The Corruptible by Mark Mynheir is a very enjoyable read. It is a mystery whose main character is a former cop, now private investigator who must deal with the injury that ended his police career and the baggage he carries from that incident.
The mystery inself is very forthright and you solve the mystery as the story unfolds...but not quite. There is still a big reveal at the end.
Ray Quinn, PI, is also a man on a mission of discovery of God. He has a female guide (also a former client) who very gently but persistently guides him into a relationship with God. This is not an overtly Christian story, but just as in life God is always there.
The characters are well rounded and the plot line is very enjoyable. A wonderful read. "I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review"
Friday, July 8, 2011
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
book review/Out of a Far Country
Although the catalyst for this book is Christopher Yuan 'coming out' to his parents, the book is less about a homosexual son and more about the journey of a mother and son. Chapter by chapter, Angela and Christopher share their journey from a troubled immigrant/first generation Chinese life to being whole in Christ.
Angela's story chronicles her own awakening to Christ's love for her and how that knowledge changes those around her. Her husband allows her to become a Christian and himself grows and their marriage becomes stronger.
Christopher's story becomes less about his orientation and more about the hold drugs have on his life and the call Christ puts in its place. During his time in prison, his call is developed and he finally accepts that he is to be an evangelist. How this works out is quite surprising. God does indeed work in mysterious ways.
Only as the book winds down does Christopher again explore what it means to be 'born gay'. He finds an answer that satisfies himself without leaving him feeling compromised or untrue to who he knows himself to be.
This was a very compelling read. I finished the book in one three hour sitting. "I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review"
Angela's story chronicles her own awakening to Christ's love for her and how that knowledge changes those around her. Her husband allows her to become a Christian and himself grows and their marriage becomes stronger.
Christopher's story becomes less about his orientation and more about the hold drugs have on his life and the call Christ puts in its place. During his time in prison, his call is developed and he finally accepts that he is to be an evangelist. How this works out is quite surprising. God does indeed work in mysterious ways.
Only as the book winds down does Christopher again explore what it means to be 'born gay'. He finds an answer that satisfies himself without leaving him feeling compromised or untrue to who he knows himself to be.
This was a very compelling read. I finished the book in one three hour sitting. "I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review"
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
book review//Soul Print
In Soul Print, Mark Betterson masterfully crafts a tale of his journey, the journey of those around him, and the journey of King David. The story takes us from David the forgotten shepherd boy on anointing day to his meeting with King Saul and Goliath to his kingship and beyond. We are led on a journey of our own to find where God has printed our soul with his desires for our lives and how we can live into that destiny.
Do not be thrown by the subtitle "discovering your divine destiny". There is no overt, in your face teachings in this book. Mark gently leads you, through the stories presented, to find God in your own life and the soul print that He left there. It is awonderful read that will leave you with a lot to ponder.
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.
Do not be thrown by the subtitle "discovering your divine destiny". There is no overt, in your face teachings in this book. Mark gently leads you, through the stories presented, to find God in your own life and the soul print that He left there. It is awonderful read that will leave you with a lot to ponder.
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Book Review//Under the Overpass
Mike Yankoski was sitting in church one Sunday when the pastor gave a very powerful sermon "the gist of it was, 'Be the Christian you say you are.'"(pg.4)
Mike realized that he was not living into that. What followed was a six month journey on the streets, experiencing God's presence as he relied moment by moment on the provision of God and God's people.
The book is more than one (actually two, as Sam joins Mike on the journey) man's life as a homeless person. Mike takes us through the steps he took to be sure this is what God was calling him to do; the people he met who mentored and taught him along the way; and the steps he took to begin the journey. Mike volunteered at the local food kitchen and he and Sam began their journey living in seperate men's shelters in order to meet the kind of people they were likely to run into on the road and to learn how to act in a 'homeless/helpless/lost' situation.
But what struck me most about this book is that it is not so much a commentary on the homeless in America, but how open Mike was about his own journey and his growth along the way. Each chapter, each city, Mike allows the reader into his heart. We see the struggle he has not only with the situation he finds himself in, realizing that others don't have an 'end date' for their situation, and how truly his life is in God's hands. He shares his struggles not only with how he is reacting to what is going on in his new daily life, but what will be the long term effects of this experience on his 'real' life.
