A Place Called Heaven by Robert Jeffress

Why read another book on heaven? Jeffress writes, “...the more we think about the next world the more effective we become in this world.” (17) Thinking about heaven reminds us of the brevity of life and the certainty of future judgment. It motivates us to live God pleasing lives and it places suffering in perspective.

There were some aspects of this book that make it a good one to read. Jeffress writes about the present heaven where God resides now and where Christians go when they die. He also writes about the future heaven that Jesus is constructing for us and John described in Revelation. Jeffress says the topic confuses many Christians but he explains it well. I had not thought of these two heavens and I am glad he clarified it for me.

He also writes about the “I went to heaven” experiences. He reminds us that Scripture is our measuring rod for those who make such claims. I really like that he suggests such books might make us think that the Bible does not tell us all we need to know about heaven. Jeffress includes many criteria for evaluation so that we are not taken in by such accounts.

I found his section on what we will be doing in heaven interesting too. For example, he writes about Christians ruling and reigning with Christ. Jeffress writes, “Those who will rule and reign with Christ in the new world will be those who have the desire and ability to rule.” (111) If leadership responsibilities terrify us, we can relax. Chances are we will be working with our hands rather than directing people. (111) Jeffress adds this about leading in heaven, “The single greatest determiner of leadership responsibilities in the next life will be faithfulness to God in this life.” (112) I am still thinking about that.

Jeffress writes about hell too. He is a firm believer in its existence and that it is the destiny of many.

That gives potential readers an idea of what the book is like. Even though I have read many books on heaven, I still found new insights in this one. It is a good book for those who have not read much about heaven too. Many questions about it are answered, based on what the Bible says.

You can find out more about the book and watch a video here. You can read an excerpt here.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Dr. Robert Jeffress is the senior pastor of the 13,000 member First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, a Fox News contributor, and a member of the executive committee of the White House Faith Initiative. His daily radio program, Pathway to Victory, is heard on more than 930 stations nationwide, and his weekly television program is seen in the U.S. and nearly 200 countries around the world. He has been interviewed on more than 2,000 radio and television programs.

Baker Books, 256 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Icon Media. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Bringing Maggie Home by Kim Vogel Sawyer

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Decades of loss, an unsolved mystery, and a rift spanning three generations

Hazel DeFord is a woman haunted by her past. While berry picking in a blackberry thicket in 1943, ten-year-old Hazel momentarily turns her back on her three-year-old sister Maggie and the young girl disappears.

Almost seventy years later, the mystery remains unsolved and the secret guilt Hazel carries has alienated her from her daughter Diane, who can't understand her mother's over protectiveness and near paranoia. While Diane resents her mother's inexplicable eccentricities, her daughter Meghan - a cold case agent - cherishes her grandmother's lavish attention and affection.

When a traffic accident forces Meghan to take a six-week leave-of-absence to recover, all three generations of DeFord women find themselves unexpectedly under the same roof. Meghan knows she will have to act as a mediator between the two headstrong and contentious women. But when they uncover Hazel's painful secret, will Meghan also be able to use her investigative prowess to solve the family mystery and help both women recover all that's been lost?

MY REVIEW:

I enjoyed this character study woven into the plot of finding a sibling missing for seventy years. Because Hazel felt responsible for her younger sister having gone missing, she was very protective when she raised her own daughter, Diane. Diane resented the control and raised her own daughter to be very independent. Misunderstanding and resentment are in full force when the three generations of women are together.

It was interesting to see how the revelation of actions in the past helped the women to understand their behavior in the present. Understanding brought compassion and renewed love between them. Once Diane lost her resentment, she was open to the life changing power of the gospel. That was a touching aspect of the novel.

In addition to the character transformations, I enjoyed reading about the cold case investigation. It did seem to be solved way too easily and I thought there were a few loose ends about how the actions seventy years ago. But then, the emphasis of the novel is character transformation, not solving the mystery.

I do recommend this novel to those who enjoy a good study of how personalities are affected by events of the past and how those personalities can change when truth is brought to life. You'll get a little mystery and romance too.

I am taking part in a blog tour of this book and you can read more reviews here.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Kim Vogel Sawyer is a highly acclaimed, best-selling author with more than one million books in print, in seven different languages. Her titles have earned numerous accolades including the ACFW Carol Award, the Inspirational Readers' Choice Award, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Kim lives in central Kansas with her retired military husband, Don, where she continues to write gentle stories of hope. She enjoys spending time with her three daughters and grandchildren. Learn more at kimvogelsawyer.com. 

