Book Review - The Night Watchman

Description:
Ray Quinn is a tough, quick-witted homicide detective in love with his partner, Trisha Willis. She gives Ray something to live for—something to hope in. Until a barrage of bullets leaves Trisha murdered and Ray crippled.

Struggling with his new physical disability and severe depression, Quinn turns to whiskey, scorn, and a job as a night watchman to numb the pain. But when a pastor and dancer are found dead in an apparent murder-suicide, the pastor’s sister approaches Quinn for help.

Reluctantly, Quinn takes the case and is plunged into the perilous Orlando. Soon he discovers that, not only was the pastor murdered, but the case may be linked to his and Trisha’s ambush. Torn between seeking revenge or responsibility, Quinn is thrust into the case of his life.

Author Mark Mynheir gives readers his most profound police thriller to date with The Night Watchman (first book in The Night Watchman Private Detective Agency Series). Readers of all ages will devour this gripping murder mystery that bristles with tension and intrigue. In a taut cop-style all his own, Mynheir delivers an inside look at the thoughts, feelings, fears, and challenges police officers experience while investigating violent crimes and the lost souls who commit them.

Author Bio:
A detective with the Criminal Investigations Unit of the Palm Bay Police Department, Mark Mynheir investigates violent crimes and writes riveting Christian fiction. A U.S. Marine with a passion for martial arts and firearms training, Mark has worked on narcotics units, SWAT teams, and myriad high-risk situations. His four novels offer a realistic glimpse into the gritty world of law enforcement and the rarely seen raw emotions behind the badge. Mark lives in Florida with his wife and three children.

My Thoughts
I’ve been reviewing a lot of serious books lately so it was a nice change of pace to read a piece of fiction. “The Night Watchman” was a good read both in plot and in character development. An unwilling crippled former police detective turned night watchman who is drawn into a murder investigation makes for good reading. I will also give credit to the author for not being overly suffocating with the Christianity portrayed in the story. I know some works of Christian fiction have basically every character accepting Christ by the end. I love my Lord, but in real life not everyone accepts him. Good fiction should reflect reality. In the story, the main character begins heading in the direction of Christ, but even at the end he has a ways to go.

Overall, a good story worthy of a place in your lazy days of summer reading list.

You can check out some purchase options at Random House.

Book Winner - Hero

Congratulations to Todd for commenting and winning the copy of “Hero” that was reviewed last week. All entries were assigned a number and then I used random.org to pick the number of the winner. I will be getting the book out to you real soon.

Battling

Last week I was away for church business for a few days and when I returned this blog remained untouched as I caught up on work. So, this week’s health update comes two weeks after the previous one. That’s my build up for my explanation. From two weeks ago, I’m up 0.4 pounds. However, from last week when I didn’t blog, I’m actually down 6 pounds. Yeah, I gained some weight on my trip. It’s mostly back off now. The current weight resides at 214.2 pounds.

This weekend entails me taking my wife out for her birthday, a family gathering celebrating multiple birthdays in May, and of course Memorial Day. If I would have stayed on track I could be closing in on 200 instead of losing the same five pounds again and again.

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Win a Copy of Hero

I completely forgot to mention in my last post that I have a copy of the book to giveaway. Just leave a comment to this post or the actual review and you will be entered to win. I will draw the winner next Wednesday.

Book Review - Hero

My next book in my ongoing book review series is “Hero” by Fred and Jasen Stoeker with Mike Yorkey. What follows is the publisher’s information and then my review.

Description
You already know it’s not easy being a single man in this culture today. But it is easy to be overwhelmed, to feel helpless and hopeless about living by God’s high standards for singles. It’s easy to cave in to the pressures of this sex-soaked world and accept defeat—blaming the media, the culture, even girlfriends who don’t know how tough it can be.

But many men have read books like Every Young Man’s Battle and Tactics and have committed themselves to stand strong and pure in the power of God, and to go on the offensive against the onslaught of negative stereotypes. Some have suffered. Some have fallen. But many have experienced victory—and you can be among them.

