Week in Review: October 7-13

This week I read:

• Numbers 4-36
• 1 Chronicles 17-29
• 2 Chronicles
• Psalm 42-89
• Proverbs 9-15
• Daniel
• Matthew 10-28
• Mark
• Luke 1
• 2 Corinthians
• Galatians

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: Wondrous Works of God

Wondrous Works of God. Starr Meade. 2012. Crossway. 288 pages.

I just LOVED, LOVED, LOVED Starr Meade's first family Bible Story Book, Mighty Acts of God. It's a story book that I am always happy to recommend to readers, to families, to anyone who wants the 'big picture' of the Bible. So I was so excited when I learned there was a new book with even more Bible stories (90 to be exact). These are Old Testament and New Testament stories that display and/or reveal redemption.

Each story is around three pages in length. Each story in addition features an illustration, scripture reference, and an "as for me and my house..." feature which challenges you to take it deeper.

This book when used with MIGHTY ACTS OF GOD would serve as an excellent introduction to the Word of God.     Each book is arranged chronologically, but, with a little effort you could probably read from both books to get a full(er) picture of the Bible. Of course, each book can stand alone.)

Fifty-five stories are from the Old Testament; thirty-five stories are from the New Testament. Readers really get a chance to experience the Old Testament, not just the familiar stories of Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, etc. But a fuller picture taken from the history books and the prophets. I love, love, love reading about Israel and Judah's kings and the prophets who served the Lord through the centuries. The New Testament stories may prove more familiar to readers. The focus is on Jesus and his ministry, readers get a chance to see Jesus connect with people, with his followers. Readers will still get a complete gospel from these stories alone, this book is not dependent on the first book.

Here's a sampling from the Old Testament:

• God Creates Eve
• Cain Kills Abel
• Job Suffers and Trusts God
• The First Passover
• Serpent on a Pole
• The Sun Stands Still
• David and Abigail
• David Flees From Absalom
• Naboth's Vineyard
• Jehoshaphat Sends a Choir Into Battle
• Elijah and King Ahaziah
• Elisha Replaces Elijah
• Elisha Helps a Widow
• Elisha Raises a Boy from the Dead
• Joash Escapes Athaliah
• Hosea and His Wife
• Hezekiah and Manasseh
• Habakkuk's Complaint
• Ezekiel's Vision of Dry Bones
• Nehemiah Rebuilds Jerusalem's Walls

Here's a sampling from the New Testament:

• The Angel Appears to Mary
• The Boy Jesus in the Temple
• Jesus Turns Water into Wine
• Jesus Calls Matthew
• Jesus Raises a Widow's Son
• Jesus Heals Ten Lepers
• The Rich Young Man
• Jesus Washes the Feet of His Disciples
• Peter's Sermon at Pentecost
• The Church Sends Missionaries

I am still loving the theology of this bible story book. I still enjoy the complexity of it: instead of simplifying the text, it teaches doctrines and theological terms. I think it would be a great book for families, a great book for families with kids of all ages. I do think it's a book that a child could grow into and appreciate more and more as he/she grows and learns.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: Whispers in the Wind

Whispers in the Wind. (Wild West Wind #2) Lauraine Snelling. 2012. Bethany House. 352 pages.

Cassie Lockwood has arrived at her destination, but her future remains uncertain. Her father's "dream" valley exists, but, she only owns half of the property. Her father's former mining partner, Mr. Engstrom, owned half-share of the valley. Readers have met the remaining members of the Engstrom family (Mavis, Lucas, Ransom, Gretchen, etc) in the first novel, Valley of Dreams, now Cassie herself gets the chance to meet this faith-filled family. But how will Cassie and her "family" (Chief, Micah, Runs Like A Deer) fit in with this family and the community? Will her Indian friends be welcome? And just how will she make enough money to support herself now that the Wild West Show is no more? Will she have to be dependent on the Engstrom family forever?