WaterBrook, 352 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Litfuse. My comments are an independent and honest review.

The Awakening of HK Derrberry by Jim Bradford with Andy Hardin

In the fall of 1999, middle aged Bradford noticed a special needs boy sitting at the restaurant table by himself. HK, nine years old, would sit there for hours while his grandmother worked at the restaurant cash register. Bradford stopped to talk to the boy and became the victim of the biggest thief in town. “...HK Derryberry had committed the perfect crime: he stole my heart.” (12)

What follows is a touching story of Bradford getting to know HK and helping him navigate life. He found out HK's background, his being born blind and with cerebral palsy, and how he came to be taken care of by his grandmother. Bradford and Hardin do a good job of writing the story in a way that captivated me. I felt like I was right there in the story.

For me, the best parts of the book were when HK gave inspirational talks to others. He would explain that he had a number of disabilities. “But those things do not stop me from dreaming, and when I dream, I always dream big,” he told a sports team. (165) He admonished them to dream big too. And in an inspirational speech at a private academy, “I've never had a negative attitude. I've always been blind and had cerebral palsy, and there is nothing I can do about it.” (177) He quoted the apostle Paul saying he could do all things in Christ. HK concluded that he knew he had quite a few physical capabilities. “...I chose to concentrate on those rather than my limitations.” (177) My word! What an inspiration for us all!

I highly recommend this book as a very good account of an unusual friendship and of overcoming life's challenges. HK concentrated on his abilities, never giving up on himself. Yes, HK had a friend who helped him meet sports stars and go on adventures. But that is an important message for the rest of us. We are to never give up on those with disabilities. This book is clear, together we can conquer adversity.

You can find out more about HK and what he is up to at http://www.hkderryberry.com/about/.

Food for thought: “If I can do all these things with my disabilities, then surely you can do them since most of you are not disabled.” (179)

My rating: 5/5 stars.

Jim Bradford enjoyed a successful sales career for almost fifty years, retiring in 2016. He and his wife live in Tennessee and have two grown daughters and two grandchildren.

Andy Hardin is a retired attorney living in Nashville. He and his wife have a son and daughter and six grandchildren.

Thomas Nelson, 224 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Handlebar. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Counseling Under the Cross by Robert Kellemen

Many of us are familiar with the change in Martin Luther when he realized the truth of forgiving grace from God. He went from trying to earn God's approval through works to believing in the saving work of Christ. We may not be as familiar with how Luther then shared his insight with those who needed pastoral care and counseling.

Kellemen has studied the works of Luther to understand how Luther counseled others. He uses quotes from letters and table talks to show how Luther applied the heart of the gospel to his flock. Kellemen also adds how we can then apply Luther's knowledge and method to our own lives.

Here are a few of Luther's insights I really appreciated. Scripture is the only true comfort in distress and is sufficient for fighting temptations. Through Christ, we find redemption for deep internal problems. There is comfort in Christ alone.

Luther had much to say about suffering. “For Luther, suffering is God's medicine of choice to awake us from our slumbering self-sufficiency and turn us to heightened Christ-sufficiency.” (Loc 1278/5729) “...God sends suffering to cure our deepest sickness of estrangement from God caused by our independence of him.” (Loc 2060/5729)

This book is a good reminder for pastors and counselors today to return to the gospel as essential in pastoral care and counseling. Sin must be taken seriously. Spiritual warfare must be practiced against the devil. We must be reunited with Christ in relationship and then shown how to reinterpret life through the lens of the cross. We must be continually reminded of the gospel in the face of our gospel amnesia.

This book may be a little too scholarly for the average Christian. While Kellemen does frequently tell us what the previous information means to applying it to our lives, that previous information includes lots of material more suited to professionals than laypeople. It was no surprise that this book began as his PhD dissertation. While recently rewritten, the book still has an academic flavor to it.

I am taking part in a blog tour of this book and you can read more reviews here.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Robert W. Kellemen, PhD, is the Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Chair of the Biblical Counseling Department at Crossroads Bible College and the founder and CEO of RPM Ministries. He is also the author of several books on the gospel and counseling. He and his wife have two children and two grandchildren. You can find out more at www.rpmministries.org.

New Growth Press, 256 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Litfuse. My comments are an independent and honest review. 