What makes those committed men so desirable to women? Be Her Hero is their motto. From best-selling author Fred Stoeker, along with his son Jasen, come the straightforward insight and real-life examples you’re looking for to help you take personal purity to its logical conclusion. Here’s straight truth with irrefutable evidence of what makes an ultimate hero to women who long for men of faith—men who stand by their convictions and make their world a safer and better place.

Are you ready to accept the challenge?

Authors Bios
Fred Stoeker is a best-selling author of several books, including Every Young Man’s Battle and Tactics, the president of Living True Ministries, and a popular conference speaker who challenges men to become sexually pure, to reconnect in true intimate relationship with their wives, and to train their sons to become godly men. A graduate of Stanford University, Fred lives in Des Moines, Iowa with his wife, Brenda, and their children.

Mike Yorkey, a writer living in Encinitas, California, has collaborated with Fred Stoeker in all his books for the Every Man’s series.

Jasen Stoeker is a popular conference speaker who challenges young men to be heroic in their relationships with women and to be a Christian, rather than just seem like one. Jasen is a graduate of Iowa State University with degrees in Computer Engineering and Computer Science and now lives in Minneapolis, MN, with his wife Rose.

My thoughts
I’ve read various books by Fred Stoeker and have always been challenged by them. I’m sure they don’t sit well with some people because they’re very open and honest about the struggles that men have with lust and pornography. I’ve read comments in the past mocking the books (even from so called Christians) for the books’ strong stance on Ephesians 5:3, “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.” I’ll be honest, there have been times where I’ve felt that it is almost impossible to live up to the standards God has commanded and that these books champion. It can be done though and the results are worth it.

While his previous books have dealt more with lust, this book tackles the issue from the perspective of being the man that women really want. A man of uncompromising standards and integrity, A man that will fight tooth and nail to preserve his purity and the purity of the women around him. Fred brings in his son’s perspective, a man that has chosen this path and had victory. The testimony is pretty amazing.

The book challenges us to lives worthy of Christ. This means taking strong stands on holiness. It means making hard choices even when those around us are willing to compromise. While the target audience is young men (single of course), it convicted me again and again as a man that has been married for several years now. It opened my eyes once again to myself and even more, it has caused me to turn my eyes to my 18 month old son. His battle is still several years away, but I need to be ready to walk with him through it.

Let me wrap up this review with one thought that hit me hard from the chapter “The Promise of Pain.” Fred writes, “Sex is not a guy’s ticket to manhood. Suffering is.” As men, we grow the most when we are put in a place of pain. We draw nearer to Christ and find true male maturity when we suffer yet remain strong. Maybe it’s just me, but that was an eye opener. The more I reflect on it the more I’m beginning to believe it. Scripture consistently tells us to be willing to suffer for the Lord. The heroes of the faith always suffered. In this fight for holiness, it will mean suffering.

This is a powerful book. I completely and totally recommend it.

Check out the book at the Random House website or buy it from my favorite bookseller Amazon.

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Praying For Power

My pastor preached a message last night on praying for the power. The book of Acts is a book that is drenched with God’s power. We see a small group of people that completely changed the world. Not because of their own wisdom or creativity, but because God was at work in them.

So often it feels like we pray for God to bless our ideas and plans instead of taking the time to seek Him and allow Him to fill us with his power. What would happen if God’s people would humbly begin to pray and seek Him? What if the power we see displayed in Acts was once again displayed for the market places of our world to see? What if healings began to take place at Starbucks? What if demons that had controlled and tormented some people for years were cast out? What if our walk with Christ reflected what we see in Scripture?

It’s beginning to stir my heart. It’s time to stop talking about the power of God. It’s time to draw close enough for the power of God to begin working in and through us.

Book Reviews

This week’s books are reviewed by my wife Kelly.

