Book Review: A Patch on the Peak of Ararat by Gary Bower

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A Faith that God Built book, A Patch on the Peak of Ararat, Barbara Chotiner, Book Review, Children's Book, Christian, Flood, Gary Bower, Genesis, Noah, Tyndale Kids

Title: A Patch on the Peak of Ararat

Series: A Faith that God Built book

Author: Gary Bower

Illustrated by: Barbara Chotiner

Published by: Tyndale Kids (February 2, 2017)

Pages: 32 (Hardcover)

Blurb: The Faith that God Built series by Gary Bower uses the same whimsical style of storytelling as The House that Jack Built, using rhyme to introduce preschoolers through second graders to favorite Bible stories. Gary has a well-developed talent for creating engaging narratives that also teach biblical truth through rhyme.

In Patch on the Peak of Ararat, Noah follows God’s plan, resulting in his rescue from destruction.

My Take: This book promises whimsical storytelling, and in that I suppose it delivers. Many of the pages are packed full of words, with each new element in the story being added in to the repetitive cycle of the story. This is definitely a pattern that children in the targeted age range, preschool through second grade, might enjoy. It also helps to prompt memorization after enough reads, because the pattern of adding to that repeating chorus of phrases.

The illustrations are pleasant to see, displaying Noah and his sons and the ark and pairs of animals. There is some good color, and so it will hold some visual appeal to children. One thing that confused me, though, was the choice of animal inclusions. For instance, page 19 mentions hamster and hippo, hyena and hare. The images on the two shown pages have hippos and hares, but also peacocks and bears (instead of hamsters and hyenas). I would have expected the images to match the words, especially in the instances where those animals are mentioned so you, or your child, can point to each of them as they are mentioned.

I like how the final page not only has a nice, colorful image, but it also has a memory verse and directs the reader on where to find the full story in the Bible (Genesis 6-9, in case you are curious). This is a nice inclusion, and could be a great lead-in as the children get older. Overall this is a nice children’s book for any collection. Kids will enjoy the repetitive style of storytelling, and it succeeds at helping to learn the story of Noah and the flood.

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Medieval Book Club Preview: Revelations of Divine Love by Julian of Norwich

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Christian, Julian of Norwich, Medieval Book Club, Medieval Literature, Revelations of Divine Love

One of the first woman authors, Julian of Norwich produced in Revelations of Divine Love a remarkable work of revelatory insight, that stands alongside The Cloud of Unknowing and Piers Plowman as a classic of Medieval religious literature

After fervently praying for a greater understanding of Christ’s passion, Julian of Norwich, a fourteenth-century anchorite and mystic, experienced a series of divine revelations. Through these ‘showings’, Christ’s sufferings were revealed to her with extraordinary intensity, but she also received assurance of God’s unwavering love for man and his infinite capacity for forgiveness. Written in a vigorous English vernacular, the Revelations are one of the most original works of medieval mysticism and have had a lasting influence on Christian thought. This edition of the Revelations contains both the short text, which is mainly an account of the ‘showings’ themselves and Julian’s initial interpretation of their meaning, and the long text, completed some twenty years later, which moves from vision to a daringly speculative theology.

Elizabeth Spearing’s translation preserves Julian’s directness of expression and the rich complexity of her thought. An introduction, notes and appendices help to place the works in context for modern readers. 

This is the fifth entry into the monthly Medieval Book Club, and this is a work I am actually looking forward to quite a bit. Last year I was able to read a short introduction to Julian of Norwich, and she led quite the fascinating life. So when it was time to select the twelve works for this year, there was little chance I would leave off Julian’s primary work. Being able to read both the long and short text should be great because it will allow us to see what made it and what was removed. Do they provide the same overall experience, or is a lot missing if someone reads just the short text? It is also nice to find books which mention further reading that an interested reader can check out. I do hope you’ll join me in reading her work this May and come back to discuss it.

