From Eden to Bethlehem by Danielle Hitchen "What is your favorite part of being a mom?" Easily the most frequently asked question I have received since having Elaina three months ago. You would think by now I'd have an answer prepared for when the question arises, but I still have trouble answering it. Motherhood has far exceeded my hopes and expectations, and brought me so much more joy (Elaina's middle name...pun intended) than I could have imagined. That's not to say it's easy...I still don't sleep much, my shirts have acquired mysterious stains, and no matter how much I work out my arms are still not strong enough to carry the car seat gracefully for more than 10 steps. But the sweetness of seeing our baby girl laughing during bath time (it's funny to splash mommy), snuggling into my neck to take her naps (hence the mysterious stains on my shirts), and watching her smile when I converse with her in her baby language far outweighs the difficulties. As she has continued growing the past few weeks, Lainey has begun exploring and observing the world around her! She stares and smiles when she sees new people, and her eyes go wide in amazement when the cold October air hits her cheeks. Recently she has become fascinated with ceiling fans and fluffy pajamas. And her mind was completely BLOWN the first time she saw a dog. As she has become curious about the world, Jake and I have loved explaining to her the things she is seeing, smelling, and feeling. It is so fun to teach her about this world God created and all of the things within it! Over the past few weeks, I've been sharing about a book series I have recently fallen in love with called Baby Believer. These beautiful board books have been an engaging way to read with Lainey and share with her from even this young age about the Bible and who God is (click the links to read my reviews): First Bible Basics teaches numbers and Biblical foundations Psalms of Praise teaches about movement and the Psalms From Eden to Bethlehem teaches about animals and Jesus' life Let There Be Light teaches opposites and the Creation story From Eden to Bethlehem is one of the newest releases from the Baby Believer Series, and uses passages from Scripture to introduce little ones to different animals! From snakes and lions to donkeys and lambs, this board book has been a fun way to talk with Elaina about animals while teaching her Scripture at the same time!
The pages are colorful and high contrast- perfect for little eyes that are still developing (young babies do best with high contrast images until their color vision becomes more defined). Each page has the name and picture of an animal, along with a passage from the Bible that relates to the animal as well! The selected passages are short and have large font, so when Lainey is able to read I would imagine she would be able to easily read the pages! There are so many fantastic educational children's books available today. The choices are endless for books to teach little ones about numbers/ animals/ opposites etc., but I LOVE that these Baby Believer books center learning around the Word of God. It shows these young readers that God isn't just someone we talk about in church on Sundays (although we certainly do talk about Him there!), but He is actively involved and relevant to every facet of our lives. My rating? 5/5 I have been so impressed with the Baby Believer board books! Fun, creative, educational, and based on Scripture, I think these books would make a great baby shower gift and are a perfect addition to any little one's library! *Welcome to Adulting by Jonathan "JP" Pokluda "Will I be single forever?" "How do you cook chicken (and make it taste good)?" "Can Monica and Rachel really afford such a great apartment in NYC?" "Do I have to adult?" All real questions my 20 year old self pondered at the beginning of my sophomore year in college. I was recovering from a breakup, trying to stay afloat in my nursing classes, and figuring out how to find friends and community during the exciting, chaotic, transformative period of life known as college. It was all so overwhelming. I needed a break. To get away. So I gathered my summer earnings and booked a plane ticket to San Francisco. I learned so much about adulting on that trip- God used it to stretch and challenge me, and to develop within me important life skills that are still useful in my adult life today. Skills like: Navigating airports... It was my first solo flight, and I missed my plane during a layover in the most confusing airport that has ever existed (aka O'Hare). Reacting in emergencies... Did you know an earthquake in San Francisco sounds like a trash truck crashing into your house? Neither did I. Taking public transportation... If I had a nickel for every time I got on the wrong bus... In all seriousness, though, I did learn a lot about God and about myself during my San Francisco adventure. He gave me a heart for the nations as I walked around Chinatown, Japantown, and other neighborhoods where people of different cultures gathered to work, live, and play. He taught me the value of friendship and community as I caught up with old friends and met new ones. He showed me that even if I never married or dated someone ever again, I would be okay because He is more than enough. My worth and happiness come not from money, a job, or a significant other, but from having a relationship with the God of the universe. Being an adult is not centered around your salary or climbing the corporate ladder, but around pursuing and knowing the God who created you. After all, this world is temporary, but