling with, but that was not the intended purpose. So I was let down by the fact that while it notes many prophetic articles in the Bible, it doesn’t have the space needed to completely cover them. I would call this more of a reference guide really.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wanted to know where to start when looking for prophecy in the Bible. Many questions lead you to their place in the Bible, in which you can get more detail about the context. The author’s stance is in Pre-Trib Rapture, so there are a few questions/references that relates to the Rapture. Many questions are answered within a paragraph or two. Again, I was hoping that it would have dived a little deeper into scripture and prophecy but only got the tip of the iceberg.

Disclosure: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Butterfly Effect

2010-10-27T11:14:00.000-07:00

The Butterfly Effect was an amazing book that demonstrated how lives can be interwoven and effect man kind in a positive way. Andy Andrews, uses various people who have somehow impacted the future of each other’s lives. By one person doing something, another person was able to take the next step. It reminded me of the movie “Pay it Forward”. This book demonstrated why we should try and help others, because you never know what good thing will result because of this action. This book was a fast book to read, and would make a wonderful gift for anyone. The illustrations in the book were beautiful. This book left me with a feeling that what I do in my life does matter. And that I should always strive to achieve new things. I wish the book had been longer, because I really enjoyed reading it.

Disclosure: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Jesus You Can't Ignore

2010-08-03T23:02:00.001-07:00

I reviewed “The Jesus You Can’t Ignore” for the Thomas Nelson book review program. John MacArthur explains the behavior and differences of Jesus’ time on earth in contrast with the present. When Jesus lived on earth he never appeased the people who were against him. He stated the truth, and stood by it. Christians today are being led into believing that we should accept the ways of the world, and love our neighbors. They say it’s hypocritical to judge. However, if we are living according to Christ then we must live according to what Jesus preached. MacArthur does a great job of providing support on how Jesus spoke against sinners. This book would be great for anyone wanting to learn more about Jesus, and what he stood for. However, it is always beneficial to cross reference any Christian book with the actual bible. I think MacArthur was concise with his writing, and provided scripture to support his ideas.
Disclosure: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Plan B

2010-05-21T10:33:00.002-07:00

“Plan B” was a book that I needed to read. I have been struggling with various aspects of my life, and wondering why things just are not going as planned. I attend church, pray, and read the bible. I found myself questioning why God was allowing so many negative things to happen at once. Reading this book reminded me that my plans are not God’s plans. Sometimes life throws a curveball, to guide you along the path God has laid out. Pastor Pete Wilson offers guidance, testimonies, and solid biblical foundation to help the reader cope with the problems they may be facing. He reminds us that God is in every circumstance we face, even if it seems he has deserted us. This book does not make the reader feel guilty for questioning God’s plans for you. Instead, it reminds us to turn to God and trust that he will lead us through the new plan he has laid out. I enjoyed the personal stories of how people have successful doubt with the obstacles in their lives. This book took me some time to read, because it really made me think about my personal relationship with my Lord. I believe God wanted me to read this book to remind me that his Plan B is better than my Plan A. I only have to lean on him to get through the difficult times in my life. God can bring joy, peace, and hope even in the midst of turmoil. I would highly recommend this book for anyone wondering why their Plan A did not work out.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

2010-05-21T10:33:00.001-07:00

The Money Answer Book

2010-05-21T10:28:00.001-07:00

I had the pleasure of reviewing Dave Ramsey’s, “The Money Answer Book”. This book is filled with many questions and answers on personal finance. The book is broken into various topics (debt, saving, investing, stewardship, insurance, real estate, etc…). Each question has a brief answer. I really enjoyed the bible verses that were throughout the book. Ramsey also includes various quotes and inspirational thoughts from an assortment of sources throughout the book. I appreciated the” Money Action Worksheets” that were placed in the book. I was able to complete them and gain a better perspective of my finances as I was reading this book. This book is not very big, and does not take long to read. It does give an introduction to finances, and how to be smart with money. This book would be perfect for a teenager or someone in college. I think we need to teach children from a young age how to handle money. While also teaching them about debt, credit scores, and how to avoid the traps of credit cards.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Chronological Guide to the Bible

2010-04-19T10:02:00.000-07:00

I really enjoy reading from the Bible, its events and how I can relate it to my life. I felt however, that by understanding the history surrounding the events, it would be clearer to me the depth of the Bible. For this reason, I received the Chronological Guide to the Bible.