Here is the breakdown of chapters:

• Introduction
• Further Reading
• Translator’s Note
• Short Text
• Long Text
• Appendix 1: List of Showings
• Appendix 2: Original Texts of the Revelations
• Appendix 3: Margery Kemp’s Meeting with Julian

Will you join me in reading this book? You can pick up a copy on Amazon at this link. If you have a different version, or pick up a Kindle Version, that will suffice as the discussion will really center on the Long Text and the Short Text so it will not be dependent on using this version. The post for this book’s reading will be on May 18th, which is the third Thursday of that month.

Check out the full list of books we’re reading this year for the Medieval Book Club.

Scripture Study: Joshua 9:16-27

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Christian, Deception, Gibeonites, Joshua, Oaths, Scripture Study, Work

The First Study | Scripture Study Home | The Previous Study

¹⁶ Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that they were neighbors, living near them. ¹⁷ So the Israelites set out and on the third day came to their cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath Jearim. ¹⁸ But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the Lord, the God of Israel.

The whole assembly grumbled against the leaders, ¹⁹ but all the leaders answered, “We have given them our oath by the Lord, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now. ²⁰ This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that God’s wrath will not fall on us for breaking the oath we swore to them.” ²¹ They continued, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers in the service of the whole assembly.” So the leaders’ promise to them was kept.

Verses 16-21: The oath that Joshua made was binding, not only for him but for the rest of the Israelites that followed him. They knew that God’s wrath would fall on them if any of them went back on the oath sworn, so they came up with a compromise to allow them laborious tasks for the entire community. This is an example that could be provided as to why Jesus cautions us not to swear oaths (See Matthew 5:34-37) and why James reiterates the same caution (See James 5:12). Even an oath made with the right intentions can come back to haunt us later when we must break it. Some oaths are designed to be binding, in spite of what today’s world may tell us. For example, marriage. It is not just an oath sworn, but a covenant between two people and God to remain together for their lives. This should be viewed as unbreakable, for what God has brought together shall not be parted by human means nor for human reasons. A marriage should not be entered lightly, nor lightly broken, yet today’s culture has shifted to make it an easy escape. The divorce rate is high, far too high, even among Christians in our country. Additionally, we should be cautious about any oaths made that include more than ourselves for, as we see in this passage, the oath made by a few applied to many.

²² Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by saying, ‘We live a long way from you,’ while actually you live near us? ²³ You are now under a curse: You will never be released from service as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”

²⁴ They answered Joshua, “Your servants were clearly told how the Lord your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this. ²⁵ We are now in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you.”

Verses 22-25: Joshua told the Gibeonites that they were under a curse for their deception, yet they respond with sense: had we not done this, you would have killed us. It seemed far better, to them, to live a life of servitude than to face death. They, unlike other kingdoms in the Promised Land, have come to realize that God’s chosen people will wipe everyone out before they are finished and satisfied. We have something in common with the Gibeonites: we are living under a curse. That curse is Sin, and it holds reign over our lives in this world, from the moment of our birth until the moment of our death. We are slaves to Sin, yet there is good news! We, too, can choose to surrender. If we believe in our hearts and proclaim with our mouths that Jesus is the Son of God, and that he lived a sinless life and was crucified to atone for our sins, we can break free from that enslavement. It will no longer reign over our lives; we may still be bound to it in this world, but freedom will await us in God’s Kingdom. What better news is there than this? Jesus died for you. He died for me. I cannot live a life free from Sin, which is why I need Jesus to intercede on my behalf. And so I freely choose to submit to Him.

²⁶ So Joshua saved them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them. ²⁷ That day he made the Gibeonites woodcutters and water carriers for the assembly, to provide for the needs of the altar of the Lord at the place the Lord would choose. And that is what they are to this day.

