"Quick, Easy, and Delicious Meals for your Family" by Susie Martinez, Vanda Howell, & Bonnie Garcia

This cookbook is great for those new to cooking.  It gives helpful tips right from the get-to, with everything from organizing shopping trips to getting warehouse discounts to purchasing sale items to stocking up on cooking "staples."  Additionally, for those visual learners out there, there are pictures throughout the book that correlate to different types of meals.  The book has recipes for small appetizers, regular meals, desserts, and more.  What I like is that it differentiates between foods that need to be baked versus grilled.  There is even a pasta and crock-pot section, which mixes things up.  There are little to no diagrams of the actual food, and the book is in black and white.  However, this is good because, once you're done cooking, you don't feel bad for not making your food look as nice as some cookbook's...because there is no photo!  Also worth noting is that the book discusses nutritional information of each meal, which most cookbooks overlook.  Most amusing is the little catchphrase beneath each title / meal.  These meals are so easy they barely take up one to two pages apiece.  One recipe I particularly like is the apricot glazed salmon.  While there were a lot of ingredients, the steps were very easy and only took 45 minutes to make.  This is a great cookbook.

"Love Does" by Bob Goff

You know what?  I really liked this book.  It was a fun compilation of whimsical and fascinating stories by a man who is saved by the grace of Yeshua.  The way this man sees life and walks through it is remarkable.  From stories of proposals, purchases, children, slavery, prisons, guns, Disneyland, and other seemingly unconnected places, the overall theme of love prevails.  Goff is not incredibly theological and doesn't really even quote Scripture that much (he more often talks about what Yeshua did while not referencing specific verses).  I love (no pun intended) the theme of a love that goes out and actually does stuff.  At times, one could feel insignificant when compared to a man who goes around pursuing justice for children in Uganda--a man who frees child prisoners and sets up schools in poor places.  However, what I like best about this book is that Goff never comes off as ostentatious or a braggart.  Will we all be social activists who live their life like Goff?  Of course not.  But what one does learn from this book is that everyone can DO something, no matter how small; and that Yahweh loves us all the same.  It doesn't matter if someone DOES more than someone else.  What matters is that we all DO something.  Also, all proceeds of this book go to charity.  Since each chapter is a separate life story, one can leave this book for a while and come back to it later...not missing a beat.

"I Blame Eve" by Susanna Foth Aughmon

This book focuses on the notion of how one of the curses associated with the Fall was women's desire to control. Aughmon combats the destructive ideas that women have to be perfect and have to have everything "under control." She also talks a bit about spiritual warfare (although not in blatant terms) about women believing lies of society that are only deceptions in the mud. The notion of not being satisfied in life, living in denial, being at "rock bottom," selfishness, depression, and more are discussed. Humorously, even the notion of a painful child-birthing process is discussed. The book is fairly spiritual but not very verse-heavy. While the writing is witty, I do not think it is as humorous as other reviews have remarked. Is it funny? Sure. Is it the funniest thing I've ever read? No. It has its serious moments, as well, that will really make women stop and look at themselves in the mirror, wondering what this monster is that they've become.

"Angels are for Real" by Judith Macnutt

I was excited when I got this book. The topic of angels is fun. However, I knew I should stay on my toes when it comes to discernment because the topic of angels can be good or bad, depending on how it is presented. As the book started, it was fine and informative. Scripture was even quoted. However, as the book progressed, it got worse.

On page 35, we are told angels carry prayers to God. While they may have that capability (Rev 8:3), Yah is powerful enough and omnipotent to hear us when we pray to Him. He is our ONLY mediator (1 Tim 2:5); Christ is enough. On page 40, we are told that Michael the archangel will destroy Satan. Excuse me, I think it's Christ who destroys evil! On page 41, we are told Jesus means "God saves" in Hebrew. This is wrong. His Name means "Yah saves" or "Yahweh is Salvation." God is a general term (elohim in Hebrew) that can refer to any deity. On page 86, we are told that we need heaven's help (in the form of angels) to access Yah's love. Come on! This is balderdash. All we need is Christ. Also, there is a story of an "angel" helping women lift a huge marble stone that will later be used for a statue of Mary. We know from the Scriptures (read Deuteronomy) that Yah does not even like statues, let alone unnecessary attention given to others in the form of veneration.

