Friday, June 29, 2012

An in depth book about our food

Wheat Belly: Lose the Weight, Lose the Wheat, and Find Your Path Back to Health
William Davis, MD




Book Summary: Every day, over 200 million Americans consume food products made of wheat. As a result, over 100 million of them experience some form of adverse health effect, ranging from minor rashes and high blood sugar to the unattractive stomach bulges that preventive cardiologist William Davis calls "wheat bellies." According to Davis, that excess fat has nothing to do with gluttony, sloth, or too much butter: it's due to the whole grain wraps we eat for lunch.
After witnessing over 2,000 patients regain their health after giving up wheat, Davis reached the disturbing conclusion that wheat is the single largest contributor to the nationwide obesity epidemic─and its elimination is key to dramatic weight loss and optimal health. In Wheat Belly, Davis exposes the harmful effects of what is actually a product of genetic tinkering and agribusiness being sold to the American public as "wheat"─and provides readers with a user-friendly, step-by-step plan to navigate a new, wheat-free lifestyle.
Informed by cutting-edge science and nutrition, along with case studies from men and women who have experienced life-changing transformations in their health after waving goodbye to wheat, Wheat Belly is an illuminating look at what is truly making Americans sick and an action plan to clear our plates of this seemingly benign ingredient.


Review: I found this book to be a fountain of information. I agreed on many points especially the engineered food that is available in the grocery store. It is true that there is a significantly different looking weight gain in this country. I am not so sure that wheat is the only cause for this. The American diet has changed significantly in the last 30 years. I would go so far as to say that wheat is a major cause but not the sole cause. Food has been engineered with corn, peas, carrots and the list could go on. You go through any organic produce section and the size is significantly smaller with every kind. Gluten intolerance is not the only problem increasing peanut allergies and nut allergies alone have increased. High Fructose Corn Syrup has replaced sugar in almost every food that once had sugar as its sweetener. I believe these have contributed equally to our problems.
The overall information presented and the diet he promotes are healthful and would impact many people lives. I do believe that the search for healthy eating is not solved by eliminating wheat alone. I find this to limiting.
The information was in depth and well researched. The information was well written and easy to understand for the most part. At times there was more information than the average person needs.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Rodale Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.

Prayers that are so beautiful

Prayers of the Bible
Susan Hunt




Book Summary:Prayer is our direct means of communication with God. Yet many people are unsure how to pray. Is there a specific way to do it? Any examples we can study? Just where do you go to learn about prayer?
Go to the Bible; specifically, to the prayers in the Bible.
Susan Hunt guides women to explore prayers from the Bible, highlighting the overarching story of redemption that shapes these biblical prayers and equips us to know God's nearness and call on Him in truth.
She passionately believes that only a true woman can do this-so she lays out foundational, biblical principles of true womanhood, showing that true women are redeemed women.
Prayers of the Bible is an excellent study for women's Bible study groups. Each prayer passage comes with an outline, questions to focus your thoughts, a prayer story, practical suggestions for prayer, and suggestions for personal reflection.

Reveiw: This was a book that prayers were used to encourage and enlighten a group a woman in Mrs. Hunt’s circle of friends to dig into the trenches with Jesus and each other. They were emotion filled without apology and weaknesses displayed for all to see. It was a humbling experience to read and great to use for a small Bible Study or with others who are wrestling with a deep trouble in their life whether shared experience or not. The experiences and growth is visible on the pages of this book and make working through this book a journey not just an exercise in information. I am extremely grateful to Susan Hunt for her gift that she has so freely shared.
I would like to thank Net Galley and P & R Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.

A Bible Study with Meat in it.

Nehemiah
Dr. Kathleen Nielson




Dr. Kathleen Nielson brings her great love for the Word of God to bear upon the dramatic story and themes of restoration found in the Book of Nehemiah. This study brings us face to face with God's covenant people and God's faithfulness to His promises. Kathleen, a gifted teacher, guides the student to consider the text and contexts with an historical, redemptive perspective, pointing us to the fulfillment of God's promises in Christ.
This is a group of related verses or single verse Bible study. It includes looking up other scripture to bring about a deeper understanding of how, where and why this book of the Bible was written. The book begins with the background and continues through this book of the Bible. It was written by a gifted woman who taught through this book of the Bible and is a great resource for group or individual study. It has multiple resources in the back from an outline to the people this story is about or relevant people. It is a great addition to the growing number of Bible Studies Dr. Nielson has already published.
I would like to thank Net Galley and P & R Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.

A Much Needed Book

Learning God’s Story of Grace
Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage




Book Summary:In this meaningful, inviting, and encouraging study, Elizabeth Turnage lays out God's grand story and helps you see where your own story fits. Engaging questions allow you to apply not only the study, but the entire story itself, to your own life. Unique sections help you to engage Scripture and live out the gospel in your own story.
The Bible exhorts us to know and tell our stories and how they fit into God's grand narrative, for only then will we find meaning.
This engaging, welcoming guide is where it all starts.


