Beautiful Heart for Accepting and Loving an Un-Churched Generation
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This book has powerful stories that will challenge your thinking about how you approach situations in life that interrupt your organized, controlled, clean space of existence at home or at church. It will help you see how you can open your heart and arms wider to embrace people you never thought you could or would. It's about giving second chances, and third chances. Jesus died so that everyone could know him, even those not raised in the church who don't look like and act like the church. If there have been people you thought were not worthy to step into your church or your home in the past, this book might help you rethink that decision.
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Rhonda Sheppard has a heart for girls and for communicating to them God's beautiful design for their capacity to create new human life. She writes to them in an age-appropriate fashion, bringing complex scientific terms to bear while at the same time assuring them that the bewildering myriad of changes they may experience in puberty are both wonderful and natural. These changes are all a part of God's plan!
There is, of course, in our present Western culture much confusion over such matters as gender roles and differences. Young girls and boys are immersed in a sea of messages that repeatedly disdain God's call to sexual purity and holiness. Media outlets and entertainment have become willing mouthpieces for advocating alternatives lifestyles and aberrant expressions of sexuality, all the while ignoring the scientific basics of human reproductive design and the tremendous brokenness and pain where such alternatives necessarily lead. Sexuality has become politicized to such an extent that even expressing basic information about a biblical perspective on sexuality can become an occasion for accusations of "hate speech" and "bigotry."
In the face of this torrent of harsh language, Mrs. Sheppard gently calls young girls aside to quietly consider their unique and special role in God's plan for the world. Her small book represents a simple yet profound, straightforward yet loving attempt to explain the biology of human reproduction while also calling girls to understand the necessity of expressing their sexuality within the covenant of marriage. Indeed, sex, with its associated release of such neurochemicals as dopamine and oxytocin, has the capacity to mold a husband and wife together in intense and inexpressible ways. Mrs. Sheppard clearly desires that all women, young and old, would experience the fullness and the best of this mystery of human sexuality that God has given as a gift to us all.
Rev. Brian Stewart
Pastor for Evangelism and Missions
FPC Greenville, SC
Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians
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Redeeming Ruth is a fresh, clear, beautifully written memoir about adoption, courage, special needs, provision, faith, hope, and suffering.

One day a beautiful toddler with cerebral palsy is put into Ruths arms at church. This orphan was sent to the States for medical treatment, and hopefully might even be adopted. Meadow and her family fall in love with Ruth, long to spend more time with her, begin to take care of her, and then begin a lengthy, costly, adventure (including a long, perilous trip to Uganda) to finally adopt her. Doors close and open. Financial gifts come at just the right time. Favor is granted. Ruth learns to hear and communicate. Its beautiful and victorious, over and over again. As a devoted adoption advocate I was cheering the Merrill Family every step of the way. I wanted the love and courage they poured out.

From the beginning, though, we know Redeeming Ruth is going to be a hard story. The subtitle Everything Life Takes, Love Restores makes that clear. We see clearly in the prologue that Ruth is gone, and Meadow is grieving. We know we'll be getting the whole story of her joy, memories, and suffering.

In Redeeming Ruth, we are shown the full reality of the kind of grief that comes from loving so fully. We get glimpses of Meadow's deep sorrow at the beginning of every chapter through dreams, memories, and songs. When we later read the story of Ruths death it's awful. We witness Meadow's raw and real grief--the anger, second-guessing, self-blame, and despair. We understand, and we join in, because we've fallen in love with Ruth now, too.

I strongly recommend this book for adoptive family, adoption advocates, grieving mothers, parents of children with special needs, and book clubs.

[I contrast Redeeming Ruth with the 2016 movie, Arrival here: familycompassionfocus.com ]
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Seven years ago, we fans watched as the Chapman family embarked upon this journey called adoption. It didn't take long for us to see that God was making miraculous renovations within the hearts of this family. And today, they continue to be amongst the most sincerely passionate adoption advocates in the world. The love within this faithful family is astounding to observe. Even the Chapman's three biological children continue to show genuine signs of spiritual and emotional growth as they work, alongside Steven and Mary Beth to raise the three newer little members of their forever family. It is impossible to listen to the stories of their personal adoption journey without confronting the inescapable truth, that all of us were orphaned and without a home until the love of God "took us in". God is writing a poignant and powerful story, not only for lonely children living in orphanages on the other side of the world, but for lonely people of all ages, everywhere, who are still lost and searching for the only home that is truly "forever".