Verses 26-27: In spite of their servitude to the Israelites, the Gibeonites held a place of importance because they provided the needs of the alter of the Lord. So while they might have been lower than the other Israelites, the fruit of their labors went toward God. It would appear there was no complaint from them, either, about the tasks they were assigned. They completed what they were asked and were content to live within the niche that had been carved out for them. Too many people today are quick to become discontent with their station in life. They want to be owners and executives and their own bosses, dreaming of operating a flourishing business while making their own hours and their own pay structure. But there is nothing wrong with laboring at a job that isn’t close to that dream. Whatever task you can obtain, labor for the Lord and He will be pleased by the fruit of your labor. Not everyone is called to operate their own business. Many will likely end up in careers outside of their dream job. Yet faithful service may be rewarded; remember the Parable of the Three Servants. They were each given a share of silver to tend to while the master was away. Do not let your work be like the servant who buried the silver. God may open paths to you that you would never expect, so long as you dedicate yourself to your work, regardless of what that job may be.

Book Review: Good Good Father for Little Ones by Chris Tomlin

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Board Book, Book Review, Children's, Chris Tomlin, Christian, Good Good Father for Little Ones, Pat Barrett, Thomas Nelson

Title: Good Good Father for Little Ones

Authors: Chris Tomlin and Pat Barrett

Published by: Thomas Nelson, brdbk edition (1/31/17)

24 Pages

Blurb: Inspired by the #1 hit song “Good Good Father,” as heard on Chris Tomlin’s new album

“Oh, I’ve heard a thousand stories of what they think you’re like . . . but I’ve heard the tender whisper of love in the dead of night . . . and you tell me that you’re pleased . . . and that I’m never alone. You’re a good good Father.”

Experience the truth of God’s love for His children in refreshing, heartwarming ways through the children’s board book Good Good Father for Little Ones, illustrated with stunning art by Lorna Hussey and penned by Grammy Award-winning Christian music artist Chris Tomlin and Pat Barrett.

With sweet, rhyming text, Good Good Father for Little Ones explores many of the attributes that make God such a good, good Father: like a warrior, He protects you; like a teacher, He helps you learn and grow; like a doctor, He makes you feel better; like a farmer, He provides the food you need; like a musician, He brings you joy. Most of all, a good, good Father loves you!

Based on the children’s picture book Good Good Father, this precious rhyming adaptation will leave little ones with a greater assurance that God truly is a good, good Father and they are loved by Him.

My Thoughts: This book has quickly become one of my favorites to read at night with my son. It has everything I look for in a book to read with him at night: a solid Biblical message, colorful and engaging pictures, more than a word or two on each page. The book has also, as a side effect, also led me to play the song more often at home simply because it reminds me of the book.

The overarching theme in this book covers all of the qualities of God, the Good Good Father. It never comes out and names God as that Good Good Father, which allows a teaching moment as your children get older. This version is wonderful, covering more than six different things that God is, such as a doctor and a teacher. The depiction of Him as a lion is fitting and appropriate, both for those who search the Scriptures and for those who are fans of Narnia.

Its length is definitely appropriate for my little one, who is currently 8-months. He is engaged throughout and loves to help turn the pages. There are some board books that carry on just a little too long for his attention span at night, but this is one we can always finish before he gets too impatient. Therefore I cannot recommend this book enough for little ones, and I have a feeling this one will remain a staple in our children’s book collection through all of our future little ones.

Book Review: A Minute of Vision for Men

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A Minute of Vision for Men, Book Review, Christian, Devotional, Men's Devotional, Roger Patterson, Tyndale House Publishers

Title: A Minute of Vision for Men: 365 Motivational Moments to Kick-Start Your Day

Author: Roger Patterson

Published by: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (December 6, 2016)

Blurb: Do you have a vision for your life?

All of us need a compelling vision to live for. Scripture says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”

Today, so many of us are living on autopilot instead of engaging the battle of living up to our God-given potential. We lack a vision for life. Too often, we settle for less than what is best for us, our families, and our careers. We struggle with pinpointing our purpose in life.

A Minute of Vision for Men is an investment in a different sort of life―one with vision, purpose, and integrity. This book will help you connect with your purpose. It’s written so that you can start your day on the right foot, focused on what matters the most.

Start each day with a potent, daily dose of vision for your life.

