Faith, faults and fun
925669
I think this book will raise a few eyebrows - especially to those who are a religiously leagalistic and or uptight. You know, the same folks who get mad when folks wear jeans to church, or when the Pastor doesn't wear a tie.
The author gives us a refreshingly honest character who is flawed (as we all are -even if we don't admit it) and details her life. Shock! Ashley (heroine) is a wee bit judgemental...she's thinking things that we think but we would never tell anyone, and she struggles with love, and her faith. I am 43 years old and married for 26 years, with three sweet grandbabies, and yet, this book entranced me, delighted me, and made me smile.
What A Girl Wants is an honest look at life. It's staying on my shelf. But I think a few copies for my daughter, daughter in-law, sister, church library and local library are in order.
If you have a sense of humor and understand the human angst that accompanies free will...well, you'll love this page turner!!
I look forward to book two!!! Hurry up Ms. Billerbeck!!
2044029
I am enjoying this series very much, true entertainment with a little society engineering, some philosophy, and a touch of religion thrown in for fun.  The characters are engaging and fun, nicely unpredictable.  A fun read!
4713774
I enjoyed reading this collection of funny stories.  Each chapter is a seperate story, kind of like installments of a sitcom.  I believe that, with a little refinement, these stories could be adapted to the small screen.

Though I agree that some formatting would help the readability of this book, I overlooked it in favor of enjoying the amusing stories.

Though one reviewer commented on the heretical concept of rating one sin above another, having been raised Catholic, I contend that that is the way it is in Catholicism.  We were taught that some sins are considered Mortal Sins and others are Venial Sins.  Mortal Sins will send you straight to Hell unless absolved through confession and repentance, while Venial Sins will land your soul in Purgatory.  Given that it is very difficult to avoid Venial Sins, many believe that nearly everyone will end up there, awaiting the second coming.

Now Fr. Joe goes to some strange extremes to teach people a lesson, but what is comedy without implausable situations.  Definitely worth a read.
2098499
With Shades of Anne Lamott, this writer captures us into her world and the world of her faith, in often humorous stories that leave you thinking your reading a script from "I Love Lucy."  Her Chritianity is warm and inclusive (the book is dedicated to an atheist) you are drawn to her even if you're not a believer.  I love this book and bought it for all my friends.
3610933
I just really enjoy this series. It is so much fun! Jennifer Beckstrand's writing style is very down-to-earth and readable and she has a knack for brilliantly interspersing quirky characters and laugh-out-loud funny moments with deep emotions, caring communities, and spiritual truths. When I'm reading one of these books, my little ones (ages 2, 5, 8, and 11) beg me to tell them all the funny parts. We have laughed till we cried at the dinner table over some of the antics of the characters in this series.

This book was different than the previous ones in that the people being matched by Felty and Anna Helmuth, who, by the way are the most adorable, hilarious, and loveable 80-year olds in literature, already know each other and are deeply in love. They were engaged until Felty and Anna's grandson Ben broke things off and moved away eight months ago without giving any explanation to anyone. Anna contrives a way to bring him back to town by scheduling poor Felty for a surgery he doesn't need and begging Ben to come and help his poor grandfather out while at the same time convincing Ben's ex-fiancee to come and help her grow a giant pumpkin.

Many hijinks ensue, as is always the case in these books, but in the end, the truth comes out and some deep spiritual truths are learned. I don't want to give anything away, but I really appreciated that this book shows how real love doesn't fear the long haul or the valleys that will come but rather rejoices that the valleys can be walked through together.
2300026
I was first introduced to Patsy Clairmont when I heard a tape of hers, and I laughed until my sides hurt!  It is wonderful when people are so filled with joy by their faith that their humor brings people closer to God.  This is a light, easy read.  Each chapter is a short commentary about being a woman, a mother, a wife and a Christian.  It is not provoking theology, but it is applicable, enjoyable and uplifting.
3122748
Appealing characters and humor.  Addresses the real inner turmoil of coming to faith within a cute romance. Enjoyable.
1699909
This book is part spiritual memoir, part defense of the faith, and part practical theology from a brilliant woman who teaches English along with a little bit of theology. Through working together her own story and the story of others, she shares how the Christian faith continues to make sense both cognitively and practically in a post-christian, post-modern age. This book will make you smile and make you think. I recommend it highly
2919518
Enjoyed the story!  Humor is wonderfully woven into each chapter and shows a little of how God moves and works in church relationships.
835269
James Martin, a Jesuit priest who has been called "The Official Chaplain of Colbert Nation," is convinced that joy, humor and laughter are central to spirituality. In this book, he makes his case by calling readers' attention to humor in the Bible and in the lives of spiritual leaders throughout the centuries.