Publisher’s Description for “Mama’s Got a Fake I.D
Formula for identity loss:
1. Take one multifaceted, intriguing human being.
2. Bless her with a child.
3. Mix with today’s cultural assumptions.
4. Add the demands of motherhood.
5. Presto! All identity except Mom disappears.

For every woman wondering what happened to the unique combination of gifts and abilities she was known for before kids came along, Caryn Dahlstrand Rivedeneira has good news: in Mama’s Got a Fake I.D., Rivedeneira helps moms reclaim their full identity as creative beings, gifted professionals and volunteers, loving friends, children of God—and mothers.

This inspiring and practical guide shows women how to break free from false guilt, learn a new language to express who they really are, and follow God’s lead in sharing their true self with others. After all, motherhood doesn’t have to mean losing one’s identity. Instead, being a mom makes it possible for a woman to discover a more complete identity as the person God made her to be.

Author Bio:
The former managing editor of Marriage Partnership and Christian Parenting Today, Caryn Dahlstrand Rivedeneira has been a trusted voice writing and speaking to women for more than a decade. Today she is the managing editor of GiftedForLeadership.com, an online community for Christian women in leadership. Rivadeneira works from home in the Chicago suburbs, where she lives with her husband and their three children.

Publisher’s Description for Dear Mom
Every mom knows how communicating with a teenage girl can be difficult, even impossible at times. One-word answers. Defensive conversations. Daily arguments. How typical for teens to put up such barriers. All the while, moms truly long to know what their daughters really think.
Best-selling author Melody Carlson, whose books for women, teens, and children have sold more than three million copies, bridges this chasm with trusted insight. She speaks frankly in the voice of the teen daughters she’s written for and she tells it like it is: struggles with identity, guys, friendship, and even parents—it’s all here. The straight-talk to moms covers such things as “I need you, but you can’t make me admit it,” “I’m not as confident as I appear,” and “I have friends. I need a mother.”
Instead of focusing on outward behaviors, Dear Mom looks at a young woman’s heart and reveals to moms:
· how to talk to teens so they hear,
· how to connect despite the differences of perspective or years and experiences,
· and how strengthen the bond every mom and daughter ultimately wants.
The lively chapters in Dear Mom can be dipped into topically or used as a read-through tool by moms and daughters alike to understand what motivates or deflates, troubles or inspires—and just in time for Mother’s Day and all the Mother’s Days ahead.

Author Bio:
Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of more than one hundred books for adults, children, and teens, with sales totaling more than three million copies. Beloved for her Diary of a Teenage Girl and Notes from a Spinning Planet series, she’s also the author of the women’s novels Finding Alice (in production now for a Lifetime-TV movie), Crystal Lies, On This Day, These Boots Weren’t Made for Walking, and A Mile in My Flip-Flops. A mother of two grown sons, Melody lives in central Oregon with her husband and chocolate lab retriever. She’s a full-time writer and an avid gardener, biker, skier, and hiker.

Publisher’s Description for Enduring Justice
In Enduring Justice, Hanna Kessler’s childhood secret has remained buried for over two decades. But when the dark shadows of her past threaten to destroy those she loves, Hanna must face the summer that changed her life and the man who still haunts her thoughts.

Crimes Against Children FBI Agent, Michael Parker knows what it means to get knocked down. And when the system fails and a white supremacist is set free, Michael’s drive for retribution eclipses all else.

A racist’s well-planned assault forces Hanna and Michael to decide between executing vengeance and pursuing justice. When the attack turns personal, is healing still possible?

This thought-provoking novel deals with healing from sexual abuse, the balance of justice and mercy, and maintaining mixed-race friendships in the midst of racial tension. Readers who enjoy investigative thrillers by Dee Henderson, Colleen Coble, and Catherine Coulter, and who watch crime dramas like Law & Order: SVU, Criminal Minds, and Without a Trace will love this book—and the entire series.