My Thoughts: Devotionals tend to be a genre that are hit and miss, with some days being great and others falling a little flat. It is hard to write something that speaks perfectly to everyone, and my guess is the sports-heavy references that have appeared in many of the daily devotions in this book will fall flat for some men and be hits for others. Since the majority are football-related, this one can be categorized as a hit for me. Not only that, its promise in the title of being a minute is pretty close to accurate. There are only 3-4 paragraphs to read for each devotion, and each one weaves some passage of scripture into the message (and is also repeated at the bottom of the page for easy reference).

I love the variety of messages, and as we approach Valentine’s Day, how the devotions leading up to that day center around topics that are important and relevant to that holiday. For instance, there was one on February 12th that talked about the importance of “dating your daughter” early and often so that she can learn from her father how to expect to be treated by boys who want to win her attention and affection. I look forward to reading the devotion for Valentine’s Day itself, as it is certain to pertain toward my beloved wife and my relationship with her.

Overall this is exactly the sort of devotional I both needed and enjoy going through. I have moved it to a centralized location in the house for easy access, so that I have no excuses to not dedicate that minute toward expanding my vision toward the things that matter most. It has already blessed me so much in 2017 and I look forward to those blessings continuing as I journey through this book for the rest of the year. I highly recommend this book to men, so long as you don’t mind a fair number of sports references along the way that help illustrate the message.

Book Review: Oswiu: King of Kings by Edoardo Albert

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Book Review, Britain, Christian, Edoardo Albert, Historical Fiction, Kregel Publications, Lion Fiction, Northumbrian Throne series, Oswiu, Oswiu: King of Kings, Penda

Title: Oswiu: King of Kings (Book#3 of the Northumbrian Throne series)

Author: Edoardo Albert

Published By: Lion Fiction (1/27/2017)

Pages: 560 (Paperback)

Blurb: In the third entry chronicling the rise of Christian kings in Britain, Oswald dies and the great pagan king Penda becomes overlord in his place. To stand against the increasingly powerful Penda, Oswiu, king of Bernicia, tries to unite the smaller neighboring kingdoms by marrying a daughter of Deira. But the struggle for power leads Oswiu to order the assassination of the king of Deira. He wins the throne but loses the approval of the people. In atonement, he establishes a monastery at the site of the slaying.

What will happen when Oswiu and High King Penda at last meet in battle? Though the kingdom may become politically one, both the Celtic and Roman strands of Christian faith vie for supremacy, mirroring the king’s own struggle for power.

My Take: What a thrilling book this one was. This was one of my first forays into historical fiction, and this proved to be an exciting and enjoyable experience. Even without reading the previous books, I never felt like I was missing something. There are certainly references to certain battles and events, but it never made me feel like I lacked an important piece of information in order to better understand things. And perhaps that is one of the benefits of historical fiction, because you can get at least some sense of the events before and during the book prior to ever picking up the book itself.

The tension on display between the Old Gods and the New God is fantastic. Even though much of the country had, by this time, converted to following Christianity (influenced by the decisions of their kings, as also displayed well in here), there were still strong pockets of those who clung to the Norse-like gods of their ancestors. Penda was one of the major figures of that time who stuck with the old gods, and his presence as the antagonist in this book helped to strike that conflict. This is certainly one of the best undertones in the book. Also on display is the great position and influence that bishops held among the more fervent Christian kings, and the tension that could arise between two Christian kings who were at odds with each other. It all plays into a wonderful dynamic.

Yet at the forefront is Oswiu, a king who must emerge from the long shadow cast by his older brother. The opening chapters revolve around this emergence in quite the exciting way that opens up new conflicts and tensions that remain unresolved until far into the book. The subtitle of the book promises that he will become the King of Kings, a bold promise. Yet for the entirety of the book, there is another character who is the King of Kings: Penda. Even among the squabbles of the minor kings and lords in the land, the tension and conflict between these two remains at the forefront and eventually comes to a head in a manner that will leave the reader satisfied.