Even if you don't have a heart for the homeless or are not looking to learn more about the situation, the spiritual journey that Mike allows us to share makes this book well worth your time.
"I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review"
Mike realized that he was not living into that. What followed was a six month journey on the streets, experiencing God's presence as he relied moment by moment on the provision of God and God's people.
The book is more than one (actually two, as Sam joins Mike on the journey) man's life as a homeless person. Mike takes us through the steps he took to be sure this is what God was calling him to do; the people he met who mentored and taught him along the way; and the steps he took to begin the journey. Mike volunteered at the local food kitchen and he and Sam began their journey living in seperate men's shelters in order to meet the kind of people they were likely to run into on the road and to learn how to act in a 'homeless/helpless/lost' situation.
But what struck me most about this book is that it is not so much a commentary on the homeless in America, but how open Mike was about his own journey and his growth along the way. Each chapter, each city, Mike allows the reader into his heart. We see the struggle he has not only with the situation he finds himself in, realizing that others don't have an 'end date' for their situation, and how truly his life is in God's hands. He shares his struggles not only with how he is reacting to what is going on in his new daily life, but what will be the long term effects of this experience on his 'real' life.
Even if you don't have a heart for the homeless or are not looking to learn more about the situation, the spiritual journey that Mike allows us to share makes this book well worth your time.
"I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review"
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Book Review//Secure Daughters/Confident Sons
I have entered into an agreement with Multnomah Publishers to write reviews for them in exchange for free books! Here is review #1:
Secure Daughters/Confident Sons: How parents guide their children into authentic masculinity and feminity by Glenn T. Stanton
This book is actually a wonderful guide to the inner workings of men and women. I was initially put off in finding out that Mr. Stanton is part of the Focus on the Family team, but those fears were immediately laid aside.
The book delves into the minds of men and women and the contribution each gender/sex brings to the table in raising children. The book is filled with research, both from others and his own work with families and children, and with real life stories from his own upbringing and his experience with his four daughters and one son as well as from his practice.
Mr. Stanton clearly defines the differences between the sexes and decries the use of the word 'gender' as something different or less than our physical differences. Men and women were created differently in order to fulfill different roles in life, in marriage, and most importantly in the raising of children. Whole children need to be raised in families (or extended families) where they receive the benefit of both a mother and a father. Neither one is more important or less important than the other, both sides of the coin so to speak are needed in order to produce whole human beings.
The book initially breaks down boys in one chapter and girls in the next, balancing what fathers bring to the table with what mothers bring to the table. Later chapters of the book bring together both sides to more clearly show that the differences are more than superficial but less controversial than they sound. Each chapter ends with a question(s) relating to the information presented and a real life response.
Anyone who has children in their lives would find this book helpful. Anyone contemplating having children should read this book.
disclaimer: "I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review"
Secure Daughters/Confident Sons: How parents guide their children into authentic masculinity and feminity by Glenn T. Stanton
This book is actually a wonderful guide to the inner workings of men and women. I was initially put off in finding out that Mr. Stanton is part of the Focus on the Family team, but those fears were immediately laid aside.
The book delves into the minds of men and women and the contribution each gender/sex brings to the table in raising children. The book is filled with research, both from others and his own work with families and children, and with real life stories from his own upbringing and his experience with his four daughters and one son as well as from his practice.
Mr. Stanton clearly defines the differences between the sexes and decries the use of the word 'gender' as something different or less than our physical differences. Men and women were created differently in order to fulfill different roles in life, in marriage, and most importantly in the raising of children. Whole children need to be raised in families (or extended families) where they receive the benefit of both a mother and a father. Neither one is more important or less important than the other, both sides of the coin so to speak are needed in order to produce whole human beings.
The book initially breaks down boys in one chapter and girls in the next, balancing what fathers bring to the table with what mothers bring to the table. Later chapters of the book bring together both sides to more clearly show that the differences are more than superficial but less controversial than they sound. Each chapter ends with a question(s) relating to the information presented and a real life response.
Anyone who has children in their lives would find this book helpful. Anyone contemplating having children should read this book.
disclaimer: "I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review"
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