Author Bio:
Amy Wallace is the author of Ransomed Dreams and Healing Promises, a homeschool mom, and self-confessed chocoholic. She is a graduate of the Gwinnett County Citizens Police Academy and a contributing author of several books including God Answers Moms’ Prayers and Chicken Soup for the Soul Healthy Living Series: Diabetes. She lives with her husband and three children in Georgia.

Kelly’s Reviews
“Mama’s Got a Fake I.D.
I picked up this book and thought it looked exciting. I thought it would be about how I can find my true identity. And in a way it was but it was also about being okay with not wanting to be ‘just a mom’. I am a mom who loves being just that, a mom. I truly enjoy being a mom. I love spending each and every day with my children. The book talked a lot about mothers who love being a mom as part of who they are. It almost made me feel guilty for liking being a mom. I know being a mom is not all that I am. I am so much more of a complex person, but I know that being a mom is what I am called to do and I love it. I think this book is tailored to moms who may be struggling with finding a balance between being a mom and everything else they do. It had great things to say and do to help all moms discover who they are in Christ.

“Dear Mom”
This was a good book. I did not get all of it read, but from what I was able to finish I would recommend it to moms that have teenage or soon to be teenage daughters. It will give you great insight into ways to talk with your daughter. It shows ways to open the lines of communication and how to be there for your daughter without making her resent you.

Enduring Justice
I had all these books to read about being a mother and to be honest, I’ve spent the past few couple of weeks being just that. What I’m basically saying is that I didn’t have time to read this book. Looks really good and I plan on reading it in the near future.

You can find the books on the Random House website at the following links.
Mama’s Got a Fake I.D.
Dear Mom
Enduring Justice

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Fought For This

I really fought for this weight loss. Dumb to say, but psychologically it was extremely difficult. I just want to eat something that was different and tasted good. I did my best and thankfully was able to get some weight loss. I am currently at 213.8 pounds. That is a loss of 2.2 pounds from last week. It’s also my new low.

Next week I’m taking a trip for my church and will be eating out multiple times. I’m going to try to get into the workout room at my hotel and be cautious on my food intake, but I’m still not looking forward to next Friday’s weigh day.

Read a Book

I write this blog because I enjoy doing it. However, I never want it to control me. So, instead of spending time tonight thinking of and then writing a post, I’m going to write these few words and then read a little bit of a book before going to bed. Good night.

Frustration

The graphic screams my frustration. Up 2 pounds to 216. I can’t seem to break this barrier. Not saying I did a great job all week but overall I did pretty well. I need to sit down and really reevaluate what I’m doing.

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Book Review - A Flickering Light & Aurora

This week’s books are reviewed by wife Kelly.

Publisher’s Description for “A Flickering Light”
Returning to her Midwest roots, award-winning author Jane Kirkpatrick draws a page from her grandmother’s photo album to capture the interplay between shadow and light, temptation and faith that marks a woman’s pursuit of her dreams.

She took exquisite photographs,
but her heart was the true image exposed.

Fifteen-year-old Jessie Ann Gaebele loves nothing more than capturing a gorgeous Minnesota landscape when the sunlight casts its most mesmerizing shadows. So when F.J. Bauer hires her in 1907 to assist in his studio and darkroom, her dreams for a career in photography appear to find root in reality.

With the infamous hazards of the explosive powder used for lighting and the toxic darkroom chemicals, photography is considered a man’s profession. Yet Jessie shows remarkable talent in both the artistry and business of running a studio. She proves less skillful, however, at managing her growing attraction to the very married Mr. Bauer.

This luminous coming-of-age tale deftly exposes the intricate shadows that play across every dream worth pursuing—and the irresistible light that beckons the dreamer on.

