Divine Intentions Blog Tour

About the Book

Book: Divine Intentions
Author: Doug K. Reed
Genre: RELIGION / Christian Living/Personal Growth
Release Date: January 7, 2020

Divine Intentions takes readers on a journey of self-discovery through four key concepts: rescued, restored, relabeled, and redirected. Most people, even Christ-followers, are wounded at their core, with soul-level injuries that affect their identity. They may be hurting from past circumstances or feel trapped in their current ones. Basic discipleship sends believers on a journey…but it’s tough to take those steps while you’re hurting. Doug K. Reed offers healing for those who are searching for answers to their identities in Christ while struggling with wounds from the past or present. He shares his own personal story of restoration from pornography, pride, and other issues, helping to lead readers into the light of God’s love.

Click here to get your copy.

My Review

Reed believes many Christians are missing all that God has purposed for us. “Most people settle for far less that what God intends them to have,” he writes. (Loc 1613/3752) We will never be all we are supposed to be unless we address life at the soul level. (Loc 1045/3752) Our spirit is reborn at salvation but our soul may still be injured, keeping us from being all we can be. Reed has written this book to address those soul issues.

This is a good book for Christians who are looking to embrace all God meant us to be. Reed encourages us to face issues, to realize spiritual truths, to heal soul hurts, and more. He tells stories from his life and uses Scripture in his teaching. He add thoughtful discovery questions and makes good suggestions to move forward in each chapter. It is a very readable and encouraging book.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author

Doug K. Reed is a full-time writer and speaker who travels to conferences and churches both in the U.S. and internationally. He is the president of Partnership International, a non-profit organization dedicated to completing meaningful projects in some of the world’s poorest environments. Partnership International has hosted thousands of people on short-term mission trips with a goal of sharing the love of God with the neediest among us. In his over thirty years of ministry experience, Doug has also served as a senior pastor and on staff at large churches.

More from Doug

DESIGNED FOR A PURPOSE

Woodworking has been a hobby of mine since childhood. When my wife, Jeanne, and I were engaged, I created a wooden jewelry box for her that she still treasures and uses to this day, thirty years later. Every time she uses it, she’s reminded of how much I love her.

That jewelry box was designed with a specific purpose in mind. If, God forbid, I ever got mad at her, removed her jewelry, and put my fishing lures in there, the gift that once brought joy would now cause pain. And that jewelry box would make a lousy tackle box because it was not designed for that purpose. My creation would fail to fulfill my original intention.

In a similar way, we have been lovingly designed by God for a specific purpose. We can fill our life with lesser things, but He lovingly designed us to hold the treasure of destiny. He created us with the capacity to fulfill all He has planned for us.

Far too many books are written to advanced leaders without considering where the majority of people find themselves.  The goal of the book is to meet people where they are.  The book dives into their pain and to honestly and authentically address it.  My own story is the constant backdrop in the book which adds greatly to its relatability.  The combination of storytelling and deep content make this book unique.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, January 31

Texas Book-aholic, February 1

Debbie's Dusty Deliberations, February 2

Artistic Nobody, February 3 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 3

Inklings and notions, February 4

janicesbookreviews, February 5

Discipling4Life, February 6

For the Love of Literature, February 7

Andrea Christenson, February 8 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 9

For Him and My Family, February 10

Christian Bookshelf Reviews, February 11 (Author Interview)

CarpeDiem, February 12

Mary Hake, February 13

I received a complimentary digital copy 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.

From Sky to Sky by Amanda G Stevens

This is the second book in a speculative fiction series. You will have had to read the first one to make any sense of this one. There was not enough back story to make this novel very readable without having read No Less Days. (You can read my review of that book here.) I had read the first book but it was so long ago I was a bit lost at the beginning.

The framework of the series is that a doctor developed a serum in the mid-nineteenth century that, when administered to someone, allowed them to heal from any mortal wound. So the main characters in this book are around 150 years old. Most are Christians but at least one is not.

I really had difficulty liking Zac, the main character. For having lived a century and a half, he seemed terribly immature and too emotionally reactive. He makes stupid assumptions, wanting to act on them before he has even half the important details.