The Chronological Guide to the Bible serves as a great reference for those who want to get greater knowledge of the life and times of those in the Bible. I appreciated the vast number of charts and maps which help explain the timeline of events and where they took place. This book is not meant to be a devotional, but more of a supplement.

I think that the Chronological Guide to the Bible could have been laid out better. It seems to be jam packed with information, sometimes with four different focus points on one page. That I feel is the only setback to the book. The index is helpful and all in all I definitely see pros than cons in this book.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to put on the sandals and walk a little deeper into the history of the Bible.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Word of Promise

2010-02-03T15:20:00.000-08:00

I am very excited about receiving and reviewing the NKJV format audio Bible called The Word of Promise. Though this is only the New Testament, there is so much that I continue to pick up and learn every time I listen to it. It is performed in dramatic audio theater, meaning that it is not read by one narrator in a monotone voice. Through the use of different actors and background noise/music it draws you into the New Testament immediately. It gives a depth to the pages of the Bible. It contains 20 CD’s including a Behind the Scenes DVD.

I would love to get the Old Testament also on CD from The Word of Promise. It is a great tool for me when I am commuting to work 45 minutes away. I personally feel that the Bible could be read/heard over and over again, and each time would be uniquely different. Whether it be where you are in your life, or the information you pass over previously which now has new meaning, whatever the case I would recommend this great tool to anyone. It is an awesome way of keeping yourself in the Word, while keeping your eyes on the road ahead.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

NKJV Greatest Stories of the Bible

2010-01-11T23:10:00.000-08:00

The Greatest Stories of the Bible has been a great addition to our library. The Bible is written in a storybook New King James Version format. It does not include the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation, but 250 of the greatest events in the Bible. The reason I like it so much is that I have both an eight and three year old that like reading stories. With this book, I can take the lesson they learned in Sunday school from the Bible, and expand on it with this Bible. There is a table of contents and an index, so finding specific events are easy to find. Now I don’t have to worry about which chapter in what book did Jacob dream about the ladder to heaven. Greatest Stories of the Bible are listed according to their order in the complete Bible, so there is no real skipping around. That would have been a little too confusing, mixing New and Old Testament. I commend Thomas Nelson for putting together such a good quality book. The paper stock used and the cover added to the high quality of the book. This is a great book for anyone looking for a family devotional or a good bedtime read.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Tallest of smalls

2009-11-05T15:30:00.001-08:00

Max Lucado has done it again. With a simple storyline, Lucado touches on some very deep stuff. The Tallest of Smalls is about Ollie. Ollie so much wants to be part of the “in” crowd. These people, lifted high on stilts, looking down on those below casting judgment. Ollie is tired of being looked upon dejectedly, wishing that he would be picked to wear a pair of stilts. His moment arrives, only to find that it wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Soon he loses his stilts, but finds friendship in the One who cares for him no matter how tall, making Ollie the Tallest of Smalls.
The book is wonderfully illustrated by Maria Monescillo. The setting takes place in the town of Stiltsville. Every day at 6, those on stilts come into the town square and pick someone to receive a pair of stilts. The book is written in rhyme, so it is easy for my sons to get into and follow.