Furthermore, Macnutt does not address how the Angel of Yahweh is Yahweh is physical form but rather assumes the "angel of the LORD" is some other angel. In one instance, Macnutt greviously implies that an angel calmed the storm that Scripture said Jesus calmed (as if Christ would need help!). This was most insulting. Macnutt also claims to have a great knowledge of angels and demons but is lacking in research. Towards the end of the book, Jude is quoted with how evil angels were thrown into chains of darkness. There is no theological exposition going to Gen 6:4 or any discussion of Nephilim with how the demonic come about.

Worst of all, and I mean WORST OF ALL, is how Macnutt talks of countless angels as beings of light that shine (even the stories from others in the book ditto this) but does not quote 2 Cor 11:14-15: But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve."

If anyone wants to learn more about angels and demons, check out http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270651172993767 and note "Who is the Angel of Yahweh?" and the categories "Angels," "Spiritual Warfare and the Demonic," and "Creation / Free Will."

"When God Writes Your Love Story" by Eric and Leslie Ludy

A friend of mine who likes to pride herself in being a relationship guru would always tell me about this book called "When God Writes Your Love Story." So, when I got the opportunity to review the book--the expanded edition, nonetheless--I jumped at the opportunity. The book is almost 300 pages but read very quickly. The book is divided into sections, and each chapter has some Bible verses and discussion questions, with anecdotes and sappy stories thrown in every now and then. I will not spoil all the details of this book, but it will not surprise anybody that this book is about giving up the details of your love life to your Creator. This means waiting on His timing and staying pure for your future spouse. While sex is discussed, there are no graphic details, so I would even recommend this book to junior-high-schoolers if they so desire. I suppose I would have liked a different title that at least named the Christ. After all, who is God? Ask several religions, and you'll get several answers. What was interesting was that I read some reviews posted on Barnes and Nobles for this review. Most were overwhelmingly positive, but one was very negative and had a very low rating. Reading further due to my curiosity, I realized the reader gave a very low rating because the book was apparently all "fluff" and did not tell readers how to get to know Jesus better, but instead the book just said to get to know Jesus better and draw close to Him as you surrender your [love] life to Him. After careful consideration, I must say that is true. However, with the title and cover of this book, I can not say I was expecting any super deep theological or prophetic writing in the book. Still, after much thought, while this book is nice, I would say that people should get "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" instead if they are going to spend money on a Christian relationship book. Search my reviews for a review on this book.

"As One Devil To Another" by Richard Platt

When I first saw this book, the cover kind of put me off. However, upon reading the summary / synopsis, my interest was piqued. This was to be an adaptation of C.S. Lewis' "The Screwtape Letters." It was to be written in a similar fashion by one who is a biographer of Lewis himself and ought to have much knowledge about the deceased author's style. While the writing was a bit circumlocutious and roundabout, as most of Lewis' work tends to be (this is just due to the writing style in that error; people talked differently), I was hoping for a more modern writing style that is easier to comprehend than most of Lewis' former work. However, that aside, there were some interesting points about spiritual warfare--you know, with the whole notion of demons wanting to destroy humans' relationship with Christ and suck humans down to Hell. At times, the notion of how Yahweh operates (called "the Adversary") and several theological points are made. While I could tell these were just shoved in to teach the reader some "good stuff" with the demonic aside, I must say it was slid in in a conspicuous manner that at least makes me appreciate the effort. There were parts where the topic of homosexuality and transubstantiation came up, with questionable remarks on the subject. What I did not like at all was the end. The "client" whom the demons are trying to trick / tempt / deceive eventually comes to Christ and learns Grace...from her dead aunt whom she communicates with. Necromancy is forbidden in the Bible (Lev 20:27, 19:31, Is 8:18, etc). We are not to communicate with spirits of the dead, and we do surely NOT achieve Grace thru departed spirits. We come to know the Grace of Yahweh from Yah Himself.