Deadly Proof by Rachel Dylan

I enjoyed this novel of high stakes litigation. I had no idea the huge teams legal firms put together for a big case. The amount of work that needs to be done is mind boggling. In this novel, our heroine, Kate, is lead counsel in a case against a huge pharmaceutical company. In the discovery phase of the work, her teams has to go through tens of thousands of documents.

I liked Kate. She really has a heart for those she is representing. People had suffered greatly from the side effects of a drug for migraines. Some had died from tumors believed to be caused by the drug. But as Kate pursues the case, problems arise. A potential informant is killed. Kate's life is threatened. She is sure the attorney's across the aisle are hiding damaging material. And then it seems someone in her own office is sabotaging her work.

This novel could well represent a story from today's headlines. There is big money in pharmaceuticals and the drive for profit might cause some to do unethical acts. There is big money for the lawyers too and they are tempted to cross the ethical line.

This novel has a good balance of character development, legal procedure, suspenseful action, and a hint of romance. There is also a good message about forgiving one's self for mistakes done in the past, accepting God's forgiveness too.

My rating: 4/5 stars

Rachel Dylan writes Christian fiction, including legal romantic suspense. She has practiced law for over a decade, including being a litigator at one of the nation's top law firms. She and her husband live in Michigan. You can find out more at www.racheldylan.com.

Bethany House Publishers, 320 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Deadly Proof by Rachel Dylan Giveaway

Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Book

Book title: Deadly Proof  
Author: Rachel Dylan  
Release date: September 5, 2017  
Genre: Legal Romantic Suspense

Tapped as lead counsel in a corporate cover-up lawsuit against Mason Pharmaceutical, Kate Sullivan knows this case could make her career. What really drives her, though, is getting justice for the victims whose lives were ruined by the company’s dangerous new drug. But when a whistleblower turns up dead, it paints a target on the back of everyone involved. Former Army Ranger turned private investigator Landon James steps in to handle security for Kate. He’s still haunted by mistakes in his past and is determined never to let something like that happen again. But it soon appears someone is willing to do anything–even commit murder–to keep the case from going to trial. As danger closes in, Landon can’t help but admire Kate’s courage and resolve–but will her determination not to back down become too great of a risk?

My Review:

I enjoyed this novel of high stakes litigation. I had no idea the huge teams legal firms put together for a big case. The amount of work that needs to be done is mind boggling. In this novel, our heroine, Kate, is lead counsel in a case against a huge pharmaceutical company. In the discovery phase of the work, her teams has to go through tens of thousands of documents.

I liked Kate. She really has a heart for those she is representing. People had suffered greatly from the side effects of a drug for migraines. Some had died from tumors believed to be caused by the drug. But as Kate pursues the case, problems arise. A potential informant is killed. Kate's life is threatened. She is sure the attorney's across the aisle are hiding damaging material. And then it seems someone in her own office is sabotaging her work.

This novel could well represent a story from today's headlines. There is big money in pharmaceuticals and the drive for profit might cause some to do unethical acts. There is big money for the lawyers too and they are tempted to cross the ethical line.

This novel has a good balance of character development, legal procedure, suspenseful action, and a hint of romance. There is also a good message about forgiving one's self for mistakes done in the past, accepting God's forgiveness too.

My rating: 4/5 stars

About the Author

Rachel Dylan was a litigator in one of the nation’s most elite law firms for over eight years and now works as an attorney at one of the Big Three automobile manufacturers. She is the author of four Love Inspired Suspense novels and lives in Michigan with her husband. She is active on social media, and you can visit her website at www.racheldylan.com.

Q & A with Rachel Dylan

1. The Atlanta Justice series is centered around strong, female lawyers who take on high-stakes cases. What made you want to write their stories?I’d have to say it’s personal! Having been an attorney for eleven years now, I love being able to pour parts of myself into the books. My everyday life as a lawyer isn’t that exciting and is definitely not as dangerous! But I’m able to draw on what I’ve lived through to bring life and authenticity to these characters.

1. What type of research did you do for Deadly Proof?One of the great things about writing books related to my career is that I know lawyers who practice all different types of law. Deadly Proof focuses on Kate Sullivan, who is a plaintiff’s attorney taking on a big pharmaceutical company. I don’t do this specific type of plaintiff’s work, but I know lawyers who do, and I was able to talk with them. Also, I was able to relate to my characters on the defense side because I’ve done that work for years. It was really fun to write the perspectives of characters on both sides of the case.

1. Is there a reason you chose Atlanta for this series?Yes! I’m from Georgia and lived in Atlanta, practicing law at a large law firm, for eight years. I wanted to pick a setting I was intimately familiar with to give readers an authentic Atlanta experience—sweet tea and all.

