A DOUBTERS GUIDE TO THE TEN COMMANDMENTS by John Dickson

The book is A DOUBTERS GUIDE TO THE TEN COMMANDMENTS and I think that is the shortest title that the author could have come up with. The subtitle, “How, for better or worse, our ideas about the good life come from Moses and Jesus,” explains this book by John Dickson a bit more. My impression: this book is a reason why we need the Old Covenant.

A DOUBTERS GUIDE TO THE TEN COMMANDMENTS is a perspective of the importance of the ten commandments in 2016 and how the message of grace that is so prevalent today does not negate the message of submission to God’s word.

“One God and the Good; Idols of the Heart; Taking Religion Seriously; Work, Play, and Worship; Family Matters; Cherish Your Neighbor; Honoring Your Spouse; Giving What is Due; Saying What is True; and Failing and Finding the Good are the commandments that are examined in this 183 page book. Each chapter is thought provoking which makes it easy to read if you like to be challenged.

For those who prefer to point out the mistakes of others and not examine themselves this book may not be as enjoyable. By writing the commandments of God in a format that anyone can understand some may become uncomfortable.
“There comes a point when honoring parents no longer means obedience, but support.” - page 110

Some parents believe that a child is to obey them no matter what. The idea that the relationship transitions, particularly after marriage, is not an easy one to accept. I know many women who raised children in a single parent household who have yet to let go and have caused friction in a marriage. Conversely, a child may think it is perfectly OK to leave his/her parents in the care of someone else without making sure their needs are being taken care of properly.

I recommend A DOUBTERS GUIDE TO THE TEN COMMANDMENTS by John Dickson.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. 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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

AMERICAN WOMAN'S BIBLE - NKJV published by Thomas Nelson

OMM! If ever there was a reason for a Bible junkie to buy another Bible the AMERICAN WOMAN’S BIBLE - NKJV is as good a reason as others. I received deliver of the NKJV AMERICAN WOMAN’S BIBLE - Women, Godly Virtues, and the Making of America earlier than expected but when I opened the box and saw it I canceled all of my plans just so I could at least flip through some of the pages.

The Bible is HIS-story, the AMERICAN WOMAN’S BIBLE is history as it relates to women the combination of the two makes a great study.

• Throughout the Bible there are inserts which discuss America’s history. The chapter/topics are: 
• Women of Early America- Colonial Times Until the Revolutionary War
• Women of the American Revolution - The Nation is Born
• Women of the Civil War - The Abolition of Slavery
• Women of World War I - The Great War
• Women of World Wart II - The Nation Unites
• American Women of the Baby Boomer Era - Emergence of a New America
• Women of the Civil Rights Movement - Laying New Foundation Stones
• Women of America After September 11, 2001 - The Nation Stands Still

There are 70 biographies of women and over 150 quotes from people in American History.

This is a New King James Bible. The beginning of each book contains the author, date, setting, theme and insights. As with many Bibles cross references and translation notes are  present- bottom right of each page. The Font is a good is easy to read. In addition the value based commentary on specific verses are based on the following topics: Bravery, Challenge, Commitment, Compassion Concern, Courage, Creativity, Dedication, Devotion, Dignity, Diligence, Duty, Faith, Faithfulness, Forgiveness, Generosity Honor, Hope, Hopefulness, Hospitality, Humility, Influence, Inspiration, Integrity, Joyfulness, Justice, Kindheartedness, Kindness Knowledge, Leadership, Love, Loyalty, Mercy, Obedience, Perseverance, Persistence, Poise, Prayerfulness, Resourcefulness, Righteousness Sacrifice, Service, Steadfastness, Strength, Submission, Sympathy, Teaching, Testing, Thankfulness, Trials, Trust, Truth Unknown, Victory, Wisdom and  Worship.

If Thomas Nelson continues to produce Bibles that are true to God’s word and include such information as what is found in the AMERICAN WOMAN’S BIBLE all I can say is clean off the bookshelf! I recommend you purchase this Bible not only because it is a NKJV (my favorite translation) but is shares such a great history of American women.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. 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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

                                     

NKJV STUDY BIBLE- PERSONAL SIZE

There was a time in which everyone carried a Bible to church and then many churches started showing the Bible verses on a big screen. Today many people have a Bible as an application on their cell phone or they bring a tablet or ipad to church. I have a Bible on my cell phone, lap top and even on the tablet I owned before it died. BUT my favorite Bibles I have in print form including the NKJV STUDY BIBLE published by Thomas Nelson. Last year I started carrying this very thick Bible to church with me.

It is important that we get into the habit of reading and studying the Bible the old fashioned way.  In the event that there is no internet or electricity you can still read the Word. In addition it is good when to personalize the Word with your own notes, underlines and highlights that you can review later.

Since I already have a NKJV STUDY BIBLE to those who do not appreciate owning a print Bible it does not make sense to want to review the NKJV STUDY BIBLE - PERSONAL SIZE.  To a Bible junkie (there are a lot of us out there) you can never own to many Bibles and every Bible has a purpose. For me I would prefer to be able to throw my NKJV Bible in my purse taking it with me where ever I go: church, doctors’ office, vacation, or visiting someone who may need to hear the word.