"Spirit Wars" by Kris Vallotton

This is an excellent book, if I must say so myself. I find there are not many books written on the topic of spiritual warfare. Or, the few out there discuss the demonic as emotions instead of real entities. In this book, the author shares personal experiences of his own spiritual warfare and spiritual warfare in the lives of others. What was remarkable was the notion that fear is a spirit that can be cast out. I knew demons could be cast out, but I never thought of casting out spirits. That was new. I will not lie, some of Vallotton's stories of exorcism are a bit out there, but that does not discredit him. I feel as though there is spiritual warfare happening all over, but it is just that not many people are comfortable talking about it. What I also enjoyed was how Scripture was quoted and dissected when appropriate to really learn spiritual warfare. Also, there were word studies of the original words, which I liked. Overall, this book flows well and will teach Christians about a topic that is rarely discussed in church. While this book is by no means a final resource (it does not go into how angels fell, where the demonic come in, Rephaim, Nephilim, etc), it is a good stepping stone for those interested in spiritual warfare. I liked how the author noted how evil is out to get everyone and is an "equal opportunity" enemy.

"Real Marriage" by Grace and Mark Driscoll

This book has some pros and cons. For instance, I love how it speaks about how real marriages start as genuine friendships. It goes into love and respect a bit, too, which is nice. I like the phrase "boys who can shave" when the authors speak of males who refuse to "man-up." The book also dives into the dangers of pornography, the inherent badness of abuse / how to deal with it to heal, and how spouses ought to be selfless servants. What I did not particularly like was how the authors took select verses from Song of Songs to insinuate that certain sexual acts (I dare not even repeat) are Biblically lawful. It's one thing to think that certain phrases have a particular allegorical counterpart. However, if that is not backed up in some other part of the Bible, I do not think we ought to say "well ---- is symbolic of ----, so it's okay to do ------." I'm sure the authors had good intentions, but this book was just plain perverted in certain areas of the text. Yikes.

"Healing Your Church Hurt" by Stephen Mansfield

This book was a very interesting read. With all of the Christian books I review, I can't say I've come across many that broach this topic. This is a real issue in Christianity. It is one that I have personally experienced. The author, who has faced his fair share of church hurt, shares some of his story. However, he keeps things generally vague and goes into more detail for helping the reader. So, this book is not just him telling his awful story. This is for those that need healing. What I liked about this book was that the author started out recalling horrific things that happened to lead pastors and theologians in the early church (think Reformation era). He also writes about how suffering may be preordained as a means for making us more Christlike. He writes about how we should listen to others' criticisms and change what we need to but not take everything they say to heart--we are first and foremost identified by who Yeshua says we are, not who others say we are. The author also writes that anger and unforgiveness and lead to sin and even demonic activity. He goes into word studies quite often and has an impeccable writing style, both of which I enjoyed. What I will say I would have liked in this book that was missing was if the author wrote more about the spirit of the antichrist or how some may not be "good shepherds." However, one could argue that one would come to this conclusion from reading between the lines. Overall, this is a very good book. It helped me deal with a lot of my issues. We don't have to go back to churches that hurt us, but we ought to forgive from our heart and move on with our lives. Phil 3:13-14

"The Jerk Magnet" by Melody Carlson

This book was a good and fast read, as Carlson's books tend to be. However, while there were some good lessons learned along the way, I have to say I was a bit disappointed. To back it up a bit, the book is about a shy wallflower who gets a makeover. Then, boys start paying attention to her--the wrong type of guys. Hence the title. There are parts in the book where the protagonist wears a bikini / other clothes that "show off her curves." At the end of the book--surprise, surprise--she states that she is happy how God made her. However, what little epiphanies there are are very subtle and short. Coloring and straightening hair, as well as wearing makeup are portrayed as fine things for girls to do. Also, there are scenes with church youth groups. I must say, Carlson did a fine job of showing girls that even "religious" guys can just be jerks, or "wolves in sheep's clothing" as Jesus would put it. Still, the connection to God is so minute and subtle. The protagonist commits her life to God with one of those little "come into my hear" prayers. No Scripture is quoted, and no in-depth spirituality is reached. The book doesn't even imply that the girl got a Bible to start reading. All in all, I'd say this book is a nice read, but I would be hesitant to go so far as calling it "Christian literature." The Christian veneer is there, but this is more of a beach read and not something girls want to read to identify truly with self-esteem issues or spirituality.

Available January 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

"The Canary List" by Sigmund Brouwer

Wowza. Brouwer has done it again. This guy is such a good author that I've gone out of my way to request his books on my own. I love his style of very short chapters that change perspective. The genre he shines in is called speculative fiction. You never know what is coming next. I'll dive into the gist of what the book is about and conclude with some criticisms.