This third installment of the Shaoey and Dot book series is a precious and creatively written story that everyone will not only enjoy, but be moved to share. Even if adoption is not a part of your personal journey, this is a book that will warm your heart and beckon you back to the kind of childlike faith that first lead you to accept the love of your Heavenly Father. That, in itself, makes it well worth the retail price. But I must warn you:  Don't be surprised to find that those adorable little almond-shaped eyes (beautifully illustrated by Mary Beth's brother, Jim Chapman) open up some space in your heart that you never knew existed before. You AND your child will want to read this one over and over again for many years to come, and this will be the book series that you hand down through the generations. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
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If you have ever found yourself loving and worshipping in a community that seems to you to both be a loving, committed community and a surprisingly violent and exclusive place, this book for you.  Rachel writes for all of us who want to stay in, love and participate in the body of Christ, and to raise our children there, because we take the Gospel seriously and we want to love God in community with other believers, but wonder how we can do that, while having so many reservations and questions.  Evan navigates winsomely and thoughtfully through the sacraments of the church, giving me hope that all things can be and will be redeemed some day and love will always win.
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Etched Upon My Heart by Jill Kelly is a beautiful love letter to her daughters and all who read it. Jill shares her heart in both the happy and harder moments of her life and how God is in all of it.

Jill begins by asking what we would most want our children to remember. She really challenged me to look at the legacy of memories that I so want to impart to my sons. What lessons have I learned that I should be passing on to them.

My favorite chapter is the one on LOVE.

God is love.
1 John 4:8

"Love is not just what, it's who God is. We need to get this foundational watershed reality as if our lives depended upon it - because they do: Jesus is love. It's all for Him, all because of Him, and all about knowing and loving Him."

I absolutely LOVED this book.
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I just finished reading this book which I shouldn't identify with; I was never a Christian. But as a Jew who so wanted to believe, who wanted to practice according to my traditions, and who grew to question, I identified. It's a lovely, well written, heart-felt book. Here's a quote which exemplifies the author's universal thinking and delightful prose: "I may occasionally still long for grace, but mostly, I will just live and love, here and now. I hope that whatever faith, religion, or belief system you subject yourself to will allow you to do the same."
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For quite some time the generation of interest for communities in general, and specifically faith communities, has been Gen Y or Millennials. Its a demographic that differs from the boomers, builders, and busters. And just when the experts think they have it figured out, we move onto a new subset of the population: Gen Z-Centennials.
Theyre younger, and they have different goals and priorities. And so, the learning curve has to start over for those who are trying to keep up. And by the way, starting now, and for the next few decades, this subset is going to figure substantially in national conversations. That means that we as community leaders, and church leaders, want to know who it is that we are leading.  In Meet Generation Z: Understanding and Reaching the New Post-Christian World, (Baker Books, 2017) James White gives us a picture of who is included in this generation, and the distinctive that separate them from previous generations.
White divides the book into 2 parts; one part addressing current realities that are facing the church in our Post-Christian world.  Here he includes some research on what we are facing in the west, and moves on to the distinctives of Gen Z, and how their thought processes are being shaped. Part 2 is what the author suggests as a response, and the author talks about being countercultural as a church.  (that seems to follow the example of Jesus---when sin entered the world things got turned upside down, Jesus was all about turning the upside-down upside-down, thus making it right-side-up)
But being counter-cultural means we have to learn the culture we want to address, so that we know how to address members of that culture, without offending them (except with Biblical Truth). Chapter 8 includes some ideas for new approaches to evangelization in this new culture.
There are also some manuscripts of 3 messages that Dr White has preached, and his sermon on gay marriage (Appendix A, p 161) is quite an eye-opener. That teaching tool in itself would be worth the price of this book for anyone struggling with how to address the issue in a loving manner, while staying true to Scripture.
White also provides discussion questions at the end of each chapter. The questions can be used for personal reflection, but small groups wanting to learn how to share the gospel would benefit, as would church leadership teams as they plan for the future of their faith community.
I received this book from Baker Books in exchange for posting a review. I was not required to post a positive review.
5/5
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On the surface this book appears as a memoir written by an adoptive mom about an international adoption journey to Russia, but it is so much more than that.  At its root is the story of a woman who follows God's leading one small step at a time (sometimes reluctantly) on a heart journey, rearranging her "just perfect" life to include a new job, volunteering, reaching out to others, and eventually international adoption.  It's about hearing God's small whisper, acknowledging it, and obeying (even when it seems it will turn life upside down).  The story is filled with love and heart, giving wonderful glimpses of God's love for us.

Because the book includes so much more than adoption, it can encourage those who are feeling God's nudge to step off in a new direction, reach out to a new ministry or do something outside of their comfort zone.  The story the author shares is a testament to the fact that God chooses to use ordinary people to do His work, calling them gently but persistently, and even when the command seems "crazy" He's ready to guide them each step of the way.