eternity is, well, eternal. If you are in your 20's (or know someone who is), you should probably just skip to the bottom of this review and get this book. It really is that good. If I could buy 100 copies and give them to all of my students, I would. Welcome to Adulting by JP Pokluda offers insight into navigating the confusing transition into adulthood. Full of Biblical wisdom, personal experience, and a little bit of wit, JP tackles topics like dating, finances, work, community, and a variety of other relevant issues in the lives of those of us in our twenties. He beautifully balances solid Biblical wisdom with relevant topics in a way few books I've read have managed. JP stays grounded in Scripture with each topic he covers, and I found myself grinning from ear to ear with how Scripture-centered his wisdom is! Throughout the book, JP's vulnerability builds such trust and respect between himself and the reader through sharing his personal shortcomings, what Scripture has to say about the topic, and how to practically apply Scripture to live a Christ-centered life. If you enjoy reading, you could easily read this book in a few sittings. The chapters are intriguing and JP's writing style makes it hard to put the book down! I loved the chapter on dating. And eternal perspective. And conflict. And authority. Actually I loved all the chapters, but let's focus on the one on dating. Eventually I had to stop highlighting because I realized I was highlighting everything. What does the Bible say about qualities we should look for in a potential husband or wife? How do we become the type of person a Godly man or woman should marry? What does dating look like for the Christian? All good questions. You'll have to read the book to find the answers. My rating? 6/5 I don't give a 6/5 rating often. This is not a fluffy, feel-good book about how to be a grown up. This book will challenge you. It will call you to a higher standard of living in how you date, work, fight, forgive, and live as a man or woman of God. It would make a great read for anyone in their 20's (or even early 30's) or for anyone who works with/ lives with/ is friends with someone in their 20's or 30's. So, basically, it's a great read for just about anyone :) *I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest, unbiased review!*
Day by Day Through the Gospel of John edited and compiled by Lance Wubbels The weather has turned to autumn here in Northwest Ohio! Gone are the hot, humid days of summer- replaced with the brisk chill of fall. Lately in the evenings after things on campus are wrapped up and Elaina has gone to bed (she's up to 6 hour stretches and I feel like a human again!), Jake and I have enjoyed curling up in our blankets -a cup of tea or coffee in hand- and catching up on our reading. While I have been reading through current releases like Letters to an American Christian and I'd Rather Be Reading, Jake has been enjoying more classic reads like Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion and Ryle's commentary on Mark. I have always admired Jake's book preferences. His part of the bookshelf is filled with massive volumes from Calvin, Frames, and Grudem as well as thinner books by greats like Spurgeon and Edwards. When we started filling our first bookshelf after we married, I remember asking how he chooses to read the titles he does. He responded by sharing he prefers books that have stood the test of time. Writers who have shown to be timeless and have contributed significantly to the church we know today. When a piece of writing prevails over hundreds of years despite the hundreds of thousands of new books being released every year, you can be fairly confident that the content will be beneficial and fruitful to read. Since watching the way Jake's books help him to understand and apply theology and God's Word to his life, I've been inspired to begin reading a few classic authors myself. If I'm honest, I have felt a little intimidated and unsure of where to start these reading endeavors. Conveniently enough, I came across a devotional that has helped expose me to these authors I was desiring to begin reading! Day By Day Through the Gospel of John is a 365 day devotional compiling sermon and teaching excerpts of the Gospel of John from a few of the 1800's most influential preachers and teachers. Working chronologically throughout the book of John, these excerpts help readers meditate and work slowly through the Gospel while offering insight and practical application. A few of the writers I was familiar with (like Charles Spurgeon and Hudson Taylor), while others I had never heard of but am excited to learn about! The devotional starts with brief biographies of all the included writers, which I found extremely helpful for better understanding their lives. From there, the devotionals work chronologically through John. Each day varies in length and depth, but is never longer than one page. On average, I could spend about 10 minutes doing each one including time reading, looking the verse up in my Bible, and meditating on how to apply what I learned to my life. Many devotionals released in our culture today are centered around fluffy content that, like a cozy cup of morning coffee, will help you feel great about yourself as you start your day. But based on the way people in Jesus' day reacted to His teachings (as in...they literally crucified Him), I am wary of devotionals aimed solely towards making me feel good. Day By Day Through The Gospel of John is not one of those devotionals. It is centered around God's Word and offers convicting challenges like the one Spurgeon gives in the devotional for July 26 (ironically the day I went into labor with Elaina): "I wish you great happiness, but our Lord made it clear that troubles will come in this life. The comforts that surround us today may take themselves wings tomorrow. What shall we do? We shall breathe this prayer, 'Father, glorify your name.'" My rating? 