1. Where do you think Kate’s passion for her work comes from?Kate truly believes that her life’s work is to help those who have been wronged. I believe a lot of her passion stems from her strong faith that has developed over the years. She’s not a lawyer to make big bucks but to change people’s lives for the better.

1. What is the next book in the Atlanta Justice series about?Book two is about Kate’s friend Sophie Dawson, who we meet in Deadly Proof. Sophie is an Atlanta prosecutor. This story is exciting because it involves a completely different type of legal case than Deadly Proof. But I promise things get just as dangerous!

Blog Stops

September 26: A Baker’s Perspective

September 26: Book Reviews From an Avid Reader

September 26: Faithfully Bookish

September 27: Reading Is My SuperPower

September 27: Fizzy Pop Collection

September 27: Blogging With Carol

September 28: Fiction Aficionado

September 28: Moments Dipped in Ink

September 28: Genesis 5020

September 29: Just Commonly

September 29: Bukwurmzzz

September 29: D’S QUILTS & BOOKS

September 30: 100 Pages per Hour

September 30: Just Jo’Anne

September 30: Smiling Book Reviews

October 1: A Reader’s Brain

October 1: Bigreadersite

October 1: Carpe Diem

October 1: Christian Bookaholic

October 2: Karen Sue Hadley

October 2: History, Mystery & Faith

October 2: Black ‘n’ Gold Girl’s Book Spot

October 3: A Simply Enchanted Life

October 3: Avid Reader Book Reviews

October 3: Just the Write Escape

October 4: Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting

October 4: Mary Hake

October 4: Through the Open Window

October 5: The Important Things in Life: God, Books, & Chocolate

October 5: Inklings and notions

October 5: Ashley’s Bookshelf

October 6: Pause for Tales

October 6: Have A Wonderful Day

October 6: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations

October 7: Redeemed Hope Dweller

October 7: Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses

October 8: Neverending Stories

October 8: Rockin’ My Mom Jeans

October 8: Cafinated Reads

October 9: Blossoms and Blessings

October 9: His Grace is Sufficient

October 9: Raining Butterfly Kisses

Giveaway

To celebrate the tour, Bethany House is giving away four Suspense Novels and a $25 Starbucks Gift Card!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4664b04912/

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review. The rest of the copy of this post was provided by Celebrate Lit.

Choosing a Life That Matters by Dennis Rainey

About a decade ago Rainey was asked to speak at the commencement ceremony of a prominent divinity school. He wanted to give the graduates something that would help them choose a life that matters. As he pondered what to say, he determined the essence of what the Bible teaches about what God expects of us. He came up with seven concepts and writes about them here.

• Seek God, not sin
• Fear God, not man
• Love God, not the world
• Believe God, not the deceiver
• Obey God, not your feelings
• Worship God, not comfort
• Serve God, not self

Rainey writes from a life time of serving the Lord in Christian ministry. He has developed a good understanding of the kind of life that pleases God. These seven concepts have served him well as boundaries and direction for his thoughts as he lived life. He has tested them for a decade and now offers them to readers.

This is a good book, one that can be read over and over again. We need reminding of what God desires of us. We need encouragement to live in a manner pleasing to Him. Rainey has provided that for us in this small but powerful book.

Rainey wanted his readers to be able to make quality decisions and be able to carry them out. He has included suggestions of life skills at the end of each chapter. My favorite was the section on fearing God, not man. Essential, Rainey writes, is practicing the presence of God. He gives several practical suggestions to help us be more aware of God and reorient our lives around Him.

I recommend this book to Christians who want to live a life pleasing to God. You'll receive some good instruction, read some good stories, and get some practical ideas to live out your godly commitments.

Food for thought: “To me, life in Christ is a process of God weaning us from loving this world while increasing our capacity and experience of loving Him.” (Loc 537/1246)

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Dennis Rainey is president and cofounder of FamilyLife, a ministry of Cru. He is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and hosts conferences on marriage, men's ministry, and parenting. He is the senior editor of the HomeBuilders Couples Series and the daily host of the nationally syndicated radio program FamilyLife Today. He and his wife live in Little Rock Arkansas. They have six adult children and twenty-three grandchildren. 