I think The Tallest of Smalls speaks to so many who think that they are somehow less worthy than others. Whether they think they are not pretty enough, rich enough, smart enough, even funny enough, we often place others on pedestals; those we look up to. This book brings to light that what we are in search of is much greater than looks or smarts, but acceptance. Trying our best to please the world only makes us less pleased with ourselves. However, when one finds friendship in Jesus, they find the acceptance for who they really are. Jesus doesn’t want us to be more beautiful or more intelligent, He just wants us. He is our dearest friend, one who can look past all our imperfections and see through to the very heart of all of us. Knowing this lifts us to new heights, far surpassing our wildest imaginations.

Called to Worship

2009-10-13T19:42:00.001-07:00

I would have to say after reading the book, Called to Worship, that I have my new favorite book. This book, written by Vernon Whaley, was masterfully done. It is hard to find a book that is both compelling to read and is personally directed at you.

Called to Worship, according to the book, is exactly what we are. It is the reason God created us. Mr. Whaley’s book goes from creation in Genesis, to the Last days in Revelation, all while revealing different ways that we can worship Him. As I read this book, I realized how little I really give to God. I’ve been, too often, going through the motions, until a need arrives. I hate to say it, but one of those Sunday worshipers. What I failed to realize, which this book brought to light, is that God is not looking for the next Moses, or Abraham, or Paul. He is looking for me, and in turn you. His plans are to work through all of us, towards each other. By stopping with our daily lives, our busy schedules, our routines, and spending more time with Him, our relationship deepens and grows. Believe me, it is contagious. As your relationship with God grows, so does your relationship with your spouse, your children, your friends, and loved ones.

Worshiping God does not mean keeping kneeling before Him with your face on the floor, even though He deserves it. Just looking at Adam in the Bible gives us a glimpse of the perfect worship. Worship before sin. When both God and Adam would walk through the Garden together, Adam was not prostrated before Him. They shared an intimate relationship, one without fear, regret, shame. Eve experienced the same friendship and companionship with God and Adam. This is the reason that we all were created. To experience that same companionship with the One who “wonderfully made you… Psalms 139:14”.

Nelson’s Illustrated Guide to Religions

2009-06-05T09:05:00.001-07:00

I reviewed Nelson’s Illustrated Guide to Religions, and I found this book amazingly done. I, myself, am Christian. However, I always wanted to know why others believe what they do. The Guide to Religions does an excellent job of not only going into detail of each religious sect, but does so with great respect for each and every religion. Never in the book does it belittle or degrade other religions compared to Christianity. This I thought was very respectful.

It not only gives a greater understanding of the religions of the world, but for myself, it gave me a deeper appreciation for my own. It is easy to find myself going through the motions, saying I am a Christian more than “being” a Christian. By reading this book, I am able to better reflect on my own beliefs and understandings. Through this process, I grow deeper in my relationship with my Lord and Savior. I want to thank Nelson’s Illustrated Guide to Religions for doing very extensive and, I would imagine, exhausting research that was required to put a 640 page book on religions together.

I would recommend this book for anyone who always wonders why others believe what they do. But I would also recommend this to anyone who wonders why I believe what I do.

The American Patriot's Bible

2009-05-05T11:14:00.000-07:00

This NKJV Bible is wonderful addition to my collection. I enjoyed the fact that this Bible showed how Christianity is weaved throughout the history of the United States. It prefaces with a family records section, a map of the United States with the date of each state’s induction. It includes an area to fill in names of Military and Public Service as well as deaths. It goes on to add the seven principles of the Judeo-Christian ethic. The preface ends with a Call to Action section, which I found deeply inspiring. It then goes into the Bible, which is nicely printed with larger text. Within the text there are sub-notes and excerpts that highlight American history. It also shows how Christianity moved men of this nation to believe that this country is truly founded “Under God”.

While I wouldn’t call this a “Study” Bible, in the sense of life application, I would say that it is an awesome reflection of how the foundation of the country was created. It also reveals that in order to maintain our forefathers visions of this country, we must not trust in the things of man, but the slogan that can be found on any form of US currency “IN GOD WE TRUST”.