Publisher’s Description for “Aurora”
Wrap yourself in a fantastic journey, a remarkable commitment, and a spare and splendid story. Master storyteller Jane Kirkpatrick extols the beautiful treasures, unknown to a wider public, rediscovered in the Old Aurora Colony of Oregon’s lush Willamette Valley. The people and legacy of Aurora, a utopian community founded in the mid-1800s, will stir your imagination, hopes, and dreams; and remind you that every life matters—that our lives are the stories other people read first.

~Featuring~
Unique and treasured quilt pattern variations
More than 100 photographs, many never-before published, from 1850 to today
Cherished stories from Aurora descendants
Rich images of fine crafts from the Aurora Colony and private collections
An introduction by renowned American artist John Houser

Aurora is about the difference every ordinary life can make—and a beautiful celebration of a time and place in which people expressed their most cherished beliefs through the work of their imagination and hands.

Author Bio
Jane Kirkpatrick is a best-selling, award-winning author whose previous historical novels include All Together in One Place and Christy Award finalist A Tendering in the Storm. An international keynote speaker, she has earned regional and national recognition for her stories based on the lives of actual people, including the prestigious Wrangler Award from the Western Heritage Hall of Fame. Jane is a Wisconsin native who since 1974 has lived in Eastern Oregon, where she and her husband, Jerry, ranch 160 rugged acres.


Kelly’s Reviews
A Flickering Light:
I really enjoyed this story. It was fun to read and the real photographs used to help tell the story are fascinating. The author does a great job drawing you into the story using both personal narrative and third person narrative. This allows to really get inside the main character’s head and know her thoughts and feelings better. I did not want to put it down. It turned out differently then I expected and was still very enjoyable. I am looking forward to the next book based on early female photographers.

Aurora:
I did not get a chance to read all of it yet, but have enjoyed what I have read so far. This book was full of wonderful pictures. I really liked looking through each page at the pictures of beautiful quilts and other amazing things from the past.

You can find out more about “A Flickering Light” and “Aurora” at Random House.

The Monkey Trap

Tonight I am finishing up my three part “How to Lose Your Faith” series. I’m dealing with the monkey trap, or perhaps better understood as hanging onto the world when all it means is death. I’m starting with the classic story (or legend) that you can trap a monkey by placing an object that it desires in a jar with an opening only big enough for its hand to slide in. Once the monkey grasps the object, it can’t fit its fist back out the jar’s opening. I’ve searched and it doesn’t appear to be a true story which I will make clear tonight, but it really does illustrate the way people view this world. They talk about wanting heaven, but they’re holding so tight to their possessions and relationships that when Christ does return they’ll be left behind.

I have a mental picture of a person holding onto the ground with Christ pulling their feet in mid air trying to get them to let go. Won’t happen that way, but this is the picture I have of people that loudly say they love Christ but really love their things instead. You can hold onto one thing in this life and what you hold onto will determine your future. We must hold onto Christ. He is the only way to the Father.

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Software Review - EasyCrop

I am a software junkie. I love testing and trying out new software. Yet, I find myself regularly falling back on certain applications that do one thing and do it well. Thanks to Tim Verpoorten for that phrase. EasyCrop is an application whose main purpose is to crop and resize a photo. I just realized today that an update that was released a while ago added the ability to perform screen captures too. The main functionality though still revolves around the cropping.

The process is simple. Drag a photo onto the left panel. Choose a predetermined crop size or just use free cropping. Once you have selected your crop, the right panel show you what your crop looks like. The program allows you to view it fit to the window or its actual size. I prefer actual size because it allows me to see at a glance how big the photo actually is. With a simple slider, I can then begin resizing the photo to a smaller size. This is great for adding an image to a webpage. Instead of uploading a large image, I can upload a small image that loads much faster. Then, when you have the crop and size where you want them, you just drag the image in the right panel to where you want it. You don’t have to save it somewhere and then come back to it in another program. I drag images from Easy Crop straight to my blog editor. Quick, easy, done.