Stevens' writing style was difficult for me to follow. She consistently provides incomplete sentences and choppy dialogue. I reread some sentences and never did understand was they were supposed to represent. That writing style reminds me of Ronie Kendig. And the plot in this novel is long and moves slowly. Much of the text consists of Zac's ruminations. I skipped some paragraphs, skimming until I sensed the plot moving again.

The most interesting aspect of the novel is immortality. If you knew you would not die, what chances would you take? Would you mourn not growing old with a spouse? What good could you do if you knew you had a century or more to work?

This is a book for readers who like speculative fiction with a clear Christian message.

My rating: 3/5 stars.

Amanda G. Stevens writes speculative fiction. She is the author of the Haven Seeker series, and her debut Seek and Hide was a 2015 INSPY Award finalist. She lives in Michigan. You can find out more at http://amandagstevensbooks.weebly.com/.

Barbour Publishing, 320 pages.

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

Last Words by Robert J Nash

This may be a small book but the reflections on the last sayings of Jesus are insightful and encouraging. Nash chooses one word to highlight from each saying. His commentaries on each saying are thoughtful and encourage reflection. A good example is on the saying, “I thirst.” Nash asks us to meditate on our thirsts, our longings, our desires for meaning and purpose. He reminds us how Jesus satisfied thirst in others, spiritual and physical. Each essay includes a Reflection section with penetrating questions and commentary. He ends the chapter with a written prayer.

I appreciate Nash's insights into Jesus' mercy, compassion, selflessness, love and humanity, the finished work of Jesus and God our Father, all from Jesus' last sayings. This is a good book for new Christians as it explains many aspects of Christianity. It is a good book for seasoned Christians too, reminding us of all Jesus has done for us.

This would be a good book to read during the week before Easter.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Robert J Nash graduated from Wheaton College and received a MDiv at Bethel University and Seminary. He serves as campus pastor at Sawyer Highlands Church in Southwest Michigan. He is married with six children and enjoys teaching, reading, running and traveling with his family.

New Growth Press, 96 pages.

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

The Look-Alike by Erica Spindler

This novel got off to a slow start. It was about a quarter of the way in before the plot became interesting. The psychological aspect finally showed itself and some suspense was generated. While there was the hook of a murder at the very beginning, I would have liked more psychological intensity early on in the book.

The strength of this novel was the unusual mental condition of persecutory delusional disorder. The mother of our heroine had it and it was always in the back of Sienna's mind that she would develop it as well. She looked like her mother and the fear was that the similarity would go beyond surface appearance.

The disorder was portrayed well. I really got a sense of the terror of always feeling someone was after you, of not being able to tell what was real and what was not. When it seemed Sienna's life was in danger, the possibility of her experiencing the disorder plagued her.

I enjoyed the mystery aspect of solving a murder from years ago. There were plenty of red herrings and characters with secrets that kept me guessing. There was a token sex scene I though unnecessary but other than that, an enjoyable psychological mystery after the slow start.

You can read an excerpt here.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Erica Spindler is a New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty novels. She lives just outside New Orleans, Louisiana, with her husband and two sons. Photo: © Hoffman Miller Advertising

St. Martin;s, 320 pages.

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

Portrait of a Christian Blog Tour

About the Book

Book:  The Portrait of A Christian
Author: Raymond Sopp
Genre: Non-fiction, Theology
Release Date: November, 2019

The apostle Paul, with great knowledge of Scripture, said in Philippians 3:7–8: “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ.” (NASB)

It takes a courageous person to take a second look—to lay down their life—just as the apostle Paul. Are you willing to take a second look, to lay down your life? The Portrait of a Christian was written to help you do so.

For more than thirty-eight years, Minister Raymond D. Sopp studied the Scriptures, not to parrot God’s Word through memorization but just to know God’s heart as He communicated through His Word. To know anyone’s heart, you must listen to their words.Christian principles

Raymond wrote The Portrait of a Christian to challenge and provoke thought to those who desire a closer relationship with Christ. He wanted to paint a portrait of God’s heart through thirty-one separate commentaries—starting with the importance God placed on His Gospel and ending with a Lost Love. All of us must earnestly contend for the faith!

Click here to get your copy.  