3/5 I was surprised and disappointed to find that, while this book does go chronologically through the Gospel of John, not every verse in John is included. At points, there are actually chunks of chapters that are skipped over. I wish the editor would have either included content for those verses or included more writers who do have sermons on those omitted verses. However, I do love the content and how slowly this devotional works through the Gospel of John. Some days the Scripture is only one verse! And sometimes the next day's Scripture is also just that one verse! This book is a great way to start reading challenging excerpts from classic Christian preachers/ teachers/ missionaries. *I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest, unbiased review! Links provided through Amazon Associates.*
Letters to an American Christian by Bruce Riley Ashford The college campus is a confusing place. College girls coo and giggle over my little baby ("Aww, isn't she so precious!")...on their way to get information at the abortion rights table. One of my students listens as her professor speaks of the importance of religious freedom...while vocalizing his opinion that "no intelligent person could ever actually believe in Christianity." Students talk about the importance of tolerance and loving one another...then leave hurtful comments on social media towards others who don't share the same political views or life values. Yes, the college campus is a confusing place indeed. It's no wonder that every year, my students ask me questions about how to navigate this perplexing culture where they receive so many mixed messages. How should they interact with their classmate who is transgender when they've only experienced Christians ostracizing and avoiding those in the LGBTQ community? How should they respond when their professor criticizes their faith in Jesus Christ? How should they vote in an election where every candidate is characterized by mudslinging and negativity? And the list goes on... Immigration policies. Gun reform. Gender neutral bathrooms. The prevalence of racism. Am I making you uncomfortable yet? If not, how about these: Trump. Clinton. Kavanaugh. Black Lives Matter. #MeToo. In light of our cultural climate in America at present, how do we respond as Christians? How can we share that the restoration of our country and world lies not solely in laws and social reform, but in the hope of the Gospel and Jesus' return? When people feel empty and hopeless despite seeking an abortion or living a homosexual lifestyle, how do we point them to the One who gives true peace and hope to any willing to turn and surrender their life to Him? I am perfectly comfortable telling my students that these are hard questions and I don't know the perfect answer. Thankfully, Scripture does give us guidance in many of these challenging topics! So no matter the question or the controversy, I find such comfort in knowing that I love and serve a God who will restore this Earth and is making all things new! Letters to an American Christian provides a fantastic overview of a few of our culture's most controversial current events, and the relationship between Christianity and politics. Author Bruce Riley Ashford tactfully tackles the inseparable connection between religion and politics ("how is that possible?!" you may ask...well, you'll just have to read and find out), Biblical perspectives of hot topics such as freedom of religion and the legalization of gay marriage, and suggestions for how to practically apply the information he presents to our everyday lives. Written in a manner similar to C.S. Lewis' Screwtape Letters, Ashford formats the book as if he is writing letters to a new believer navigating these hot issues during freshman year at a prestigious university. This made topics that normally leave me confused (economics, judicial rulings, and political jargon) easy to grasp and understand! I was truly amazed by the author's tone and demeanor throughout the entire book. Not once did I feel his writing become angsty or condescending (impressive considering the tenderness of the topics addressed), but instead his humor, respectfulness, and professionalism as a Christian and professor give him a credible platform to offer wisdom and speak into the reader's life. Not only does he confidently dive into these hot button issues, but with each chapter he points the reader back to Christ and the Gospel. He reminds us that we are sinful and live in a world of sinful people, and that the only true solution to these issues is Jesus: "...to doctors whose hands have been employed in abortive procedures, the Gospel introduces a Great Physician who offers eternal life, even for those who have cause temporal death." (83). "[People with gender dysphoria] are born with broken bodies, just like you and me...The answer lies not in ignoring suffering or succumbing to temptation but in offering up our broken bodies to God." (184). My rating? 5/5 I loved this book! Gospel-centered, easy to read, and incredibly practical, Letters to an American Christian helped me gain a better understanding of politics, encouraged me to think about hot issues I haven't given much thought to in the past, and gave great suggestions of how to respond to and converse about these topics in a Biblical, God-honoring way! *I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest, unbiased review! Links provided through Amazon Associates.*