I found this book hard to put down.  Debbie's writing drew me in and welcomed me into her life, her heart, and her struggles with refreshing honesty.  As a waiting adoptive mom, I love to read adoption stories and I thoroughly enjoyed this one.  It warmed my heart to see how all the pieces of the story had been woven together to bring a special boy in Russia into the author's family.
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Kyndall has such a unique and gorgeous way of carving out space for her readers/congregation to encounter the Divine. She awakens our imagination, grabs our attention, and reminds us that we are fully loved and capable of a lifetime of seeking, finding, and responding to Christ.
BEAUTIFULLY written. My household is going to need more than one copy, because I don't want to share mine.
2536438
What a beautiful book!  Not only is it striking because of the artwork, quality of paper and lift-a-flap letters, but the words chosen for each story are music to a girl's ear!  The author has carefully picked fourteen female characters from the Old and New Testaments, each with a summarized story of the girl's role.  On each of the spreads is a short but poignant key message and Bible verse under the heading, "God's Wonderful Words to You".  The letters from God to the recipient of the book are personal, and offer a challenge to the reader:  to trust God, to confess to God, to be encouraged by God, to draw close to God.  Each letter reveals a characteristic of God that is exemplified in the Bible story highlighted.  This book makes a unique birthday or graduation gift, for the special girl in your life.  She will be uplifted and inspired by the messages throughout - perfect for the child who is not churched or who may be reading Bible verses for the first time.  Rachel Clowes, the artist, is veryy talented and has made Glenys Nellist's writing come to life in bright, eye-catching colours with soft lines and strokes.  I highly recommend this book!
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One of the most beautiful theological musings I have ever been privileged to read. I've read it twice this year so far and will probably read it again. Ashmae is thoughtful, faithful, poetic, and pushes the boundaries of emotion in the most real and moving ways. I cried many times throughout this book and underlined hundreds of passages. Highly recommend to all, whether doubting, believing, or somewhere in between. There is something to be found here for each of you.
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Ultimately, the beauty of the poetry is in the message of love that the words convey. The love spoken of is unconditional and spiritual. This kind of love calls for God's people to come from exhibiting a love that is temporal to a love that is enduring. The book is unique because there is a force behind the words that empowers the individual to emanate the love the book promotes. The book is aptly entitled love book because every aspect of the book deals with love, the kind of love that is enduring, eternal, and everlasting, in a prose that people find esthetically pleasing. I highly recommend this book to anyone who really wants to learn about love.
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ME and WE -- God's New Social Gospel  is a lively and lovely introduction to a re-imagined, metaphorically rich  present/future church. This church, Dr. Sweet contends,  must learn how to face three of the biggest challenges of today's culture: individualism, racism and consumerism.

 The title of the book does not prepare the reader for the beauty contained within it. I must say the book is beautiful, in many ways.  First, the book is beautifully planned: It is presented in three short parts. Part I is about the Me/We Gospel - A Biblical Story; Part II is about  Me/We Creation - A Birthing Story, and Part III is about the Me/We Economy - A Garden Story.

 Second, the book is  beautifully written, especially Part II, which is a deep and meditative look at the need to sever the identification of black with evil and white with good. This imagery runs through the "whole range of human behavior", according to Dr. Sweet, and deserves our honest attention as well as our best, prayerful efforts at correction.

Third, the book is beautiful in its application. Using the symbol of the menorah, Part III offers a seven-branched view to incarnating light and life giving practices. The emphasis is on relational theology and individual responsibility as we live together in God's House and Garden communities -- our churches.

Dr. Sweet notes early in the book that 19th century efforts at implementing a social gospel were a dismal failure. He warns, "Any attempt to see Jesus's understanding of the kingdom of God as a political movement, an apocalyptic regime or social justice program-- anything other than the revelation of God with a trinitarian personality and path to the heart -- is to put ideology in the place of faith."

My favorite description of Me/We social gospel living is the section on "Conserve and Conceive". In Genesis, God asked Adam to "till and keep" the garden. Dr. Sweet prefers to use the phrase "conserve and conceive". This term is then used to refer to a broad scope of holiness-living activities, beginning with conserving and conceiving "God's creative identity in our current relationships and (to) conceive God's creativity in new relationships. It starts with Me and moves to We... When Christ is in control and the body is being re-formed by the Spirit into wholeness and harmony, the body remains organic, living, growing, healthy. A Me/We gospel is a salvation gospel."

I have been reading Dr. Sweet's books for many years. He is a brilliant thinker and writer, and there is no missing the fact that the Lord Jesus is preeminent in everything he produces. But this book took me by surprise. I believe it is not only one of the most beautiful books Dr. Sweet has written, but it may also be one of the most important.
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The Flowering Cross  is a beautiful book written by Beth Ryan and illustrated by Rene Graef.  The book tells of seven-year old Katie and her next door neighbor, Jack.  Most of the kids in the neighborhood know him as Mean Old Man Jack, but Katie and her brother get to know him as Papa Jack.  Along with their parents they make sure they think of Papa Jack anytime he could use a friend like when he is sick or when a storm comes.  They eventually get to the old man and he finally tells them he will go to church with them.