My Review 

This is a hard hitting book and is one every Christian would benefit from reading. Sopp is concerned about the shallowness in today's church. He believes God has placed him in a position to see the spiritual danger coming and sound the warning. He uncovers the spiritual blindness that seems to affect many. I can tell he has done a great deal of research into what the Bible says about being a true Christian.

There are many thought provoking essays in this book. Sopp helps us understand important Christian principles and behaviors, such as the difference between regret and repentance and works and fruit. All of the essays combine to show the character and lifestyle of a true Christian. I really appreciated his reasonable explanation for the perplexing verse, 1 Cor. 15:29.

Sopp's writing style is one this senior citizen likes. It may be a little difficult for young people to appreciate his lengthy quotations of Scripture and accompanying comments. Nonetheless, it is a book every person identifying as a Christian would do well to read.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author

Minister Raymond D. Sopp has been a born-again Christian for more than thirty-eight years and ordained for more than eighteen years. He is not affiliated with any organization, nor a denomination. This has given him a unique opportunity to view the entire realm of Christianity from an objective point of view. His heart broke when he saw so many inconsistencies within the Church at-large. He inherently knew in his heart that the best way to point out error is to expose the truth in a way to provoke thought and challenge the Christian reader, while at the same time reach out to the nonbelieiver.

 Concerned by the teachings that he heard, or better yet, what he did not hear, he started a ministry on May 1, 1996 solely focused on reaching the world. (Sopp Ministries became a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization on January 1, 1999.) The only purpose this ministry has is salvation both within and outside the Church at-large. Being somewhat overwhelmed, he knew he needed to stay focused on delivering a narrow message—a message that will cause all to examine themselves (2 Corinthians 13:5) to see if they’re literally born-again—to a true and biblical salvation—a simple message that has both temporal and eternal implications.

 

More from Raymond

Do you believe we’re approaching the Last Days? Are you seeing the season change—beginning to see leaves fall to the ground? Yes! Then, The Portrait of a Christian, is a must read for you. There are several warnings given to the professing Christian in God’s Word; to me, the most terrifying warning to the professing Christian for this time we’re living in is what Jesus said in Matthew 7:15–23: “‘Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to Me Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.’ Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’” (NASB) The book I wrote, The Portrait of a Christian, is to help the professing Christian not to be one of those who just say “Lord, Lord.” Are you willing to take a second look at your Christianity? If so, then The Portrait of a Christian was written for you.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, January 27

Texas Book-aholic, January 28

Inklings and notions, January 29

Artistic Nobody, January 30 (Author Interview)

Debbie's Dusty Deliberations, January 31

deb's Book Review, February 1

janicesbookreviews, February 2

Discipling4Life, February 3

Blossoms and Blessings, February 4 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, February 4

For the Love of Literature, February 5

For Him and My Family, February 6

Through the Fire Blogs, February 7 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 8

Godly Book Reviews, February 9

I received a complimentary digital copy 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.

Running Against the Devil by Rick Wilson

Wilson doesn't like Trump, at all. The strong language he uses surprised me. I didn't know a publisher would allow some of the words to be in print. Nonetheless, I was interested in this book because Wilson had been active in Republican presidential campaigns. He is dismayed the Republican party has now become a party of Trump. And let me say again, Wilson has nothing, and I mean nothing, nice to say about Trump. Wilson has not become a Democrat but he does have a great deal of advice for Democrat presidential candidates. He has been a strategist on Republican candidate trails so he knows the techniques, those to watch out for on the Republican side and those to implement on the Democrat side.

I think I understand better what is at stake in the 2020 presidential election. I also understand what Republicans will push and what Democrats need to do counteract it and ultimately win the presidency. I understand the solid red and blue states are to be pretty much left alone. Money and effort will probably not change the voters' minds. The swing states are where the action needs to be. It is all about the electoral college and developing a strategy based on it.