Psalms of Praise by Danielle Hitchen
Elaina is two months old now, and I can hardly believe it! What a whirlwind these eight weeks have been. She's gone from a chubby little newborn who can hardly stay awake, to a (usually) smiley, active baby who loves to learn and interact. I've loved spending my days snuggling her and watching her discover her world. We love her so much! But there is the screaming. Ah, yes, the screaming. Another reason I wish babies came with instruction manuals. See, there are these periods of 24 hours where Lainey seems to simply love screaming. She'll have a full belly and clean diaper, but instead of taking her usual naps, she'll scream instead. Holding her in our arms, we'll watch the tears stream down her face and her little lips quiver as she wails her way through the day. This will continue for approximately 24 hours and then, as suddenly as it began, the screaming stops. No more tears, no more quivering lips...all smiles. But the most magical part is what comes after this welcomed (and much needed) silence. All of a sudden, she'll do something new that she has never done before: The first time it happened, she began smiling. The second time, she started grabbing at her toys. And this last week after it happened, she began using her legs to stand and bounce (with some assistance from mommy and daddy of course). The look of joy on her face is priceless as she bounces in our laps, on her play mat, or wherever else we'll hold her and help her bounce. It's as if she discovered she now has legs and is celebrating by dancing at every chance she can get! We dance nearly every waking moment now: after breakfast, on Daddy's desk, at church (we LOVE bouncing during worship!), before bed. Bounce, bounce, bounce! It is so sweet to share in her excitement, and watching her bounce makes my heart so full! I pray that as she continues to grow, she'll always be so happy as she dances for the Lord!
Last week I began sharing about the Baby Believer book series I recently discovered (click here if you'd like to read it!). These beautiful board books teach kiddos about numbers, movement, opposites, and animals while simultaneously introducing them to the basics of Christianity! In case you missed it, here's a brief recap:
First Bible Basics teaches numbers and Biblical foundations Psalms of Praise teaches about movement and the Psalms Let There Be Light teaches opposites and the Creation story From Eden to Bethlehem teaches about animals and Jesus' life Psalms of Praise helps little ones learn how to praise God by moving, playing, and using their bodies! They learn about different kinds of movements, and where we see people praising God in Scripture through these movements: how we kneel before the Lord in Psalm 95, walk in integrity in Psalm 26, and run in the path of His commandments in Psalm 119. Like the other books in the Baby Believer series, Psalms of Praise is beautifully designed and illustrated. With thick board pages and bright illustrations, it will easily captivate even the smallest of little ones. Lainey's movements right now are pretty limited to kicking her legs, bouncing, and sucking on her hands (eww), but as she develops and grows I'm excited to act out the movements with her as we learn Scripture at the same time! My rating? 5/5 I am loving the Baby Believer books! Psalms of Praise is a fun, engaging way to teach your little ones about the Psalms while playing and moving at the same time!
I'd Rather Be Reading by Ann Bogel
As the plane plummeted to the ground I knew these could be my last moments on earth. It was happening so fast it seemed surreal and, to be honest, I was surprised to feel the cold water filling up the cabin after impact because I didn't expect to survive. I eventually found myself on the lake shore, surprised again because I not only survived the plane crash, but managed to break out of the sinking plane without drowning. The scent of pine trees I normally found so comforting (they remind me of Christmas) now served as a terrifying reminder that I was wet, cold, and alone in the dense forest with no food, supplies, or hope of rescue. Just me, and the hatchet. Do you remember the first book that gripped your heart? The first book to pull you into it's pages so deeply it felt like you were actually there? The book that showed you the power and joy of reading? For me, it was Gary Paulsen's "Hatchet." I read it in elementary school, but I still remember it so vividly- the plane crash, the adventure of survival, and the joy of Brian (the main character) finally being rescued. I had never before read a book that transported me so deeply into its pages with the main character, fighting for survival. And I loved it. From that moment on, I was hooked on reading. Since then, I've cherished the adventures I've had (I know I sound nerdy...and I am, so I don't mind) within the pages of my favorite books. Running from dinosaurs in Jurassic Park, wandering Spain with Ernest Hemingway in The Paris Wife, and sipping tea while making witty remarks in Pride and Prejudice- the power of stories to transport the reader into their pages is magical. I grow giddy with excitement when I walk into a bookstore (I almost fainted with joy when I walked into the one at the top of this post), and love the thrill of discovering a great book. And now for a quick photo journey through my love of books...