This is a great book for kids and adults.  Although it is meant for kids, I think it is a good reminder for adults about how to treat others.  The illustrations are beautiful and help tell the story.  At the bottom of each page there is a Faith Imprint that gives parents ideas about how to talk to their kids about Jesus while using the book as a support.  I cannot wait to give this book to my neice!
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This is a wonderful and mature spiritual read, made up of a number of talks given by Carthusians to their communities. The strength of the book lies in not only the depth of the individual chapters but in their breathe, reflecting the different characthers of the talk givers, each of whom has been touched in a unique way by their search for God. Let me give some tasters:

"Who among us has not had the experience, sometimes so terribly painful, of being heemed in - almost imprisoned - by problems of health, for example? If our hearts be honest, we can only say one thing: it is God who comes to us in such grevious afflictions. In fact, they consitute the point at which the love of God enters into our life. Our heart welcomes God to the extent that it is attentive to this reality, whihc we might tend to consider inferior to our spiritual vocation. We must beware of this untruth. Let us not pretend to be pure spirits; we can be something better - children of God" (page 82, the prayer of the heart)

To add a personal note, looking over my life, particularly recent life, I can see the truth of this - our heart, if we let it, is sensitive, precisely at those points of brokeness in our life - we can then reach out to God and from the depths of our being say: "Out of the depths I cry to you Lord" And, you know, He is there in those depths.

"Love does not consist in dominating, possessing or imposing one's will on someone. Rather love is to welcome without defences the other as he or she comes to meet me. There are no contests of strength between two people who love each other. There is a kind of mutual understanding from which a reciprocal trust emerges" (page 87)

"We cannot help but be struck by the serenity and sense of infinite security with which Jesus quietly proclaims that he has nothing of his own, and that he can do nothing but what he sees the Father doing. What man would accept such powerfulness? " (page 87) I was struck here by how this resounds with the words of Ratzinger in "Introduction to Christianity" where he talks about Christ as "being from" and "being for".

This last idea is developed further on page 175 in an exploration of the Trinity:

"The Son is such a perfect image of the Father that he is likewise incapable of keeping anything for himself. It is impossible for him to turn in on himself or to enjoy possessing anything whatsoever: as the image of an an infinite gift he is himself infinite gift, and in order to give the Father complete joy, he makes a total return to him of all that he is. To this limitless poverty of giving on the part of the Father,and to the limitless poverty of the Son's receiving this gift, corresponds the boundless poverty of transparency on the part of the Spirit. He is able neither to give nor to receive. He is simply tranpsarency and the possibility for the two persons to encounter each other fully. What the Father ansd the Son have in common is nothing of themselves, but a third Person whose being is perfect and complete in himself just as theirs is"

I was reminded on reading this of a comment made by Norris Clarke SJ where he talks about the fact that Jesus shows us that not only giving but receiving is constitutive of God.
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I sit here at my computer after reading this book into the early morning hours and I ask myself how to put into words a summary of the faith, hope, and love the Santorums shared in this touching story of their daughter Bella. Bella's story is so much more than a heart wrenching tale of a precious child with life threatening challenges. It is the story of hope through faith triumphing in the face of impossible odds all carried in the arms of unmeasured love.

This is the story of defining and then acting upon what is truly important in life. Of realizing that life is a gift of God and it is our sacred duty as individuals and as a society to cherish and nourish that gift.

In reading about the Santorum's triumphs and tragedies it really shows that when love is present the struggles in life only make us stronger. From the introduction to the last chapter, this books is the story of love. Love as their daughter Elizabeth described in the introduction as "agape" love, that love done "in service of another, without expectation of a reward".

I especially appreciated how this story was built around the great love chapter of the Bible, 1 Corinthians 13.  Each chapter of this book in some way developed the wonderful truths found there.

This coming May 13 the Santorums will be celebrating Bella's 7th birthday. Their past seven years of loving service for their daughter reminds me of an another Biblical story of service. In Genesis 29 it tells of Jacob's seven years of service for Rachel the daughter of Laban. The Bible describes it this way:

Genesis 29:20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

The word love here in Gen. 29 is the Hebrew ahabah and this is the first occurrence of the word in the Bible.  I think it only fitting to mention that in ancient Hebrew each letter was assigned a numerical value. The word ahabah in Hebrew is equal to 13.

Thank you Rick and Karen for sharing this story with us, I was blessed by it. As a home school family of 7 your testimony was especially poignant to us. Please give our love to Bella.

  And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
 1 Corinthians 13:13