This book was also very insightful as to how Trump has used Christians. “Trump has transformed the evangelical movement into a more cruel and worldly political tool, validating and verifying their two most powerful desires. (272) First, Wilson says, Trump has allowed evangelicals to live in an intolerant society. Trump has also provided evangelicals with a golden calf, one they can worship. Evangelicals have been “swept up in the delights of political power on this mortal plane and, with Trump as their prophet, have transformed into something unrecognizable.” (273)

I recommend this book but with a warning to rather conservative readers like me. Be prepared for strong feelings and strong language. But also be prepared to understand a bit more the political situation we are in and the prospects for the future.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Rick Wilson is a renowned Republican political strategist, writer, speaker, commentator, and ad-maker. He has an award-winning column in The Daily Beast and writes for several other publications. He regularly shares his insights on CNN and MSNBC and NPR. He and his wife life in Florida and have two grown children.

Crown Forum, 352 pages.

I've Never Been This Old Before by Stan Toler

Toler gives readers a good dose of humor, spiritual teaching, and practical suggestions for a better life, all centered on aging. The humor was interesting. I think one might need to be a southerner to understand and appreciate some of it. I laughed aloud sometimes and groaned others. I appreciate the teaching Toler included on topics like contentment. He has insights into Christian living that might only come through long life and experience. He shares some of those experiences with illustrative stories from his own life.

This is an entertaining book for those entering the second half or perhaps last third of life. You'll be encouraged to not worry about your sagging skin or lack of technical expertise. You'll receive some very practical ideas to help flourish in life. You'll also be inspired to know that God has exciting plans for your days ahead.

Food for thought: “No matter where we are on our journey, we're just visiting. Let's make the most of every moment, say the best of every person, and see the positive in every situation.” (Loc 880/994)

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Stan Toler has written over 100 books with sales over 3 million copies. He served as vice president and instructor for John C Maxwell's INJOY Leadership Institute, training leaders and speaking in over 90 countries. You can find out more at www.stantoler.com.

Harvest House, 144 pages. This book releases February 4.

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

Saints by Addison D Bevere

Bevere shares his musings about what it means to be a saint. The book includes a number of essays on topics of importance to Christians. He relates stories from the Bible, investigates passages from the epistles, and relates his own experiences.

I appreciate Bevere sharing the wonder and adventure of being a saint. He tries to mine the depths of what we Christians often miss, such as the awe of being in relationship with God. This is the kind of book where you could read a chapter and then spend some time thinking about Bevere's insights.

There are no thought provoking questions included nor is there any practical strategy provided to incorporate Bevere's insights into life. This is a book to read and think about. You are on your own to incorporate the information contained into a life changing experience.

You can read an excerpt here.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Addison D Bevere is the son of John and Lisa Bevere. He is the COO of Messenger International, an organization of discipleship impact. He is also the cofounder of SonsAndDaughters.tv and author of the RISE covenant. He is married, the father of four and spends most of his time in Colordo Springs, Colorado. Photo Credit: Joel Yanke

Revell, 240 pages.

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

Win Your War by Mark and Grace Driscoll

Many Christians ignore the reality of unseen spiritual beings. The Driscolls remind Christians angels and demons are real and spiritual warfare is a reality. They explore angles, what they are like and what they do. They also look at the existence of evil, the reality of spiritual warfare and the Christian's authority. They give biblical insight on a number of topics like pride, sickness and healing, forgiveness and specific spiritual battles, such as lies and coveting.

While I respect most of the Driscolls' teaching, there is one area where I feel they are entirely wrong: the critique of the trend to Reformed theology. Driscoll writes the trend toward Reformed theology is “in large part the world I would call the 'immature, hurt, and father wounded.' The trend toward Reformed theology is driven in large part by a generational father wound ...” (151) I feel this kind of rhetoric is uncalled for. Being a Reformed charismatic, I treasure the biblical nature of Reformed theology, as do many serious charismatic scholars, such as Sam Storms. Driscoll says this “father wound” leads to bitterness and the idea that the son can lead better than the father. (153) He says it may take the form of “a team member overtaking a leader in an organization.” (154) This makes me wonder if Driscoll's comments are from the wounds he suffered during his final time at Mars Hill Church in Seattle, when he was asked to resign.

Driscoll also says this father wound leads to a “prevalence of Son theology over Father theology... These sons with father wounds don't talk as much about God the Father as they do Jesus the Son.” (151) Imagine my surprise when I went to Driscolls' Scottsdale church web site and saw the bold slogan: “IT'S ALL ABOUT JESUS!” Later in his book, Driscoll writes, “Good doctrine stars with Jesus as your compass and cornerstone. ...once you get Jesus right, the rest falls into place.” (189)

I also found it interesting Driscoll says the “father wound” causes people to want to plant their own churches, rather than having older mentors in their midst. (159) It's interesting because that is what Driscoll has done, twice.