I discovered Ann Bogel when she released her first book, Reading People, last year, and her witty, warm writing style made me instantly feel we could be best friends. These feelings have certainly prevailed after reading her newest release, I'd Rather Be Reading.
This short, funny, heart-warming read is made of brief chapters about life as a bookworm. Along with personal stories and words of wisdom, the author includes an astonishing variety of book recommendations by mentioning titles that have had a deep impact in her life or that she thoroughly enjoyed. I highlighted them and now have an impressive list to take with me during my next trip to the used book store! For any fellow bookworm and literary lover, I'd Rather Be Reading will feel a bit like someone read either your mind or your journal and published it in this adorable tiny book. For example: "Your house is a disaster because books cover every surface (pg. 69)." This is a constant conversation between me and Jake...but I can't put them away because I'm reading them. All of them. At the same time. "You have more books than shoes. You have more books than bookshelves. You do some quick math and realize how much money is tied up in your book collection. You suspect your books equal the gross domestic product of a small nation (pg. 71)." Hence why I must now get all of my books through book blogging. "You can't put the book you just finished behind you because you still want to live it. You have a terrible book hangover, and it lasts three days (pg. 69)." Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale. No further explanation needed. "They've had the same book sitting on their nightstand for three years and haven't opened it once (pg. 23)." Two years actually. A book on the Chinese communist party. Who was I kidding when I bought it. "I'm still the young mother- twenty-five, twenty-six- reading...aloud on the couch to my firstborn, who, being too young to reliably hold up his own head, neither understands nor cares what I read him (pg. 77)." I was literally reading this out loud. To my firstborn. On the couch. Who is too young to hold up her own head and doesn't understand what I read to her. It's a little uncanny how much I could relate to this book. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and it made me reorganize my bookshelves by color (because it looks pretty and I remember book covers better than author last names most of the time anyway). Immediately after reading it I hopped on to Amazon and added a plethora of new books to my wish list, and pulled a few classics off the shelf to read with Elaina (right now we're in A Separate Peace and next is Pride and Prejudice). It reignited an excitement within me for reading again amidst the craziness/sleeplessness of life with a newborn (and I could easily hold it one handed as I rocked Lainey to sleep...a new criteria for any book we want to read). It even persuaded me to pick up the books I have lying around the house and place them in their proper homes on the bookshelf. Until I realized I have no more room on my bookshelf. So in piles around the house they shall remain. My rating? 5/5 I will undoubtedly read this book again. I will undoubtedly use it to find new books to read. I would undoubtedly recommend it to any fellow bookworm who loves literary jokes and the adventure of reading.
First Bible Basics by Danielle Hitchen
Being a new mom means I have the joy of watching Elaina as she experiences so many "firsts" in these first few weeks of life outside the womb. There are the firsts I expectedly looked forward to: first smile, first car ride, and first diaper blowout (I wasn't looking forward to that one, but it was hilarious). Then there are the firsts I didn't think about, but have been some of the sweetest moments of motherhood so far: first time feeling a cool breeze on her cheeks, first time experiencing the way sunlight glitters when it filters through tree leaves, and first time smelling daddy's homemade chicken chili cooking on the stove. Watching her reactions to these new experiences is an incredible joy, and has reminded me to slow down and savor the moments of this life God has given me. Motherhood certainly isn't all sunshine and roses: there are persistent fussy crying fits (from the baby, but sometimes me too) and messy diaper explosions (also from the baby...although I have to defend myself when it happens in public: "I promise that was they baby!"). But the sweet moments outweigh the hard moments, and I love loving this little human. I love to talk with her as she begins to interpret the world around her- having the privilege of explaining what a tree is to teach her about creation, kissing her little fingers and toes when I dress her in the morning to teach her about her body, and taking time to tell her about the things she looks at to help teach her new words.