The image below is what the program looks like. I used EasyCrop to resize the picture of EasyCrop. There’s a paradox in there somewhere but that’s for another day. I have some pretty powerful image editors that can handle cropping, but nothing works as quite as simple as this little piece of software. If you’re on a mac, you can check it out at www.yellowmug.com.

When Success Disappoints

I’m writing this Friday health update and to be honest, I’m a little depressed in writing it. As the graphic shows, I lost one pound. That’s success I know, but it’s a lot less than I wanted. I know the factors that played into it only being one pound.

1. We had a Valentine dinner at church. I worked it, but I also ate it.
2. Valentine’s Day itself was calorically bad.
3. The leftovers from Valentine’s Day were also calorically bad.

I have been overweight a long time, but last week I dropped four pounds. I’ve read enough to know that four pounds is an amazing amount to lose in one week, especially since I haven’t really started exercising yet (it’s beginning soon). Yet, I’m human and had mentally psyched myself up with thoughts of dropping below 220 in two weeks. Unrealistic I know, but that’s what I was thinking.

Another one of the struggles is summed up in two words, Auntie Anne’s. As yesterday’s post so eloquently states, I had to find a new pair of running shoes. The heel is falling off the pair I’m wearing now. Added craziness, I’m still wearing the old ones until the mud and melting snow dries up so I don’t get the new ones covered in mud. As I searched for a pair, I found myself at the mall still trying to find a basic shoe at a good price. The journey led me past Auntie Anne’s pretzels. I am a bread and pretzel lover and nothing screams to me like a hot pretzel dripping with melted butter. I whipped out my phone and checked online for calorie information. One pretzel was 370 calories. You could drop some calories by omitting the butter but that defeats the purpose of the pretzel. It was a battle supreme as I debated whether or not to get one. The fact is that I had enough calories in my budget to eat one. Yet, I didn’t get one. I don’t know what depressed me more, the fact that I’m overweight and I have to count calories or that I had enough calories left to get one but I didn’t.

On the exercise note, we just got Wii Fit and the balance board. Google Wii Fit if you have no clue what I’m talking about. Around here it’s been impossible to find. We’ve called Best Buy several times on Sunday afternoons after seeing their advertisement in the paper only to have the person on the phone basically laugh at us. Every time they were sold out within moments of the store opening. Even online it’s been difficult. The only places I could find them were selling them for over forty dollars more than the retail price. Sorry, I can wait. Anyway, Wednesday morning I got an email from Amazon.com stating that they had received a shipment of Wii game systems. I figured there was a good chance that they might have gotten the Wii Fit in stock too. I was right. I ordered and chose free shipping which means it was going to be a week or so until we got it. It came last night. Major shout out for Amazon and UPS for having it get to us in one day. Played with it last night. It can’t replace a gym, but it was fun and got me moving. It’s a good start.

Well, that’s enough for now. I try to limit myself to writing about my health and weight to once a week since this isn’t a diet blog. Yet, it is part of my journey.


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Life Update

Major life update today. I bought a new pair of shoes. Yeah, that’s the excitement of my week.

Book Review - For Couples Only

“For Couple’s Only” is a box set containing “For Women Only” and “For Men Only.” Both books are based on research studies that were conducted on how men and woman think and feel. Don’t think that the books are just dull statistical numbers though. They are an insightful look at how the opposite sex views things and how we can better relate to each other. As always, I’ll post the publishers description and authors’ bios and then weigh in with my thoughts.

Description:
Since their debut, these revolutionary guides have sold well over a million copies, been translated into fifteen languages, and sparked much fascinating water-cooler conversation around the country. Now together in the For Couples Only boxed set, these books provide the perfect resource to help you understand what you never knew about the woman or man in your life.

Each volume is based on input from more than a thousand members of the opposite sex—including an unprecedented nationwide survey and hundreds of personal interviews. This innovative approach yields candid and surprising answers about everything you don’t “get” about your significant other—even what that person deeply wishes you knew. It also produces simple but groundbreaking awareness of how you can best love and support the one who is most important to you. [Part of me wanted to make this paragraph past tense—yielded and produced—because of the first paragraph, but that took away some of the immediacy of what the books offer. I’ll leave that up to you.]