There is a great deal of good teaching in this book, especially for new Christians or Christians who have ignored the reality of spiritual warfare. The Driscolls generally teach from the Bible, adding their own experiences to illustrate the biblical principles. I advise to just skip the chapter on the father wound.

You can watch the book trailer here.

My rating: 3/5 stars.

Mark and Grace Driscoll have been married and doing ministry together for over twenty-five years. They recently planted the Trinity Church in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was previously the pastor at Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington. He has a bachelor's degree in speech communication from the Edward R. Murrow School of Communication at Washington State University as well as a master's degree in exegetical theology from Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. You can find out more at https://markdriscoll.org/

Charisma, 272 pages.

Elevate by Robert Glazer

Glazer encourages us to build our capacity. He means not just doing more but doing more of the right things. He divides life into four areas and gives training and practical suggestions for growth in each of them

Spiritual capacity is about understanding who we are and knowing what we want most in life. He helps reveal core values and our core purpose, leading to the standards by which we live.

Intellectual capacity is about our ability to think, learn, plan, and execute. He writes about having a growth mindset, crafting goals, establishing routines and habits, and about reflective journaling.

Physical capacity is about our health and well-being. He writes about physical performance, sleep, and creating a healthy life.

Emotional capacity is about how we react to challenges, the state of our emotional mindset, and our relationships. He writes about how we manage the voice in our head, overcoming self-limiting beliefs, and having a positive attitude.

I liked this personal development book. There was nothing in it amazingly new, but I've read lots of books like this one. It is a good general reminder of the principles of personal growth. The strength of the book may well be the practical action steps and links to further encouraging material. Glazer reminds us the road to capacity building is a bumpy one. He has been working on it many years and has made mistakes along the way. I appreciate that we can learn from his experience.

My rating: 4.5 stars.

Robert Glazer is the founder and CEO of global performance marketing agency Acceleration Partners. A serial entrepreneur, Glazer has a passion for helping individuals and organizations build their capacity to elevate. A regular columnist for Forbes and Entrepreneur, his writing reaches over five million people each year. He shares his insights and ideas via Friday Forward, a weekly inspirational newsletter. You can find out more at https://www.robertglazer.com/

Simple Truths, 168 pages.

Within Plain Sight by Bruce Robert Coffin

I liked this detective mystery novel. It has a good balance of character development and police procedure. The investigation into the murder is complex but John Byron, lead detective, methodically pursues the murderer. Coffin crafts Byron and his team members in a way so they come across as real people with real issues, like a pregnant wife who keeps having false labor. Coffin also creates a realistic police department with internal politics and strife.

The murder investigation is a difficult one. As Byron pursues leads, a number of suspects surface. Coffin added a few red herrings to keep us guessing. A strong part of the novel is Byron himself. We get into his head, such as his battle staying sober. Coffin provides just enough internal thinking before going back to intense action.

The setting, characters, and plot are all good. I do hope Coffin continues the series as I have come to enjoy the interplay of Byron and his team as they work diligently to solve the mystery.

You can read an excerpt here.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Bruce Robert Coffin is a retired police detective sergeant and bestselling author of the Detective Byron Mysteries. He lives and writes in Maine. Photo: Amanda Huebner Photography

Witness Impulse, 432 pages.

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

Dying to Meet Jesus by Randy Kay

Yes, Randy Kay died and met Jesus. But that experience is not the focus of the book. Rather, Kay's message is more about suffering and what believers are to make of it. This book, Kay writes, is about “finding joy through sadness by grasping trials instead of avoiding them. (45) How we respond to suffering in important. Suffering can be a bridge to spiritual awareness. It can provide a pathway to intimacy with God. He says, “...embrace your sadness as a vehicle to strip away the flesh, and make yourself empty, so you can be filled with God's presence.” (68)

Kay shares many of his experiences. Some experiences are glorious while others include tragedy. He encourages us to have deep fellowship with God, to be totally immersed in God's presence. He tells stories of how God used him in healing others, the visions he and others have had, and much more.

