Route 66 by Krish Kandiah

 

Genre- Non-fiction

Route 66: A Crash Course in Navigating Life with the Bible by Krish Kandiah

Published by- Monarch Books

Copyrighted- 2011

Number of pages- 192

Age Group- Older Teen/Adult

Description of book- paperback, list price $13.99, ISBN 978-0-85721-018-0

15-20 minutes per day.  Five days a week.  Eight small group discussions. Eight short weeks.  And your knowledge of the Bible and how to apply it in your life will explode.

Krish Kandiah has skillfully divided the Bible into eight different styles: Narrative, Law, Psalms, Wisdom, Prophetic, Gospels, Epistles and Apocalyptic.  Each of those styles is a week, with five days of study.  Each day has a section to read and four questions to answer in your travel journal.  The last section of the week is, “Small Group Discussion,” which will help you and your friends discuss what you have learned over the past week.

Excerpt from the book!

About the author-

Krish Kandiah has his doctorate and is Director of Churches in Mission in London.  Dr. Kandiah and his wife have four children and often have foster children.  He has been a missionary in Albania, church pastor in London and has worked as a tutor at Oxford University.  He likes films, sports, photography and rock music.

 

 

 

My thoughts-

I was really excited to review this book.  I have been looking for a book that would help me learn how to apply the Bible in my life with my 21st century views.  This book was the one!

I wanted to give this book my full attention, so I wanted the perfect Bible to use.  I found one at my local library sale.  It is a large one, so it stays flat when I need to read the important verses Krish Kandiah has mentioned, exactly what I wanted.

I made myself a travel journal and I was ready to begin my study of the Bible.  It took me around 15 minutes every day to read the text and answer the questions.  There were some questions throughout the book that were hard for me to answer, but I was able to figure them out.

My favorite day in the book was in Week 1 and in Day 2 about knowing how to apply Bible verses today.  We are to look and understand what the original audience knew, ask God how to understand today, and see how we are to change our lives. 

Would I recommend?  Yes I would! I really enjoyed this book and I am planning on ordering it for most of the adults in my family for Christmas.  I know that by reading this book they will gain a greater understanding on how to apply the Bible in their lives.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Route 66 by Krish Kandiah for free from the Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Bombus the Bumblebee

Genre- Children/Fiction

Bombus the Bumblebee by Elsie Larson and David and Elizabeth Haidle

Published by- Master Books, A Division of New Leaf Publishing Group

Copyrighted- 1997, second printing 2000

Number of pages- 40

Age Group- young children

Description of book- hardback picture book, list price $11.99, ISBN: 0-89051-177-2

Extras- “A talking time,” creative activities, plus wonderful scientific information about bumblebees

Bombus the bumblebee is a lovable bee, who is learning about self-acceptance and the acceptance of others from the honeybees.  Bombus learns that God made him exactly the way he was supposed to be made.  God did create diversity and we need to learn about it.

What C (girl, age 5, Kindergarten) thought- I liked Bombus.  I liked that he couldn’t go into skinny blossoms.  Bumblebees are fatter that honeybees.  The honeybees said Bombus wasn’t right for flying, because honeybees have zig-zag dances.  And they all took flight and he watched them.  He thought he was meant to crawl, but he wasn’t. 

I liked everything.  I would recommend this book for kids my age. 

What B (boy, age 7, second grade) thought- I liked Bombus.  The honeybees didn’t think he could fly, but that wasn’t true.  The illustrations were also pretty good.  In the pictures the honeybees are skinny and Bombus is huge.  What to know an interesting fact?  The name of the book is Bombus the Bumblebee, right?  And the scientific name for bumblebee is bombus. 

I liked the whole book, there was nothing I disliked.  I would recommend Bombus the Bumblebee for kids my age.

My thoughts-

Wow!!  What a great book to teach children about self-acceptance.

Bombus was a lovable bumblebee who wanted to be accepted by others.  I can watch my kids playing with others to see how important acceptance and self-acceptance is.  I have noticed that the kids who have the best self-acceptance have the best acceptance of others.  We (as Bombus) need to remember that God accepts us as we are and we should not take what others say about us to heart.