This is not just a book about humor; it is actually funny. Most of the jokes that Martin tells and examples that he gives are from his own Catholic tradition - all the cartoons on the cover seem to be of Catholics, save Martin Luther, who had a well-known spat with the Catholic Church. However, he does give space to humor in Protestantism and even other religions. When writing about humor, there is always the danger of being unfunny. Thankfully, Martin escapes this danger. This was a fun read, and it was fun in large part because Martin is able to poke fun at himself. I had no idea there were so many jokes about Jesuits.

Martin was interviewed at Duke Divinity School's Faith & Leadership blog when this book came out. In that interview, he said "We feel drawn to religious leaders with a sense of humor. It shows us that they understand their essential poverty of spirit and their own reliance on God. It shows humility, which is also essential in the spiritual life. You take God seriously, Jesus seriously and the gospel seriously, but you shouldn't take yourself too seriously."

To which I can only say, "Amen."
1216372
What an entertaining and inspirational book!  And, it's not really about sports, but Ernie's career, life and family.  It takes you from smiles to laughs, to tears and back to smiles as you read about the special moments, relationships, love, faith and fun this family has shared during their journey.  Most of all, this book will help one appreciate your own special moments and the "blackberries" you experience.  It's an easy and enjoyable read.
262353
Mark says funny things in this faith based book.
2780455
Witty and fun, but also very much in line with modern day thinking concerning religion and the validity of it's stories and so called history. Read it with an open mind and enjoy!
250829
This book is a delightful story that includes the joy and struggles of every day people coming to know and trust God in ways they least expect. The faith of a young woman being tested as she preserves. It shows obedience to God out ways all things.
3840712
I have to admit, I chose this book partly because the title made me giggle.  How to Love Your Neighbor- without being weird  by Amy Lively proved to be more rewarding than a simple laugh.  Lively is a talented and engaging storyteller.  She infectiously brings you into her home and her heart, sharing her journey of faith and obedience of loving her neighbors.  This book chronicles her foundation in faith, a stretch of faithless wanderings, and finally a rejuvenation and redemptive story for not only herself but her marriage and family.

"How to Love your neighbor" is the challenge to completely abide and obey the commandment of "loving they neighbor".  Lively defines what a neighbor truly is, the doors to which people enter our lives, how to use your God given gifts and aptitudes in an active way, how to be intentional about interacting with neighbors, and the challenges we may face and how to overcome them.  And it all points back to who Jesus was on Earth and how God designed his people to be.

Some of my favorite lines from the book were:
"I'd rather go to Africa than across the street"

"Your home is where people put their feet up and let their guard down.  It's where relationships go deep."

"It's weird to insist that everyone enter a relationship with you through one door- the Religion Door.  It's weird to approach your neighbors with an agenda."

Lively writes a wonderful and challenging book.  It would work superbly as a small group study or book club as it has great questions to ponder and/or discuss.  There are also challenging action points she presents to help you set a plan into motion to meet your neighbors and begin growing those relationships.

I know I have been challenged as an introvert that there is "no exception clause" to this commandment and that I spend far too much time connecting with "friends" on flat screens than I do in the "original social network" my neighborhood.

How to Love Your Neighbor by Amy Lively (check out its site too) is worth the read and worth the sacrifice to implement.

*I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House publishers in exchange for my unbiased review.
1066386
I enjoyed the tender story of a widowed man of God raising his 6 children alone. It had some humor and tenderness. It was a story of faith and faithfulness..Partly a love story and a story of life and the diffences in how to handle the individual children in a persons household. If you like down to earth stories of faith you will enjoy this book.
583374
I enjoyed this book very much
The characters were well written, and the story well told. The faith finding added to my enjoyment.