I came across the Baby Believer books on Instagram a few weeks ago, and instantly fell in love. These colorful board books are designed with little ones in mind as a way to apply God's Word in a practical way to their daily lives! There are four books published so far:
First Bible Basics teaching numbers and Biblical foundations Psalms of Praise teaching about movement and the psalms Let There Be Light teaching opposites and the Creation story From Eden to Bethlehem teaching about animals and Jesus' life This week, let's start with the first book! First Bible Basics is a board book that introduces and teaches numbers using theological and Biblical concepts. Little ones learn to count to ten by learning about concepts like the 3 persons of the Trinity, 7 "I Am" statements of Jesus, 9 fruits of the Spirit, and 10 commandments- and where all of these are found in the Bible. The pages are colorful and beautiful, and the high contrast design makes it easy for even the littlest of babies to see! I feel this book can easily grow with babies and toddlers as they age! Right now, Elaina is intrigued by the colors and loves listening to my voice when I read to her. When she gains more motor control, I think she'll love touching the pictures and turning the thick pages. And as she learns language, I'm excited to talk with her about what she is reading, asking her questions about the content like: "What do you think it means that Jesus is the bread of life?" and "Who are the three persons of the Trinity?". First Bible Basics is a fantastic way to interact with your child to teach them not only counting and numbers, but Biblical foundations as well! My rating? 5/5 I am so thankful that a book like this exists! Not only will Lainey learn her numbers, but reading this book together will provide a sweet opportunity to talk and learn together about the Lord.
Poets & Saints by Jamie George Have you ever had the inkling to explore where you came from? My finger hovered above the "enter" key as I prepared to learn what the all-knowing internet had to say about my family's roots. Jake and I were excitedly preparing for our upcoming adventure to the Emerald Isle, and with my Dad's side of the family having immigrated to the U.S. from Ireland during the potato famine, I wanted to do some research with the hopes of tracking down long-lost family while we were there. I pressed the button and scanned the results. The long lost family I would be looking for was: Patrick O'Reilly. Patrick. O'Reilly. How many of those do you think are in Ireland? So we didn't get to hunt down my extended family, but we did learn about my Irish heritage, Ireland's history, and another guy named Patrick. St. Patrick that is. Did you know that St. Patrick's name wasn't really Patrick? And he wasn't even Irish? He was kidnapped from his home in Britain as a teenager by Irish pirates (pirates??) who then forced him to be a shepherd in the Irish countryside where he later found Christ. Eventually he escaped, traveled back to his hometown and, his heart aching for the Celtic people to know that they too could have a personal relationship with God by confessing their sin and turning to Him, returned to his captors years later to share the Gospel with them. He was successful, and is traditionally credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. I can't imagine what life for Patrick must have been like as he roamed the Irish pastures with his sheep. Only a teenager, traumatically kidnapped from his home, and isolated from community (except for his sheep of course). Having memorized Scripture in his childhood, I bet he spent many hours reciting and meditating on Scripture amongst his sheep friends. My mind thought about Patrick and my distant Irish relatives one morning when Jake and I found ourselves tending sheep in a pasture in southern Ireland. It turns out I'm very bad at being a shepherd and the sheep mostly just ran away from me, but the serenity of the scene gave me a renewed understanding of John 10 where Jesus speaks of being the good shepherd: "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." John 10: 11 I wonder if this verse may have been one of many that God used to impact this kidnapped British boy-turned-shepherd named Patrick by showing him the length Christ went to in order to pay for our sins and restore our relationship with the Father? I'm not sure, but meandering through the pasture that morning I felt connected not only to my Irish roots, but to this man who boldly proclaimed the most important News of all time to those who had so badly hurt him to begin with. In Poets & Saints by Jamie George, travelogue and biography are combined to make a fun, unique, easy-to-read book highlighting the magic of traveling Europe and the incredible testimonies of St. Patrick and some of the most influential men and women in church history. From St. Augustine and John Calvin to St. Therese and C.S. Lewis, Jamie George explores the stories of a few of history's famous and not-so-famous poets and saints that transformed the world for the sake of the Gospel, and the locations they called home.