The illustrations in the this book are great.  The honeybees are drawn  so well.  You can see their haughtiness and how they think they are so much better than Bombus.

I would highly recommend this book to all families.  As parents and especially was Christians we need to teach others about self-acceptance and the acceptance of others.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Bombus the Bumblebee by Elsie Larson and illustrated by David and Elizabeth Haidle for free from Master Books, a division of New Leaf Publishing Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Life of John Knox

Genre- Biography & Autobiography

Life of John Knox by ASSU

Published by- Attic Books, A Division of New Leaf Publishing Group

Copyrighted- 2011

Number of pages- 140

Age Group- Adult/Senior High School

Description of book- hardback, list price $14.99, ISBN-13: 978-0-89051-602-7

From the back of the book:

Living during a time of vast political intrigues and religious upheaval, Knox had a life of exciting adventure, harsh imprisonment, and brilliant scholarship.  A true God-fearing reformer who was accused of rebellion, he was an honest man of faith, a Christian mentor, and a minister who bravely defied royalty, nobility, and the established power of the Papacy to speak the truth.  Ultimately accused of treason, he continually stood up for the truth even the face of suffering.

A fiery and inspirational preacher, Knox fiercely upheld the authority of Scripture and salvation Christ’s sacrifice.  In perilous times, he risked his life daily in a fearless and tireless defense of the faith, leaving a legacy that still the world today.

My thoughts-

I am always glad to see a reprint of a book that is no longer in print.  And this book is certainly one that was worth reprinting.

I had a difficult time getting into this book, but once I got passed the first chapter, I couldn’t put the book down.

John Knox certainly had a tumultuous life.  Wow!  As a reformer it was difficult living in Scotland in the 1500’s with Queen Mary and the Papacy.  I was very glad to learn that he lived to the age of 67.  As I read the book I expected to read that he had been killed at a young age.

I would recommend this book!  I think in today’s culture, where we in the western world have the freedom to worship the way we want, we need to be reminded of those who helped to give us our freedom worship.

Please read this book as soon as possible!

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Life of John Knox by ASSU for free from Attic Books, a division of New Leaf Publishing Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Across the Wide River by Stephanie Reed

Genre- Teen Fiction

Across the Wide River by Stephanie Reed

Published by- Kregel Publications

Copyrighted- 2004

Number of pages- 176

Age Group- Teen/Adult

Description of book- paperback, list price $9.99, ISBN 978-0-8254-3576-5

Based on the true story of Lowry Rankin, Across the Wide River, is set in Ripley, Ohio in the 1830’s.  Lowry is a teen who knows all about the evils of slavery.  He’s seen friends whipped and otherwise abused by the slave hunters.

Lowry and his family are instrumental in helping with the Underground Railroad.  Their home is the first stop north of the Ohio River, where from the age of eleven Lowry takes the folks onto the next safe place.

While he is confident with the job he does for his family, he is ashamed of his accent and his father wants him to join him as an abolitionist minister.  Will he be able to overcome his fear or will his career be in something else. 

 Excerpt from the book!

About the author-

As a child Stephanie Reed and her family would drive through Ripley on the way to her grandparents.  The signs she saw as they drove through Ripley prompted her to write this book.

She lives in Ohio with her husband and two children.  She is a volunteer weather spotter.

 

 

My thoughts-

What a strong family the Rankins had to be to work against slavery in an area of the country that was so dangerous.  Stephanie Reed portrayed their story very well.  I could close my eyes and see and feel along with Lowry as he would take the slaves to the next safe spot on the route.

It was mentioned in the “Author’s Note” that the were some pictures of Lowry’s parents.  I think it would have been nice to see those pictures and others if possible to help the reader better visualize Ripley, Ohio.

Would I recommend this book to others?  Yes!  As a matter of fact, I am going to have my children read this book as soon as they are old enough, because this is a wonderful “living book.”  For now, I am going to pass it on to my teenage sister to read.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Across the Wide River by Stephanie Reed for free from the Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.