I liked this one. I didn't quite love it. I still feel the book has barely progressed, which I was fine with in the first book since I thought the second and third books in the series would improve. Now it all depends on the third book in this trilogy.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: All Things New

All Things New. Lynn Austin. 2012. Bethany House. 416 pages.

Historical fiction set in Virginia in the weeks and months following the end of the Civil War. All Things New is told from multiple perspectives. Lizzie and Otis are slaves who have just learned of their freedom, they are the only former-slaves to choose to stay at White Oak Plantation. Lizzie wants what is best for her family, since the Freedmen's Bureau has opened up a school she has decided it is best they stay there so her children can attend school and learn to read and write. Josephine Weatherly is the oldest daughter. She is mourning the death of her father and brother and struggling to make peace with her brother who returned from the war a very different man. She misses the luxuries of the old life, in a way, but she's a practical no-nonsense woman who'd rather survive and learn to change to fit the new times. Eugenia (Josephine's mother) is so unlike her daughter. She's lost her husband and one son, all her wealth, and she wants things to go back to the way they were before, she wants things to go back to normal right now, she's had enough change, enough loss. Why should she change in order to make sense of this crazy world? All Things New is all about conflict and tension. Will the white families allow the former slaves their freedom, their independence, their right to make decisions for themselves...or will they do whatever it takes to keep them in their "rightful" place? Will these months lead to peace or strife? Is more violence around the corner? Or can a community start to heal?

All Things New is also a romance between a Southern woman, Josephine, and a Yankee, Alexander Chandler...

I liked it. I didn't love it or hate it. I'm not as interested in the Civil War and Reconstruction period as I am in other historical periods. (I just love Lynn Austin novels set during World War II). This wasn't a novel I could feel comfortable with.


© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Week In Review: September 30 - October 6

This week I read:

ESV

• Leviticus 
• Numbers 1-3
• Judges
• Ruth
• 1 Chronicles 1-16
• Esther
• Psalms 1-41
• Proverbs 1-8
• Ezekiel 
• Zechariah
• Malachi
• Matthew 1-9
• Acts
• Romans
• 1 Corinthians

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Goals for October 2012

My goal this month is to focus on the Old Testament. In particular, I'd like to finish the books of Moses (Numbers and Deuteronomy) and the history books (1 Samuel through 2 Chronicles). I also lack the book of Daniel in the major prophets. I'd also like to keep up with my New Testament reading. I like *trying* to finish the New Testament each month. But I know that it isn't always possible each and every month, and it's important to accomplish other goals too.

I've got several books I hope to read:

• All Things New by Lynn Austin
• Twice Promised by Maggie Brendan
• A Promise to Love by Serena B. Miller
• Whispers in the Wind by Lauraine Snelling
• Wondrous Works of God by Starr Meade
• Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing by Sally Lloyd-Jones
• Twelve Unlikely Heroes by John MacArthur

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: My First Handy Bible

My First Handy Bible: Timeless Bible Stories for Toddlers. Cecilie Olesen. Illustrated by Gustavo Mazali. Scandinavia Publishing House. 64 pages.

My First Handy Bible is a board book bible story collection for young children. It offers thirty stories: nineteen from the Old Testament, eleven from the New Testament. Each story is told in a two-page spread in just a short paragraph.

For example, "God Makes Samson Strong"

When Samson was born, God blessed him and made him very strong. Samson helped to rescue the Israelites from their enemies. Judges 13:1 - 16:31.) 

And "David the Shepherd Boy"

David was a shepherd. He took well care of his sheep. God wanted David to be King one day and take care of his people. 1 Samuel 16:1-13

And, "Jesus is Born"

Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Three wise men wanted to visit Jesus. They followed a star to find him and they gave him gifts. Luke 2:1-20

Note: I'm not sure exactly why they reference the Luke narrative when the Wise Men narrative is in Matthew 2:1-12.

The text itself is simple, uncomplicated. Most of the details from each story are simplified greatly and the complexity and richness is lost a little. But it is a board book of bible stories, and the pages are sturdy enough for little hands, and most bible story books are "gentle books." So there's a definite need for more board books.



© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible