Move from Bible Reading to Bible Application

Many of you have recently started a new Bible reading plan for the new year. You may be looking for a way to do more than just read the Bible and want to dig in a bit more but aren't certain how to do so or maybe don't have time to do a full-fledged Bible study each day. There are two easy and very similar ways you can use to engage with your Bible reading a bit more. They are H.E.A.R. and S.O.A.P. These methods are not unique to me by any means but are resources that I have encountered through other sources. So, instead of giving all of the details here and copying someone else's work, I've linked to the fuller explanations for you to check out.

H.E.A.R. stands for Highlight, Explain, Apply, and Respond. Robby Gallaty who developed the F260 Bible reading plan our church is using this year also promotes this Bible journaling method.

S.O.A.P. stands for Scripture, Observe, Apply, and Prayer. While this particular link is to a women's ministry blog, I first became familiar with this acronym through the Zume Project course which adds an S for Sharing to the steps.

As you see H.E.A.R. and S.O.A.P. are quite similar in their four step process. Grab a notebook and then choose the acronym and explanation that you prefer or try both to see which you like best to move from Bible reading to Bible application.

The Promised Land

Recently I finished reading Robert Whitlow's book The Promised Land. This was most exciting as I finished the book just prior to visiting Israel myself. Before reading this book, I read The Chosen People which is the first book in the series. Reading it first is really important to understanding The Promised Land as it introduces Hana and Daud and many of the other characters. The Promised Land also picks up where the first book left off as any good sequel should do.

As a legal thriller, The Promised Land jumps right in with Daud, an Arab Christian who works in security and intelligence, on-site in Israel working on a project involving Middle Eastern espionage. The conclusion of this project puts him right in the cross-hairs a nefarious business man. Hana, a lawyer of Arab Christian descent working in America, is called to consult on a case involving a recently found archaeological artifact. In the story, the artifact is a fictional queen's head companion to the actual sculpted king's head which is on display at the Israel Museum.(It was quite exciting to actually see this real-life artifact in person.) While Hana works on this project and other legal items, Daud is back in the States building his new personal business. Given their unique background and experiences, Hana is asked to participate in a panel discussion about Israel and Palestine and Daud is asked to provide security for this event. In addition, as fairly recently married individuals the predictable "baby makes three" comes into play as well. In addition, a family who played a major role in the first book continues to be a part of their lives. These storylines continue throughout the book and require both Hana and Daud to travel to Israel several times before the story concludes.

While I really enjoyed this book as well as the first in the series, I was disturbed by the view that all Muslims are bad that comes across in the book. The "Muslim terrorist businessman" is an important part of the story, but I would have liked to have seen additional Muslim characters as well to even out the story a bit. This book would be enjoyed by those who enjoy legal thrillers and with strong male and female characters can be read by both. I am hopeful that more books will be written in this series as I want to learn more about Hana, Daud, and their new little one. With numerous loose ends left untied, I am fairly confident more is in store for this couple.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received The Promised Land from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Best of 2019

Over the last year, I have read numerous books and shared about many of them year on my blog with you. Given that I've read so many, it seems a "best of" list is in order. However, as I look back over my year, I found this process to be more difficult than I expected. Most of the books I read are enjoyable but not necessarily memorable. For this list, I've tried to emphasize those that are memorable and that I would most highly recommend, would read again, or have purchased a copy.

Best Non-Fiction: This category has a tie but both books are about the same topic. The End of Hunger and I Was Hungry which I reviewed for Englewood Review of Books. I would be remiss not to also mention Kent Annan's You Welcomed Me.

Best Memoir: While not quite a memoir, it is true and about her own experiences and Separated by the Border is by no doubt one of the best books I read this year.

Best Historical Non-Fiction: Madame Fourcade's Secret War is highly recommended to anyone who enjoys World War II and for men and women.

Best Diverse Books: It was hard to come up with a title for this category, but I wanted to spotlight three books life-changing books I read from Plough Publishing. Each of these books are true and are based on events that you will recall reading about in the news. They are The 21: A Journey into the Land of the Coptic Martyrs, From Red Earth, and Beneath the Tamarind Tree. Each of these books taught me to be more faithful in my trust in God and more forgiving to others.

Best Bible Study/Devotional: I enjoyed reading through several Bible studies/devotional works this year. Core52 by Mark Moore is at the top of my list because it is geared towards men and women and could be easily used for a whole church study.

Best Fiction with a Point: Sharon Garlough Brown's books Shades of Light and Remember Me are the tops in this category without a doubt.

Best Historical Fiction: I read several World War II Books this year but hands-down the best was Resistance Women. However, a close runner-up was Cilka's Journey which focuses on post World War II Russian gulags.

Best YA: I didn't read a whole lot of YA this year, but the two I read by Melanie Dickerson continue to be my favorites. The Warrior Maiden and The Piper's Pursuit will indulge your YA reading needs or would be great books for your YA to enjoy.

While I hesitate to give a "best over all," if there is one book to read, I highly recommend I Think You're Wrong (But I'm Listening) particularly as we move into the election year cycle. May 2020 bring you lots of good reading!

Thief of Lanwyn Manor

The Thief of Lanwyn Manor by Sarah E. Ladd
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Like the first book in the Cornwall series, The Thief of Lanwyn Manor contains an element of mystery and suspense. I also enjoy that the main character, Julia, has a bit more spunk than typical. Readers will find themselves frustrated with her aunt and uncle, but will enjoy that everything works out in the end. Astute readers will pick up on the numerous clues and have figured out much of the story before the end arrives. All in all a nice enjoyable story for a winter weekend.

I received a complementary copy via NetGalley and was not required to give a positive review.

View all my reviews

Remember Me

In August I read Shades of Light by Sharon Garlough Brown. Her soon to be released book Remember Me picks up with Wren and Kit in a briefer novella.

Wren continues to work through mental illness and to draw consolation from her art. While Wren continues to the a main focal point of the story, Brown turns her attention a bit more to Kit in this title. Kit is helping Wren not only because she is her aunt but because she has struggled with significant mental illness herself. While providing guidance and encouragement to Wren, Kit begins writing letters to Kit that share some of her own story. Her own experiences have helped her to be the spiritual director and wise woman she is today. Reading Kit's story reminded me of the book As I Recall as Kit definitely used and has used her memories and experiences to grow spiritually. Brown does a marvelous job of creating real characters who struggle with raw emotions and experiences. This definitely is not an "everything is coming up roses" typical Christian novel.

As in Shades of Light, using and creating art as part of a spiritual journey continues to be a strong component of Remember Me. In particular, Wren interacts with and creates artwork that will be utilized in the Stations of the Cross. As the story builds up to the traditional Stations of the Cross, it is a wonderful book to read during the Lenten season. The book includes devotional content and artwork that will also help readers in their spiritual preparation.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received Remember Me from InterVarsity Press via NetGalley. 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Painted Castle

Recently, I finished reading The Painted Castle. This is the final installment in The Lost Castle series by Kristy Cambron which I have thoroughly enjoyed and wrote about previously. This book is set in England and includes story lines from the present day, WW II, and the reign of Queen Victoria. The book moves between the three stories easily and provides clues throughout allowing the reader to glimpse how the stories are connected. Of course, the dots are not completely apparent until the end of the book. There are multiple twists and turns that certainly keep the reader guessing throughout the book. I did find a family tree to understand how the generations connected might have been useful.

Readers will most enjoy this book if they have read the previous titles although it is not absolutely necessary to understanding the story line. Individuals who watched the PBS series Victoria will enjoy this novel and recall a specific episode that includes this particular painting as well. Individuals who enjoy art or have knowledge of art history will also enjoy the sneak peak into the life of an art historian. All in all a wonderful , enjoyable book for a light, fun read.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received The Painted Castle from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

The End of Hunger

Too often we think of The End of Hunger as something that would be nice but not likely to happen as it seems to be simply too big of a problem. We do our part by participating in fundraisers at church or school and buy goats as Christmas presents knowing full well that a year later, we'll do it all again. What if there The End of Hunger was truly possible and we're going about it all wrong? The End of Hunger: Renewed Hope for Feeding the World, recently published by IVP, shows that ending hunger truly is possible and needs to be at the top of your reading list.

The End of Hunger contains essays by top economists, politicians, doctors, and many others. As such, this is not a quick, easy, feel good read. It must be read slowly so that the reader can fully absorb the content. The statistics and facts shared lay out how extensive the problem of hunger is and how hunger and malnutrition are the root causes of so many other world issues such as human trafficking, war,immigration, orphans, and nearly everything else that comes to mind. Yet, these same chapters lay out how their truly is enough food in the world and there is enough money for the problem of hunger to be solved.

The End of Hunger needs to be read slowly and thoughtfully so that you can contemplate the content that is shared and act on it. It is a book that needs to be read with others in order to process effectively. Anyone who cares about hunger or involved in raising funds for hunger relief in the U.S.A. or the world needs to read this book. Be prepared to have your heart broken, be frustrated, and to write lots of letters to politicians. Although I received a free copy, this is a book I'm definitely going to purchase in a paper copy so I can refer to it often and share with others.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received The End of Hunger from InterVarsity Press via NetGalley. 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.