Overall this was a wonderful book to read and I look forward to jumping back and getting into the first two in the series. It has made me a series of not only Eduardo’s writing, but of the historical fiction genre in general. If you are an old hand at reading fantasy, like me, you may enjoy a dive into this book. If you enjoy the time period, historical fiction, or even if you want to read about some of the early Christian kings, this is definitely a book I would recommend.

I received a copy of this book from Kregel Publications in exchange for an honest review.

Blog Tour and Review: The Remnant by William Michael Davidson

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Aberrants, Book Release, Book Review, Christian, Dancing Lemur Press, MC Book Tours, Sci-Fi, The Remnant, William Michael Davidson

The Remnant on Tour {+ Giveaway}

Author William Michael Davidson is on tour with MC Book Tours featuring his new novel, THE REMNANT, being released Feb. 7 by Dancing Lemur Press L.L.C.

You can follow Davidson’s tour schedule HERE for reviews, excerpts, interviews, features, and a chance to win a copy of his book.

◊THE REMNANT

◊by William Michael Davidson

◊Release date: February 7, 2017

◊$15.95, 6×9 Trade paperback, 242 pages

◊Science Fiction (FIC028000) / Christian Futuristic Fiction (FIC0402020)

◊Print ISBN 978-1-939844-29-3

◊eBook ISBN 978-1-939844-30-9

◊Order through Ingram, Follett, or from the publisher

◊$4.99 eBook available in all formats

One nation, without God…

 

          Colton Pierce apprehends Abberants—those who display symptoms of faith—and quarantines them on a remote island to ensure public safety.  Years prior, the government released a genetically-engineered super flu that destroyed the genes believed to be the biological source of spiritual experience in an effort to rid the world of terrorism. As an extractor with the Center for Theological Control, Colton is dedicated to the cause.

          But Colton’s steadfast commitment is challenged when he learns his own son has been targeted for extraction. An underground militia, the Remnant, agrees to help Colton save his son in exchange for his assistance with their plan to free the Aberrants on the island.

          Colton is faced with the most important decision of his life. Remain faithful to the CTC? Or give up everything to save his son?

 

THE REMNANT is available to order in eBook form at the following sites:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

iTunes

The print format of the book is available at these sites:

Amazon 

Barnes & Noble

Chapters-Indigo

Book Depository

Foyles

Mediander

Fiction DB

Be sure to add THE REMNANT to your bookshelf on Goodreads.

 

William Michael Davidson lives in Long Beach, California with his wife and two daughters. A believer that “good living produces good writing,” Davidson writes early in the morning so he can get outside, exercise, spend time with people, and experience as much as possible.

A writer of speculative fiction, he enjoys stories that deal with humanity’s inherent need for redemption.

For more on Davidson and his writing, connect with him on Goodreads, Twitter, Facebook, and Amazon Author’s Page.

This is a tour-wide giveaway for two (2) print copies that are available to those living in the U.S. only and one (1) eBook copy available international. The giveaway will end at 12 a.m. (EST) on Sunday, Feb. 26. You can enter to win at each stop of the tour.

Thanks for stopping by today. Be sure to visit the other blogs on the tour for more chances to win. The schedule is located HERE.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Excerpt

1.1.4

 

Colton got home around ten o’clock. He’d stayed at the fundraiser for a few hours after the speech, had a couple more drinks, two plates for dinner, and did his best to socialize and rub elbows with his colleagues despite his misgivings over what had occurred. After a couple more glasses of champagne and a few conversations that encouraged him to apply for the soon-to-be-vacant position of Chief Officer, he’d convinced himself that he must have witnessed some kind of anomaly. Ashton Lampson couldn’t be the favorite to replace Brian Barclay. It just wasn’t humanly possible, and Ashton must have rounded up some of his inner-circle to get the crowd chanting. Once one person starts chanting, others tend to follow. It was almost a law of science. People would have chanted “Toilet Bowl Cleaner!” if the right number of people started and they were deep enough into their champagne.

He poured himself a brandy, kicked off his shoes, and walked onto his balcony, which overlooked the beach. He took a seat on one of his deck chairs. This was where Colton found himself most evenings. He often strolled onto the small balcony to reflect on his day and, when he could see the Quarantine Zone on a clear night, he would pride himself on how many Aberrants he’d personally been responsible for transporting there. It often eased his mind. It was too dark to see the Island now, but such a crisp breeze after a hot day felt refreshing.

Before long, Colton finished his glass of brandy and became restless. Marty was seeing a movie with a friend and his family and wouldn’t be back till nearly midnight. The silence that filled the condominium—the silence that first began when Mona walked out—had never been easy to adjust to. Maybe he shouldn’t have agreed for him to stay out so late. It was much later than his normal bedtime.

Unable to stand the silence any longer, Colton went back inside, poured himself another glass of brandy, and turned on the television to CNN. Drew Harrell was doing a story about the new legislation and various guests—scientists, teachers, politicians—were touting their opinions. A schoolteacher in Arkansas was discussing the safety of her classes and how, without fully exterminating the Aberrants, she feared a possible theological outbreak one day. It wasn’t fair to the children and the country’s future, she protested. The mayor of Chicago discussed how the city’s unofficial polling had proven beyond a shadow of doubt that the people of his city—of the country, for that matter—were behind the new legislation and thought it a necessary step to ensure the public health and safety.

Wandering toward his bedroom, Colton looked at the long corridor covered with plaques, awards, and honorary certificates over the last sixteen years of working at the CTC. He referred to this as his Hall of Fame. He stopped, sipped his brandy, and absorbed the sight. At least twenty were certificates for EXTRACTOR OF THE MONTH, lining both sides of the hallway in mahogany frames. Eight trophies were for EXTRACTOR OF THE YEAR, four on each side of the hallway, sitting like golden artifacts on shelves. There were also five plaques for EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR. It had occurred to Colton that soon he would have to find another hallway because there was barely any space left on the walls.

My Take:

Wow, this book’s opening chapter really did a great job of hooking me and reeling me into the story. Unfortunately, I then spent the next third of the book not really liking the main character very much. And I think that was an intentional decision. Colton begins as a Saul, so to speak, being the greatest among those persecuting the Aberrants (those who are caught committing any form of theological action, such as praying). It was an interesting choice to have him as the main character, because there is a very real risk of the reader disliking and not relating to him, which could potentially lead them to set the book down and move on to something else. But that would be a big mistake.

Why? Because this book is amazing. The tension builds and builds and, once the dam finally breaks and Colton’s world falls apart around him, things take off on a thrilling and gripping adventure. I had a hard time putting the book down and, eventually, gave in to the desire to keep reading late into the night to finish it. This is a book designed to be devoured in large chunks toward the end, which is one of my favorite types of books.

Back to discussing Colton, because I feel like more needs said about the Saul-to-Paul character arc. It makes perfect sense, by the end, as to why it had to be Colton, It makes sense, eventually, as to how he would go from the greatest of enemies to becoming a reluctant convert. There are other parallels in the story that align with Paul’s story, parallels I didn’t think about at the time but now they stick out. And casting him, a person whose inflated ego of himself is a massive character flaw, serves as a reminder that God can use anyone for His purposes. He does not call the perfect; he calls the broken and imperfect.

All in all, this was one incredible story. I cannot recommend it enough, and the idea of this future is plausible enough that it should give Christians pause. What would you do if our world went this route? My prayer is that we would choose to form as the Remnant, and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next books in the series as they release.

Book Review: Writing Devotionals That Stick by Kathy Widenhouse

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Book Review, Christian, Devotional, Kathy Widenhouse, Sticky Content, Writing, Writing Devotionals that Stick

Title: Writing Devotionals that Stick: A Step-by-Step Guide for Writing This Unique Genre for Today’s Busy Readers

Author: Kathy Widenhouse

Published: 10/29/2016

Pages: 143 (Kindle)

Blurb: Writing Devotionals That Stick is a writing guide that shows step-by-step how to write devotionals (a unique genre in the faith-based market) in a way that stays with today’s busy, distracted readers.