So whether you are newly dating or have been married fifty years, get ready to know each other in a whole new way. The adventure is just beginning!

Author Bio:
Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn hold graduate degrees from Harvard University and are popular national speakers, authors, and entrepreneurs. They are also active church members and the parents of two young children, and they enjoy every minute of living life at warp speed.

My Thoughts on “For Men Only”
Being the week it was, I only was able to make it part way through “For Men Only.” My wife was able to finish “For Woman Only.” From what I read, the topics twere right on with things I know about my wife. It was a good reminder to keep doing some of things I’ve been doing and more importantly, gave me reasons why I need to do those things. I think that is the key aspect, learning the why. I’ve got a lot more to read through but so far the book is a good read.

Kelly’s Thoughts on “For Women Only”
I really enjoyed reading For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn. I like to think that I know my husband pretty well and that we have a good marriage. I know that there is always room for improvement and I can honestly say I learned a few things from reading this book. It does a good job of digging into the inner lives of men and helping women understand how they are wired. It doesn’t just gloss over the topics it discusses them in depth and Feldhahn uses great illustrations and comparisons that really help women understand how men think and feel. In my reading I can say that I had several lightbulb moments where something seemed to click on in my mind of how being a man is for my husband. I would strongly recommend this book to all women. It will give you great insight into the man you love.

Buy the set at Amazon.


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Goodbye 230

Just a quick entry on my weight progress. Today’s weight is 227.4. That’s over 4 pounds of loss this week. Can’t even describe how good it feels to blow goal number one away. Even better, my low last summer was 228, but that came after a week of fighting the flu. I’m below that without the aid of sickness. I haven’t consistently weighed in the 220’s since college.


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Book Review - The Love As A Way Of Life Devotional

This is one of the books that I didn’t get a chance to read. Being a devotional, it’s always more enjoyable to read it on a daily basis over a course of time anyway. The book that the devotional is based was written by Gary Chapman. I have read his book “The Five Love Languages” in the past and really enjoyed it. So while haven’t read this book, I’ve appreciated the author’s other works. I’ll post the information below from the publisher.

Description:
In his book Love As a Way of Life, best-selling author Gary Chapman shows readers how to cultivate a new lifestyle built around the seven characteristics of authentic love. Now in a companion devotional, he provides ninety inspirational readings to help Christians consistently live out the characteristics of love in every relationship.

Each devotional entry showcases biblical truths that guide a life of love, offering fresh insight and practical guidance in how to make love a lasting habit. Over the course of three months, readers will learn to follow God’s lead as they practice the characteristics of a loving person: kindness, patience, forgiveness, courtesy, humility, generosity, and honesty.

The Love As a Way of Life Devotional makes an ideal gift for the holidays or for any special occasion. Couples, parents, new graduates, and anyone celebrating a milestone in life will welcome this inspiring daily guide to richer, more satisfying relationships.

Author Bio:
Dr. Gary Chapman is the author of twenty-six books, including the New York Times bestseller The Five Love Languages, with more than 4 million copies in print. His daily radio program, A Love Language Minute, is broadcast on more than 100 stations nationwide. Dr. Chapman, a graduate of Moody Bible Institute, Wheaton College, Wake-Forest University, and Southwestern Seminary, serves on a church staff in North Carolina.

Pick up a copy at Amazon.

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A Note About My Reviews

I made it clear in a previous post on my blog that I was accepted along with many other bloggers to review books provided by a publisher. The books are given to me free of charge as long as I read and review them. If I desire, I can also receive an extra copy to give away on the blog. However, if time prohibits reading the book, the company asks that I at least post the information about the book. I’ve been blessed by this arrangement as it has given me the opportunity to read newer books coming into the Christian market that normally I just don’t have the money to buy. Even better, I’ve been able to read books that I wouldn’t normally pick up at the bookstore. The book “I Do Again” that I reviewed last time is a prime example. A book about a divorce and remarriage wouldn’t be high on my to read list, but I was surprised to find it worth my time. It impacted me. I like it when something like that happens.