Jamie George shares stories from his team's adventure exploring Europe and experiencing history as they visited locations significant to some of Christianity's influential authors, martyrs, and reformers. His vivid descriptions transport you straight into the cozy English pub C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien frequented to discuss theology, the cobblestone streets and sweeping Italian vistas of St. Francis' home in Assisi, and the Irish countryside where St. Patrick came to know Christ. If you are prone to develop wanderlust, be cautious- you'll probably start planning your dream European exploration with each enticing chapter. Learning the powerful testimonies of these men and women was eye-opening. The author portrays their lives before Christ as well as their contributions to the church and society after accepting Christ. St. Francis was a rebel. John Newton was a slave trader. St. Augustine lived a life of lust. These people that we so often adopt a lofty view of were broken, sinful humans like you and me. They still had struggles after entering into a relationship with Jesus, but God used them in powerful ways for the transformation of lives and the church. My rating? 3/5 The balance of this book weighs heavier on the travelogue than the biographies. If you're looking to really learn about these individuals' lives, a heartier biography would probably be a better choice. At times it felt like there was too much emphasis on the author's personal experience and fun on the trip than the lives of the poets and saints whom the trip was supposed to focus on. But it is a fun and easy read that does a great job of transporting the reader to these European locations, and provides an introduction to the biographies of a variety of influential believers! Rainbow Study Bible (CSB) "How unlucky for you guys, I've never seen fog this bad on the peninsula." The old man sighed as we walked into the old stone pub. We'd heard similar sentiments from locals the entire day as we drove around the Dingle Peninsula- a stretch of land along Ireland's Southern Atlantic coast known for it's gorgeous sea views and sweeping green Irish vistas. But on that chilly late October day, instead of expanses of emerald landscape, our view consisted of thick gray fog restricting all visibility to an exciting 10 feet in any direction. We took a seat by the stone hearth and let the roaring fire warm our faces and dry the foggy dew from our clothes. The pub was empty except for us- because with such low visibility not even the tourists wanted to explore the scenic driving loop Dingle is famous for. We had been so excited to admire the peninsula views we had heard so much about, but our spirits were low as we realized we likely wouldn't get to see them. Every site we visited had only impenetrable, thick gray fog. "You really should consider changing your travel plans to come back tomorrow when the weather may be better" the pub owner said as he brought us two bowls of warm soup. "You probably don't believe me based on what you've seen today, but the views here really are the best in all of Ireland." He was right, I didn't believe him. I tried to stay optimistic but was frustrated by the blanket of fog obstructing what I knew were incredible views. After lunch we walked across the street to the edge of a cliff. Feeling the Atlantic breeze on my cheeks, I looked out hoping for a glimpse of the sea. Nothing. Just the darn fog. The next day we did take the advice of the Irish man and changed our plans to include another go at the peninsula's driving loop. As we began driving I was feeling skeptical- still just fog. My heart sunk. The fog was relentless. That is, until we crested the mountains dividing the Western coast of the peninsula from the Eastern. Because when we did, I saw a sight that immediately lifted my spirits. All at once, as if God reached down Himself, the fog disappeared and was replaced with: a rainbow. In the Bible, the rainbow appears in Genesis 9 when Noah and his family emerge from the ark after a flood so mammoth, the entire world is submerged and humanity (except Noah's family) is destroyed. It is a promise- a sign of the covenant God made to never again destroy the world with a flood. "Whenever I form clouds over the earth and the bow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all the living creatures: water will never again become a flood to destroy every creature." (Genesis 9:14-15) We continued our drive to the same stone pub we visited the day before and walked to the cliff's edge. Instead of a thick blanket of fog, we could see the emerald green countryside facing against the blue Atlantic waters. It took my breath away, and it reminded me of God's promise to never abandon me. Although the previous day's fog had hidden this sight, it didn't change the fact that it was still there in all of it's beautiful glory. It had been there all along even when I wasn't able to clearly see it. Sometimes it can seem like we can't see God (or we wonder if He's really even there). But just because we may feel like we can't see Him does not change the fact that He truly is there in all of His beautiful glory. He has promised to never leave us and never forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), and He always keeps His promises This CSB Rainbow study Bible is centered around the truth of remembering God’s promises to His people. It uses a rainbow of 12 colors to color code each Bible verse to one of the twelve Biblical themes the editors discern it most closely relates to: Salvation, God, Family, Love, History, Prophecy, Evil, Sin, Commandments, Discipleship, Outreach, and Faith.