Review: This is a great book that works through scripture to provide the story of God’s Grace that centers on the work of Christ. It was an easy read and difficult to put down. It was split into chapters by themes and along with daily readings of 1-5. Also included in each chapter are tips on how to write a prayer with some information to flush out your prayer. It was full of information that will grow one’s knowledge of the Bible and how to see Christ’s work in one’s life. The guide at the beginning provides a lot of information that will help one to interact with the story of God’s grace rather than being a passive reader. This an exciting new series that is a welcome addition to books for woman that have a great supply of substance for learning more about God’s story of grace.

I would like to thank Net Galley and P & R Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.

Commentaries worth reading

1 Kings
Philip Graham Ryken




Book Summary: Dynasties, fractured kingdoms, prophecies of coming hardships - the book of 1 Kings is a grand, sweeping narrative of the beginning of the downfall of God's people. Its size and scope may seem intimidating, but Phil Ryken shows us in this biblical, doctrinal, practical, and Christological commentary how this imposing book can be divided into three key sections. First, the stories of Solomon focus on the themes of money, sex, and power, inviting us to learn from Solomon's example. Will we use these things wisely for kingdom purposes, or foolishly abuse them for selfish gain? Then the middle of the story, on the divided kingdom, shows the destructive consequences of sin among the people of God - especially the sin of idolatry. The final section demonstrates the power of prayer to the true and living God, as exemplified in the life and ministry of God's prophet Elijah. Phil Ryken brings out the key themes of these three sections and illustrates how they come together in their focus on the gospel of Jesus Christ, especially his kingly and prophetic offices. This is an excellent resource for those who want a devotional aid and will help Bible expositors reliably teach a redemptive-historical view of this important Old Testament book.


Review: This is a great series of commentaries. He is able to take the verses in chunks based on related narratives and pull in Samuel, Chronicles and other books of the Bible to expand the related information to increase my knowledge of the 1 Kings. Then he used current examples to relate the lessons and understanding of how this is important to my understanding today. I felt that the examples and information really gave me a bigger picture of the history of Israel and how that brought the narrative of redemption to a fulfillment. Dr. Ryken did a good job of making the material readable and understandable without being redundant or overusing information. These commentaries are extremely helpful and useful.

I would like to thank Net Galley and P & R Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

An Intense Adventure

Wolfsbane
Ronie Kendig




Book Summary: Having escaped a brutal Venezuelan general, demolitions expert Danielle Roark fights her way back to the States, only to be charged with espionage. When she’s forced to return to the jungle to prove her innocence, she finds herself intentionally left behind. What secret does she have worth killing for? Haunted, former Green Beret Canyon Metcalfe is fighting off nightmares of a operation gone bad. When he’s thrown back into the jungle on a Nightshade mission, he must push the memories aside to rescue Dani. Will he lose another woman to the cruelty of warfare?


Review: I was immediately drawn into this story. The characters were believable and the story was well written. I enjoyed the Metcalfe family and the believability of the difficult nature of the events that Danielle had gone through there were parts that were challenging to follow until about ½ way through the story and this mad following the action a hindrance at times. I thought that the similarities of experience between the main characters were played subtle until they were resolved. It was a great nail biting story that was worth following until the end.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Barbour Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.

A Fun Cast of Characters


A Wedding Blunder in the Black Hills
Kim O'Brien






It Was a Relationship of Convenience. . .Until It Became a Romance Millie Hogan and David Denvers both have big problems in small town Deer Park, South Dakota. Millie—a waitress with designs on Hollywood—has a mother who keeps setting her up on disastrous blind dates, even though Millie’s never met a man she could trust. David—a widowed dentist with an almost-teenaged son and opinionated parents—is being stalked by an amorous former patient. So when a lost filling lands Millie in David’s office, the two of them cook up a plan—a fake relationship. No one gets hurt, and no one gets nagged. It’s a great plan—until they really start to care. Now what will they do? Turns out, it probably doesn’t matter: when Millie learns a shocking family secret she wonders if she’s really wife material. Maybe it’s best to stick with the plan and head for Hollywood.  And since David’s folks think Millie’s all wrong for him, well. . .he realizes he may have to let her go. Isn’t that what you do when you love someone?
This was a fun story that was predictable at times although it had some unexpected events. The characters were like people you would meet anywhere. They spiritual aspects were slow to start and the increased as the story continues. Although relationships that are unevenly yoked do not always go this way. It was nice to see that conversion and spiritual growth of the female lead. Millie’s mother was fun and probable the best character in the story. The changing age difference was a little difficult to follow, due to the less than believable timeline built into the story at the start.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Barbour Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.