Why the disclosure? Let me explain. Heading into Valentine’s Day, the opportunity was for four books. By the time I got them, I had about a week and a half to cover them all. I got the one finished and reviewed, but a Valentine dinner at church I’ve been working on has kept me busier than I thought. Therefore, I’ll be posting the information about the devotional that was offered in my next post without a full review. The other two books are a set. My wife has read most of the one and will assist me by writing some thoughts on it. I’ve read a little of the second book and will include my first impressions in the same entry.

I just wanted to make it very clear the reasons behind why and how I do book reviews, and the reasons why there might occasionally be a book posted without a review.

Reading this on Facebook? The original post resides at www.focusedjourney.com.

Book Review - I Do Again

This week I have the chance to review a few books dealing with relationships. Today I’m looking at “I Do Again” by Cheryl & Jeff Scruggs. As always, I’ll post the publisher’s description and the author bio before sharing my opinion.

Description:
With their professional success and adorable twin daughters, Jeff and Cheryl Scruggs looked like the perfect couple. But their polished facade concealed a widening chasm between two people unable to connect on an intimate, soul-deep level.

After years of frustration, Cheryl’s desire for emotional fulfillment led to an affair and, finally, divorce. Yet, incredibly, seven years later, Jeff and Cheryl once again stood at the altar, promising to “love, honor, and cherish” one another. A new and vibrant love had risen out of the ashes of this family’s pain.

I Do Again details the fascinating real-life story of a couple whose relationship seemed shattered beyond all hope until a spiritual awakening led them to reconsider their definitions of “happily ever after.” A riveting account of the power of prayer and redemption, this remarkable book offers renewed hope for even the most troubled marriages—and reveals why the rewards of restoration are well worth the wait.

Author Bio:
Cheryl and Jeff Scruggs are the founders of Hope Matters Marriage Ministries, and for the past several years they have shared their incredible story of a marriage restored with audiences across the nation. Jeff is an account manager with OshKosh B’Gosh, and Cheryl has served as director of the Frisco, Texas, office of the Center for Christian Counseling. They live in Dallas, Texas with their two college-age daughters.

My Thoughts
Just so it is clear up front, this book is not some dry marriage counseling textbook. It’s an autobiography of a couple that experienced the pain of divorce and then witnessed the power of God as He slowly brought them back together.

The authors make it clear from the beginning that they are not perfect people and that there are things that they did even while God was working in them that was not appropriate. Personally, it didn’t bother me. I saw it as a true picture of a relationship with God. Even as we draw close to Christ we blow it sometimes. Not always out of open rebellion, but often out of immaturity. God patiently keeps working to correct us. I give the Scruggs credit for being so open with their humanity and the way God never gave up on either of them.

With that said, I thought it was a great book. I enjoyed reading it and found myself rooting for the both of them to make it. In a world where marriages fall apart left and right as theirs did, I was cheering for their marriage to be restored. My wife will tell you it affected me because when I was finished I walked over to her and gave her a very long hug. She was enjoying the hug for a moment, then she started laughing and pushed me away. With a smile in her eyes she looked right at me and said, “You’ve been reading that marriage book again haven’t you?” She got me on that point, but I don’t mind if a book causes me to want to love my life in a better way.

Another point that the book stresses is that to be able to love another person fully, you must first be fully committed and in a loving relationship with Christ. Loving God with everything allows us to love others the way they need to be loved. This thought has been rolling around in my mind since I read it.

I’ll just close by saying the book is worth picking up and reading. It was worth my time and I think it would be a benefit to other couple’s.

You can pick up a copy at Amazon.