I love how easy-to-read this Bible is! The font is clear and crisp, and large enough to read without a magnifying glass (can you believe how tiny the font in some Bibles is?!). So many colors sprinkled over the pages makes this Bible inviting and intriguing to read as well. I could see the color coding being especially helpful to a new believer or somebody desiring to familiarize themselves with themes found in Scripture. The study maps and charts bring even more historical context to the text, and the having two ribbon bookmarks makes marking your place in the Old Testament and New Testament convenient! Unfortunately I found that several of the colors used to color code look so similar they can be difficult to distinguish on the page. I had trouble telling the difference between text colored purple (Salvation) and light purple (God), yellow (Evil) and light yellow (Sin), and several others…wow, you can imagine how difficult it was for my color blind husband! I was also slightly confused by the way the subject order and colors are described in the introductory section of this Bible. It says that the subjects were placed in a specific order on the page based on numerical significance: “God in the first position because there is one God,” “Evil in the sixth position because of the significance of 666 and the mark of the beast,” “Commandments in tenth position because of their relationship with the 10 commandments given to Moses” and so on. I love this idea! But it appears that God is in the second position (not the first), Evil in the seventh position (instead of the sixth), and Commandments in the ninth position (not the tenth) when I look at the actual pages. The introductory section also says that Salvation is colored blue because “it has a heavenly or eternal connotation.” Which is great! But on the pages, Salvation is colored purple. “Silver assigned to History because it signifies age or experience.” Also really great and clever! But it is listed in orange on all of the pages. This doesn’t take away from the experience of reading this Bible, however! I completely acknowledge I might be misinterpreting the positions and colors, or it could be an editorial mistake left in from a previous edition. But it is a little worrisome because this could be a somewhat careless mistake in a book whose actual text and content we hold as inerrant in its original writing. If this mistake could be made in the introduction, could there be mistakes in the text or translation process? Just thoughts...if you happen to know more about it I'd love to hear! My rating? 4/5 I think this is a great Bible for anyone looking to learn more about identifying God’s promises within His Word! I would be curious to learn more about the (possible?) discrepancy in the subject positions and colors, and for that I unfortunately feel I need to deduct a point from my rating. However I do think this is a unique, neat Bible that would make for a great resource to a Biblical scholar of any age and maturity! On her due date of Friday, July 27th at 8:52 in the morning we welcomed Elaina Joy Long into the world! At 20 inches long and weighing 8 lbs, she was bigger than we all expected but happy, healthy, and beautiful nonetheless! It was a long, hard 26 hours of labor, but meeting this little soul the Lord has entrusted to us made it all worth it. “Elaina” means “bright, shining light.” Our prayer is that she would grow to have a heart for Jesus that shines so brightly that anyone who meets her can’t help but desire to know Christ too. “Joy” means “delight; great happiness.” The moment she was born, the entire hospital room celebrated- the joy filling the room was palpable! I could see the smiles on the nurses and midwives' faces as they laid her in my arms for the first time. For Jake and I, meeting Lainey in her first moments of life outside the womb was so sweet that the middle name “Joy” seemed a perfect match (and I was also so joyful that labor was finally over!). We have loved learning about Elaina and getting to know her in her first few weeks of life. She loves snuggles, being held, and looking into our eyes. We are so thankful for this gift God has blessed us with, and can’t wait to watch her fall in love with her Creator. I have been asked many times what ministry this year will look like now that we’ve welcomed little Elaina into the world. The reality is that many of our students come from broken homes and families that do not know Christ. They didn’t grow up seeing what Biblical marriage or Biblical parenthood look like. What an opportunity then for me to be able to model Biblical motherhood to these young women who will one day be mothers themselves! I won’t do it perfectly, but I am excited to show them what it looks like to live a Christ-centered life while teaching a child to do the same. I am passionate about discipleship, helping women fall in love with the Bible, and pouring into students’ lives by doing life alongside them and can’t wait to continue doing this work God has called me to (and now with a little one in tow): reaching the college campus so that every student knows somebody who truly follow Jesus and raising our daughter to love Christ deeply for a lifetime.
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