Leaders, entrepreneurs, students, moms, professionals, Christian writers (or those who want to be), and many others who want to share their experiences with God have learned to write sticky devotionals and meditations by using the principles found in this book. It’s a fun and easy-to-use guide packed with examples, writing tips, and “Try This” exercises to help you put the steps into practice right away. Author Kathy Widenhouse shares these principles drawn from 15 years of her experience producing hundreds of devotionals for clients, leaders, and publishers.

My Thoughts: This book fills a very specific need in a very specific niche for writing. In spite of its narrow focus, this is a book that I would heartily recommend to all kinds of writers, not just ones who are looking to write devotionals. There is so much good, practical advice in here that all writers can benefit from many of these pointers. We should all desire for our writing, whether fiction or non-fiction or devotional, to be sticky with our readers.

Whether she is discussing what a devotional actually is, how to identify the readers you are trying to write for, or what makes content sticky, Widenhouse’s content itself is sticky. The chapters are short, to-the-point, and center around only one point within the topic. This is something I try to get across to my Composition students, the necessity of drilling into only one topic at a time in order to make that part of the paper more effective. I could see the wisdom in this book being something that could apply to an entry-level composition class.

Overall, I would certainly recommend this book to anyone who is writing, whether you have an interest in devotionals or not. It is a short read that can be managed in small chunks and, in fact, it is designed to because many chapters end with some tasks that you can do to put the principle covered into action. I have aspirations to someday write a devotional, and I know that I will be pulling this back out again when the time comes to work on that.

Scripture Saturday: Joshua 8:10-23

Tags

Ai, Bible Study, Christian, Joshua, Patience, Scripture Saturday

The First Post | Scripture Study Home | The Previous Study

¹⁰ Joshua arose early in the morning and mustered the people and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai. ¹¹ And all the fighting men who were with him went up and drew near before the city and encamped on the north side of Ai, with a ravine between them and Ai. ¹² He took about 5,000 men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city. ¹³ So they stationed the forces, the main encampment that was north of the city and its rear guard west of the city. But Joshua spent that night in the valley.

Verses 10-13: It took an entire day to muster and maneuver his troops to where they needed to be for the attack on Ai. They key here, though, is that Joshua executed his plans to take the city. Sometimes the best plans require some time to get them rolling into action, such as this one and the plan God had to conquer Jericho (remember, they marched around the city for seven days before a single skirmish was fought). If the plan calls for time, don’t get impatient. It would have been quicker to simply launch an attack on Ai, but it would not have held the same results. In today’s society we have so much information available at our fingertips. The answers to our questions are often a Google search away. We can access songs and movies with the click of a few buttons. We can order groceries at home and have them delivered, or at the very least brought out to our car. We can buy things on Amazon and have them arrive in two days, guaranteed. Drive thrus, frozen meals, and many other things center around doing things faster. Remember that God has laid plans for you, and that He does not operate on the same scale of time as we do. Remain patient in all things, seeking God’s counsel through prayer and reading through the Bible.

¹⁴ And as soon as the king of Ai saw this, he and all his people, the men of the city, hurried and went out early to the appointed place toward the Arabah to meet Israel in battle. But he did not know that there was an ambush against him behind the city. ¹⁵ And Joshua and all Israel pretended to be beaten before them and fled in the direction of the wilderness. ¹⁶ So all the people who were in the city were called together to pursue them, and as they pursued Joshua they were drawn away from the city. ¹⁷ Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel. They left the city open and pursued Israel.

Verses 14-17: Here we see the King of Ai falling into the trap laid by Joshua. Confidence can be a great thing, but in some situations it can lead to a downfall. The King of Ai was confident that his men would defeat Joshua and the Israelites, just as they had done before. He never stopped to consider that there might be more than meets the eye in this second confrontation. He assumed it would play out just like the first one, and so he emptied his city of all the fighting men to chase after the Israelites. In their eagerness to crush the Israelites again, they left their own city open and defenseless. The higher our confidence level rises, the more likely we are to take risky gambles because we’re sure of the outcome. We need to make sure that we leave ourselves defended in case things don’t work out the way we expect, or we might find ourselves in a situation similar to where the King of Ai is going to find himself.