Yes, Kay does talk about his time with Jesus. It is in the context of adoration beyond words, feeling deeply loved, his excitement and awe. Yes, there were radiant, light emitting stones and glowing hills. Yes, there was life giving water, translucent rocks, and ten feet tall spirit beings. (167) Nonetheless, the emphasis of Kay's account is on the worship and praise and joy.

Kay notes that he was skeptical of such experiences until he had his own. There is so much more to this book than just his experience with Jesus. I really appreciate the emphasis on being in intimate relationship with God, with being rather than doing. (169) Whether you are skeptical of near death experiences or not, this book is well worth reading.

You can read an excerpt here.

Food for thought: “Regardless of any suffering, the profoundest truth I have learned is that nothing compares to being in the presence of Jesus. Absolutely nothing.” (171)

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Randy Kay is CEO of PACEsetters and chairmen and CEO of TenorCorp. He has written for Forbes and The Wall Street Journal. His breakthrough research on thriving in life spans several decades, as he has uncovered practical ways to overcome trials. He lives in Carlsbad, California.

Chosen, 176 pages.

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

Messing With the Enemy by Clint Watts

I appreciate Watts' understanding of the use of social media for propaganda and other influence. I was not as interested in his personal accounts of his dialogue with terrorists as I was with information on Russia. I now understand how Russia became so much better than the U.S. at using all aspects of media.

A few surprising concepts for me. I was shocked how Putin's favorability among Americans recently doubled in two years. (175) I am amazed how propaganda can be targeted. (I am not sure I am going to “like” anything on Facebook any more.) What a disappointment to find, “America sucks at information warfare, absolutely sucks.” (189) America is not only lacking in a message that resonates but also in an effective way to deliver that message. (192) And unwitting Americans fall for Kremlin's message time after time. (193)

America was caught off guard by foreign experts in social media propaganda. It is scary to think of the little being done to correct that. Defense contracting has been less about getting the job done than getting money to certain people, such as former military and intelligence officers. (206) The billions of dollars spent by the U.S. is still not as effective as the adversaries low budget operations. (207) It is embarrassing. Watts argues that the Department of Homeland Security should notify the public of falsehoods and smears regarding domestic issues and the State Department should do the same about falsehoods related to U.S. foreign policy. (209) But they don't so we common citizens get duped.

I recommend this book. There is much to wade through to get to the good points, but it is worth it. Watts gives great techniques for testing social media posts for their truthfulness.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Clint Watts is a Robert A Fox Fellow in the Foreign Policy Research Institute's Program on the Middle East as well as a senior fellow at the Center for Cyber and Homeland Security at George Washington University.

Harper, 304 pages.

Still by Jenny L Donnelly

Jesus called us to rest but how can we when life is crazy? Donnelly shares her experience of learning to rest in the midst of chaos.

Donnelly teaches in the context of story and experience. She shares much of her own story in the first part of the book, such as her parents' divorce, losing her virginity in college, unresolved trauma causing bouts of crying. Her suggestions for developing rest come from the experiences of her children, a late night television show, a picture her daughter drew, an experience on a flight, and more. Scripture is then applied to the lesson.

This is a good book for people who like teaching developed within the context pf personal experience. This senior citizen matured on books teaching straight from the Bible. This one, developed through experience, is probably better suited for young people or new Christians not very familiar with the Bible. Young mothers would especially identify with many of the stories Donnelly tells.

Her description of being in the “pocket” while spinning is certainly a wake up call to be fully in the Lord's presence. I was glad to see a helpful Appendix with practical ideas for developing that practice.

Donnelly knows how to obtain rest within a busy life. She and her husband have five children, she owns a business, and she is a minister. Her teaching is not mere theory. She has lived it. She provides practical ideas and exercises to develop a heart that rests in the Lord.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Jenny L. Donnelly is an author, speaker, and entrepreneur. She is the founder of Her Voice Movement, a national community gathered for the equipping and empowering women to live in biblical truth. She is the cofounder, with her husband, of The Collective Church in Portland, Oregon, and also founded Tetelestai Ministries, developing biblical leaders. She and her husband live in Oregon with their five children.

Revell, 224 pages.

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