First of all, I'll try my best to give you an idea of the plot without revealing too much. There are some major plot twists that got even me by surprise. So, there is a troubled girl who is tossed around the foster system. She is plagued by a terribly scary darkness. Thru a truly strange chain of events, her schoolteacher gets involved in a huge conspiracy that involves the Vatican. Older Vatican conspiracies are touched upon, as well as some futuristic yet believable science and hacking. Some parts of the book are slower than others, but, in general, it is a very fast-paced story. The question of the demonic comes up quite a bit. At the end of the book, the reader is left to themself to question whether or not the demonic is real. Is there really evil in the Church, or is the demonic just a cover-up to blame something on a third party and manipulate people thru fear? I personally believe in the Biblical existence of the demonic, but readers can think what they may. What is great is the reading list at the end of the book. It includes memoirs from Vatican exorcists for those that want to dig deeper.

As for criticisms, this is hard. For the spiritual sense, the Vatican and demons were discussed, so the spiritual world was encountered. However, the schoolteacher is not a believer. He says by the end of the book that he believes he may one day see his little daughter in heaven. (By the end, he believes in demons and by some logic, he thinks God must exist, too.) However, there is no notion of him beginning a personal relationship with Yeshua Messiah. Perhaps, this is left up to the reader's imagination. What is good about this book is that it goes to remind people that--regardless of whether or not one believes in the existence of demons--there are very real evil people that infiltrate the Church.

'The Search Committee" by Tim Owens

When I saw this book was an award winner for the Christian Writers' Guild, I was expecting to be severely impressed. However, I was not. Let me explain why. First of all, there are several character stories occurring simultaneously, and the literary techniques used are great. What was missing for me, though, was that wow factor. At several times in my reading, I was bored. So how did this book win an award? I think it comes down to audience. I am a young adult woman in school. Most of the characters were older (some senior citizens) going thru marriage problems and deaths of spouses/older family members. The closest characters I could relate to were two young men, and that was a stretch. Also, there was a sort of Southern nostalgia seeping thru the pages both thru visualization and colloquialism. I do think that older audiences--maybe men more so than women--will greatly prize this book. It is about a team of parishioners looking for a new pastor for their church. Some of the sermons included were great.

"Small Space Organizing" by Kathryn Bechen

This is an excellent reference book for anyone who has a small space they need to freshen up. There are several chapters dedicated to very specific rooms, whether they be for entertaining, guests, newborns, working, or more. There are even lists of supplies one may find useful with websites / stores where one can pick up said merchandise. My favorite part is the interview section at the back of the book. Bechen interviews several people that live in small quarters and asks what they did to organize / decorate and how it all turned out. While this book is published by Revell, I saw no predominant Christian themes or references in the book. Anyone can enjoy this book. I would not recommend reading it straight thru since not every situation will apply to every reader. However, for looking up quick fixes for specific scenarios, this book is fantastic.

Available January 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

"Happily Ever After" by Gary Chapman

Let me start by saying this book is a whopper. There are sooo many parts and chapters. Sure, a studious person can get through the entire thing. However, for couples, I think this book is best used as a reference. That being said, the book covers several topics. It is published from a predominantly Christian publishing house, but, in all honesty, this book is more of a well-written self help book on counseling with some Bible verses and God words thrown in every so often. The conflict resolution and five love language explanation parts are excellent. The in-law advice is also astute. The financial advice is useful but vague. For couples looking for solid financial advice, I suggest they get a book that is more in-depth and focused on just that with more economics words and bank terms. I'm not going to lie. The part of the book that talked about--um, er--intimacies did make me uncomfortable. However, overall, it seems that Chapman wants couples to sincerely love and respect each other.

"Fierce Beauty" by Kim Meder

You really should not judge a book by its cover, but I immediately thought this cover was beautiful. Reading the book, the message is nice. We need to throw aside our pride and become the fierce yet beautiful warriors that Christ intended us to be as His Bride, the Church. The author incorporates Scripture, personal stories, and even dreams. Now, for me, I found some parts of the book boring. This may just be my personality. Lots of the stories were about outdoorsy stuff like hiking, climbing, and such. Some readers will find this exciting. I did not. Judge for yourself. If all else fails, the cover is pretty.