Photo © Stacy Kinzler Photography

Bethany House Publishers, 128 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Liar's Winter by Cindy K. Sproles

Sproles takes readers to the Appalachian Mountains over a hundred years ago when myth and superstition held more sway than logic objective knowledge. Into this culture a girl was born with a wine-red birthmark on her cheek and neck. Many thought her a daughter of the devil and fearfully treated her as an outcast. How she survived is a brutal story framed by parental love.

I live far away from the Appalachian Mountains and this novel was a very interesting journey to another time and another place. Sproles has done a good job giving the flavor of religious belief and the condition of society of the day. I was appalled at how people were treated. But this was a time and place of small communities being cut off from each other. Mistrust and fear were common. Violence was a way of life.

We experience the struggle of a girl told all her life she was evil and dangerous and must remain hidden. But we also see the steady love of a parent break through toward rescue. The clash of violence and love does not make for a pretty story. It was hard for me to read of the continued mistreatment of the girl, even though love and forgiveness won out in the end.

I recommend this novel to those who would enjoy a journey into the Appalachian past. You'll be immersed in the culture of the time, be confronted with violence and anger, and be amazed at the saving grace of God.

You can read an excerpt here.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Cindy K. Sproles is the author of devotions published in newspapers across the country and a teacher at Christian writers conferences. She and her family still live in the mountains of East Tennessee. You can find out more at http://www.cindysproles.com/.

Kregel Publications, 250 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Pray for Me by Rick Hamlin

Hamlin nearly died, spending nearly two weeks in the hospital as physicians battled a nondiagnosed condition. He shares his hospital experiences, weaving into the narrative a memoir of his earlier life.

The main point of Hamlin's book is the importance of prayer. Suddenly losing his ability to breath well, he was hospitalized. He went through test after test but a diagnosis could not be made. Good health gradually returned. He writes of his experience, “...the doctors kept me alive, the prayers healed me.” (171) He was so ill he could not pray for himself. He recognized it was the prayers of others that preserved his life.

Hamlin, through this memoir, shares his experiences in the context of a day by day account of his hospital stay. He adds events from his life to the narrative, such as courtship, birth of their boys, depression and therapy. He also includes emails his wife sent out, asking for prayer.

Hamlin invites readers into his life. Readers of Guideposts magazine will appreciate the opportunity as he is the executive editor of that publication. He also shares the spiritual insights he gained during his hospital stay. The importance of a community in prayer is highlighted. Hamlin is a skilled writer and his narrative reads well.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Rick Hamlin is the executive editor of Guideposts magazine, where he has worked for twenty-five years. He is the author of three novels and a spiritual memoir. He has been a long time contributor to the bestselling devotional Daily Guideposts and regularly blogs on prayer at Guideposts.org. He and his wife live in New York City.

FaithWords, 224 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Reading People by Anne Bogel

It seems we spend a great deal of our lives trying to understand ourselves and others. Bogel has written an informative and practical book to help us in those life long pursuits.

She takes readers through a number of personality indication structures. The first is the introvert extrovert difference. I hadn't realized that there were actual physiological differences in the brains. They are literally wired differently. She then writes about highly sensitive people and I found out why two people talking to me at the same time nearly drives me crazy.

Bogel also covers the five love languages, something I was familiar with from previous reading. Next was Keirsey's temperaments. I certainly spotted me there as well as a good friend. It suddenly made sense to me why she behaves as she does. The 16 types of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator are next, clarifying the types with cognitive functions. Bogel then explores the Clifton StrengthsFinder, identifying our naturally occurring talents. The last personality framework Bogel investigates is the Enneagram.

I like how Bogel gives us a bit of history for each personality framework. She also clearly identifies how readers can access tests or otherwise identify the particular personality type. For me, the best part of this book is that it gave me a new appreciation and understanding for the personality types of other people.

Bogle is quick to note that she is not a scholar in this area of personality frameworks. She doesn't cover all of the frameworks that have been designed. She does do a good job of helping us identify our personality types and gives good suggestions for tending to and taking care of ourselves within our personality style. She gives plenty of examples from her own life so we see how these personalities function.

I do recommend this book to those who want to understand who you are and how to best take care of yourself, based on your personality type. You will also be able to better understand others and perhaps see life from their point of view too. I found the book to be very informative with good practical insights and suggestions.

Food for thought: “Self-discovery and self-formation are lifelong processes.” (202)

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Anne Bogel is the creator of the popular blog Modern Mrs. Darcy and the podcast What Should I Read Next? She lives in Louisville, Kentucky. You can follow her blog at https://modernmrsdarcy.com/.

Baker Books, 220 page.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.