The NKJV STUDY BIBLE -PERSONAL SIZE is like its’ standard size Bible a ‘complete resource for studying God’s word” only smaller. It has the same number of pages thus every chapter and every verse page are the same. Maps, images and other inserts are in color just as the standard sized Bible. The two differences are the size though it is almost the same thickness and the font size. The font is readable with my glasses on. In terms of fitting in my purse- it does- I carry a medium size purse.

I own pocket sized Bibles this one is considerably bigger (5 1/4x8x 2); it is ‘personal’ Sized not pocket sized.  Of course I recommend this Bible.



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. 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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

MEMORIAL DAY

FEISTY & FEMININE by Penny Young Nance

I chose to review FEISTY & FEMININE by Penny Young Nance because of the title. I think it is time women begin to embrace who they are as females of strength and character and not good looks and non-aggressive demeanors. Far to many women, of all political persuasions, focus on appearance in addition to skill. That said no one can deny that the author is a beautiful woman, let’s get past that.

FEISTY & FEMININE A Rallying Cry for Conservative Women is a book about what it should mean to be female but because of liberalism womanhood has been maligned. In sharing her philosophy on what it means to be a “Conservative Woman” the author actually describes the normal life for a female once was before labels and political correctness became the standard.
There are ten chapters in this book: “The Devaluation of Women,” “Sexual Assault of Women,” “Marriage and True Tolerance,”  “Abortion and Sanctity of Life,” “The Real War Against Women,” “The Rise of Islamic Extremism and the Need to Fight Back,” “Beyond Our Borders: Why Israel Matters to Christians,” “Seasons: Work,, Family, Life, and the Art of Balance,” and “A Vision for the Future;” these are nine of the ten. Each chapter is important not just to womanhood but to humanity.

Since the beginning of time women have been strong and independent, in the process of time  definitions were manipulated and many women believed they could not succeed because they were female. In accepting the glass ceiling theory and then blaming the problem on Republican men the liberal agenda was promoted and Conservative women who chose not to accept the stereotypes were ridiculed. FEISTY & FEMININE by Penny Young Nance is a reminder to us all that strong and independent characteristics do not stop a person from being feminine.   This book is an informative read and I recommend it.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. 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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

THE SEVEN LAWS OF LOVE by Dave Wills

THE SEVEN LAWS OF LOVE- Essential Principles For Building Stronger Relationships by Dave Willis is a how to manual on lasting relationships based on seven “laws”. The concepts this writer presents as “laws” are: commitment, sacrifice, speaks truth, conquers fear, offers grace, brings healing, and lives forever. Yes these are valuable concepts but even in a lasting loving relationship there is more; I would argue principles that may be considered more necessary. To me essential principles, as it relates to personal relationships,  should include: like minded faith rooted in a love for God as the foundation; a unified vision for the future if you are going to marry; respect and appreciation for a person’s difference and the ability to freely grow and change.
Unfortunately, I did not like this book. I personally believe love is a gift from God and the more we love God the more we love others (1 John 4:20-21) Thus the greater a persons’ love for God is the greater his or her ability to display love to others. The author uses examples found in the Bible of God’s mercy and grace which indeed demonstrates His love and it is true that we should show the same amount of mercy as well as grace to others but before you can get to showing mercy to others their has to be love within you. (You cannot give what you do not have.)
God’s love should flow to you and through you and overflow on to others. Perhaps the problem with the book is the title. A better title would have been precepts of relationship building. I still would not have liked the book much but it would have changed my expectations.
As always a book review is just the opinion of the reviewer. I am sure there will be many people who will like this book. I don’t think it would be a waste of time to read it I would not buy a copy.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. 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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

I recommend this book. I recommend that every church leader in the world read BLACK AND WHITE BIBLE, BLACK AND BLUE WIFE. I recommend every therapist, every law enforcement officer and every person who knows someone who is not being treated as God intended him or her to be treated read BLACK AND WHITE BIBLE, BLACK AND BLUE WIFE. And I especially recommend this book to those who are in unhealthy relationships.

I read BLACK AND WHITE BIBLE, BLACK AND BLUE WIFE with the eyes of a person who left an abusive marriage when the church did not address such issues. As I read this book I recalled a young lady I prayed for at my church who was in an abusive marriage; she left him for about two weeks and then went back, then she stopped coming to church.

I believe the church, though not completely silent, does not say enough about abuse.

Many people think of physical assaults when they hear the term “domestic violence” however most victims will tell you words can be just as detrimental. BLACK AND WHITE BIBLE, BLACK AND BLUE WIFE addresses the issue of abuse from the perspective of a Christian who overcame it.

Women need to know they do not have to stay in an abusive relationship, no matter what religious people say. It is important to know that God wants His children to live in peace and protection.  The author, Ruth A Tucker, shares her journey in reconciling faith and reality as it pertains to her marriage.

I like this book because her story is my story. My prayer is that every church purchase lots of copies of this book and that every church leader share the wisdom found within it’s pages. Xxx MARSHA L F RANDOLPH

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. 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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”