Names of GOD Bible

I was so excited when I got this Bible in the mail. Now, I've read NLT's "In His Image" Bible where the names of God are off to the side in fancy font every now and then for readers to learn from and in the back for quick reference. I've even used Young's Literal Translation as a reference where I found the occasional Jehovah and Jah in the Word. However, this is the first Bible I've acquired so far that actually inserts the names of God in the actual text itself. They are in the verses in bold brown font to make them really stick out. Also, to my delight, there are inserts with what the names mean WITH the actual Hebrew or Greek scripts. The names of God are original. What do I mean by this? One example is that the Hebrew name of God is Yahweh. Many English translations made it Jehovah (claiming that is easier for English speakers to pronounce). Now, I know God goes by many names, but to have the original is a bit exciting. GOD's Word translation is very easy to understand. I'm not going to lie and say it's the MOST accurate. Modern translations do lose some stuff (like Zech 2:5 using "it" instead of "she" as to not confuse those who know Zion is portrayed as a female). For the most accuracy on any verse, one ought to look up the Hebrew and Greek. But to learn the names of God with a very easy to understand translation like this is great. Also, this Bible is not as expensive as other Names of God Bibles I've seen so far. Get this and read it!

"Praying for your Future Husband" by Robin Jones Gunn and Tricia Goyer

When I first got this book, I sighed, rolled my eyes, and thought, "Oh, no, not another self-help book for how women can find Christian men. I'm sick and tired if these books." However, when I started to get into the book, I was pleasantly surprised. The pages flew by, and I grew in the process. The book focuses on praying for your future husband and yourself. There are many Scriptural verses that fit perfectly in the context of each chapter. The authors even give personal stories from their own lives with what they've learned. There are discussion questions and suggested prayers and other women's perspectives. Women who read this book will pray over their husband and be changed. Even if they never get married, they will grow immensely in this process. To keep yourself pure and pray for others while sprinting after God is a beautiful thing.

"Get Married for Christ's Sake" by Kenny Jackson

I'm not going to lie. When I was asked to review this book, the title made me chuckle. I found it so amusing that I was unsure whether or not to take the book seriously. However, after received the book in the mail, I was pleasantly surprised. Kenny Jackson is not a literature major or theologian, but he conveys his thoughts very eloquently with current / up-to-date analogies that the average person will relate to. This isn't a handbook for "finding" your potential mate or some self-help type of book. Rather, it is sincere and practical advice for single Christian people. Interesting points that I have not found in other Christian relationship books on marriage are the notions of: making sure you get along with the person's family / culture, being on the same financial page, sharing secrets with accountability partners, and views on child rearing. A unique and helpful part in the back of the book is a survey for people to take to see how they and their potential mate view various aspects of marriage and living together. Also unique is Jackson's perspective of being in a cross-cultural relationship since he is black and his wife is Asian. While this book is a thin one, it'll keep you thinking about the points being brought up.

"A Woman's Guide to Fasting: by Lisa E. Nelson

When I first got this book, I was suspicious. I was afraid the book would be terribly boring and methodical, or worst--religiously strict. However, just the opposite occurred. The language and style with which Nelson writes flows very well and connects excellently. I do have to say that some of what she writes may resonate better with women, but I do think men will get some great information out of this book. Besides emphasizing that obedience is better than sacrifice and that fasting is not just a way to be "holy," Nelson writes about her own faith experiences. She seems like a real friend that one looks up to. The advice for fasting goes not only into the spiritual but also into the physical for how to prepare and what to eat before starting a fast. This thin book is great for women looking into fasting.

"His Princess" by Sheri Rose Shepherd

This tiny book can fit into your purse or backpack. It has that hardcover that is soft, if you know what I am talking about. The pages are glossy with nice colors, imagery, and flowers. Some visuals are repeated, though. What is best about this though, is the content. Each page last a paragraph that is supposed to be God's love letter to you and a Scripture verse. The way in which these are written really touches the heart. The Bible verses are written in contemporary translations, so they are very easy to understand. The book is great for those who want quick devotionals, as each left and right page can be for a day. Or, if one prefers, they can read the whole book in one sitting, as I did. A complaint I have, though, is that when Psalm 27:4 was quoted, the part about being in the House of the LORD was there, but the part about staring on the pleasantness of Jehovah was plain left out.