¹⁸ Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Stretch out the javelin that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand.” And Joshua stretched out the javelin that was in his hand toward the city.

Verse 18: How remarkably familiar this command must have seemed to Joshua. After all, Joshua led a battle during the wilderness campaign where the victory hinged on Moses having his arms raised. It doesn’t seem like that was the requirement in this instance, but it is almost certain that Joshua would have made that connection at first and complied with haste.

¹⁹ And the men in the ambush rose quickly out of their place, and as soon as he had stretched out his hand, they ran and entered the city and captured it. And they hurried to set the city on fire. ²⁰ So when the men of Ai looked back, behold, the smoke of the city went up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that, for the people who fled to the wilderness turned back against the pursuers. ²¹ And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had captured the city, and that the smoke of the city went up, then they turned back and struck down the men of Ai. ²² And the others came out from the city against them, so they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side, and some on that side. And Israel struck them down, until there was left none that survived or escaped. ²³ But the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him near to Joshua.

Verses 19-23: The obedience of the Israelites has led to victory over Ai at last. The overconfidence of the King of Ai led to the destruction his his city and his people, and soon he will be paying the consequence himself. Yet had Joshua not been patient enough to see the smoke, there is a chance things might not have played out so smoothly. Ai may have fled back into their city and discovered the ambush, or they may have fought with greater ferocity. This passage leads the reader to understand that the men of Ai sought to flee but had no where to run to. They were broken and disheartened by the smoke, which allowed Joshua and his men to destroy them all.

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Book Review: NIV Journal the Word Bible

Tags

Bible Reading, Book Review, Christian, Journal the Word Bible, NIV, Zondervan

Title: NIV Journal the Word Bible

Published by: Zondervan (November 1, 2016)

Page Count: 1,408 Pages

Blurb:  The NIV Journal the Word^TM Bible allows you to creatively express yourself every day with plenty of room for notes or verse art journaling next to your treasured verses. With unique and sophisticated covers, this single-column edition features thick cream-colored paper with lightly ruled lines in the extra-wide margins, perfect to reflect on God’s Word and enhance your study.

Excellent for a gift or for personal use, it can also be a cherished heirloom to pass on to future generations with your personal writings inside! This exquisitely designed floral cloth over board edition is likely to become a lifelong treasure.

Features of this treasured Bible include:

• Lined, wide margins for notes and reflections
• Thicker cream paper for enduring note-taking
• Full text of the most read, most trusted modern-English Bible – the New International Version (NIV)
• Easy-to-read black-letter text
• Lays flat in your hand or on your desk
• Ribbon marker

My Take: This is a good looking Bible with a solid, sturdy cover and nice pages inside. The decoration on the cover is definitely designed more for my wife’s enjoyment than my own, but I can still appreciate the look of this Bible as much as I appreciate the feel of it. My wife has always been geared more toward journaling her thoughts as she reads the Bible, so I wanted to make sure I snagged this for my wife’s enjoyment after I had a chance to flip through and review this version of the Bible.

There isn’t much to this version, containing the text of Scripture along with the standard notations you’d expect to find for cross-referencing verses when they are quoted, etc. This is actually to be desired, as lengthy footnotes would detract from the real benefit to journaling, which is capturing your own thoughts and God’s promptings to you about that portion of Scripture. Which leads in to the real highlight: the lined margins on every page of the book. Those are wide and provide ample space to make notes so long as you don’t write in a large, flowing script. The pages are nice and thick and hold up well to use, as well as the highlighting and writing that the reader may do.

One of my wife’s biggest complaints was this being a hardcover, which isn’t as bendy and flexible as she’d like, but I am sure the hardcover will provide great durability and protection for this Bible.

Overall this is an excellent product and something that I am certain we’ll keep in our household for many years to come. My wife wanted a journaling Bible years ago, before they took off, and I am grateful that they have become popular enough that she could finally get the Bible she originally wanted.

**Note: I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.